We've been waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting for this day to arrive. When Rose was three, we would read One Morning in Maine, the story of Sal who got a loose tooth and then lost it digging clams with her father. (She did get her wish after all, just in case you were worried.) Rose would ask me when she would get loose teeth, then she would press at hers.

A year ago, the dentist looked at Rose's x-rays and said her two front teeth would come out soon. Uh huh. Rose announced this to everyone and kept checking. She is the youngest person in her class. She was the only one not to have lost a tooth. Some of the kids had already lost five teeth.

Finally, she got two loose teeth, and they wiggled for months. Three days ago, John and I were sure this one would come out any second. I even made a special trip to the bank to get Sacagawea dollars (the tooth fairy specialty). Then after school today, as she was eating snack on the school front lawn, it came out. How perfect. I got to be there, and she got to immediately tell everyone. Within minutes her former teacher knew, the principal knew, every other parent heading to the playground knew.

This is a very big deal, and I am really happy for her.