One Tooth, Two Tooth...

They have erupted, finally! First one shiny, white point and then another. And now we have to bottom teeth. The sweet gummy baby grins of the past are gone. Now are the days of chunkier food, biter biscuits, and dare we say... Finger foods. I really didn't think he'd get a handle on them so quick. These Gerber fruit stars. Little rice puffs that taste like fruit flavored air. He spent a good twenty minutes learning to rangle the tiny things, but now he's got it down. Granted a few still go MIA into the high chair. But our wee- man is by no means picky. If Mommy is willing to rescue them, he is willing to eat them anyway. Next we try Cheerios.
The teeth have brought biting, particularly of the nipple. Probably good I have been playing with the idea of weaning. He takes formula well enough, I'm just not quite ready. We'll slowly taper it off and play it by ear. I did that with Tristan and he just gave it up one day. Granted he was a few months older, but this will be good. I'm just not myself and I'm a much better mommy when I'm back to myself and can have a bit more space. That and having my body all to myself, at least when I'm not holding, cuddling, swinging, wrestling, bouncing, well you get it. I know this from weaning Tristan and feeling like I hadn't felt in almost two years. Yes it is sad in a way. To be letting go of my baby in that sense. But I do feel close to him when he drinks from a bottle. No less either. We still cuddle. I talk to him and sit in awe of him. He is no less loved and he knows it.
With new teeth come new smiles for mommy to photograph. I have tons of gummy grins and soon billions more of his pearly new whites. My baby is so ever quickly growing into a tiny little man. No longer in constant need of mommy. But this is his body's way of expressing how ready he is to move on to bigger and less mushy foods. He is not my gummy newborn anymore.