It wasn't the first one... she's already lost four on the bottom. But two days ago, Shout lost one of her top, front baby teeth. Last weekend, I had made a mental note to take a picture of her smile because I knew the top teeth were loose and soon to fall out. But I never got around to it. By Sunday, one of the teeth had slid down, already beginning its journey toward the Tooth Fairy's Palace. Her smile was different and I knew I'd missed my chance.
Those perfect, tiny, symmetrical white teeth...I remember when they first appeared. Don't ask me how old she was, because she's the fourth kid and I can't remember things like that. But I do remember rubbing my finger along the little pearls that first appeared along her gum.
She has a tiny mouth, and tiny teeth. There are years of orthodontia in her future. Her adult teeth will barely have any room to grow in. But her baby teeth were the perfect fit for that little mouth. Straight and snug.
As I slid the tooth out from under her pillow, and slid a dollar bill back in, I had to wipe away my tears. There have been lots of teeth lost in this house, but those top two for each kid have always made me melancholy. They are so much a part of who they are as little ones. How they looked with those teeth is seared in my mind. And when they fall out, and new, bigger teeth grow in, it all changes. They are suddenly big kids - their toddler smiles forever gone.
And so with my last baby, that top tooth falling out was a tender moment for me. Time is unrelentingly marching forward. Their faces change, their feet get big, legs grow long, and teeth fall out.
The smiles of my babies are gone. Replaced by the smiles of big kids.
7 comments:
Next we'll be buying razors for our 13yo boys. But that's a dad's worry...
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who gets teary eyed over a lost tooth. You are right - the end of the baby front teeth is the end of "baby" and the start of "kid" hood.
buaah! A hasn't lost any teeth yet - I better take a pic soon!
Well my GOSH Sue.. Now I'm crying all over my computer.
Do you save their wee little teeth? Because I do and I can't decide if a box full of teeth is nostalgic or just creepy.
Either way, Ican't throw them out. They will someday be the only tangible remains of their babydom.
*sniff*
Oh man. This really hit home. My oldest son just turned six and lost his first tooth, and I actually had the same feeling. I remember when that baby tooth first came in, how excited we were. How those little teeth ate the first solid food. How we snapped the pictures of our then only child, drooling and teething. Time moves too quickly. Once a parent this becomes so clear...
This is so sweet. I can relate. My 6 year old lost a tooth this past week...and he pulled it out himself! Totally manly thing to do...not such a baby anymore.
What Rita said...Do you save their teeth? I saved all of my first three for the longest time but when I met my now-hubby, he told me it was creepy LOL . Now I have a hard time figuring out what to do with them.
You are right: time really flies too fast when you are having fun with kids. My sister also saved the baby teeth of her two kids. I never gave it much thought then, but now when I look back at it I actually think it is a little sweet to keep a small memento of your kid's childhood.
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