Ladybug is a fast learner.  One of her favorite things to do is sing her favorite songs as she toddles through the house or rides in the car seat.  The words aren’t always perfect, but the mumble is distinct enough for us to figure out what she’s singing.  For instance, we’re regularly treated to the alphabet song that starts “Ay Bee See Dee Eff Eff Shee…”

Bedtime with Ladybug is my responsibility.  I don’t know how we came to this arrangement, but Kelley usually handles Butterfly with all of her lotions, book readings, and endless songs.  Each night, I take Ladybug and we begin our ritual.  Here’s how it goes

  • we pick out a book, read the first three lines, Ladybug tires of book and squirms around to get down and get another
  • repeat previous step a few times
  • we find Elmo, turn off main light, and sit in rocking chair
  • I sing a few favorites.  usually “bing back” (my bonnie lies over the ocean) and “ABC”
  • I softly quieten down and rock Ladybug…she should be drifting off to sleep now
  • Ladybug choose to have an impromptu anatomy lesson.  She points out my nose, beard, and mouth.  Then she says “tun”, and sticks her tongue out for me to see.  She grins because she knows I’m going to laugh at her.
  • Now it’s time for Ladybug to sing.  She usually starts with “ABC” but usually mixes in “twinkle twinkle” with it just to make sure she gets enough in.
  • The evening always ends with her own edition of “Happy Birthday to You”  In her case, almost all emphasis is removed from “happy birthday” and placed on “to you”.  In a low, barely audible voice, she sings “hap-pur” and then as loud as possible, belts out “CHOO YOO“.  over, and over, and over
  • Eventually, the song dissolves from mumbles to grunts and then fades away altogether as Ladybug drifts off to sleep.

The bedtime ritual takes entirely too long, and I’m probably not doing her any favors by acclamating her to being rocked to sleep each night.  But I wouldn’t trade it for the world.  Each night, I look forward to learning where my nose is located and then being sung my repetitious birthday greeting.