Bye-Bye, Braces!

Look at this handsome thing before braces (but with expanders), Feb. 2016,

with braces,  Summer 2016,

on the last day of braces, March 2017,

and finally SANS braces, as of Wednesday afternoon.  

He couldn't stop grinning and licking his teeth with his tongue and I couldn't keep the momma-tears at bay for a bit.  Fun milestone!  He has a retainer to wear at night as well as permanent wires behind all his bottom teeth and two of this top teeth to somewhat keep them in position while we wait for the rest of his baby teeth to fall out.  The ortho showed me where the canines are pushing down and the pre-molars have already broken through.  I'd say it's Go Time, but time has already gone and is going again.  The orthodontist's office isn't named Smile Construction for nothing!  Under construction for sure and looking so good all the while.  

For Noah's part, he is just happy to be able to drink sodas again, chew gum {sugar-free, mind you}, and enjoy his long-lost popcorn with Daddy.  Ha!  Until Phase 2 of braces, that is. ;)