A few nights ago, I was sitting in the living room and was absolutely started by a blood-curdling scream from the bathroom. It was a shocking and terrifying sound and I knew
immediately it was Grace.... "Mommy!! Mommy!!!!" I bolted up the stairs and tried to open the door- which I found to be locked. "Open the door! Open the door!!" She unlocked it, still screaming. As I opened the door, expecting to find her in a pool of blood- or something horrifying, or even worse- I instead discovered her clutching her bottom lip, crying her head off, jumping up and down with her eyes fixated in the mirror. "My tooth is loose! My tooth is loose!!"
Oh- heavens to Betsy- you would've truly thought the sky was falling!!
But, being that this was her very first loose tooth- I just held her close, chuckled and told her how exciting it was. After she calmed down, and let me convince her that it wasn't going to hurt- she really felt like she had conquered the earth. "I'm a big girl now, Mom!"
And I have to admit... my heart sank a bit- though I continued to smile and assure her that yes, she was, indeed- a big girl.
For some reason- this milestone affected me more than others. I'm not sure why.
After all, it's just a tooth! But it seemed to signify so much more than that. Like the very last straw that tied her to her baby/toddler and preschool years. Now, just one tooth loose... but I know it won't be long- it will barely seem like I blinked an eye and she'll have a mouth full of
permanent ("adult" gasp!) teeth that will seem much too old for my "little girls" mouth. But,
after all, I will then be forced to finally admit that she really is no longer my little girl.
Oh, my... what the lose of one little baby tooth can do to a mother!!
So- fast forward 2 days. While brushing her teeth, out popped the tooth. As uneventful and painless as I had promised her. And, just as I had assured her- she did NOT swallow her tooth- which seemed to be her greatest fear.
Last night, she reminded me, yet again- "Mom! I'm a big girl, now! See?!?" And she struck a pose and I grabbed my camera. Forever
immortalizing her very first "toothless smile."
Excuse me while I wipe a few tears... sniffle sniffle.
Well, in other news. At least I have this other little munchkin that I like to call my baby girl. My friend, Jena, reminded me the other day that I referred to her as "the baby" in my blog- which didn't strike me as the least bit out of place until I remembered that she is,
after all, 2 years and 3 months old... a far cry from a real baby- but the closest thing I've got. So- she will remain, "the baby"- and considering her
miniature stature- it might be for several years to come ;)
Speaking of "the baby" I found a pair of big blue eyes peeking at me from across the couch. It was a bit surprising- a tad bit creepy- and then mostly just funny. I laughed my head off (and, of course, grabbed my camera) to capture "the baby" in all her humor and glory... tucked in a laundry basket, of course. There is nothing this girl cannot make fun....
