The buffer of non-personal communication on the internet allows me to say to the world: My baby toes are weird. There, I said it. "Hello my name is Lacey and I have weird toes." They're extra fat and each have two nails. Yeah, that's right... TWO. Good Lord, why am I typing this?!?
I have always assumed they were some sideshow birth defect I received from my birth mom who probably smoked and drank while pregnant with me. That was the only cause I could think of to explain why they are this way. I thought I was part circus freak like Jimbo the crab clawed midget or the elephant man.
As it turns out, that's not the case. Well, they aren't "normal" by any means, but they aren't due to any birth defect... that's for sure. And it only took 28 years and having a baby to learn this!
Here's the story:
Seconds after giving birth, as all the NICU doctors were examining Leilani on the table next to me in the delivery room, I started hearing mumblings that something wasn't right. Holy cow... I was frightened. (You don't know fear until you experience something like that!) Then one of the six doctors huddled over my newborn baby turns to me and Mike and says, "There's something wrong here, do either of you have a weird baby toe?" For the first time in my life, I was so happy to blurt out, "YES! I do!"
Turns out, the toe thing is actually hereditary. I had no clue. Neither did my parents, Mike, anyone else I've talked to about this.
The really amazing thing (aside from always being able to easily identify my newborn) is that I'm adopted and have no information about my parents or any real family. At times, I feel very alone in the world. So Leilani is the only real family I have. She's the only blood relative I have. And in addition to that very special bond, we also have this. Our own little special connection that's completely ours.
I love that little toe.
I bet that little toe gets tons of kisses!!!
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