30 Minutes

I had the chance to sit and hold the baby girl for an entire half hour as she slept.  I didn't give a spelling test, teach fractions, read email, check Facebook, go over a book.  I just sat.  And enjoyed her.  I stared at her eyelashes.  The ones that were so short and stubby four months ago.  I traced her chubby little cheek as the dishwasher swirled and the rest of my family played a game of Sorry.  I looked at the way her hair swirls around her cowlick and wondered if her hair will be straight like Gabby's or have the curls that Kate used to have.

It was beautiful.  And fleeting.  I am so grateful to be her Mama.