Love Songs

As I've mentioned before, every January I put together a movie of all the best pictures and videos we've taken the year before.  The kids love watching themselves and the grandparents enjoy the grandchild eye candy.  (Well, at least I assume they do.  They haven't asked me to stop sending copies of the Time Capsules (as we call them), so I'll take that as a good sign.)

Generally, the music that I use includes songs the kids really liked from that year or just random MP3s I have on our server.  But for important events that happen I like to put a little more thought into the music.  For example, for the section that showed all the pictures of our move from Utah to Indiana I used Green Day's "Time of Your Life".
     Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
     Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
     So make the best of this test and don't ask why
     It's not a question but a lesson learned in time
     It's something unpredictable but in the end is right, I hope you have the time of your life

Clearly I thought moving to Indiana was this big adventure that would lead us to all sorts of other places.  Seven years later... never mind. 

For my mom's funeral I used Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", not just because the music seemed so fitting, but also because my mom's last trip before she went into the hospital was to Hawaii.  I remember calling her while she was there, and she was eating room service breakfast on the balcony of her hotel room, reading a book and watching the boats in the water.  (My dad was at some conference.)  I could tell she was having a great time and was just happy and content.  That's how I best like to remember her.

On a less serious note, I of course used "One Love" for the section on our cruise.  We heard that song at least 10 times a day!  But I used the Glee Cast version, which was far less annoying.  I also used "Jump In The Line" by Harry Belafonte, because, hey, it's a fun song.

But the sections I think the hardest about are for when I have a baby.  I want to make the song extra special; something that reminds me of them and the happy time when each child was born.  I want each child to think of me when they hear that song, and to know that I love them.  I want the song to have meaning for them.

I've often wondered if the kids notice these songs, and I got my answer a few weeks ago from Spencer.  He was asking about the 2011 pictures and when I would be done with them.  Then he asked which song I would use for Tess.  What?  "You use a song for each baby.  Which song will be Tess's song?"

Well, it made my momma heart proud to hear that!

When Spencer was born I knew immediately which song I use: "Your Song" by Elton John.  When I was pregnant with Spencer he would always move around whenever I listened to Elton John music when I was commuting to and from work.  And after he was born I could often get him to calm down in the car by turning on good ol' Elton.  (Of course, he seemed to like "Yellow Brick Road" and "Crocodile Rock" best, but those didn't exactly have what I was going for. :)
     I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind
     That I put down into words
     How wonderful life is now that you're in the world

For Josh I used the song "Little Things" from Sesame Street.  Mainly because of the obvious awesomeness associated with 9lb 15oz Josh in the last lines of the song:
     I believe in little things
     Like you and me
     And just how big
     Little things can be
Plus, the song is pretty calm and soothing, which is what I needed while dealing with baby Josh.  Oooh boy.

For Cole I went a little more mainstream with the Plain White T's "1, 2, 3, 4".  I remember clear as day that Cole smiled for the first time while I was changing his diaper and singing that song to him.  And he would always smile when I sang that song to him after that.  The song is light and happy, which was how Cole's baby days were.  He was such an easygoing and happy baby!
     I'm so glad that I found you.
     I love being around you.
     You make it easy, as easy as 1 2,(1 2 3 4.)
     There's only one thing two do     Three words four you.
     I love you.
     There's only one way two say those three words
     And that's what I'll do.
     I love you
And finally, there's Tess.  It took me a while to come up with a song for her.  Everything I thought of at first was either too cheesy or too obvious.  Then one day the song just popped into my head: "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles.  I don't know why, but it just seemed perfect.  I've always been a Beatles fan, and this song seemed especially appropriate for welcoming our little girl into the family!     Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
     Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
     Here comes the sun
     Here comes the sun, and I say
     It's all right

Hopefully my kidlets will recognize and remember these songs in years to come as the love songs their momma gave them.