… and he looks it too.
This past week we had a big milestone here. Any guesses as to what it might be?!
Here’s a hint:
Notice something missing?! Yup, Mini Michelangelo lost his first tooth!! I don’t even know how I have a kiddo old enough to have missing teeth! First Kindergaten, and now this?! Oh, how my mama heart does hurt… I’ve blogged here before that it was easy to pretend that he wasn’t growing up, even though I saw glimpses of it here and there. My baby he was.
But, when your baby starts losing teeth, it’s time to accept reality that now—really—you are mama to a boy. And I’m reminded of that every time he smiles at me.
It all started almost two weeks ago when we were at Mini’s 6-month dental check-up. The hygienist exclaimed, “Oh, you might be getting a visit from the tooth fairy soon!” To which I exclaimed, “WHAT?!?!” in a not-so-dignified manner… while Mini exclaimed “What’s a tooth fairy?!” As I leapt from my chair I could see not one, but two teeth wiggling. How could that be?!
On the way home, Mini peppered me with questions about the tooth fairy… What is the tooth fairy? What does the tooth fairy look like? How does the tooth fairy know to come? Where do you leave the tooth? What does the tooth fairy do with the teeth?* And so on. Let me just tell you, that was the longest 6 mile drive I’ve had in a long, long time. (I thought I had years to go before conquering these questions… I was wrong.)
Once we arrived home, the subject was quickly forgotten… but not for long. At the end of that week, one tooth was really wiggling. Enough to warrant whipping up a “tooth monster” (Mini’s request) to hold any lost teeth. And do a quick poll of fellow Mamas as to what the going rate for teeth was. (Turns out that is a loaded—and expensive—question! I received 25 cents per tooth. Where have those days gone!? Now it’s $5s and $10s?! Uh, no.) After a little brainstorming, and a quick run to the bank, the tooth fairy was ready.**
{Tooth Monster… inspired by some of the amazing ideas on Pinterest}
By the beginning of this week… it was a constant source of entertainment to him. And then, one morning… at 3:20 am… I awoke to find Mini standing by the side of my bed, hand clenched in a fist. “My tooth came out!” he exclaimed as soon as my eyes cracked open.
I sat up in disbelief, thinking “How in the world can a tooth fall out in the middle of the night?!” But sure enough, when he opened his hand, a teeny tiny tooth laid in his palm.
“Can you call the tooth fairy now?!” he asked.
I had to explain that the tooth fairy determines his schedule the night before, so I thought it would be best to wait until the next night. He wasn’t convinced, but seemed content enough to put it in a cup on his dresser for safe-keeping… and was much happier when I pointed out that he’d still have bragging rights at school the next day.
The next morning, he skipped into school, excited to show off his new grin. He came home, regaling us with tales of all the great reactions he received. That evening, he set up his tooth pillow—tooth tucked inside—on his bookshelf. (Not under his pillow, where the tooth fairy could sneak in… but where he could keep a good eye on it.) While part of me was sad to see such a big milestone behind us, a bigger part of me reveled in the excitement he had… excitement that was reflected in his face, his words, and his actions. There was a lot of care given to that precious tooth once it was out. The pillow was set up just right. And there may have been a little trouble falling asleep that night, in anticipation of the tooth fairy’s very. first. visit.
Now, when I look at my son… I see a sweet boy, with a gap in his smile. And, at times, I get a glimpse of the baby he was. But more often then not… it’s all boy that I see. And that’s just as precious.
* In case you were wondering, our tooth fairy is really tall and really skinny. He has brown hair and green eyes. He likes wearing jeans and t-shirts. His name is Bob. We can text our tooth fairy that there is a tooth ready for pick-up, but some fairies require a “bat signal” of sorts. The teeth are very precious commodities in the fairy world… almost like gold. (This is what Mini determined on the drive home that felt like forever.)
** Also, our tooth fairy deals in $2 bills. Not the going rate in these parts… but we like to think it’s a little less ordinary (and a little more magical) than the alternatives.
[Note: In the two days it’s taken me to write this post in its entirety… the second tooth has been lost. Someone please tell me it will stop for a while now?!]
blogger / pomelo / 5361 posts
1. Oh my gosh, cutest grin ever. I love little gap-tooth smile pictures.
2. Oh my gosh, cutest pillow ever. I have to make one of these someday very, very, very far in the future…We’re still hoping to eventually GET teeth after all.
3. Oh my gosh, $10 for a tooth??!?!??!?!?!??!?! Wowzas. Love the $2 bill idea. My granddad gave us all a $2 bill when we were little. I don’t think I knew that you could just get them at a bank still. Great idea.
honeydew / 7488 posts
Wow! So cute! How old is he again? It doesn’t look like my 5 yr has any loose teeth but several of her friends have lost teeth. I have a pillow ready to go. $2 bills is a great idea! I was going to do $1 but maybe I’ll do a silver dollar instead.
blogger / persimmon / 1398 posts
@Mrs. Blue: Thank you thank you thank you! (And I cried when he lost his tooth. Mostly because we worked *so* hard to get those in!)
@T-Mom: He’s 5 and a quarter. (His words, not mine!) And he is the first one in his class to lose a tooth. I think the average is late fives and early sixes for the teeth to start coming out?! And, I love the idea of a silver dollar!
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts
so freaking adorable and you are so so cuteeeeeeeeee i love love love your posts!!!!!!! that handsome boy is turning into a lil man before our eyes!!! :*)
blogger / persimmon / 1220 posts
$5 and $10???? Not in my house!
He is adorable. And did you make that pillow?
admin / watermelon / 14210 posts
$2 bill is so smart! makes it extra special.
blogger / pomegranate / 3491 posts
Aw what a big boy!! We got a dollar growing up but if you brought your tooth to my grandpa before the tooth fairy got it, you would get $5! I am sure my parents were part furious and part relieved not to have to remember to sneak into our rooms
blogger / persimmon / 1398 posts
@mrsjyw: Thank you!!! You made my day!


@Mrs Checkers: I did make the pillow!
@Mrs. Bee: Thanks! We really like how the $2 bill is working out. He’s bringing it in for show and tell, so that must mean he thinks it’s cool?!
@Mrs. Confetti: Uhm, I would vote for relieved.
blogger / clementine / 998 posts
wow $2 bills, that sounds amazing.
blogger / nectarine / 2600 posts
I love this! Your tooth pillow is beyond adorable! My parents also did the $2 for my first tooth so that brings back such great memories
blogger / pear / 1563 posts
Awww! Such a sweet smile! It sounds like you guys made it really special.
blogger / pomegranate / 3300 posts
Oh my, we have a wiggly tooth too. James is so excited to loose it. I am absolutely going to make a monster pillow. That is cutest thing ever. I love the two dollar bill. I nearly choked on the water I was drinking when I read $10 a tooth!!! No sir!
blogger / persimmon / 1398 posts
@Mrs. Chocolate: Thank you! I love that your folks did a $2 bill too!
@Mrs. Pinata: Thank you!
@Mrs. Train: You’ll have to share what you make!
And yes, I had the same reaction to the $10.
hostess / wonderful honeydew / 32460 posts
ahhhh I love him. so so handsome.
haha love the tooth monster too!!!
*sniffles* your boy is growing up too fast!