Teeth

First visit to the dentist: Fri, 08/24/12

Staying occupied watching cartoons.

Right before we left for our annual summer vacation to Montauk, I took Lauren to the dentist for the very first time.  It was a success!  She didn't have any cavities and everything looked good.  The dentist, Dr. Elizabeth Kitsos, however pointed out something I was not expecting at all...her middle front tooth was wiggling!!  I honestly feel that kids are no longer "little kids" when they start losing their baby teeth.  It's almost as if they are going through their awkward growth years.  My baby!  This couldn't be possible.  She said the tooth can wiggle for months but couldn't pinpoint the exact time she expected the tooth to fall out.  At the same time, Dr. Kitsos confirmed that Lauren's 6-year-old molars were coming in earlier than normal - but not a big deal.  (Lauren got her teeth very early as an infant and had 8 teeth by the time she turned one.)  Her lower left molar was almost completely out.  Her lower right were just about to break through...and the top would follow shortly thereafter.

On Thursday, 9/13, as I was brushing Lauren's teeth before bed, she said something was stuck between her teeth.  She had corn on the cob so I was expecting a kernel or something.  Lo and behold, her permanent lower-middle tooth was coming in.  I continued to brush in COMPLETE DENIAL.  I finally mustered enough composure to tell Tae...then my mom.  I guess her adult teeth are coming in sooner than her baby teeth are ready to leave.  Her teeth are wiggling but they still appear quite sturdy.  I have the heeby-jeebies with this kind of stuff so I can't even get myself to wiggle her teeth by myself.  I speak sternly and tell Lauren to leave her teeth alone.

In reality, I don't want her to lose her baby teeth.  Not just yet.  Not ever I suppose.  I am starting to experience more hardship acknowledging the growth of my children.  I see 7-year-olds (just two short years older than Lauren) and they are completely different.  They are so much older.  It's unbelievable to me that by the time E is L's age, L will be this "elderly" 7-year-old.

My friends tease me and say I was never great with change.  And I admit it - when it comes to my children - I am TERRIBLE with change.  I know that there is absolutely nothing I can do to prevent them from growing up.  But there has been so much growth, development, and well - change in the past three months alone for Lauren.  I wasn't prepared for it.  Tae and I are completely aligned with this sentiment so at least we can share our ba-lues together.  Sigh.