Grown

When she was born, her fingernails curved over the ends of her fingers, and the nailbeds beneath them did as well. Concerned, I showed the midwife. She shrugged. "I've seen that before," she said. "They'll straighten out like normal within a few weeks."

They did. She now has perfect little fingernails. Straight, short, ending at the ends of her fingers, like nails should.

Part of me is a little sad. She's my last baby, and she's getting so big so fast. The little newborn things -- wrinkled skin, long fingernails, misshapen head -- are all pretty much gone. She's alert every day for longer periods. She no longer just lays on me and sleeps.

Believe me, I know it's dumb to feel this way. But there you go. Such is motherhood.

I mean, let's face it, once her toenails have grown to the ends of her toes, I'll probably be all weepy. And don't come near me once she's learned to control her arms.