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« Resolutionary | Main | Stop Me If You've Heard This One »

Singsong

January 05, 2009

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When Noah hears a song on the radio -- even one he's never heard before -- he still hums along, in near perfect pitch. And not the melody, either. He hums the harmony, complete with key changes and everything.

At night, though, he keeps things simple, and hums Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to himself -- the first lullaby I ever sang to him, because it was the only one I knew all the words to, and later because it was one of the only songs Noah would allow me and my amateurish voice to inflict on him. He sings it over and over again until he drops off to sleep.

Every night for a good two weeks now, I've heard his door open in the middle of the night, his padded pajama feet creeping down the hall as he silently crawls into our bed, spooning up next to Jason the way he's realized Ezra spoons with me, and then quietly -- oh so quietly, like he's afraid we'll send him back to his room if we hear him -- hums himself back to sleep.

Jason sighs, I groan and inch closer to the edge of the bed, we roll our eyes and mime complaints about sore necks and cramped legs -- we sleep in a double, for crissakes -- and mutter promises to get both of them in their own beds as soon as possible.

And then we wrap our arms around our babies and fall asleep to the sound of Noah's sweet and lovely voice.

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Posted at 03:03 PM in Noah | Permalink

Comments

My Uterus it aches!
That is so sweet!

Posted by: Julena | January 05, 2009 at 06:22 PM

A DOUBLE? They still make those!? I'm not even sure I know what that means, but anything smaller than a queen is completely outrageous for 2 people (or 4 as the case may be).

I agree with the others - a new bed is in order!

Posted by: Monica | January 05, 2009 at 06:29 PM

I don't want to be hated here, but this post reminded me of why I never want to have children. You guys all say it's sweet, but maybe that comes with actually having a baby? Because...in bed? Seriously?

Posted by: NGS | January 05, 2009 at 06:34 PM

I vote that you just get a bigger bed. :)

Posted by: Aimee | January 05, 2009 at 06:42 PM

My almost three-year-old is still in a crib, and I secretly can't wait for him to move to a real bed so we can snuggle.

Posted by: Maria | January 05, 2009 at 06:46 PM

As mother of a six year old I can say with certainty, you will miss it oneday with a passion. My three year old still sleeps with me son, but only rarely. They are groing up. Up up up. Alex keeps saying, "I'm six you know."

Posted by: Sara | January 05, 2009 at 07:12 PM

I'd upgrade to a queen or king. Hubby and I were just talking about the fact that our son never joins us in bed anymore. I miss it. A lot. Make room for them now. They won't always be crawling into bed with you.

Posted by: Robin | January 05, 2009 at 07:16 PM

I don't know what this says about a 23 year old, but I hum myself to sleep too...and your son is adorable...so adorable.

Posted by: Kim | January 05, 2009 at 07:21 PM

awwwww... that is just the sweetest thing ever

Posted by: judy haley (coffeejitters) | January 05, 2009 at 07:30 PM

Amy, this post made me all teary! So sweet. I hope you and your awesome family have a Happy New Year!

Posted by: amanda | January 05, 2009 at 07:48 PM

What a great thing for Noah, to have a good sense for pitch. It's one of those gifts that I never really thought about until I fell in love with someone who struggles with it. Music class will be really fun for him!

Posted by: Tricina | January 05, 2009 at 07:51 PM

Unwanted advice for the day (but you might like it)

Did you know that high-functioning autistic kids (aspergers) often have gifts in the areas of music? Something to do with the same nerves that are highly tuned that cause Sensory Integration Disorder and that potential relate to the limits of speech development, also link to highly developed nerves that hear and recreate pitch.

Useless info given BECAUSE: say there's this lovely 3 yr old apraxic kid, diagnosed Sensory Integration Disorder, possibly autistic, who has alll kinds of odd behaviors (but mostly only when tired or sick) started taking Suzuki Violin lessons (yes, at 2 1/2), suddenly went from less than 30 words at 30% understandability to over 150 words with 75% understandibility in less than 3 months?

Just saying. Lessons are fairly cheap. Google Suzuki Association and your area. We were absolutely amazed. What OT, Speech T, and everything else couldn't do, was accomplishsed through 2 things- gymnastics lessons and Suzuki violin lessons. (The violin mimics the human voice range. Its believed that it somehow helps kids with these issues to focus and recreate the sounds, I don't know, but it works)

Posted by: Mrs Butter B | January 05, 2009 at 08:10 PM

Well if that isn't the sweetest thing I've heard all day. Please tell me you've recorded that to cherish for the future. (The him singing himself to sleep at bedtime, that is. The part with all 4 of you in bed might be a little tricky. ;) )

Posted by: Diane | January 05, 2009 at 08:11 PM

Oh forgot to say: After 6 months with violin lessons, don't be surprised if they discontinue your services because you DON'T need them (and oddly enough, it was obvious even to me) and if the neurologist says he's going to remove the Autism label if the child continues to make that kind of progress for a full year. Just saying.

Posted by: Mrs Butter B | January 05, 2009 at 08:12 PM

Sounds just like our house. The pictures of him are too cute,

Posted by: Ali | January 05, 2009 at 08:25 PM

Ahhh, I *know.*

Alex still sleeps with us. When he was tiny, we joked that we'd just have to buy a bigger bed if he didn't eventually sleep in his own. We bought a king bed a few months ago.

Posted by: Jana (the poser formerly known as Jezer) | January 05, 2009 at 08:28 PM

That is so sweet.

Posted by: Kyla | January 05, 2009 at 08:32 PM

Sounds like you're going to have a kick ass musician there. He's so adorable!

Posted by: tutugirl1345 | January 05, 2009 at 09:36 PM

Every morning I wake up with a backache and crick in my neck and swear off cosleeping. But everynight as I cuddle up against my 14 month old, I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. That feeling is better than any drug. (Not that I do drugs.) (Anymore.)

Posted by: Mallory | January 05, 2009 at 09:39 PM

Laying. across. my. desk. WEEPING...such a beautiful boy.

Posted by: linka72 | January 05, 2009 at 09:47 PM

Have you ever thought of music lessons for Noah? He may be a little Mozart! I have a major in music and you sometime hear about kids that have perfect pitch and perfect "ear". I would suggest piano!

Posted by: Veronique | January 05, 2009 at 09:51 PM

That is such a sweet post! Singing little toddlers are absolutely adorable.

Posted by: little dutch girl | January 05, 2009 at 10:12 PM

He's sooo sweet. I love that he sings himself to sleep. That's adorable.

Posted by: Courtney | January 05, 2009 at 10:25 PM

That's beautiful.

Posted by: Papa Bradstein | January 05, 2009 at 10:40 PM

As a music teacher who works with a lot of preschoolers that is one sweet story.

Posted by: Lizzle | January 05, 2009 at 11:10 PM

"Then the traveler in the dark /
Thanks you for your tiny spark"

Posted by: RD | January 05, 2009 at 11:52 PM

You are so blessed! I miss those sweet co-sleeping days!

Posted by: madeline | January 06, 2009 at 01:24 AM

my heart! broken by the sweetness. i love when my baby is extra snuggly.

Posted by: liz | January 06, 2009 at 01:44 AM

That is just beautiful.

Posted by: Rachael | January 06, 2009 at 02:18 AM

Uh, utterly adorable.
My 3 year old daughter loves Red Hot Chilli Peppers so there would be no gentle humming for us in the middle of the night!

Posted by: Tara@Sticky Fingers | January 06, 2009 at 06:45 AM

So beautiful. And I don't think it matters what size bed you have, we have a huge king and our 4 month old somehow manages to rule the entire thing with us squished on the sides. Gotta love it though... sometimes.

Posted by: Jo | January 06, 2009 at 07:49 AM

That is the sweetest story I've heard in a long long time. Thank you for sharing it and starting my day perfectly.

Posted by: pam | January 06, 2009 at 08:44 AM

My nephew only allows my sister to sing one or two (if any) songs because of her less than stellar voice. She'll start to sing Little Einsteins and he shoots her a death stare.

Posted by: Laura | January 06, 2009 at 08:53 AM

If the schools required singing on key, The Offspring would be in trouble. Still love to hear his voice.

Posted by: Heide | January 06, 2009 at 09:02 AM

Okay, that is one of the sweetest things I've ever read. These are the things that we'll miss when the babies grow up and want nothing to do with Mom & Dad!

Posted by: KellMcK | January 06, 2009 at 09:02 AM

Such a sweet sentiment. Thanks for sharing this.

And you seriously need a bigger bed. Wow.

Posted by: SarahMcow | January 06, 2009 at 09:10 AM

oh how sweet.

Posted by: Beachgal | January 06, 2009 at 09:10 AM

De-lurking to tell you what you already know. You have a wonderful child. Please know that his natural gifts can be useful in his education to encourage development in other areas. Tell Noah to keep on singing!

Posted by: Angie | January 06, 2009 at 09:28 AM

a double!?!? how did you survive two pregnancies in a double?!

Posted by: MommyNamedApril | January 06, 2009 at 09:44 AM

that's beautiful. and you totally need a bigger bed. though kids eat up any space they find (have you seen our ever-growing toy area?!?), even with a XL-king, you'd get neck cramps and cramped legs. but the boys could stretch out... =D

Posted by: vanna | January 06, 2009 at 09:49 AM

So glad you let him sleep with you. It's a short time that they want to cuddle with us in bed. And then we're chasing after them for hugs...

Posted by: tracey | January 06, 2009 at 09:57 AM

That is SO precious!

Posted by: Sarah | January 06, 2009 at 09:58 AM

oh my lord, that was the sweetest thing EVER.

Posted by: rachel | January 06, 2009 at 10:00 AM

I'm about 6 weeks away from giving birth to my first. A boy. This made me all hormone-y and emotional (not that it's hard to do at this point)! That is just way too sweet. I hope I have a singer like yours! Just beautiful.

Posted by: Mary | January 06, 2009 at 10:45 AM

Beautiful post. Trust me, they grow up, sleep in their own bed and no longer are small enough to snuggle with. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Posted by: Christy | January 06, 2009 at 10:50 AM

You have made me cry. Granted, I am pregnant and hormonal, but hell, that was sweet.

Posted by: Mel | January 06, 2009 at 11:00 AM

Stop torturing yourself and get a king bed! You can sleep (and do other stuff) in any direction! Those little boys will soon be too big and cool to snuggle with you so enjoy the family bed while you can. At least now they smell good.

Posted by: mrs. q. | January 06, 2009 at 11:05 AM

Ours snuck in our bed until he was 4. He's 10 now, and still crawls into bed with me every now and then. I am going to be so despondent when that ends.

Posted by: Plano Mom | January 06, 2009 at 11:06 AM

We had just broken Maggie of the "sleep-in-Mommy's-Bed-phase" when Will was born. Now he does it. We wouldn't mind so much if he didn't sleep sideways.

Posted by: Catizhere | January 06, 2009 at 11:13 AM

A double? I'd be headed to the couch.

Posted by: Lori | January 06, 2009 at 11:52 AM
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