Back in the fall, I was walking along a sidewalk with Josie and Caroline. We were holding hands, Josie and I, swinging them back and forth. I don’t remember where we were or what we were walking towards…

But.

I do remember what she said to me.

“Mommy? You know what is my favorite part of me? The part I love the most? My teeth. I just LOVE. MY. TEETH.”

Now before I go any further, let me explain these teeth to you.

These teeth are cattywampus.

When her big girl bottom teeth came in (well before the top ones), I thought we’d be in the clear on future orthodontic care.

Then the top teeth came in and I don’t know if you’ve seen the movie Nanny McPhee….

When Josie closes her mouth, 80% of the time that front tooth is just….there.

In all its glory.

“Mommy? You know what is my favorite part of me? The part I love the most? My teeth. I just LOVE. MY. TEETH.”

And then she said, “I love when I close my mouth and sometimes this tooth right here is just pokin’ down.”

I gripped her hand a bit tighter. I smiled down at the top of her little head. Saw how she was tapping that tooth. How she wasn’t even looking for a response from me. She was just telling me how she loved herself. She did a little skip-hop and grinned up at me. Our hands still swinging as we walked. I felt so proud of her and all that confidence she had in that one little Pokin’ Down Tooth. I started to think, “What is MY favorite part of ME?”

But then, seconds later, before I could think of something, I hear Caroline say through gritted teeth…

“Guuurrrrllll…those teeth are gonna cost us so much money.”

It’s true. That Pokin Down Tooth is going to wipe us clean.

But until then? We’re going to enjoy it while it’s around.

*swings hands…skip hops along the sidewalk*