The Tooth Fairy Cometh

Last week, Declan cut two teeth. I knew there was something wrong on Monday when, during a routine grocery store outing, Declan screamed so loud that people shopping in other aisles recoiled from us when we came around the corner. We were grocery store lepers.

Lo and behold, after many fake-outs, I felt Declan's first tooth when we got home. Now, because nothing can ever be the easy option, we had one of those weeks. He didn't want to nap, he was fussy all the time, and for the last few nights, he's been up for a solid two hours in the middle of the night. Two nights ago he woke up every half hour. This is where the mommy instinct comes in. Where Rich was done with D's shenanigans, I just knew there was something wrong. The next morning, the second tooth had appeared.

Of course the only thing that will work is Motrin. Last week, I found myself counting the minutes until I could give it to him again. He takes the biggest dose because of his size and before I knew it, the whole bottle was gone. Then I started worrying that I was "that mom", the one who drugs her kids instead of giving them the love and tenderness that they deserve...but, the thing is, it works. Last week, Declan wouldn't nap without it. I'd get him asleep in my arms, but the moment I laid him down in his crib he'd wake up hysterical.

I'm from the "do what you've got to do" mommy school. I think judging someone because their kid still takes a pacifier or sleeps in their bed or drinks formula or is held all the time is completely worthless. I save judgement for the big things, like whether they have cute clothes or not. Or whether they have the right brand of stroller. That's a big one.


On another note, Declan is now a proficient crawler and has been delighting in traveling where he wants to go and exploring every corner of a room. Mostly, he gravitates toward all the spaces he should avoid, and really wants to chew on every electrical cord he can find. Now, every time I leave a room, I imagine that I'll walk in and his hair will be on end with smoke coming out of his ears. Maybe that should be his halloween costume...I already bought a dinosaur though. Darn.

He's already pulling up on everything I can get ahold of, which makes me worry that walking is not far around the corner. Rich walked at 9 months, and I think we'll have a repeat performance with Declan.

Declan has been laughing more. I'm desperately trying to get a video, but whenever I turn it on, Declan turns to look at me with an "oh really" face and abruptly stops all merriment. He's onto my tricks. He also loves his B's. Buh, buh, buh means so many things. It means mommy, toy, hungry, and pretty much everything else. It's really endearing when he looks at me with intense concentration and says "buh, buh". I don't think this one will be satisfied until he can do and say exactly what he wants. Wonder where he gets that from...