the dentist

Celia had her very first dentist appointment today!

I'm pretty sure I have a picture of her in the same hat and coat from last winter. The little peanut just doesn't grow!

I knew she would do okay, but she ended up having a real cleaning and I was impressed at how well she did. She saw the same dental hygienist that I see, who is so great with kids. Celia was immediately comfortable with her, and she had really great ways of explaining everything she did and making it all seem fun. Celia sat for a real cleaning, which I wasn't expecting, but she did great. Even when I could tell something was uncomfortable for her, she never complained. She would get kind of a worried look on her face, but then I or the hygienist would say something and she'd be all smiles again.

She rode up and down in the chair. I mean, the "rocket ship".

She opened her mouth wide. I mean, "roared like a lion".

She had the "little bugs" cleaned off her teeth, and got her teeth "tickled".

When her cleaning was over, Maisy got to have her teeth brushed and Celia got a toothbrush and a little prize.

Then the dentist had to come in and rain on our parade. She was obviously not into kids :(. Our hygienist is great, but too bad I don't know of any dental practices that specialize in kids. She said Celia had a sticky spot on one of her front teeth- which basically could eventually turn into a cavity. I was surprised at that because decay on front teeth is usually from too much time with a bottle, or from having too many sugary drinks. Celia wasn't using a bottle by the time her teeth came in, has pretty limited amounts of juice, and never drinks juice from a sippy cup. The dentist kept talking like it must have been from juice or something but I know it's not. And I always make sure I brush those front teeth. Gah! It makes me feel like a bad mother. Why does being a mother have to involve so much guilt? Anyway, hopefully it will not turn into anything worse because I can't imagine having to put Celia through getting a filling or something.

Of course, since Pita did so well at the dentist she had to have tantrums once we got home. Three-year-olds are so delightful. It's almost like because she holds herself together and is an angel in public, she has to let loose and act like a terror at home. Once the tantrums were out of her system we had a good lunch, I read her some stories with Henry on my lap, got Celia down for a nap, and got Henry to sleep too. That's a rare thing these days, but the timing worked out. Now time for them both to get up and we'll get on with our day...