A Whole New Smile

My baby lost one of her top front teeth tonight, and of course we celebrated and shouted for joy! I was so excited for her, and proud of her bravery as I twisted and tugged to help it along (it was so loose that it was more of an annoyance to her, and worth a little hurt to just to get it out). We called Daddy to share the good news, and we sent pictures to him, Mawmaw, Aunt Robyn, and Uncle Eric. We giggled at how funny it felt when she talked, and we admired how cute she is in all her toothless beauty (she’s also missing two bottom teeth). And then it was time to settle in and get to sleep so the tooth fairy could make her stop at our house.

A little while later, I walked into my office to get something for the tooth fairy to write a note on; and there on my computer screen were pictures of my sweet faced baby, with all her pearly white baby teeth neatly in place, grinning back at me. And it hit me. My little girl is growing up! Losing those front little baby teeth to be replaced by big, grown up chompers is such a mile marker! Her baby smile is gone! She will have this adorable if not slightly awkward transitional grin, soon to be replaced by her permanent, forever grown up grin. I know she is seven now, and growing up fast, but there are those moments that are so bittersweet, that are happy and sad at the same time, and I just wasn’t prepared for this to be one of them. She has lost 4 other teeth, but because this one is front and center and has a major impact on that beautiful face, it really hit me. I cannot go back to those toddler and baby days. Her smile will never be the same.

Really, I’m ok with it now. Well actually, I’m excited again!  After all, I am so proud of the person she is becoming; and, in my slightly biased opinion, her inner beauty shines through that smile whether her teeth are big or small, or not there at all! I am just grateful that she is growing up happy and healthy, and that she is mine. On the one hand it is so hard to see our children grow and change right before our eyes, and yet on the other hand it is the most rewarding experience I can imagine.

 

A Whole New Smile