Jennifer Woodbury

In the days leading up to Claire’s birthday last month, her top front tooth was dangling by a thread. I kept asking her if she wanted me to pull it out, but she refused. She insisted that she didn’t want to lose it until she was nineteen years old (I’m not sure where the arbitrary age came from… but she stuck with it).

Claire has already lost three teeth, but her “tiny teeth” on top with the gap in the middle have been a defining feature since she was a baby, and she wasn’t ready to lose that part of herself. She is the only one of my children who would truly never grow up if that were at all possible. She was adamant that she didn’t want the big tooth waiting in the wings to take that baby tooth’s place. And so, she hung on to that darn thing until the bitter end.

But the night before her birthday, it was time. The tooth was starting to look ridiculous – crooked and hanging down lower than her other teeth – so I finally convinced her to let me pull it out. And that is how she woke up as a six-year-old one baby tooth lighter and one step closer to growing up. Like it or not, the big tooth is on its way, Claire keeps getting older, and there’s nothing either one of us can do to stop it.

Claire asked for a rainbow cake for her birthday again this year, and I was happy to oblige. (By the way, this time I used these cake pans and I loved the smaller scale of the cake.)

I think she’s wishing for a trip to Paris here… aren’t we all? I hope I can take her to see the Eiffel Tower in person one day soon.

Claire’s six-year-old birthday interview:

My favorite fruit is: apples.
My favorite TV show is: Good Luck Charlie.
My favorite thing to eat for lunch is: bagels.
My favorite outfit is: purple Tea dress and leggings (the outfit she wore to her birthday party).
My favorite drink is: water.
The toy I love to play with most is: Playmobil.
Something that makes me scared is: bugs and spiders.
My favorite animal is: elephant.
My best subject in school is: math.
The thing I do the most awesomely is: play the violin.
If I could go anywhere in the world, I’d go to: Paris.
My favorite color is: pink and purple.
My favorite thing to do on the weekend is: spend time with my family.
The snack I could live on is: bunny crackers.
My best friend is: Sophie.
If I had one wish it would be: to live with my parents forever.
When I grow up, I’m going to become a: vet.