music for the season

This is one of those dreaded projects. Unless you're one of those that have mastered "delayed gratification." Unfortunately, that's not me.

We have a mountain of cd's in our home. In my single years, I loved to spend hours at Borders, or more offbeat music shops, listening to albums, looking for that new favorite artist to become part of the soundtrack of that life stage. Isn't it funny, how you just have to hear a song, and you remember the crush, the adventure, the joy, the drive, the weather...? Bon Jovi, Sarah McLachlan, Keb' Mo, Train, Dave Matthews- they each take me back to different summers, different seasons.

All those seasons are getting rather dusty. And they're a mess. The CD cover may or may not indicate what cd is actually enclosed. Oh, the fun when it says VeggieTales, but then Beastie Boys comes blasting through the car speakers. Sorry kids.

We've tried. I've spend entire evenings sorting, alphabetizing, arranging. I made Joel join me in the dreaded project, imploring him to please not just stack them all on top of the CD rack when you're done, but put them back in their rightful place, and then we wouldn't have to do this again. He suggested we go digital and ditch the cd's all together.

I refused. Too sterile. I like album art and liner notes. I like to hold my music, see my music.

And then, the mess again. My 3 year old, pulling cd's out of the player, "Mama, do you know where the Glenn and Marketta song is?" My 15 month old, scrambling to pull album after album off the shelf, just for the glorious sound they make crashing to the wood floor. An me, with the quiet (there's no need to tell my husband) realization that it's me setting a pile from the car on top of the CD rack because, "I will sort through them later, you know, when I have time."

Well now it's time. Not for another sorting session, but the last sorting session. We're going digital. Because really, when is the last time I read liner notes? When in the last year have I stepped foot into a music store to browse? I know, I'm kind of a late adopter on this one. What took me so long? A stubborn streak. And the absolute mundane torture of downloading every single cd on our laptop. We started this morning, and we're about halfway through. But I finally think it's worth it.

Because really, I miss the music. I do want the music back in my daily life, my kitchen, my backyard, my room. These are some great days, and they deserve their own soundtracks too.

fun with Audrey

Yesterday, we went to the botanical gardens. It's free on Wednesdays, and they have a great kids area. Eli and Audrey had lots of fun. Yummy watermelon...

and some serious xylophone action here...

Big Finish

I think I've mentioned that Eli is in LOVE with the drums. Some of his other great loves are Bobcats, binkies, and dried mango- but I expect the drums will long outlive his affection for the latter three.

It seems he is always thinking about the drums. We catch him walking around the house or sitting in his car seat absent mindedly patting his chest, stomach, thighs, and head while making drum sound effects.

Here's a recent conversation.

"Ka-ptch! Ka-ptch! Ka-ptch! Daa-Daa Pum, Daa-Daa-Pum...Huh-tah, Hu-tah, Puh-Puh-Puh..."
"What are you singing Eli?"
"I'm playing the drums....Ka-ptch! Ka-pthc! Do you know what that is?"
"Nope. What is it?"
"That's the crash. And this is the tom. Puh-puh-puh."
"Oh, wow!"
"And here's the kick mama. Da-Pum! Da-Pum!"

The other night, I was singing to him before bed. (Someday soon he will be correcting my pitch problems...) He requested Open the Eyes of My Heart. Sometimes he sings along, sometimes he just listens.

This time, he was quietly sucking his binkie as I finished. "I want to see You....I want to see You." There was a brief pause, and the lullaby mood was broken as he spontaneously added his own drum solo. "Bum, Bum, Bum, Ka-ptch-ptch-ptch!"

I guess when you're two, lullabies need a big finish.

How to Shrink Your House

Just in case you're wondering, the best way make your house feel half it's original size is to buy a junior drum set for your two year old. It is LOUD.

Trust me.

(Good thing it's so stinkin' cute to watch him play.)

Don't Forget the Lyrics

The time has come.

We may have to ask Eli, at certain times, to stop singing. I have so anticipated his love for music, and celebrated each new sign that he will have a passion for it. I never thought about the times when it would be inconvenient. I've readied myself for long recitals, the loud unending ruckus of him someday learning to play the drums, pleading requests for concert tickets...but I wasn't ready for this.

Messing with his naptime?

He is starting to skip naps. And not in the typical two year old fashion. Sure, he sometimes protests laying down. But several times over the past two weeks, it's been a new problem.

Singing.

At the top of his lungs.

The other day, in the baby monitor, I heard the quiet rustle of him shifting in his bed. The "plink plink" of him playing with his binkie. And then,

"Haaaaaa lay luuuuuu yaaaaaaah!'

Quiet for a few minutes.

"Dis is how we know what love is- Jesus Christ lay down his wife."

Yikes!! Not only his he not sleeping, his theology is a little off. That's supposed to be Jesus Christ laid down his life."

This went on for 45 minutes. Silence broken by new ideas of songs that couldn't be contained. I went upstairs and told him it was time to go night night.

He was quiet. And then,

"Haaaaa laaay luuuuuyaaaaaaah"

I smiled and enjoyed the sweet melody. He can always catch up on sleep, right? Yep, because this is just too precious. The other day, he sang this version of Come Thou Fount.

"Come dow fount of evwee bleseen, tune my howt to seen dy gwace. Sweet dreams mercy, never ceaseem call for soms of loudest pwaise."