More Songs: Hello, My Baby!

Isn't it fun how much a toddler can ignore something for years, only to be entranced with it all of a sudden?  I have been singing my version of, "Hello, My Baby" for years, with no real notice from either boy.  However, Jackson just had a naptime where it was the ONLY song he wanted to hear on his way to sleep:

Hello, my baby,
Hello, my honey,
Hello, my ragtime boy.
Send me a kiss by wire,
Baby, my hearts on fire.
If you refuse me,
You'll never lose me,
I'll just be left alone,
So, baby, telephone,
And tell me I'm your mo-o-om!

Don't recognize the song?  Here is the singing frog to jog your memory:  Michigan J. Frog.  It would easily adjust for dads and daughters, and it is my favorite song for when I see one of the boys when they've just woken up.

Good Music That Kids Might Like

I enjoyed sharing the songs we sing every day (Rock-a-bye Doggie), but there's a whole other world of music we love:  Good music by good musicians that happens to appeal to our kids, as well as great bands who put out albums directed toward kids.

Great songs that are kid friendly:

I'm A Train by Albert Hammond (Thank you, Emily from Rosalie School, for teaching us this song!)
When I Fall by Barenaked Ladies
Bicycle Race by Queen (This video only shows the lyrics- the original video, also on youtube, involves a bunch of naked women riding bicycles)
Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head by BJ Thomas
Iko Iko performed by Dr. John, and performed by Aaron Carter with a composite video of the Aristocats

Rock-a-bye Doggie

I never really thought about how much singing goes on in our house until a great friend visited who doesn't really sing much.  My husband is an amazing blues/rock guitar player, and his singing is impressive, too.  I once took a class called, "Singing For Those Who Can't Sing," and I must admit that now I can (sometimes) tell when I'm off key (so long as someone nearby is singing properly).  While Daddy sometimes worries that the 'variety' of musical quality might keep the boys from developing his natural ear for music, I sing for joy and comfort, and the boys don't complain very often.

We began singing purely for comfort.  I was truly shocked that even my singing could comfort my newborn baby.  Over these few years, we've also learned to sing for any reason we can imagine.  Some songs help to comfort or calm a boy who is sad or needs help transitioning to sleep (Rock-a-bye Baby, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star).  If we are playing and the stress level gets too high, we try to sing engaging songs (Open, Shut Them, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes) to redirect everyone, or mellow songs (My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean) to lower the tension.  If someone is really resistant to sleep, we choose something monotonous (The Ants Go Marching, Row, Row, Row Your Boat, Hush Little Baby)- it may not be fun, but it really works.