Belly buttons

A few weeks back my 4th born and I were talking about belly buttons. What are they? Why do we have them? I explained that they come in all different shapes and sizes...innies, outies, big and little, some pristine and some with lint...that his fed him when he was in my belly. And that was that. We were off to the next thing, maybe thomas toys for him and keeping house for me.
Then, I had a baby again. Maybe because labor was easy or maybe because I've learned to soak it all in, but I remember the cord, the attachment of my baby to her life source.
And for a couple weeks I was reminded of it every time I saw the dark little cord dangling from her belly. I remember when it fell of, I joked that I was sad because it made her not new, newborn anymore.
But she still has the button. And I love it. I have 6 little belly buttons all serving as a reminder that I was linked to and the life-giver to 6 beautiful people.
Though the pregnancies daunting, the symbolism of their belly buttons is beautiful. They're linked to me. A permanent mark that someone...me, supported their life for 9 months. They were nourished because of our attachment.
I think about when they're grown up, dads and moms themselves. They will still go on carrying the mark that we are connected. I'm their mom. They are my children.
A permanent marking of a sacred bond between me and my 6. The belly button.