Warning: Post is about Snork
I read somewhere that the 19th week is when the Snork can hear sounds. My Mother, who is at the ready for each and every milestone, has decided that it is time to start playing music to my gut. And here is where I tell you that the idea of putting headphones on my stomach and playing fancy elevator music to my (hopefully) future kid is just weird. “But it will make him go to sleep and calm down”, is Mother’s retort. And maybe it will, and maybe I might play some Tchaikovsky at some point, because I do love some Firebird Suite. (which seems to be by some guy named Stravinsky. I got my -sky’s mixed up.)
But lullaby music and slowed down classical tunes have always skeeved me out. Maybe I have seen too many slasher movies where this kind of music preludes a crime spree, or maybe just the idea of being married to only these kinds of tunes for the first X months of Snork’s life is haunting enough, but there has to be a way that his first entrance into the amazing world of sounds can be just a bit, I don’t know…hipper.
And then this afternoon we decided to finally begin our marathon viewing session of the American remake of a British show that I lurved and as soon as David Bowie began to sing Life on Mars Snork began to shake his groove thing. Right then I knew that if Snork was going to respond that well to Bowie that the kid clearly had good taste in tunes.
And at just after 5pm I created the first, of hopefully many, mixes for my son. The mix includes the following artists (in alphabetical order by 1st name): David Bowie, Dolly Parton, Eagles, Elton John. Eurythmics, Janis Joplin, Joe Cocker, John Lennon, KC & The Sunshine Band, Patsy Cline, Paul Simon, Pointer Sisters, Rod Stewart and the Who.
Yesterday afternoon Mother decided that we should go to a “Green Baby Expo” in the parking lot of a shopping center near our house. I had convinced myself that it would be mellow and simple and I was freaked to discover that it was crowded and full of people wanting to hard sell us everything from cleaning supplies to organic onesies.
And everyone there had GIANT bumps or adorable babies. Many women even managed to have bumps AND babies. I had an excited Mother and a wheelchair bound Grandmother that was making herself dizzy trying to coo at every infant that she encountered. I was feeling very under-dressed. Did I mention that everyone else had accessorized with a beautiful bump or beautiful baby? I had edema and boob sweat.
You would think that the “us” and “them” feelings wouldn’t be as suffocating, but motherfucker, they are. I had extreme fight or flight feelings and was dizzy with sharp feelings of not fitting in or being welcome. Obviously this was all in my head, but it still blew me away how swiftly those infertile emotions could surface. Of course I was tempting fate- what was I THINKING going to a damn baby expo? Too soon. Way too soon.
sigh. One toe in and one foot out.
This week is going to be a bit jam packed: Tuesday BG Talula has her rescheduled vet visit & hair cut (she will be getting a partial lion cut for those interested), Wednesday is the continuing adventures of Snork’s anatomy scan, Thursday is GM’s arm surgery…and maybe Friday I will introduce the Snork to the Rolling Stones.
Awesome play mix. I am with you on the music thing. I sang my bean everything but lullabies. He is no worse for the wear.
When I was preggers that Natasha Bedingfield song was huge.. (Unwritten) I loved it… and when it came on the radio in the car, I turned it up nice and loud. I think Rowan danced inside my belly every time.
During my baby shower, (which was held in my home)… I was filling a large bowl with ice to put drinks in. I used a tupper ware container to scoop the ice out of my ice maker in the freezer. I had the large bowling sitting on my then ginromous belly. I dumped the tupperware full of ice into the bowl and i’m not kidding you, the loud noise it made must have either startled her, or awoken her, because she jumped so abrubplty. It was both amazing and hysterical at the same time. i loved it.
Also, when I first found out I was pregnant I bought a small pink lamb that plays Twinkle twinkle little star. I would sit in bed watching TV with the hubs and I would set it on my belly and play it over and over every night.
Once she was born, the sound of that lamb playing that song would put her to bed instantly.
She still has it, and her favorite song is still Twinkle Twinkle.
consequently, I never played classical music for her… but she has great taste… her favorite song is Intergalactic by the Beastie Boys. And she also loves metalica, Flogging Molly and alot of good Irish toons. haha
and well.. Elmo’s favorite hits and The Wiggles. But no ones perfect.
Like the music mix. I’d do maybe a little classical myself but very little. Otherwise I’d do a mix of stuff. I went to a baby fair once about a year and half ago. I’m chubby enough to look pregnant but everyone kept asking when I was due and when I said I wasn’t I had at least one person ask why I was there. Whatever. I do also still have jealous moments when I see someone skinny with that perfect bump that’s all baby and no chub and I feel sad that I’ll never have that perfect round bump.
I recently went to a maternity store for the first time and kept waiting for someone to toss me out on my rear. I think I only had the guts to walk in because there were no other customers. I am lame.
Here is a link to Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of Radiohead
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000GY72KQ/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance
smooches
That IS a great mix!!
(Will everybody think I’m a snot for pointing out that Firebird is actually by Stravinsky? Yes? Ok, sorry.)
Clearly, your son will have amazing taste in music.
I think at this point if I were surrounded by pregnant women and baby stuff my head would explode.
I played my guys “Here Comes The Sun” by the Beatles, and also played it in the delivery room. They seemed to like it just fine
Snork sounds like a cool kid already!
Yeah, I had my baby stuff breakthrough with a fellow understander. It helped a lot.
Mine’s favorite sound so far was totally when we went to see the new Batman movie. Matt is extremely proud.
I’m always in a panic going to the maternity store. At work there are a number of pregnant women who I avoid like the plague. Sad but true.
Snork is going to be a cool as you.
those things freak me out too. i’m impressed you even WENT. brave woman. xxxx
I remember that feeling quite well. I tried to explain it to my friend, whose due date was 8 days later than my due date with the baby I miscarried. She couldn’t quite understand why I was still uncomfortable around her and her big belly even though I was pregnant again. I told her that it felt like a sorority that had previously kicked me out, but had now invited me back. I would never truly feel like part of the group, even though I was. Thankfully, that feeling has gone away and now I feel very much a part of the Mommy group.
Also, congrats on Snork’s good taste in music. I am trying my best to expose Cash to a variety of music, from Rhianna to Led Zeppelin.
Love the Snork music selection – he will be rockin’ and rollin’ in there for sure! My kids were subjected to everything from Alabama to Enya to AC/DC. That may explain a lot.
I’ll be thinking about you lots this week as you get through all of these important appointments, and hope that they all go well.
i hear you. I am sort of showing but I still think I just look fat. Now I notice “bumps” and think “mine isn’t as perfect & round as hers.” Sad – I’m the only one excluding me. I keep wishing I were bigger, even though it’s going to be pretty uncomfortable when I am. Nobody told me pregnancy was breathing-optional. I’m working on my mix too; I’m a classical music geek so I think the complixity of Mozart and Bach is crucial – I used Bach’s “Well-Tempered Clavier” to calm myself during IVF #6 – but I”m also getting ready to bust out a bunch of Stevie Wonder, and I think my baby’s current favorite is a bunch of ragtime piano that I blast in the car.
This lady in our child care class the other night said she has James Taylor on a continuous loop for her now 4 year old. He recognizes the songs now when they come on the radio as his “sleepy music”. I thought it was cute but 4 years of James Taylor is a LOT!
Another busy week! I don’t know how you do it!
)
When my son was three or four, I asked all our friends and relatives to give him music…music that *they* enjoyed. Single artist, mixes, used CDs, homemade CDs (but please don’t buy new unless you feel you have to!). We ended up with a fabulous collection of CDs, everything from Willy Nelson to Jewish religious music to a fantastic kids mix CD from a friend who is a professional DJ.
Teach the Snork silly songs…my son knew all the words to Gilligan’s Island at three. A friend saw Mama Mia and decided to teach her daughter to sing ABBA. Teach him any songs that have meaning for you. And, warning….you will cry at the sound of your child’s lovely voice singing.
I kid you not, the “edema and boob sweat” thing pushed me to hilarious tear filled laughter. I’m sure that was the intent, because if it wasn’t I feel incredibly insensitive… but the language says otherwise
I think it’s safe to say that you’ve reached the point where Snork can listen to music, so you’ve reached the point where you’re *allowed* to do overtly mommy+baby things. Sure you’re not sporting a big round baby bump, but what if you don’t get that ’til Snork is ready to burst onto the scene Alien-like?
But perhaps next time you should do something that doesn’t involve the word “Green” because man those people are overwhelming.
Don’t think for two seconds that they didn’t have boob sweat, too. At least those who had boobs big enough for sweat.
So nice to read about snork!
My sister, a childhood music educator, says that putting headphones on your belly is not good for baby–over stimlating. Better to listen to music you like and dance to it.
You, ARE a them! But WAIT — did I read that you’re feeling the Snorkster MOVE now?!?! If you are, you better SPILL and tell all! Sorry if I missed it if this is covered territory…
I made a preggo compilation for the Toddler Formerly Known as Snug. On mine was Waterboys, Bowie (Kooks, Pretty Things), the Carpenters (shut up), OMD, Neil Young (Ride my Llama, Comes a Time), Son Volt…
The song Solomon first danced to was Marvin Gaye “Got to Give it Up”. Now I try to throw a bunch of random music his way, particularly Celtic, alternative and funk. No uber-pop or country (sorry, y’all). I made an error in judgment once and played Sinead O’Connor’s “I do not want what I haven’t got” CD, which he LOVED and we then had to listen to over and OVER for about a month… ugh.
Glad Snork’s getting his groove on!
glad to hear that Snork has good taste in music, so important. sorry the baby fair freaked you out. i do not think that we ever really get over that feeling of beig out of place in those places.
Oh man do I have a gift for you!!!!!! OH Yay!!!
My friend played Tupac loudly throughout her pregnancy…. as a result, the baby sleeps happily through friday happy hour, allowing her single mummy to have a well-deserved glass of wine in the bar’s outdoor courtyard.
Talk about what’s good for mum is good for baby. I truly believe that any music that calms you will calm the snork, now and later.