she waited a long time for this

Baby tooth grins. When I hear there is a loose tooth – a first loose tooth – I feel the very urgent need to document those baby tooth grins. I have hundreds of pictures of my kids, but there is just something about knowing the baby teeth will soon be gone that makes me need just a couple more. My kids know this. Last week my oldest daughter came to me and told me I better get pictures right away because she was about to pull out her tooth. I grabbed my camera and we ran outside – immediately.

Her younger sister followed us out and wanted pictures of her ‘lost tooth’. Part of a cleft lip/palate is a gap in the gum line (until it is later surgically corrected). She proudly shows her ‘lost tooth’ to everyone…We finished up pictures and went back inside. About 15 minutest later she asked me what to do to pull out her tooth. I told her to twist and pull. She did.I keep finding her in front of the mirror grinning at her new smile. The constant joy in growing older and getting bigger seems to be a hallmark of childhood. She is relishing this new-found bigness. I’m celebrating with her…while I ask her if I can glue it back in!