other than a dimple in a cute little chin, what is better than a toothless grin?

were you terrified of losing your first tooth? i don't remember being scared at all. i remember being upset by the teasing of my aunts and uncles who intended to remove it for me- but i didn't rest until i had successfully removed all of my baby teeth. earlier this year, rhiannon had her first and second baby teeth removed by the dentist. although terrifying for me, she was not bothered in the least by the experience. so when her next tooth started to wiggle, then interfere with her eating and speaking, she was terrified of what would happen if she removed it herself. no amount of support and encouragement could get that tooth out. it has been hanging there by a thread for at least a month. she has worked very hard at keeping it in place. we have been very worried about the potential consequences of her leaving it there for so long. well, one of my worst fears as a mother became reality the other evening when rhiannon came running down the stairs screaming and with a mouthful of blood to boot. it seems her sister had accidentally kneed her in the mouth while they played. o.k., a secret part of me hoped she had knocked that tooth out. no such luck. she had embedded it in the gums farther. now, i could not let that tooth stay any longer. what if it began to heal that way? best to get it out immediately! rhiannon agreed and for two hours i tried to get close enough to pull it. i never even got to wiggle it! it's not exactly like i loved the idea of having to pull it, it totally creeped me out, but i am a mom and that means dealing with all kinds of things i never expected. after so long, i had no idea what to do. thank god for aunts and uncles with the intention of removing your teeth. my sister drove across town in the middle of the night to help rhiannon get her tooth out. and you know what- it was even easier than everyone had said. rhiannon cried for a second from seeing a tiny bit of blood, but then laughed and laughed at her fears. she was giddy, and sooooo adorable without that tooth. she called dad at work in the middle of the night to tell him the good news.