Something's missing

I think AJ experienced a significant milestone yesterday. Unfortunately, the most obvious piece of evidence has been lost. Literally. But compare AJ's smile, specifically the small gap just left of center in his bottom row of teeth, here:


Versus what it looked like nine days earlier in this rollercoaster shot from Sea World. (If you really want to look, click on the photo to enlarge it.)

AJ's been saying his tooth was loose, but he hasn't been overly obsessive about wiggling it, and I never actually wiggled it myself. Then yesterday, on the way home from Kids Korner, AJ told Jeff that his tooth had fallen out, but he didn't know where it was.

Regardless, a significant event has now occurred. The tooth fairy made her maiden visit to our house last night.

We left a note for her under AJ's pillow explaining that the tooth was really lost. One of my mom-friends suggested AJ could draw a picture of the tooth on the note. AJ thought this was a good idea, so he ran and grabbed the note from under the pillow, got a pen, then stood and stared at the paper for a few seconds before asking, "Um, Mom, can you do it?"

We also finally got to put to use the cool tooth case (I don't know what else to call it) that Grandpa Bill and Grandma Jo gave AJ for his baptism almost five years ago.

A quick poll of my Facebook friends revealed that $1 is the going-rate for teeth these days. One friend mentioned that her son particularly appreciated it when the tooth fairy left four quarters instead of a dollar. Hmmm... sounds like a certain 5-year-old I know.

When AJ awakes in a few minutes, he's going to find that case filled with four quarters, plus a note wishing him luck with his new tooth, and a reminder to brush every day.

Hopefully the next time she visits, there will be a baby tooth to show for it.