The Baby Whisperer Cometh

This past week I was lucky enough to spend a few days with my sister and her new baby boy. I was only there for four days, but let me tell you, it was enough to make me step back and admire not only my sister's natural ability to nurture and mother, but also her incredible exertion of self control. She has taken a very sick baby (acid reflux and jaundice) and managed to not only comfort him, but also not go bat shit crazy. She is strong, wise and determined. I am so very proud of her. I say this not just from watching my sister with her son, but also from being broken down by him myself.

You see, I am The Baby Whisperer. Or, rather, I used to be The Baby Whisperer. After one night alone with my sick, miserable baby nephew, I have retired from my baby whispering ways. My sister found us sitting in the living room crying at about 2 a.m. He was the FIRST baby I failed to comfort. After three hours of him gripping my shirt tightly and screaming from stomach pain I began to weep along with him. The Baby Whisperer was defeated.

On the second night together, Baby J.R. has began talking a new medication for his reflux and was not longer EVIL. We were both so worn out from our night of boohooing the previous evening, that Granny found us passed out on the couch in the living room. Now, did they wake us up? No, they opted to document The Baby Whisperer at work.

There are so many more things to share with you about my experience with Baby J.R., but for now I'll just save some of those more embarrassing episodes for a later date. Enjoy my picture essay entitled "The Baby Whisperer: Brokeback Auntie."

I call this one "Related: The Shame."

This is "The Human Womb." Baby J.R. found me warm, squishy and a heavy breather. If I were wet and pink he would have never left my chest.

"Stuffed Mortification." This one is J.R. posed with the stuffed owl that I made him from scratch.

Just to prove to you that it is only within my reach that Baby J.R. gets the look of horror, allow me to share some photos of him with other family members:

First we have him hanging out on Granny's shoulder.



Sitting in his Granny's lap.



Being held by his pretty Mama.



Hanging on his Daddy's arm like a racoon on a limb.



And one final photo to show his infinate cuteness.

Can you believe I won't get to see him again until May. :(