...like pulling teeth

Literally. We could wait no longer...my baby boy had to get to a dentist. I thought the situation would fix itself, but no haps.
Members of the jury...Exhibit A:


Please direct your attention to the situation in the front...up top. Maybe you need a closer look...


There is commotion and confusion. The two adult teeth came in with impatient force and vigor. The two baby teeth remain complacent and stagnant. They budge not. While one tooth became loose and seemingly willing to give, the other would not follow suit.

It's been this way for about a month now. There are speech complications going on and lack of appropriate toothpaste access. Plus it just looks crazy. So we went to Kool Smiles! Great place, btw. We've only ever visited private dentists. But this place was so much fun. Extremely kid friendly and pleasant staff. The exam room was set up like a beauty salon...chairs lined up station by station. One by one, the kids would jump in a chair once vacant. It was like a dental assembly line. The kids could each see the torture of other kids live and in color. :) Cool.

So anyway, it was my Lieko's turn. I was able to watch everything through a one-sided window. I could see him but he couldn't see me. Picture Law & Order.
The dentist did his thing then came out to talk to me.
"We're gonna have to pull those two front teeth."
Great. Fine with me. That's what I'd come for. I signed the paperwork, ushered my boy to the back room and retreated to the mom's hideout. Twenty minutes later, my child emerges.




He's smiling, he feels good, he's in the best shape of his life. He has two exposed cavities in his mouth but still makes one request...


...gangster! I obliged...once the novacaine wore off of course.

- ttyl, toya