Just Call Him Jack "The Tooth" Duchow

It's official Jack is cutting his first molar!

He's not quite 10 months and he's got 7 teeth up front. 4 on top and 3 on the bottom. We're missing an incisor on the bottom left...I'm sure it will show up in due time but until then he's got a very cute lopsided grin.

According to the literature most babies can expect to have 6 teeth by their first birthday. He is going to have 8 at least most likely more. When it comes to teeth Jack really doesn't follow the book.

"Expect baby's first teeth to appear around 6 month of age"

Jack's popped in at 4.5 months

"Lower central incisors will most likely appear first followed by Upper central incisors"

He got the lower ones first, then skipped the corresponding top two and instead got the upper lateral incisors. He's looked like a baby vampire for many many weeks. Now that his upper centrals are long enough he's just starting to have a 'normal' smile.

"Babies' teeth often arrive in pairs"

Yeah about that....he's only got 3 teeth on the bottom.

Only goes to prove that those Baby books are full of good guidelines and tips, but shouldn't be sworn by.

Needless to say, I Mom, am really not enjoying this molar cutting business and neither is Jack. With his front teeth some occasional teething drops and something to chew on did the trick. There was a little fussing but nothing too terrible.

This Molar (which is currently just a big red lump on his gum) is so much worse. Tooth drops every two hours or so keep it in check during the day, but he still has random cry fests especially if he bites something at the wrong angle. He's cruising around all Hunky-Dorey with a big ole grin one minute then sitting there howling the next. Plus he's tugging on his ear off and on so I'm thinking he's getting pressure there. I've actually broke down and given him Baby Tylenol which is a last resort around here.

If anybody has advice on other methods to soothe him I'm all ears. Until then we will muddle through with lots of tooth drops, cuddles, and kisses.

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Oh yeah, Some good news on the work front.

My detail on the Sawtooth is extended until January 30th, 2010. I was hoping to get hired on permanent here by the end of October, but this is the government and the wheels turn slowly and this forest does not or can't (I'm not clear on the verb there) make a final decision until after the FLT retreat in October. If I understand correctly, the FLT (Forest Leadership Team) locks themselves away for a few days every October and makes budget and other important decisions for the fiscal year. I can live with a detail extension until January and will keep praying for a permanent transfer. Perhaps, I will just become the Forest Service's longest ever detailer....