SOL19 - Slice #2 Frogs symbolize transformation

I am participating in the
 Slice of Life Story Challenge (SOL19)
All participants are writing about one moment, one part of their day, every day for the month of March 2019.

A big thank you to Two Writing Teachers for providing this unique opportunity
for teacher-writers to share and reflect.

One day in late October, at about five in the morning, my daughter-in-law went into labor, and we became grandparents to the most amazing little dark-haired girl.

On that very same day in late October, at about five in the morning, my mother suddenly became very ill and was rushed to the hospital; she died two days later.

My Mom left this world as our new baby entered it.

I feel the holy in this.

The height of joy, the depths of sadness, abundance, all.

I want to share so much about this beautiful child (*Frog) in our lives! She has been a healing balm for me these past months. We are so lucky that Frog lives only 20 minutes away from us, and we get to see her lots and lots. 

Let me tell you about Frog.

That dark, full head of hair,

a mix of black, brown, auburn, and light.

Those wide eyes,

penetrating, watching, absorbing.

So many precious faces she makes, 

even when she is asleep.

I love to sit and watch her, 

emotions flowing by,

happy, worried, wondering, surprised, serene,

and, oh, that heart-wrenching frown with the bottom lip puckered out -
you best hurry with that bottle you are fixing!

Her Daddy made that face when he was a baby.

There are often noises with the faces, 

coos, cackles, and cries.

She is just learning to laugh.

She finds freedom and joy on the changing table,

smiling with delight,

at her body free from the trappings of clothes,

legs dancing and stretching.

Frog's hands are so expressive, 

long, delicate fingers,

finding their way into her mouth

grabbing on the bottle or my hand, as I feed her,

or blanketing her face, 

discovering, 

and, often,

when sleeping,

held in tight fists.

I wonder, 

is she dreaming about all the work ahead,

as she changes the world?

*FYI - As I begin to share stories from my heart, I've decided to write fictitious names for my loved ones - however clunky that may seem - in the interest of preserving whatever shreds of anonymity one really has in this world. I'm going to call my grandchild 'Frog' - I love frogs...as a spirit animal, they exemplify renewal, transformation, metamorphosis, and so much more.