dentist

maddux was not the only one with 'firsts' today.  madelyn and mason went to the dentist.  it was mason's first time to a dentist and madelyn's first time to a pediatric dentist. 

i can't even explain how nice it was to wait in a waiting room made for waiting!  it was raining, i wasn't sure exactly where the office was, or how early i needed to be there, so we got there about a half-hour early.  we ended up waiting 45 minutes and it flew by.  there was a highly interactive area for kids with disney junior on the t.v., video games, touch screens, books, toys, and puzzles.  it was also sectioned off in the back of the waiting room (away from the doors).  and the adult side was loaded with current (and interesting) magazines, a computer with internet access, and some cooking show on the t.v..

the hygienist came out and spoke with us about what would happen and asked some questions related to madelyn and mason's teeth before taking madelyn back to get her teeth cleaned.  madelyn has been looking forward to going to the dentist for months now.  and when i told her yesterday that they had an appointment today you would have thought that i told her we were going to disney world - she was that excited.  i told her that she would have to show mason how to be a good boy for the dentist and she got right to work.  they got out the play doctor kit and went through counting teeth and brushing them.  madelyn held his hand when we walked through the parking lot telling mason about how great it was to go to the dentist.  and, of course, that they would get a treat.

so madelyn went first and mason waved good-bye to "sis".  then the hygienist came back after a while to get mason.  she said that i could come back since he was so young, but he didn't need me.  i told him that it was his turn and he needed to go back with madelyn to get his teeth cleaned.  he took the hygienist's hand, waved good-bye to me, and walked right on back - he never even looked back.  once they were done with mason the hygienist came out to get me so that i could speak with the dentist. 

both kids looked 'clinically' great.  he thinks that madelyn's 'overbite' (not what he called it but what he equated it to) should correct itself now that she has stopped sucking her thumb.  he scolded me a little when i told him that madelyn brushes her teeth all on her own.  i guess they shouldn't do that until 7 or 8 because their dexterity isn't developed enough to maneuver the toothbrush for proper cleaning.  oh well.  and they just couldn't stop raving about how well mason did.  the dentist said that he sees a lot of kids and mason is a "very laid back guy".  most kids his age would not have done so well being back there without mom (or dad) at their first appointment.  i think that the dentist is just a really positive thing in our house and it helps that his big sister gets so excited.

mason also added "dentist" to his vocabulary.  after today's visit.

maddux slept through the whole thing.  love.