One down, nineteen to go!

          (Before)                                            (After)

Today was cause for a big celebration in our house.  Carter lost his first tooth!  

We had been anticipating it for quite a while now.  I even did a "Before the Tooth Falls Out" photo shoot.  The second it could move just the slightest bit, he started wiggling it.  Each day I would get the update on how loose it had become.  It was all I could do to watch it.  The thought and/or sight of a loose tooth sends a wave of nausea throughout my body.  I'm not sure how I made it through three years of teaching 2nd grade!

Today when I arrived home, Carter informed me that his tooth could now bend backwards. Missy, one of our friends who was babysitting at the time, said that he had been messing with it all day and that it was probably ready to fall out. Carter waited until Nick got home so that he could show him.  Then in the midst of a game of Princess Memory for the kids and Nick (Nick finally beat the kids!) and a brief rest on the couch for me,  I was greeted with a bloody mouth, the tiniest tooth, and the proudest six year old you've ever seen.  Apparently when Nick went to answer the phone, Carter wiggled that little tooth right out.  

He was so proud of himself!  He was the big man in the house.  He was enjoying his moment in the spotlight.  He was surrounded by his sister and brother.  They were both in awe of this amazing feat that Carter had accomplished.  After the initial admiration wore off, Emilee went running through the house yelling that Carter had lost his tooth and Kaden kept telling Carter that he was going to die because there was blood.  I'm pleased to say that he is just fine and the bleeding has subsided.

As I sit here writing this for you to enjoy with us, I can't help but feel that this is a bittersweet memory.  It means that he is growing up.  I know that it seems silly but soon his mouth will no longer be filled with those tiny little baby teeth.  Weird, oversized, and, unfortunately for our wallets, probably crooked teeth will soon fill that sweet little boy smile of his.  With that comes all of the other inevitable and sometimes awkward changes that will come his way.  For now I will cherish the little boy who still likes to cuddle up close with me, who tells me how beautiful I am, and who lets me give him one kiss at night that he promises not to wipe off.  I might not be able to stop him from growing up but at least I have 19 more baby teeth to enjoy!

Oh and for those of you who know how we feel about Santa and the Easter Bunny, there will be no visit from the Tooth Fairy tonight.  I did promise to take Carter to the store and let him pick out whichever toothbrush that he wanted and his favorite toothpaste.  This is a big deal in our house because I refuse to buy special toothbrushes and they have to take turns choosing the toothpaste.  (currently it is Disney Princesses)  Apparently not big enough though because as I left his room he asked me if he could get $5.00 too!