Mama Loves: Music

  Today I am participating in "Mama Love" with Julia and her blog

pontificationsofatwinmom.blogspot.com

What is a Mama Love?

Simple. It's what you love. Whatever makes "mama-ing" just a wee bit easier.

Maybe you've found:

• a toy or book that captivates your child(ren)
• gear you just can't live without
• a recipe your choosy toddler gobbles down
• a parenting book that you've found perspective-changing
• an activity that wears your kid(s) out (this leads to good naps--every mama loves good naps!)
• an outfit that flatters your post-baby body and makes you feel fabulous
• a sassy nail polish color that makes you feel like a million bucks
• whatever else I might have missed--creativity welcome!

I am a worrier, a regreter (I made up this word!), a questioner.  I question every decision I make, every action, every word, every move I make wondering if I am damaging my children.  (BIG SMILE!)  I have been given permission to fail and I have, many times.  But there is one thing that I am so happy that I have succeeded at~ Ben and Emma LOVE music.  From the day they were born, I played music for them, even in the hospital.  Classical, soft rock, New Age, Mormon contemporary and of course, toddler music.  They love them all!  We even have a future conductor in our home.  Ben waves his arms like he is conducting a world class symphony when we watch the movie, "Fantasia".  He calls it "Ba Ba Ba!".

We have many favorites:

We love the soundtrack just as much as the movie.  We let Ben and Emma watch most of the movie except for the last segment which is called "Night at Bald Mountain" and shows the devil dancing with all of his minions and is a little inappropriate for my kiddos!

I am a big Harry Connick, Jr. fan and we all love this CD.  With his usual big band sound, he sings songs from movies like Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Wizard of Oz and Annie.  The big band sound really gets Ben and Emma moving and shaking their little booties!

One of my favorite CD's!  It includes songs like "Pure Imagination", "All the Pretty Little Ponies", "The Rainbow Connection" and "To-Ra-Loo-Ra".
I love this CD because it is soft and relaxing and I like Kenny Loggins!

We like the Baby Einstein series of music CD's but I like the Brainy Baby series better.  The music is less "tinny" if that makes sense.  It sounds more like classical music than Baby Einstein.  Their CD's have titles like "Peaceful Baby", "Sleepy Baby", Cheerful Baby", and more.

But the #1 family favorite is (Drumroll please!).....

We are BIG Sesame Street fans in our home!  I like this CD because it is not all about Elmo!  It has all of the classic songs from when I was a kid and includes some "new" stuff.  I still consider Elmo "new"!

We have too many favorites to mention but here are a few more:

Sharon, Lois and Bram

Celine Dion "Miracle"

Jewel "Lullaby"

Barney (Hmmmph!)

Kenny G

Mormon Tabernacle Choir (yes, really!)

Raffi 

Anything and everything on the radio as long as it has a beat!  These kiddo's love all music!

I've found a local radio station that Mama is comfortable listening to in the car!

The main reason this Mama loves that her children love music is that it calms my active children, it brings a soothing spirit to our home and when the music is loud and has a good beat, 

gets us all moving and grooving!

And now for your listening pleasure.....

http://youtu.be/p5H86uFQuBA

and

http://youtu.be/BpXUYIOoFzM
Be patient through the commercial, it's worth it!

Oh, and this one!  It makes me cry EVERY SINGLE TIME I hear it!
http://youtu.be/gOx2tumeqZo

What do you love????