What Was I Thinking?

Right now a five month old's forehead is leaning on my right wrist, he's giving me a hickey on that same wrist and his left hand is trying to help me type. At five months he weighs more than my two year old and is almost as tall as my kid at one year old. What was I thinking?

I'm just trying to keep the kid from making everyone in my apartment building go deaf.

A couple of weeks ago I took up a babysitting job. The mother has three boys, ages 5, 3, and5 months (almost 6). Now that school started, I don't really watch the 5 year old anymore. The 3 year old and the baby either come to my apartment or I go to their house with my three kids.

Now why would I do such a thing to myself, you may ask? Why would I voluntarily surround myself with more children when I already don't have enough time in the day to do all the "things" I "need" to do. Like blog? Or cook? Or write? Holy cow. When was the last time I wrote something. . . . Well, I did do research two nights ago at the library. But that doesn't count. I went there with the intention of writing and when I got there I realized I'd forgotten my thumb drive. No way was I going back home for it. Then I'd never get out. Anyway, I don't have time to do anything, remember? So why would I volunteer for this? It pays.

In Logan, if you babysat it was because you knew the person and their kids, you were friends and you were expected to just be nice. Plus, it was likely that in a matter of weeks the situation would be reversed and you would be the one that needed a babysitter everyday for a few months. I babysat kids for free all the time in Logan and other people watched mine for free all the time (thank you Sarah, Sarah, Amber, Jess, Brooke, Tracey, girl that moved in across from me whose name I can't remember and her mom, etc. etc.).

Here in Cleveland, you get paid! That's right baby! Money coming my way! Now of course I'm still willing to babysit for free. I'm nice after all. (Because being willing to babysit for free makes you nice, it's the only requirement.) But hey, if they're gonna offer, and you're gonna watch their kids two or three times a week for lotsa hours at a time, I'm not about to say, "Oh no. Don't worry about it. I just love kids and yours are so easy!"

Now what am I going to do with my new-found riches you may be wondering? Save. Yep. I'm being an "adult" and making an Amboy account with it. But then guess what I'm doing with it!!! I'm going to pay my way to Utah for the next LDSStorymakers Conference. I've been to them all since I first discovered the Storymakers in 2005. I was really bummed that I wouldn't be able to go anymore with us being so far away, but when I was offered this babysitting job it was like fireworks were lit up in my head. I could have done cartwheels in my living room, I was so excited.

So half my earnings are going in the account for the trip and the other half are going to bills and such. I'm not sure how long it will take to earn enough, but I'm excited that Nathan has agreed to my plan. Of course, I have to take the kids with me. Nathan will be getting ready for his finals right during the conference. So this means I have to earn enough for not just one plane ticket and the conference admission, but three airplane tickets and conference admission. Luckily, I think my in-laws might be willing to take the kids during the conference (right guys? you know you miss them and want some real quality time with them).

So here I am with five kids in my apartment all under the age of four. Pray for me.