Thursday, August 14, 2008

University of Incisor.

Tuesday was a very big day for our family. It was also a sad day. Our girls' much-loved, "adopted big sister," Kristi, left our little mountain town for the bright lights of Lynchburg, Virginia! Kristi is now a new Freshman at my Alma mater, Liberty University, and while it makes me so happy to know she's going to have the time of her life while at LU, it grieved our family to lose such a close friend. (OK, she'll be four hours away--we're not really losing her, but still...) Oh, and did I mention she's our #1 babysitter? What will we do without her? Dang it, Kristi, come back! Just kidding.


Kristi gave the girls a good-bye hug, after which Libbey exclaimed, "Do you see how loose my tooth is, Kristi? I'm gonna lose my first tooth really soon, you know?!?"
That was all Kristi needed to hear. Her life's mission, before officially leaving for college, was to see Libbey get that tooth out. The first baby tooth lost--it's a big deal, of course, and our Miss LU had to be a part of it. And so Kristi proceeded to delay her departure by cajoling Libbey into pulling that tooth.

This went on for about 15 minutes. There were many laughs (none offered by Libbey, though) and many tears (all freely given by Libbey), and a lot of cheering: "Come on, Libbey, you can do it--let's get it out--go-go-go!" I mean, the things we do to spur a child on...

Finally Kristi tells Libbey that it's time for her to leave. Pitifully sobbing, Libbey looks up at one of her most favorite people in the world and asks, "Will you pull it for me before you go?" The child is not opposed to prolonging Kristi's presence, but she is very much against self-inflicted pain, no matter how minor the sting.

Voila!

Kristi will now most likely change her major from early childhood education to dental hygiene. Or Tooth Fairy-In-Training.

We bid farewell to Kristi and said adieu to the first baby tooth...we will miss them both. Thankfully Kristi will be back, and often. As for the tooth, it has been whisked away by some midnight sprite, who left in its place a bit of money and a package of Trident.

Good times, y'all.

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Melissa from Another Day in Paradise is so super fun! Check out her beautiful kids and their message for Libbey here. Until today we had no idea that the Tooth Fairy lived in Florida...but she does. Oh yes, she does!

31 comments:

Unknown said...

way to go libbey! good luck kristi!

Amy said...

That takes guts. Good food her.

Debbie said...

And what did the tooth fairy do with that tooth????

Driftwood and Pumpkin said...

Wooooot! Don't we all love the tooth fairy? And i think i have mentioned before that my parents live only 5 minutes from LU. On my next visit, should i drop in and give Kristi a hug from y'all? She be like, "Who is this chick? CALL SECURITY!" :0)

Anonymous said...

What a good idea to leave gum! You mommies always have such great ideas that I can theif. :)

Please tell me the tooth is not in a jar in your sock drawer. You threw it out, right?

Lauren W said...

Haha! That kid has guts :) What fun.

Unknown said...

You drilled a hole in the tooth to prepare it for jewelry making, right?????

Hey - my best friend back in Minnesota went to Liberty... and her brother in law was a professor there, back when the DC Talk boys were there.

CaraBee said...

Yay Libbey! I remember my first tooth. We actually did the tie a string to a doorknob thing. What DO you do with the teeth and what's the going rate these days for an incisor?

sassy stephanie said...

We had our own Kristi named Sarah. She went off to school and her parents sold their house on our street and moved to another state. But, when Sarah came back to visit friends, she always would call us to come over and see the kids. We of course used that time as an excuse to have a night out.

Congrats on the tooth!

Vicki said...

OMGosh, that is so sweet I'm tearing up. :) How neat for y'all to have formed such a great relationship with Kristi. What a bittersweet moment for the tooth! I can't wait for that here.

Pinky Roth said...

Those pictures are so precious. Can't wait to see her go off for her first day of big school, that is the first grade!

Mom

Unknown said...

Nice story :-)

Young Taylor had a tooth loose recently. It was being really stubborn about coming out. I'd told her about the string around the tooth and doornob trick. She was a little doubtful on that one, but obviously thought about it once she got home.

Next day, she was proundly showing me the gap where her tooth had been. Her Mum was slightly grossed out at how the tooth had come out. Apparently she'd asked her Dad to tie her tooth to the doornob and then slam the door. Her Mum, who is also my BFF, couldn't understand where she'd got that IDEA from.

Taylor obviously hadn't told her!

Package of Trident...nice touch!

Angie's Spot said...

Gee whiz, I must be PMS'ing because I'm crying at everyone's posts today. Good luck to you Kristi and congrats on the first baby tooth gone Libbey!

Live.Love.Eat said...

Aaahhh, brings back memories of my babysitting days & how the kids loved me but not that much, and of losing my own teeth and loving that soft, slimy little spot to always keep my tongue in. I AM talking about teeth still, swear!

Nik said...

Tons of luck to Kristi - it's really hard when someone you depend upon and become close to, moves.

I'm so glad ya'll have those memories of her pulling Libby's tooth though...I can just hear ya'll talking about it years from now.

Melissa said...

Don't know you if you agree, but my favorite thing about Liberty is Ergun Caner. The man is my husband on steroids and Krispy Kreme.
What a big girl! She has gums of steel! Tell her we're so proud!

Swirl Girl said...

Losing a babysitter is waaay more important than losing a tooth. The tooth will come back in, a great babysitter is harder to find,

and, the toothfairy does indeed live in Florida - and sent my daughter $20 for her fist tooth....spoiled her indeed.

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

I will confirm that the tooth fairy is in Florida. Madalyn and Katie both lost their first teeth there. Katie on a cruise ship while we waited at Port Canaveral to head to the Bahamas. And Madalyn at Disney World. Where a "cast member" promptly informed her that Tinkerbell takes over the tooth fairy role at the World. And that she always leaves $20. Joy!

So is Libbey just so proud of her first missing tooth?

Marrdy said...

Poor little Libbey. That had to be worth at least $5.

leezee52 said...

Ouch! Was it ready to come out?

trash said...

Wow! I'm not sure which one of them is braver!!

Thanks for coming to visit today at Trash Towers up here on the hill.

Sissy said...

This cracks me up. The previous librarian was the tooth puller at my school and I told them that I would not be doing that when I arrived. UGH.

Unknown said...

This is one blog I shouldn't have read! I have had a hard couple of days and this made it worse! I sent my baby girl Kristi to college and wow is it hard! I know I will get better, but right now it sucks to be me! The good thing is I know she is where God wants her and she seems to be happy and I am thrilled that she has made friends already and excited to be there!

Anonymous said...

Sweet-
I finished New Moon- luved it too-
Eclipse has not come in yet- and I think it may be on back order- I will probably get Breaking Dawn before it comes-
Bummer!

Rhea said...

Bittersweet. You lost your babysitter and gained a happy little girl who was visited by the tooth fairy. Isn't life funny that way?

That's a lot of blood, btw. And the look on her face...

Your daughters are just little adorable sweethearts. Love the pictures.

Heather said...

Inevitably, the tooth fairy comes down with a terrible fever and doesn't make it the first night of the lost tooth.

Surely she doesn't get too tired and forget to fly by our house. No, that would never happen.

Congratulations, Libbey!! You're such a big girl now!

Rachelle Lynne said...

Such a sweet story! So cute!!!

Gina said...

Yeah! And so begins another chapter in your life...

We were having the tooth discussion with the whole family here on vacation, when Abby piped up, "My mom uses a wash cloth so she doesn't get our disgusting mouth germs on her hand."

Um, no, actually, it's so that I can get a grip on the tooth while the child is prancing and squealing and crying- and to cushion my fingers from the inevitable bite that is sure to come! But I like her version, too.

Ronnica said...

I felt sympathy pains in my gum when I read this. I have learned that I don't like mouth stuff very much. I teach Sunday school to kindergarteners, and every time one of them says "Miss Ronnica, look at this!" I gently remind them that I'm not a mom, so I don't deal with teeth. They take it well, at least!

swilek said...

hey,3 of my friends kids have all headed to Liberty for their freshman year too. in fact, i am house/dog sitting right now as they have driven their kids down there! we have a good contingent of canadians at Liberty!:) Just a long shot...did you know a professor by the name of Earl Sargeant? He and his wife are from my church here in Canada and he's been down at Liberty for years. I don't know his title now but he still works there! small world! good luck to Kirsti and wouldn't that be cool if she was roomies with these Canadian girls!!:) ( I know that is a long shot seeing how there are thousands of students!!)

krissy said...

Too cute! Brave one!