The wrinkle of champions.

Given the fact that Bennett’s approaching his first birthday, it seems timely to assess the changes that I’ve noticed in myself over the last year.  I’m not talking emotional, mushy stuff.  I’m talking the physical toll that mommyhood has taken.

First of all, there’s the two gray hairs.  Ain’t no biggie for this hair colorist.  Not feeling any sense of urgency over the matter.

Second of all, my arms are flabby.  Clearly, this isn’t Bennett’s fault.  If anything, he keeps them as tone as they are, what with all the lifting and scooping and carrying.  No, this is more of an I’m-avoiding-the-gym-for-now-because-I’m-in-my-baby’s-face kind of an issue.

But thirdly, and most importantly, I found a line (otherwise known as a wrinkle).  On my face.  Between my eyebrows.  Clearly this is a square piece line.  While some faces are fortunate to get the jolly lines around their eyes and mouth, evidence of years of smiling, I, Square Piece, have gotten the line that says, “Hold it.  I’m thinking.  This is serious and important and must be analyzed to death.  Study, study, study.  Ponder, ponder, ponder.  Scheme, scheme, scheme.”

As a child, I remember Mandy and I gettin’ on Momma’s case about the way she furrowed her brows all of the time.  Perhaps we even teased that they might get stuck that way.

Well, who’s laughin’ now?!

My skin has told on me.  It’s declared me a lifelong thinker, a master of puzzles – both mental and physical – a Do-It-Yourself’er, a perfectionist, but mostly a square piece.

This comes as no surprise.  I often find my brows furrowed without my even realizing that I had been so deep in thought.

This is obviously the wrinkle of champions.

But hopefully the laugh lines will catch up one day.