I have some jealous kids at my house. You all thought I just had one child. Nope, I have six more in addition to Lincoln, and two of them are angry.

Before Lincoln (and before I had a husband) it was just me, Roxie, my now four-year-old Pitbull mix, and Nirvana, my precious kitty, also four. The other four cats came later, and I love them, too, but Roxie and Nirvana are my girls, my babies and they know it....or, they knew it.

Roxie has always been clingy. This vicious Pitbull searches for me if I leave a room without telling her. She follows me up to bed and lies in her spot at the foot of my side of the bed even before I've settled in. She barks like crazy if someone my husband is getting playfully physical with me (like a tickling attack). She can't be away from me. She's so attached I can't tell you how many times I've kicked her or stepped on her because she's right at my feet. Nirvana is also my sweetie. She's very affectionate for a cat, but only with me. She takes care of me when I'm sick (really, she lays on me and purrs). She's the only cat that comes when I call her. She's always jumping on the couch with me and rubbing her head on me. She even sucks on me...what a weirdo.

When my husband moved in with us, these two were not happy. Let's just say they were both relieving themselves where they shouldn't have been. But, they got over it and, I feel, soon saw him as dad.

When Lincoln moved in, it was a different story. There wasn't anything as unpleasant as what happened when my husband invaded their space and time with mom, but there are several occassions where I feel like they're shouting "MOM, MOM, MOM! I'M HERE, TOO. MOM, MOM, MOOOOOOM! MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM!"

Whenever Linc and I are playing on the floor, Roxie CONSTANTLY walks in between us and stops. Yes, just stops and stands there between us. I can't get to him without going through her, and that's the way she wants it. She just stands there like, "OoooOOOOooo were you playing with him? I thought you were down here for me. Soooo sooooorry." I call Lincoln, and Roxie comes. I clap and cheer for Lincoln, and Roxie dances and prances like she just baked a pie or something. How could I tell her, I'm not clapping or calling for her? When she does these things, I act like I really meant them for her and then shoo her away so Linc and I can keep playing. Poor thing.

Nirvana, on the other hand, doesn't try to get between me and my boy. She just wants to grab any chance she sees to be with me. So, if she sees me sitting on the couch, she'll jump up. However, to her surprise, Linc is usually up there with me. Once she sees that, she has a huge look of equal parts disappointment and disgust. When she does get me alone, you'd think she found an aquarium buffet. She rubs on me and meows...and, yes, sucks on me....weirdo.

I never thought animals would act this way. This is how I picture Lincoln being when we bring a new brother or sister home for him in a few years, but not a dog and a cat. Don't they know the rules of the animal world? The dog, yes, she's expected to be a bit more attached, but come on, a jealous cat?

It's not all jealousy. Roxie is very protective of Lincoln. She has a little different bark now when people come to the door or approach us out on a walk. She gets upset and antsy when we are rolling around with Linc or tossing him in the air. And, ooooooh the licking. She's always sneaking in licks. Ears, arms, feet...it all gets licked at some point during the day. Nirvana will shoot some glances, but she keeps her distance. I think she'd care, though, if something happened to him. Right? She would?

I've tried to make sure they both know they're still loved. They get undivided attention sometimes and treats...lots of treats! Roxie goes out on walks with us when we go, and Nirvana still gets cuddled and told how beautiful and precious she is. I don't know if they'll ever adjust. I just want them to know that even though they have a new baby brother, mommy and daddy still love them very much.