Mike and I are really trying to make sure Maddie is into music. I’m sure that surprises no one who reads my blog regularly, since I showed you her music-themed nursery. Mike and I are both musical. I grew up playing the piano and singing, and Mike taught himself piano and guitar (his singing voice is great, too). When Mike and Maddie are spending the day at home, Mike plays music for her – everything from the Beatles to Wilco to Mississippi Delta Blues.

We also sing to her a lot. Not your typical nursery rhymes though, but songs we make up. Which also reminds me, can you people please give me the names of some nursery rhymes? I seriously can’t think of any except “Rock a Bye Baby.” I must have a mental block. Anyway, some of our songs are sweet. Like the one that Mike wrote for Maddie right after she was born:

Madeline, sweet baby Madeline,
Oh what a perfect mess you’ve got us in,
Madeline, our little Madeline,
You’ve got the cutest little toes I’ve ever seen!
And just like I need my heart, I can’t be apart from Madeline!
Like a horse needs its cart, I can’t be apart from Madeline!
Just like Milhouse needs Bart, I won’t be apart from Madeline!

Mike plays the guitar to her while he sings*. Yeah, I know, freaking adorable. I wrote her a little lullaby that I originally sang to her when she was in the NICU:

Baby you and I will fly up in the sky,
fly up in the sky where the world looks little.
Baby you and me, together can’t you see,
we’ll fly up in the sky where the world looks little.
We’re gonna be close to heaven above,
we’re gonna be warmed by the sunshine’s love.
Baby you and I will fly up in the sky,
fly up in the sky where the world looks little.

They aren’t all sweet songs, though. Sometimes she’ll be on the changing table and I’ll start chanting,

Maddie Moo-zer!
She went poo-zer!
Formula just went right through her!

Yeah, it’s a song about poo. They can’t all be gems.

We repeat this one to her whenever she goes on a hunger strike.

My Madeline, you are so sweet!
But damn it girl, why won’t you eat?
Chow down your food or I will threat
embarrassment here on the ‘net.
Munch on these peas, carrots, or pears
to help avoid quizzical stares.
So come on baby, get some chunk
and yummy junk into your trunk.

I’m sure you’ve read our little songs and chants thinking, “these Spohrs are even stranger than I thought!” And we totally are. But, Maddie loves the loves the songs. She laughs and squeals whenever we sing them. I guess we’ll find out soon enough if she’s laughing at them or with them.

*if enough of you ask, perhaps I can persuade Mike to let me put a video of him singing to Maddie on You Tube…