smile

Fist she regards with her big doe-eyes. A head-on stare. You can almost see the wheels of her developing brain turn. Then a big smile unfolds. It blooms into a grin from ear to ear. She smiles with her whole body. She wiggles her shoulders and tummy in mirth. A small, incoherent sound is heard. To my ears it’s a hearty laugh. Her eyes sparkle with the happiness that only babies know. The minutes that turned to hours talking, playing, dancing around are repaid with the toothless smile. She smells of milk and baby drool.