pearly whites- notsomuch

So Lulu is officially in the "transitional tooth phase".
Or as I like to put it, the jack-o-lantern-smile-phase.
She has a big gummy grin and is missing 4 teeth at the moment. Her new teeth are having a hard time coming in as she has a tiny mouth (though you wouldn't know it with her endless chitter chatter)
Like I did, she is most certainly going to have crowding issues.
Off for an orthodontist consult next week... whoopee!

I have to refrain from constantly asking her to let me get a closer look to see if her new front teeth are coming in yet though.
I'm becoming obsessed.
It's been since Christmas and still nothing. poor thing.
I'm trying my best not to give her a complex. Probably failing miserably...
She's the last in her class to not have her two front adult teeth and my heart goes out to her.
I was that kid too.
I remember how self conscious I felt when my two front teeth were missing when everyone else was sporting a regular smile.
Plus I just want to see if her two front teeth are normal or not. The waiting is torture.

Unfortunately she has some other dental issues.
She has Hypoplasia on all four of her 6 year molars and one of her bottom front teeth.
Thankfully the other bottom tooth is ok. whew..
The dentist can't give us a reason for it or tell us how many other teeth are affected, other than possibly while they were developing, she had a bad virus or infection that interrupted the enamel development.
So long story short, Lulu can no longer consume sugar. Which isn't the end of the world, but in the eyes of an eight year old, not great news.

We already limit sugary sweets, drinks and candy anyhow but now it's pretty much forbidden from here on in.
I was always one for moderation, but now, even that isn't enough.
Zero sugar, otherwise risk loosing her permanent teeth completely.
No orangina with her pizza on a special night. No juice, granola bars or candy from loot bags.
I don't even want to think about next Halloween...
It's actually amazing how much sugar is in our diet when you start to think about eliminating it.
It's not as easy as it sounds.
But from a health perspective, maybe it's a good thing anyhow.
So Lulu's super sensitive teeth might just be a blessing in disguise for our whole family.
At least that's what I keep trying to convince myself to stop myself from getting depressed about it.
Just have to convince friends and grandparents that "just one candy isn't the end of the world."

But things could certainly be worse.
I think about all the kids (and adults) with severe food allergies and I can't even imagine how difficult that would be.
So things are not that terrible and I need to keep things in perspective.

But it all comes back to my quest for perfectionism.
It's not possible.
Life isn't perfect.
Nor are teeth.

But thankfully there are great dentists to remedy that.

Home is where the frozen heart is

After spending a glorious week in California (Palm Springs and visiting family in L.A.) it's back to the never ending winter here in Toronto.

I had such an incredible time and really, I mean really didn't want to come home.
So much so in fact, that when we did arrive home, I found myself checking out neighbourhoods and homes on MLS and researching the best school districts in L.A.
I could SO live in California.

Great weather- obviously being #1 on the list.
We have family there.
Great economy and plenty of career opportunities. Albeit, having to start over is a wee bit daunting...
Amazing (and I mean Amazing) grocery stores and restaurants.
I love you Trader Joe's!
Lovely homes and cool architecture. (Reasonably priced I might add.) Especially when you compare to Toronto's over inflated real estate market and often ugly boxy brick houses.
People are so friendly and laid back.
So much to do. Especially if you love being outdoors.
Hiking, cycling, walking the dog (no coat and booties required) surfing, skiing. You name it, you can do it in Cali.
Excellent shopping. Bonus that you wouldn't need 18 different types of winter coats and boots.
Great people watching. Keith Urban was on my flight and Eugene Levy was at the airport when I landed.
Hiked past Moby's house on my morning walk and I just missed Orlando Bloom at the local coffee shop according to my sister-in-law. rats...
So you never know who you'll bump into in Los Angeles.
It's easy to live a healthy life style and stay fit and optimistic.
Everyone is so into fitness! Plenty of inspiration.
It's on the ocean.
Delicious wine. My favourite pinots all come from California. Not to mention that the wine is a third of the cost as it is here in Ontario. damn taxes.
It's green. I love all the varieties of trees and flowers. It's a gardener's paradise. We picked fresh lemons and made lemonade one day. Seriously. I mean where is the justice in the world?
Oh and the biggest bonus of all...
Rob Ford doesn't live there.

So needless to say there are plenty of reasons to want to live in California.

But for now we are here.
And for better or worse, Toronto is our home.
Business is good.
We live in a great neighbourhood.
Lulu loves her school and has a strong sense of stability. Which is very important to me.
We have a lot of great friends that I would miss if we moved.
My family is here.
I do love Canada and all that it stands for. So I would miss that for sure.
Free health care. Whoopie!
And sure, the weather really, and I mean really sucks. But it builds character. Right?
At least that's what I keep trying to tell myself every time I venture out and freeze my ass off.
Bonus that in the winter you don't need to wear make up. Especially blush.
My cheeks are always a rosy shade of pink from the wind chill.
And I don't have to wash my hair every day. Hats rock.
In fact I don't really have to get dressed at all.
I often drop Lulu off in my PJ's and no one is the wiser.
Gotta love big puffy all covering winter coats and snow pants.
Speaking of pants..don't need to shave my legs so often. Those pasty white bad boys are completely covered up, so who really cares about stubble? Also a bonus that I don't have to unveil the lovely little blue broken veins that no amount of self tanning cream will conceal.
I don't really see or hear my neighbours for half of the year as they go into hibernation for the winter.
Trust me, this is a very good thing.
Just wish they would shovel the driveway and sidewalk on occasion instead of always waiting for us to do it. grrrr.
But hey, shovelling works the biceps, triceps and quads! So their loss.
And at least we don't have to garden. Screw you weeds, tiny squishy rotten apples, and pesky wasps and mosquito's.
Yay no bugs!
The water is crazy cold when it comes out of the tap. I love a nice cold glass of H2o. Don't you?
My back deck doubles as a fridge and freezer when the need arises.
Snow is pretty. So are green leaves and flowers. Oh how I miss you green trees...sniff sniff
And let's face it, winter is a perfect excuse to be lazy and anti social.
Which is kind of okay once in a while. Summer can be so exhausting with all that going out and having fun.
Right?
And hey, we save a fortune on babysitters and restaurant tabs.
Sitting by a fire, drinking red wine reading a good book is the best. Sitting in the sun, drinking white wine, reading a trashy magazine...oh how I miss you summer....sniff sniff
T.V.  I love binge watching all my favourite shows on HBO. Currently obsessed with Downton Abby.
I'm a television junkie, what can I say? And I feel too guilty watching during the fleeting summer months.
And last but not least...winter gives you something to bitch about.
That is until the heat and humidity of July & August set in...

But in my mind...I'm going to California....(some day)