"Mommy, My Tooth Fell Off!"

A milestone occurred in our household today...and depending whose perspective you are taking into account - it could be viewed as pure excitement or....with a touch of sentimentality. My little boy Reece now has a different grin. I am happy for him as he has been anxiously awaiting this event for weeks now. And the anticipation really began to build last night. His tooth was fairly loose, but he was running around last evening, and tripped....bumping his face against the couch and thus loosening the already loose tooth just a little more. So although I had thought it would hold on for about a week longer...it turned out differently.

As any sentimental Mom would do (okay maybe not "any" - but "me") I tucked the boys in last night and told Reece about when he was a little guy - with just 6 or so months of life in him - and how we first saw glimpses of that first tooth just barely popping through his gummy grin. As first time parents, it was a big deal - I must have snapped nearly 25 close-ups of his sweet smile...trying to capture and freeze the only wide and gum filled smile we knew....knowing in just days he would look completely different.....

 

My heart is full of how much that little boy has grown up already. I didn't think this was all supposed to happen so quickly. Where has the time gone? Yes, I know, I know...it is just a tooth - but it is a visual change in my sweet boy, and a very real indicator that he is leaving behind those "little boy" years.

 

Here he is, his last picture with his full set of baby teeth...and a short video of his fine wiggling tactics!



And then, within minutes of the first video - he came running with excitement, declaring that it had finally fallen "off"! I had given him the option of working on it himself or if he wasn't ready for that, to just leave it alone, get ready for school and it would happen when it was ready. His curiosity couldn't hold off... And here is his new look with the gappy grin!

 

Off to school he went and he returned with a big sticker from his teacher and a tiny little yellow plastic mouse to put his tooth in under his pillow. Here in Mexico, there isn't a tooth fairy....but rather, a little mouse or "ratoncito". The little mouse pays a visit in the night, checks for the tooth under the pillow and leaves a little money surprise. We told Reece that the tooth fairy might actually come alongside the ratoncito - since after all, she likes little boys' teeth too! Reece happily put his tooth in just the right spot and drifted off to sleep...but not before asking numerous questions about what all of this looks like....

 

 

The cutest thing too... he asked me if it would be okay that the tooth fairy might see him sleeping without his shirt on. I assured him she would be mostly concerned about searching under the pillow for the tooth and likely wouldn't even notice! So off went the shirt for a more comfortable sleep...

 

And all is now in its place for the morning....since we are such an international family...he will receive a fine assortment of coinage - from the USA, Canada, and Mexico! Good thing both characters are participating tonight because that is a bit of a load for one to carry on their own (wink, wink) Goodnight and happy imagination.....!