Adios baby teeth

Here is my dear Lacey girl, a couple of short weeks ago just before New Year's. Isn't she cute? Look at that smile. I love that smile. She is extra happy here because she is holding one of her favorite treats in the whole wide world - Grandma Judy's cinnamon rolls. Grandma knows how much Lacey loves her cinnamon rolls, and every time we go to visit, there are, of course, always cinnamon rolls - for Lacey & the rest of us. In fact, rumor has it that Uncle Casey knows just how to get Grandma to make them - even when Lacey isn't around. All he has to do is say to Judy, in his best, little-girl Lacey voice, "Grandma Judy, will you make cinnamon rolls?" And chances are, he can get her to do it! The whole Wallace family is thankful for Lacey's passion for Grandma's cinnamon rolls, because we all enjoy the fruits of her passion!

But - this post is not about cinnamon rolls, so look at that sweet 7-year-old smile up above again. Isn't it adorable? Now - look at the picture below of my 7-year-old Lacey girl. Notice anything different?


Ahhhh! Ms. Tooth Fairy has been working overtime at our house, as Lacey seems to keep losing teeth. Though this new smile is still adorable, I will admit that I did not cheer with excitement when Lacey recently lost her top front tooth. Every time she would wiggle her tooth, I would say, "stop doing that right this instant!" I could have waited for this event to transpire. I wanted to keep that little tooth in tact in her mouth, and if given the opportunity, I would have probably resorted to a little super glue to keep that tooth in place. But those who know Lacey know that she is a very persistent little girl, and that wiggly, annoying tooth had to come out! She would not let it be until it was out of her mouth & under her pillow, awaiting the Tooth Fairy. For me, when those two front teeth go, I know that my little girl goes with them. She is teetering between little girl and big girl at this very moment, and if those baby teeth would have just stayed a little longer, I am sure my little girl would stay longer too. But she is in a hurry, so I guess I will follow her lead, as the big girl inside gradually surfaces from one day to the next. And when the little girl shows her face, I will be there to give her a hug or read her a story and savor those tender moments, which I know, are limited - just as limited as those darn baby teeth!


Speaking of losing teeth, I think it is interesting that each of my girls has had a different way of handling her tooth-losing phase of life. Each daughter's personality is definitely reflected in the way she deals with the presence of a wiggly, wobbly tooth. My independent oldest, Madi, pulled out almost all of her own teeth. Perhaps this was due, in part, to the time, early on in her tooth-losing career, when my dad decided to "help" her pull out a tooth. (This is the same dad who was known to chase his own children around the house and sit on them, all for the chance of pulling a loose tooth -- and yes, I speak from personal experience). He was apparently a little over-enthusiastic as he "helped" Madi, because she ended up swallowing that loose tooth! Madi actually handled that experience rather well for a 5-year-old, but from then on, the number one puller of Madi's teeth was Madi, herself. I remember a couple of times when she asked for my help to rid herself of a frustrating baby tooth, and though I tried, I couldn't seem to accomplish the task. Madi was always happy to wiggle and jiggle, twist and turn those loose teeth, working them free from her mouth as quickly as possible, all on her own.

Katie, on the other hand, is my cautious daughter who leaves loose teeth dangling by a proverbial thread until the permanent tooth practically grows in to fill the would-be gap, all to avoid the pain and blood. No amount of talking, coercion, bribery, or threats will convince Katie to let you gently tug on the tooth, even when it's so loose that a strong gust of wind could blow it out, unless, or course you're her teacher. For some reason, Katie will let teachers pull out her loose teeth. A few times, amid sobs and tears, she has succumbed to my proddings and allowed me to pull a tooth, only to begin giggling the minute she realized the tooth was gone and that she had felt no pain.

And then Lacey - she enjoys losing her teeth. She wants you to pull them before they are ready, and she will wiggle them incessantly until they are finally ready to come out. But then - being the baby sister that she is - she wants someone else to do the dirty work. She has no interest in pulling her own teeth or waiting until they are ready to drop out on their own. She wants the loose teeth out, and she wants them out now, and she wants someone else to get them out. And for Lacey, the fun continues as more loose teeth loom in that mouth of hers. Oh well, even if she loses 5 more teeth in the next couple of months, she'll still be able to eat Grandma Judy's cinnamon rolls, and that's all that really matters!