Blue Eyed Boy, Green Eyed Monster

I've found that I'm getting jealous of other people spending time with Alex.  Not Nicola looking after him during the day (I'm still in awe of the fact that she's not gone stark, staring mental over the last three months), but other folks getting cuddles when they come to visit.  It's a strange experience.  In some ways, it's a massive relief to have someone else there to entertain him.  It gets tiring holding him upright all the time.  And no matter how fun it is, thee is a limit to the amount of times you can blow raspberries at him before your tongue goes numb.  And yet... And yet...

When other people are holding Alex, I can't help but want to take him back off them screaming, "He's mine, damn you!  If you want one so much, get your own damn son!"  It doesn't matter how long they've been holding him, ten seconds or two hours, it's all the same.

I suppose it's related to the impulse to protect and care for our offspring.  Cuddles are a bonding experience, and I want Alex to bond with me.  It makes parties and social gatherings a bit of a pain.  Hoarding one's baby is not exactly polite.  Plus, I want him to socialise and be used to other people.  I just want him to be able to do it from the comfort of my arms.

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On a cuddles note, Alex has just begun to hug back.  Pick him up, clamp him tight to your chest and shoulder and his little arms will fling out wide and he'll grip onto your jumper.  It's obviously a "I'll cling onto you so you don't drop me" response, not a "I love you" response, but it still brings a smile to my face each time he does it.

P.S.  The photo in illustrating this post is of my cousin Christine and Alex.  I don't mean to imply that Chris is a baby hog!  It's just a nice photo of Alex with someone that isn't me or Nic.  Sorry Chris!