"Every Day's a Song...

... since we got Melody..." So begins the song my Mom wrote for me as a baby. (All of us kids have a song. I love them and sing them all to Julia, sometimes substituting her name, sometimes keeping to the original.) As it turns out, "since we got Julia," every day really is a song. It started out with an original lullaby that I made up one night when it was taking extra long to rock her to sleep. (Those were some tough days, for the past several months she has been falling on her own. So much nicer!) After that I made up a nap time song - after all, I wouldn't want to confuse her by singing her nightly lullaby in the middle of the day! This little song-writing thing turned out to be quite fun. So, soon enough she had an original song for bath time, diaper changes, putting on clothes, driving in the car, and one just for fun. Most of these were created out of necessity (to help keep her still while getting a diaper on, for instance) and have become second-nature. Yesterday I realized I am sick and tired of that clean up song (You know, "Clean up, clean up, everybody everywhere..." Perhaps it's finally getting to me after all these years of preschool??) and I came up with my own.

My songs aren't fancy by any means. But they make the daily activities more fun and predictable for Julia. And so, for archival purposes I am writing the lyrics of Julia's songs here. (If I don't sing the songs for a while, I will surely forget them. I had better record the tunes as well.) I might as well come up with titles for them while I am at it.

"Julia's Lullaby"

Chorus: (sing at beginning, end,
and in between each verse)

Julia, (echo: Julia)
Julia, (echo: Julia)
Julia, (echo: Julia)
We love you.
Out in the world all the creatures are sleeping.
Soon you will be sleeping too.

Down on the farm the horses are sleeping.
So are the cows, the chickens and sheep.
Out in the forest the squirrels are napping.
Little birdies not making a peep.

Off in the jungle a tiger is snoring.
A little monkey is resting his head.
Deep in the ocean the dolphins are sleeping.
Schools of fishies have all gone too bed.

Out in the desert jackrabbits are tucked in.
Snakes and lizards have all closed their eyes.
Down at the pond, the frogs softly croaking,
Crickets are chirping their sweet lullabies.

*Note: I am aware that many of the above-mentioned animals are nocturnal. Hey, it's a lullaby. Everyone sleeps during a lullaby.

"Because I am Your Mommy" (for fun)

I love your two little eyes.
And I love your cute little nose.
I love your ten little fingers.
And your ten little toes.

I love your ears,
I love your eyes.
And I love your tummy.
I love each part of you
Because I am your Mommy.

(Silly Jonny adapts the last line to,
"because you taste like honey.")


"Rest Now, Baby" (nap time)

It's nap time, my baby.
It's time to go to sleep.
It's nap time, my darling.
Now do not make a peep.
Just close your eyes angel,
while you hear me sing this tune.
And rest now, Baby,
We'll play again soon.



"Rub-a-dub-a-dubby" (bath time)

Rub-a-dub-a-dubby, in my tubby.
Scrub-a-dub-a-dubby, in my tubby.
When it's my bath time I know what to do:
I rub-a-dub-a-dubby and I scrub-scrub too.

Splish-a-splish-a-splashy, in my bathy.
Splish-a-splish-a-splashy, in my bathy.
When it's my bath time I know what to do:
I splish-a-splish-a-splishy and I splash-splash too.


"Buckle Yours Too" (driving)

When we're goin' anywhere in the car.
It doesn't matter if it's near or if it's far.
I'm telling you I know what to do:
I buckle my seatbelt - so buckle yours too.


"Please Hold Still" (getting dressed)

Please hold still, my little squirt.
It is time to put on your shirt.
Please hold still, my Ju Ju Ju.
It is time to put clothes on you.

Please hold still, pause your dance.
It is time to put on your pants.
Please hold still, my Ju Ju Ju.
It is time to put clothes on you.


"I love Yulia" (diaper change)

Julia, Julia, I love Yulia.
But now it's time to change your dipe.
First we need to get a wipe.

Julia, Julia, I love Yulia.
Your diaper change is almost done.
Then it's time to have some fun.

Julia, Julia, I love Yulia.
Now your diaper's nice and new.
And you smell so lovely too.


"Counting Clean-Up" (cleaning up toys)

We love toys, they are so fun.
But now our time for toys is done.
Cleaning up can be fun too.
Just count with me and I'll show you.

1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6,
7, 8,
9 is next,
Last of all is number 10.
Let's put away the toys 'til we play again.

(repeat counting part until toys are cleaned up)

Phew! That was quite a job. It occurs to me that I'd better get going on one for snack/meal time. She gets pretty antsy while I am preparing something to eat. Oh wait, I made up one for preschool this year. I can just use that one! Here it is:

"Thank You" (snack time)

Thank you for the food we eat.
Thank you for this special treat.
Thanks for carrots, cheese, and bread.
Apples that are juicy red.
Thanks for water cool and clear.
Thanks for all the food we share.

(Note: Unlike the others songs that have original melodies, this one goes to the tune of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.")


Oh, thanks to Em for most of the pictures, which I copied from her picasa web album.