Music Man

For about two years now, I have played for Alex the same exact lullaby CD as we he was going to bed. I had read in a bunch of parenting and sleep books that a routine that includes music at night can help provide cues that it is time to sleep. It has worked, to a degree, and the music is definitely a part of his goodnight ritual.

Alex received some great music CDs from his granparents for his birthday this year, and since the day we opened them he has been quite excited to listen to them as often as possible. On day two after we received them, he asked to listen to one of his “new music” at bed time instead of the lullaby CD. Hey, I guess after two plus years, he was ready for a change! In any event, I popped in a Laurie Berkner CD and he L-O-V-E-D it. He did that one a few nights, then asked for The Wiggles. Tonight we were back to Laurie. He is so excited to listen to the music that he actually even shoos me out of the room at bedtime, which is a BIG change.

This morning I changed up the lyrics of the Doodlebug song (I am not the only one who has noticed that the characters in the song are named after the characters in Seinfeld!) to incorporate my boys. The new verse goes something like this:
There once was a doodlebug
His name was Nate
He lived on Bananas and
Chocolate Cake
One day across the kitchen he flew,
To see his brother Alex
Who’s a doodelbug too!

Alex loves this, and any song with his name in it. He frequently asks for the Banana Song (more commonly known as the Name Game Song. And of course, he always shouts “Let’s do TUCKER!” Argh, I knew this was coming when we named Tucker 8 years ago, and the day has arrived. Ucker. Just drop the F.). We have a song just for Alex that is about anything Alex names, and that one song can keep him occupied for a good length car ride or shopping trip.

In fact, he has also started to make up songs on his own. Sometimes with lyrics, sometimes with nonesense, all times with a pretty good tune. He is a music man.