The Sentimental Tooth Fairy....

Alex lost his second tooth today. That makes TWO I haven't witnessed. (SIGH.)

I guess you could say I'm a sentimental fool. I keep everything - from vaccination bandaids to fingerpainted artwork to napkins from birthday parties to umbilical cord stumps. (I know, you're thinking "GROSS!" Yeah, it is. But I've kept them. Don't worry, they are NOT on display in a shadow box or anything like that - what do you think I am, crazy? LOL They are tucked away in a box with all the "hospital things" from each birth.)

Come to think of it, packrat is probably a better description. Regardless, I keep things that are meaningful to me and invoke a certain memory. I do this because I have a terrible memory without some sort of tangible reminder of some sort. Pictures, journals, cards, etc - all serve to help me remember.

How does that apply to Alex losing another tooth?

Let me back-track.... His first tooth wiggled for over two months. He had wiggled it until it bled, so Rob was sure it was just about to come out. So, one evening, we set up the camcorder & prepared to capture the event on videotape. After a few minutes, Alex decided it hurt too badly to pull and, well, that was that. Two days later, he was at his Mammie's house (Rob's mom). The phone rang and (wouldn't you know it!) my firstborn announced to me proudly that he had pulled his tooth. I fought to make my voice sound excited over the phone, but in reality, I was terribly disappointed. Of all the things I wouldn't mind missing, the first tooth wasn't one of them!

The tooth fairy brought him a shiny gold $1 coin. I immediately took it away from him and labeled it and put it up in a special place. HA! When he's 20 years old, I just might let him have it....if I can remember where I put it.

Then today at work, Alex came from his Kindergarten room into my classroom, carrying a ziploc bag containing a tiny tooth, smiling from ear to ear to show the (now VERY) obvious gap in his bottom teeth. (SIGH) I had missed another tooth-pulling. He was so proud of himself that I was truly proud, too. This time, the Tooth Fairy will leave him another gold $1 coin and a Susan B. Anthony $1 coin.

And I'll label them and put them up in a special place. Along with the teeth.

And maybe when he's 20, I'll give him a box containing a full set of baby teeth. That is, if I can remember where I put them....