Starting early

It's her one-week birthday today, and so much has already happened. She slept for a 4-hour stretch last night, which we're very proud of. Took her first bath in the kitchen sink, which was probably more harrowing for us than it was for her. Things are going to start happening pretty quickly we guess, so best to do what we can while we can.

In a few weeks/months she might be just a bit too big to carry like a football all day. She'll not stand for me reading to her without getting bored. She'll figure out that Dad has no food to give her.

This week though I'm starting in on her musical education. There may come a time when she prefers that freak purple dinosaur, but right now she doesn't know from him yet. Both Corrie and I are trying to catch up with actual lullaby lyrics instead of just singing about Walter and poo (we don't yet have what the kids refer to as 'flow', and are forced to resort to what we know). To that end, I wanted to impart an appreciation of good music.

Below is a partial list of songs that seem, at least in some respects successful in calming a fussy child. Feel free to offer suggestions in the comment section if you know of anything that may have worked in your experience as well.

Pale Blue Eyes - The Velvet Underground
I want some sugar in my bowl - Nina Simone
Such Great Heights - Iron & Wine
Lua - Bright Eyes
Heartbeats - Jose Gonzales
Had me a girl - Tom Waits
Orange Sky - Alexi Murdoch
City of New Orleans - Arlo Guthrie