‘Mummy, why can’t you tell us who came out of your tummy first? I think it’s Lara because her tooth fell out first.’
One of the most exciting things about our winter holidays at Smith’s Lake and the big city was the thrill of Lara’s tooth loss and consequent visit from the Tooth Fairy. Unlike the pattern of some of their other more regular bodily functions, which can be almost concurrent, Rhea’s tooth loss was a relatively long way behind: it fell out two-and-a-half weeks after Lara’s. Lara emailed, called and texted everyone she knew to share the big news – even relatives who were overseas.
‘How does the tooth fairy know that your tooth has fallen out?’
I did an internet search for that one and came up with a website which explained all about it. It reminded Lara of how she had seen Santa last Christmas when he came in to their room in the middle of the night to deliver their presents, but he hadn’t noticed that she was awake. Rhea planned to stay awake so she didn’t miss seeing the tooth fairy. She didn’t, but they were both very happy with their two shiny dollar coins each, and added our money to them to fill up their purses. Rich with about $8 each, they offered to pay for more beanie boo toys at the petrol station with their own money: ‘here’s $20 dad’ – giving Steve a 20c coin.
The extracted teeth were quite different from each other. Lara’s was more square, with ridges along the inside. Rhea’s had a long root which hung on for a couple of days, the tooth very precariously connected. They both like the feel of their tongues in the gap where the new tooth is growing, and Rhea now has another wobbly one. She thinks she won’t offer it to the tooth fairy, she’ll stick it in her school ‘Life’ scrapbook instead. I hope she does. Steve and I wondered whether we should keep the first one and this way it will be her decision.
The girls now look six, with their messy, crooked dentures. The milestones are coming thick and fast. They still drink milk from babies’ bottles twice a day and play with their dolls and teddies, but perhaps not for much longer.
We enjoyed our sleep ins during the holidays, and going on little expeditions. The girls loved taking time for climbing trees, doing rainforest walks, having fish and chips at the boathouse by the lake, the ice-creams every day and other treats and discoveries (we saw whales from a lighthouse, and dolphins from a playground!) and generally revelling in our company. We read them the complete works of Winnie-the-Pooh chapter by chapter, more than once, and they took it all in very seriously, enjoying the poems and adventures and completely missing any irony or humour. Tick bites (both girls) and leaches on legs (Rhea and I) were retrospective highlights.
According to Operation Ouch, Rhea and Lara’s current favourite TV show, some adult teeth are already there under a baby’s gums when they are born. What a piece of clockwork is a growing body, how clever are its components. And what a precious little childhood interval this time of life is.
Today marks another milestone: Lara and Rhea’s grandmother Ann’s 80th – Happy Birthday Ann! I hope you enjoyed reading about the little joys of your youngest relations.
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