Bodie is getting 5 teeth all at once! His whole top grill is coming in. At first, just the two canines on top were showing, and he looked like a little Dracula. So cool! We were going to call him "The Count". We could've gotten him a little black cape and done some great shots for a Halloween Snugfits promotion, but its too late now. These teeth are just busting out all over.

Needless to say, he's pretty ticked off about the whole thing. He's usually a great little happy bug, but not these days. He doesn't want anything to do with food unless it's cold and squishy, like pineapple chunks or cantaloupe. Plus, he gets a fever along with it, about every two or three days. When Gavin and Garrett were teething, they got mild fevers with every new tooth, so that isn't new to us. The only thing that we found really helped with Bodie's brothers' teeth were teething tablets. They're sold at Walgreens, and can help ease the pain a little, but I don't think anything can make a kid content when he has five teeth coming in all at once. That oragel stuff is a waste of money. It just makes them drool even worse. We tried that stuff with Gavin, and I remember he just had this confused/angry look on his face. Like "Why can't I feel my mouth?"
Oh yes - and popsicles help too, if you want a sticky but somewhat satisfied baby. I don't think there is any perfect answer for helping your baby through this harrowing experience.

Bodie is also grinding his new teeth. A lot. It is a godawful sound. He really seems to enjoy it so we just let it go on. He's trying out his new teeth, I guess. It probably feels pretty good! He makes the funniest faces when he's chomping. He looks like a little Popeye! I tried to catch some good pictures of this yesterday when it was warm outside. He loves to be outside, too. Probably because it's so big, and there's no ceiling. When he's outside, he just looks around at everything like he's witnessing a miracle. Its so awesome to watch. Taking him outside to roll around on a blanket is great distraction from the teething pain.

To ask Bodie, I think he would tell you he just wants to be held, and to chomp on my finger. Youch! His mouth is like a pair of vice grips sometimes. I give him a wet washcloth to bite while I hold him, but it doesn't last long. He takes it in his hand, shakes it, bites it, throws it down in disgust, and bites me. Oh well. This too shall pass.

Gavin's "American Flag Big Wheel Roller Skate Birthday Party" was terrific! Everything went great, just too fast. Lots of his friends from school and their parents came, the skating rink was packed! Almost everybody put on roller skates - that was unexpected. Nobody got hurt - that was really unexpected!

We had a local baker called "Imaginary Friends Bakery" whip up a special cake with a flapping flag which was a hit. I think everyone had a great time. Garrett mostly sat and munched snacks, he was in snacking heaven. He did take his trike around the track a few times. Bodie got to hang with his Grammy the whole time, and Gavin was able to keep his cool in the midst of all the excitement. I was worried he would be so over stimulated he would just lay on the floor and shut down.

Gavin's awesome teachers came with ... drumroll please ... a NEW BIKE! He was so fired up about that. Now it's all he wants to do, ride the bike! He's already zipping around the driveway with it. They also brought him a helmet and pads, very appropriate! So far he hasn't crashed. Thank God for training wheels!

When Gavin woke up yesterday at 5:30 am, the day after the party, he was very groggy. I gave him a big hug and asked him if he had a fun time. He said "Yes. And maybe for the next time when I am six we can have a North Carolina flag party." That might be a little more difficult. Maybe he'll have to change his mind. We can't fill all of his desires, just some of them! Then he said "Dad, please don't put the stinky air from your mouth onto my nose." Haha.