YOU DID WHAT???

Right after Nate was born, my sister got us this cute little ceramic dish called a "Tooth Fairy Box."  When she gave it to me, I remember thinking, "We won't need this for a long time."  Nevertheless, I displayed it proudly on his dresser for the last 6 years, waiting for the day that it would finally be home to Nate's baby teeth. 

Sometime last summer he lost his first two teeth.  Actually, he didn't even know he lost one of them.  While he was visiting my mom one day, she spotted a hole where there was suppose to be a tooth.  He had just finished eating popcorn, so when he admitted to not knowing where the tooth had gone, she feared he ate it, thinking it was a popcorn kernel!  Luckily, after searching around, it was found.  It soon found it's home in the "Tooth Fairy Box," atop Nate's dresser.  Shortly after, another one was added.

When Adrianna was about 3 months old, we moved her into her own room, which meant that Gabe moved into Nate's room.  Gabe was almost three and I must confess, I never once considered "Gabe Proofing" Nate's room.  It was mostly filled with toys that Gabe played with anyway.

One afternoon after a very short nap, I heard him in the bedroom being very loud.  Fearing he would wake up Adrianna, who was right next door, I walked into the bedroom to let him know that it was okay to come downstairs and play.  I walked into the room and saw the "Tooth Fairy Box" on the floor!  The lid was off!  "Why were you playing with that?"  I asked.  "I dunno," Gabe responded.  The teeth were nowhere to be found!  I was so sad, to say the least.  Although gross to some, I had fully intended on keeping every one of my children's baby teeth.  He said he didn't know where they were, but appeared to not be sharing the whole truth.  I searched all over the floor and even shook the blakets on their beds.  They'd probably show up when we weren't looking for them or I'd end up sweeping them up in the vacuum. 

Just last week, Gabe was playing in the bedroom while I was putting away laundry in their closet.  He pulled up stool to the dresser and reached for the "Tooth Fairy Box."  "Don't play with that, Gabe, it's not a toy," I said, remembering how sad I was that the missing teeth had never been found.  "Mommy?"  He said.  "I know where Nates teef is."  "Where?  Show me," I said with a little excitement.  "In my belly," he said with a giggle.  "What?"  "I ate dem," he added.  "YOU DID WHAT?"  I think I screamed.  I didn't know whether to laugh or be sick. 

I guess Nate eating a tooth should have been the least of our worries.  I know Gabe can do some pretty rotten things, but honestly, I never thought for one second, that I'd have to worry about him eating teeth!  Yuck!!!