finally!

it's been hanging on by a tiny shred for the last two weeks or so. everyday i've been asking her if i could just pull it out already and everyday she yells, "no, it'll hurt mommy!" it has become a playful ritual when i pick her up after work that seemingly ends with that tooth remaining in her mouth for another day. but today she showed one of her teachers her loose tooth and wiggled it with pride. she wiggled it so much she almost knocked it out but then stopped in fear of the pain that might follow despite the reassurance from everyone around her that it would only hurt for a minute.

i picked her up today and the ritual ensued, only today it ended a little differently. "maybe i could just bite into an apple and it will come out on it's own?" ok, i can work with that! so after much gnawing and nibbling with her side teeth, apple juice running down her chin and cheeks, she finally found the strength in the moment to go for it...i was in the kitchen when she came running with tooth in hand, "mommy, i lost my first tooth! i lost my first tooth! can you believe it?! oh my god, i lost my first tooth. oh my god i lost my first tooth. this is amazing! the tooth fairy is going to be soooo excited to see this!"


yeah, pretty much the best thing since the first day of kindergarten!

i am pouring you a cup of tea...

tonight i am pouring you a cup of tea along with my own, with a touch of honey to sweeten the bitter. i am pouring you a cup of tea, the kind where the water is boiled slowly in a kettle on the open flames of the burner and steam rises and whistles to let me know it's ready. my thoughts are far away as i think of you and the daily grind that keeps our minds so preoccupied. the daily grind of kids laughing and the commute to work each morning. the daily grind of us just living our lives. i miss you. so tonight i am pouring you a cup of tea and it will steep, there on the counter next to mine, but i will drink mine alone. i will drink my cup of tea alone and think of all the things i have to tell you and all the things i imagine you have to tell me too. i will smile and maybe even laugh out loud. because that's what we do when we sit and talk and drink our tea together. and i will miss your company. and i will miss your smile. and i will miss the way you hug me when you hug me the way you do. i miss you. i miss you. i miss you.