Thanks for the messages, everyone!
Oreo, if you keep at it with your gerbils they will get better at letting you pick them up, but they're definitely not interested in sitting still in your hands. As they get older, they slow down a bit, but they're never really that interested in snuggling with you; that's why they have each other!
I am talking with someone now about adopting a Syrian hamster. I hope to go and pick him up this weekend. I just went through a very horrible experience with adopting a hamster from a bad situation, but hopefully this works out better. I'd much rather adopt. And I can't wait to snuggle him