Loose Tooth!

We discovered this evening that Gracie has her FIRST loose tooth. She has been envious of her gap-toothed friends for some time now. Thus, when I suggested that perhaps the tooth she was telling me "hurt" might be loose, she was ecstatic! Her bottom right tooth is definitely loose, and she was still wiggling it in bed as I turned out the light in her room tonight. Ahhh.... so exciting for her, yet it brought with it an unfamiliar sense of sadness for me. The coupling of a loose tooth and beginning kindergarten (in a week and a half) might actually force me to accept that she is, alas, growing up. I didn't expect to be this sentimental about her leaving for school and becoming a "big" girl, but I am pretty sure I will come home after dropping her off at school next week and sob. She is growing into such a responsible, sweet girl. I am excited for her, but at the same time want to hover over her like a mama bear as I remember my own "growing up" years and the trials and triumphs yet to come. It sounds like I'll be asking God for a little extra help in the coming weeks, for both my Gracie Girl and myself...