Dear Baby

(I know they are a bit hard to see in this photo, but this was the best shot I got out of my 20 or so attempts)

Ladies and gentlemen, we have teeth.

I refer to this affectionately as the “bunny teeth” stage. Two little chompers that flash every time Arlo smiles like a baby rabbit. I knew his first teeth were on their way but it seems they just sprouted up overnight.

Also, it now appears as if Brent and I are breeding a new group human beings that come out of the womb ready to eat beef jerky and salt water taffy. Both of my babes sprouted their first two teeth before their 5 month birthdays. I wonder if Arlo’s will come in 4 and 6 at a time like Everly’s did.

With such dentally advanced children (you didn’t even realize there was such a category in baby development, did you?) I’m left to wonder if they will get Brent’s teeth alignment which required very little orthodontic attention, or will they be cursed with their mama’s crazy mouth of horror that took 4 years worth of braces, oral surgery, rubber bands and retainers to fix.

I need to dig up my second grade photo so you can see what I am talking about. Buck teeth (thanks to prolonged thumb sucking), a gap in the front through which I learned to expertly shoot water, and the rest of my mouth had teeth sprouting all willy-nilly like someone glued them up in there in a hurry. I will never, ever be able to truly express my gratitude to my parents for shelling out the money to get them fixed. I actually get complimented on my teeth all the time now which is a true testament to my orthodontist. That man worked some serious magic in my mouth from fourth grade through eighth.

And now as I finish this post, I’ve just come to the frightening realization that instead of saving for their college educations, we might need to start putting money away for their mouths first!

Love,

M