This has to be it, right?

Many times in the past few months, we've theorized that our son is teething. So far, we've been wrong every time. His gums are as bare as the day he was born. Along the way, many people who've been through this child-rearing process have said to us, ominously "you'll know when he's teething... you'll know -- bwahahahahaha."

Late last week, the pediatrician said for the first time that he is, indeed, teething.

Now, there's more evidence that supports that.

The boy has developed a very loud scream, which I can only describe as blood-curdling. It's my brand new, least favorite sound in the world (overtaking the sound of metal flatware scraping against a terra cotta dinner plate).

Unfortunately for us, his puffy-eyed parents, he seems to enjoy the sound of his own terror and has gotten in the habit of doing it just for the sake of good theater. Each morning we wake up and approach his mouth, hoping to see a few new white caps popping up. None so far. It's sometimes difficult to get to his mouth while he's practicing his new horror scream (not unlike turning off a smoke alarm when it's been activated, or trying to move a lawn sprinkler without clamping the hose first).

Baby Orajel seems to be working. I hope he's actually teething, because I'd hate to think we're numbing his mouth for no other reason. Although I've experimented with this myself, for the sake of science, and have found that it's harder to scream when I have no feeling in my bottom lip. I'll keep you posted.

In other baby news, his first word is officially "up". He said it late last week, one day before he said "da-da" and meant it. Mama is still number one on his favorite people list, but "Dada" is much easier to pronounce.