Little Babies and Kids

I consider myself really good with kids. I can usually become best friends with them in a matter of minutes. With kids in my ward or kids I only see rarely, it takes a little longer to connect, but usually I still end up winning them over. It's a gift I guess. My tough little nephew Andrew, my beautiful niece MacKenzie, and my cousin Reeve's smiley daughter Sammy all seem to enjoy my company, as you can see.
But lately, I have not been able to connect with too many little kids or babies, with the exception of my cute curly-haired nephew Dominic (sorry I don't have a picture of him). I think I'm losing my touch. My young niece Idil, especially, does not seem impressed with me. She gave me the stink eye several times, which I caught perfectly with this picture. With each picture I tried to take came high-pitched pleas from me to smile with my usual playfulness with kids, but obviously to no fruition. The picture makes me laugh more than anything else. I hope my other new adorable niece Brynlee will like me.
I'm surprised how babies' personalities show up so early. I don't have kids of my own yet (and no I am not expecting at the moment), but I can already tell that if I have a baby like Idil, a baby that I just can't connect with, raising kids will be difficult. I keep wondering what my kids will be like someday, and I hope that I will be ready and able to meet all their individual needs.


At our family reunion.
At the Phoenix Zoolights.
At our family reunion.
On Christmas day.