Little Fingers

Clara's little fingers are becoming increasingly dexterous.

Now, while nursing, she passes the time exploring my face with her free hand.  Both of my hands are tied up holding her, bracing her weight (now over 22 lbs.), so she has few defenses to contend with.  Fingers go up my nose as I crane my neck to avoid them.  Handfuls of cheek are jerked this way and that.  And no matter how tightly I pinch my lips together, those little fingers still manage to wiggle into my mouth.  As this struggle continues, with Clara more the victor than me, I become humored by it all and start laughing.  Clara stops nursing to beam at me.  She doesn't know what's funny, but she wants to be a part of it.  For her, any opportunity to share a smile and some fun is a good one.

I used to clip Clara's finger nails for her sake.  The moment they got too long, she would unwittingly scratch herself.  Now I clip her finger nails for my sake.  She no longer scratches herself, but in her constant exploration and climbing of me, she leaves her mark.  Battle wounds.

One of the many occupational hazards of being a mom.

Little fingers are into everything these days...