Teething Bites

Poor sweet Charlotte is somewhat of a... violent teether. I wish there was a better word to describe it but right now I can't think of one.

She's teethed early -- first tooth at three and a half months, three by her half birthday, and four a few weeks after that. What seven-month old has four teeth already? At this age Nathan didn't even have one! Charlotte's got a whole mouthful.

And she teethes fast -- I'll see not even the first glimpse of a gum bulge, then suddenly there's a line of white dots, and then overnight a legitimate tooth bud. Her last two teeth have come through so fast they actually seem to tear her gums, and the poor girl has a bloody mouth for a while.

It's my bloody tooth and I'll cry if I want to!

Blood on her gums, her lips, her hands, my boobs. Is this normal? Because it did not happen to Nathan or Anneliese.

So, yeah. She's been pretty sad the last few days, and we're assuming the newest bloody chomper is probably the reason. (Although, considering how intense this has seemed for her, she's still less of a baby about it than her big brother or big sister.) Lots of wanting to be held and snuggle.

You know what? I don't care if it's teething or if she's just being high-maintenance. These snuggles are rare enough that I'll take em how I can get em.

The Keys, C Haz Them

An annoted progression of my key territoriality. (Is that a word? I don't know. I'm too lazy even to google. So, just go with it.)

With Nathan I never let my keys into his line of sight, much less let the jingle be music to his ear or (horrors!) put them in his grubby little baby fist.

With Anneliese, I occasionally resorted to it if she was reeeeeally fussy in public or something, all while claiming I never did it. 

Denial, oh how good you feel.

With Charlotte?  Yeah. 

pretty baby pic by Merritt

She can hold them, she can jingle them, she can chew them, and even though I know when she learns to push buttons I'm going to totally regret it, I can no longer pretend those keys aren't hers, pretty much whenever she wants.

Background: I have a thing with little kids into grownup stuff.  (The thing being, I don't like it. That was obvious, right?)  I cringe when I see little ones holding markers, wallets, trying on parental sunglasses, flipping through papers and grownup books, opening drawers, etc. In babyhood it's innocent enough, but then suddenly you have a toddler who thinks she can control the remote and, um no. People who let their kids play with their phones completely confound me. I mean, I get in theory why they do it and why it's distracting and whatnot, but for me? Hell to the no. We all have our parenting and pet peevey things, that's just one of mine. There are other kiddie habits that I let fly without two blinks (runny noses, flushing every time) but for real - git yer ass outa my purse. I'm territorial like that. I just need some of my grownup stuff to be grownup stuff. (Except when I have this key fail thing, apparently.)

Nathan Loves to Brush His Teeth

These days Nathan asks to brush his teeth approximately seventy-nine times a day. He doesn't do a great job on his own, so he knows that Mommy or Daddy needs to do it first, then he gets a turn.

Because of that, he spends most of the tooth-brushing session asking for it to be "Nathan's turn, Nathan's turn." Which just makes us laugh. Hence, us making a video of teeth-brushing time.


Let's hope he stays this enthusiastic throughout his dental life. (Clip taken in Washington DC hotel room.)