Madelbean's Head

It gets more interesting as time goes on, her head. She has a strawberry birthmark that feels a little like a bloated gummy-bear, on the right side of her head behind her ear. It's strangely puffy, and while it doesn't worry me any more, it is a bit weird. Her hair is also getting more and more interesting. She has two cowlicks on her forehead that are going to present major challenges to the teenage Madelbean, and a swirl on her crown around which a long curl is wrapping itself. If you catch a glimpse from a certain angle, it almost looks like she's wearing a yarmulke.

Stuff goes in (milk, food, toys, fluffs off the floor), stuff comes out (sounds, snot, puke, food). Stuff also goes on, including all the food she tries using as hair product. Banana has a firm hold and conditioning properties; toast has a medium hold and a light wheaty aroma. Yesterday at lunch she really concentrated on grinding a piece of toast into the area behind her ear. "You can't eat through osmosis," I tell her. Trust me, I've tried.

She's also started hitting herself in the head. Why? We're not sure. She looks at us like she's trying to tell us something, and then, smack, smack, smack. We say "Dada? Are you saying dada?" Smack, smack, smack. "Are you tired?" Smack, smack, smack. "Yes, your hat goes on your head!" Smack.

My fear is that she's reminding me of all the times I let her get bonked on the head. Last night I had her in the Snugli and Mama Horsie was gearing up for a gallop around the house. I went to check her expression in the bathroom mirror, and "WHACK" . . .

"WAAAAAAAHHHH"

She had leaned over the side to see where we were going and I/we smacked her precious head into the cruel, cruel door frame. There is nothing worse than accidentally hurting your baby. I wanted to cry! Daddy swooped in for a consoling hug and a reproachful look, and it wasn't long before she was back to saying "Hi-da" (which we figure means "Hi there") to the dolls.

There are nice things about her head too. It smells sooooooo nice, especially after her bath, but even after three or four non-bath days, it smells better than most other things in this world. And she has started doing the sweetest thing. When she's tired, she lays her head against our chest and just for a moment the world is still. Just a moment, and then she's back to squirming and waving and saying "Hi-da" to the dolls.