Colby: March 2006 Archives
Judy over at Just Ask Judy has been posting her sheetmusic collection. She posted one of my most favorites, Let Me Call You Sweetheart, a few days ago.
Many of these old tunes I sing to my babies in place of as lullabyes. Some bring water to my eyes, some leave me smiling and some I can't remember all the words and humm the tune while I rock my babies.
I do not have a nice singing voice. I wish I did. If there was ever a talent I wanted it was singing. My singing is so bad that Gracie would cry as an infant when I sang to her. As a toddler she would put her hand over my mouth and hush the words, "You no sing, Momma," she would say.
When Colby was little we sang together and often loudly. As a baby she hated riding in her carseat and would cry and scream. As she grew older and could sit in a forward facing carseat nothing much changed except the screaming was quieted but the struggle to keep her in the car seat was monumental. I would sing and ask her to help me sing and remember the words to keep her occupied until I got to where we were going.
BTW, Colby still finds it very funny when she remembers how Gracie would cry when I sang. The Hell?!? Kids aren't supposed to remember those things! I did not give permission!
With this baby boy I don't know if he likes my singing. When I sing and humm he gets very still and wants to nurse. Either the singing is comforting or he is trying to escape in any way possible and sleep is easier than learning to get up and run away.
For whatever reason the tunes come and go. Some long forgotten until a memory sets it off. That is exactly what happened the other day.
Susie over at the Underpaid Kept Woman headquarters posted her interview with Bill Thomas, the writer of music for the Captain Kangeroo show.
She noted a discussion with Mr. Thomas of runcible spoons (a pickle fork really) which made me think of The Owl and the Pussycat ... more specifically the first line:
I do love this tune. I sang it to my baby boy all day yesterday as he was having a bad day and finally he settled down and slept for a couple hours after we rocked and sang in the late afternoon.
Did I ever tell you that lullabyes make me cry? They do. No reason that I know of. Just emotion spills out all over the place int he form of tears slipping down my cheeks. I am tearing up just thinking of it.
I purchased the Jack Johnson cd, the Curious George Soundtrack, for Steven. I love his laid back voice. On a side note that has absolutely nothing to do with this post have any of you noticed that Jack Johnson looks like the little curious monkey named George? He does! If you go to his site, click films, bonus material and watch the Upside Down video. Love it! But these don't make me cry.
Sing me a lullabye, leaving the words in the comments - won't you please? Perhaps one you sang to your babies or one you remember from your own childhood. I am in the mood for lullabyes.
Updated to add: I found a website with the midi so you can get an idea of the tune to sing The Slumber Boat to your babies. The midi has a 1998 copyright. The song itself is public domain (as is most sheet music before 1923).
The Owl and the Pussy-Cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat ...
The Slumber Boat
Baby's boat's the silver moon, Sailing in the sky, Sailing o'er the sea of sleep, While the clouds float by. Sail, baby, sail, Out upon that sea, Only don't forget to sail Back again to me.
Baby's fishing for a dream, Fishing near and far, His line a silver moonbeam is, His bait a silver star. Sail, baby, sail, Out upon that sea, Only don't forget to sail Back again to me.
I had a bit of a meltdown last week. I was upset, crying and could not be consoled in any way, shape or form. You see, I was all set to tell you all about my Native American heritage while showing you some photos of my babies as newborns so that you can see that they do indeed favor me. However, as I looked for my photos from Colby's birth I became agitated. They were not to be found. Anywhere. I have come to the heartwrenching conclusion that when my Ex took some things from my house shortly after or during our divorce he managed to get those along with some papers, my engagement ring and some other small things I had saved and put away for my girls. What would seem bleak, the loss of the only birth photos of my child born almost 19 years ago, is not so bleak. I called my mother crying and upset. Like most mommas do she managed to calm me down and sooth my hurt. My mother has copies of all my photos and then some. All is not lost. She is sending me negatives and photos, the world has been set to rights and life is again good. In the aftermath this set me to another minor crisis. I began to obsess about the VHS tape I have of Colby as an infant. A tape that will date in just about 2 months as 19 years old. 19 years old! How long do VHS tapes and images last before they begin to breakdown, the images fade or the integrity of the tape itself falter and break? Exactly! I don't know either!! So I got all upset (again!) and began a misson Friday morning to hunt out and claim for myself the technology to preserve the only tape in existance of my child as an infant almost 19 years ago. Now you might suggest that I send this tape off or take it to a studio and have it copied. You might, and that would be good. But, knowing the only images of your first born is on that tape (and it is the only tape!) would you hand it off to strangers without being worried sick over something happening to it out of your control and all being lost for eternity? I thought not, too. After much research, talking to sales people, hunting down the product, I made this purchase. The set up was simple (almost too simple). In a matter of a few minutes, connecting an rca cable, and pressing a button, the only VHS tape of infant Colby was transferred to DVD. All VHS tapes will now be copied over to DVD. Everything will be archived, a copy placed in the safe deposit box and I will rest and get over this obsessive behavior. In other news, I am off to the pediatrician this morning. It is time for the baby to have his vaccination. Ugh! I hate the neccesary evil of immunizations. I am prepared with infant tylenol drops and hoping he won't have a rough time with it. Colby and Gracie would run a fever and be cranky for a couple days after their shots and I do dread that whiney fussiness and hope it doesn't inflict itself upon him. Meanwhile you get the anticipation of seeing him in his little sailor suit later. When he is bathed and dressed and ready to go I plan to photograph him in his going-to-the-doctor-dudds because this little man is far too cute not too. Do I sound like a doting mother? Because. I. Am.
