Ears and Mouths

There's an expression that goes: "The fact that light travels faster than sound explains why some folks look bright before they speak." I suppose that's partly because it is so difficult to listen while speaking.

Abigail was somewhat irritable over the course of the last week. Teething was suspect, so we checked her bottom gums for teeth (because "they", the anonymous baby gurus, say bottom teeth come first. No teeth, nor any signs of teeth. Naturally, we start wondering about ear infections. Abigail did have a cold the previous week.

At length, we get in to the doctor. After Abigail made it through a swarm of adoring nurses, one nurse feels her mouth for a second. She has a tooth! It's on the top row. Curse "they" and us for listening...  That wasn't all. There was, in fact, an incipient infection in her ear.

Now, with a much happier baby, I spend some time musing. Teeth arriving symbolizes another stride toward a speaking Abigail. On the other hand, the ear infection seems to suggest to the hopelessly imaginative soul that with speaking comes the challenge to listen.

It's an exciting step, teeth. At least one reason is my lighthearted sense of competition with the neighbor boy. Young Mr. Kimball is two weeks older than Abigail and sports two lower teeth. The arrival of a top tooth filled me with glib satisfaction. "They" say that top teeth come later. That means, for some reason I couldn't possibly justify or explain, that Abigail is gaining an edge! I suppose that is just a mask for my excitement for my sweet little girl.