Sometime before my first daughter Norah was born, my mother-in-law gave me an audio tape of songs she sang to one of my nieces when she was a baby. That same niece is going off to college this coming fall, proof that time passes all too quickly for us mothers.

I played the songs and sang along to the tape when Norah was a baby, then put it away once she stopped nursing. After digging for almost half an hour in my hope chest the other day, I found the tape again and I've been listening to it and singing the songs, this time to Avril. I told Norah I sang the same songs to her when she was a nursing infant, through tears, because I was so chocked up with memories... but she didn't remember and she took me on my first guilt trip over this.

Norah- "Why'd you stop singing the songs to me?"
Me- "Cause you got older."
Norah- "But. I could still hear them." (Rolling her eyes).
Me- "..." (Speechless).

Dwayne's mom simply marked the tape "Lullabies (Baby)." But after a quick search online, I found out that the album is called "A Child's Gift of Lullabies" and the singer is Tanya Goodman. I also discovered another album of hers called "The Rock-a-Bye Collection." So, I purchased all her songs from iTunes and plan to make a complete CD for myself, so I can listen to the songs through our larger sound system in the living room.

Singing doesn't come naturally to me, but these songs make it such a pleasure. It's like I am praying over my kids to music. It's hard to even pick a favorite, since I like them all, but right now, "Appalachian Lullaby" is the most fun to sing. The words go as follows:

Well I love my baby
sweet and fair
you've got the sky in your eye
the sun in your hair
I rock you to sleep most every night
and sing you this song
while I hold you tight

Sleep my baby
the angels keep you from harm
and your father above
cradles you in his love
safe and warm
sleep my baby
nestled in your mama's arms
sleep my baby
the angels keep you from harm

My baby
you'll be sleepin' soon
kissed by the golden stars and moon
I have just one wish for you
may your every dream come true

Sleep my baby
the angels keep you from harm
and your father above
cradles you in his love
safe and warm
sleep my baby
nestled in your mama's arms
sleep my baby
the angels keep you from harm

And, of course, I promised Norah I'd start singing this and all the other songs to her again, too. And, she wants to learn the words and help me sing them to Avril.