It’s a boy!
My heart immediately sank. Then my eyes narrowed.
No, no I don’t believe you. You must be joking. Please tell me you are joking. It just has to be a girl!
Don’t worry; this is not how I acted when I learned that W was a boy. Rather, this was my seven year old self’s reaction upon finding out the news that my youngest sibling was a boy.
I was in utter shock. I already had two brothers. TWO. That was one more than necessary really. Now I was going to have another brother. It’s so absurd it even rhymes!
Yet, the moment I saw Bill’s tiny, little toes and adorable, little face the disappointment instantly disappeared. Bill is funny, kind, easy-going, and unfailingly happy. I would not trade him for all of the sisters in the world.
Music was one of Baby Bill’s favorite things. If my mom, brothers, and I were not in a constant state of singing while in the car, we would most certainly feel his wrath. My mom actually composed her own song all about Bill titled Poor Mr. Bill that had 20-some verses.
Bill has since grown up from listening to his family sing at the top of their lungs, most likely out of tune, to traveling the country attending music festivals. He currently attends Northern Michigan University wayyy up north. (Who knew that it wasn’t a part of Canada?) This semester, however, he is soaking up the warm weather in Disney World as an intern.
No matter where Uncle Bill is, we all miss him terribly. In honor of his 20th birthday, I am going to share a list of 20 favorite songs from another music-loving baby, W.
Here is the list of 20 songs to sing with your baby…
20 Songs to Sing with Your Baby
- The Wheels on the Bus
- If You’re Happy and You Know It
- Jelly on the Plate
- 5 Green and Speckled Frogs
- Down by the Bay
- 5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
- 5 Little Ducks
- This Old Man
- B-I-N-G-O
- Old McDonald Had a Farm
- Ants Go Marching
- I’m a Little Tea Pot
- Pack-a-cake
- Sing a Song of Sixpence
- Itsy Bitsy Spider
- Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star/ABC
- Ring Around the Rosey
- Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
- Tick, Tock
- London Bridge is Falling Down
Click HERE for the lyrics to any of these songs.
So, did I miss any songs? What’s your favorite song to sing to your baby?
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I sung a 10 minute version of Wheels on the Bus the other day. I swear there were people on that bus that didn’t belong there, saying and doing things they shouldn’t do. And the horn on the bus definitely went “beep, beep, beep” way too much! Love your list!
That is too funny! I have found myself doing the same thing when W is getting sick of the car.
Wonderful post about a wonderful person!! I’m sitting here all teary-eyed, missing Bill and happy you all like each other so much.
Poor Mr. Bill had troubles of his own
He lived on a hill and he called it his home
When he tried to eat food from a bowl,
The food and the bowl started to roll
Down the hill, hill, hill
Down the hill
(Verse 1)
The Bedtime Song
Bedtime, bedtime, bedtime
It’s coming up to bedtime, YAHOO!
I’m gonna take my kiddies and stuff them in their beddies,
We’re gonna have some peace and quiet soon!
You all hated that one!!
Yes! We are so excited to see Bill this coming October. Thanks for the songs. I really wish you knew the rest of the verses. I’ve been trying to think of all the verses to sing to W.
BILL? Who doesn’t miss and love him? It’s funny, last night Joe and I were talking about Bill, and I told him that I was sure he was going to be a girl too!
Some famous Pop/Nanny songs:
Just a Song at Twilight
Pennies from Heaven
Rubber tree Plant
Do You Hear What I Hear?(Shout out to Timmy, although he was too young to remember……but Uncle Mike will!)
Wind,Wind,Wind the Bobbin
Michael Rowed the Boat A’Shore
And what about “Koonsfest, it’s Family-friendly, Koonsfest, 2014!”
Oh, great songs! I’m going to have to add an updated post with all of the readers’ additions. I don’t know about Koonsfest though. Wasn’t that banned? haha
We sang an extended version of Old Macdonald on our way to the farm last week. He’s a pretty adventurous farmer, that Old MacDonald… We also sing 5 in the bed, how much is that doggie in the window, you are my sunshine, down by the station and bunch of songs we make up on the spot. Good list, we’ll have to add some of these!
How fitting to sing Old McDonald on the way to the farm! More great songs! I’m going to definitely update this list.
Ummm, ok, yes, it was banned! Lol!
Charles likes the “5 Little Monkeys.”
The lyrics are as follows:
Five little monkeys swinging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator can’t catch me! Can’t catch me!
Along comes Mr. Alligator quiet as can be…
And SNATCHES that monkey right out of that tree!
Four little monkeys swinging in a tree…….
You get the idea. A little weird and perhaps a little dark, but C loves it when the alligator snatches the monkey because I play the alligator and he plays the monkey.
I also have to ask, what is the tune to “Poor Mr. Bill”? Sounds hilarious!
Oh yes! W loves 5 little monkeys too. He especially likes the “snap” part at the end. Good choice! I will have to ask my mom what the tune is to “Poor Mr. Bill.” I think it’s from an actual song, but I don’t remember it. I’ll have to sing it to you; you would love it!
I make up songs too, and I’m a true proficient, if I dare say!
I’m so glad Koonsfest has been suggested. I think I’ll start singing “Up, up, up we go…” (The Julie Is Carsick Song.)
I’m thinking “making up songs” is a talent of many members of the Koons family.
My older brother is named Michael so I always loved “Michael Row the Boat Ashore”.
Great time for an introduction to The Beatles with “Yellow Submarine”!
I like that one too. I agree about the Beatles’ song too; I would like W to know a variety of music!
You covered all our favorites! Twinkle Twinkle is still big around here! 🙂
I like Twinkle, Twinkle too. Unfortunately, I think W associates that song a little too closely with nap time haha.
So adorable! Three boys is certainly a unique experience. I have three and my best friend does also. Only a Mom of boys understands your daily dirt and grime! 😉 I always sang to my children too. They’re 6 & 9 now, so instead we sing to music on the radio. Great selection of songs! 🙂
Yes, we certainly had a lot of fun growing up. I only have one boy now, but I’m totally assuming/ready for three boys eventually. I would be shocked if I ended up having a girl. We often listen to the radio too. Pandora is also awesome!
I love the post! We had a special potty training song that went:
P is for Philp it starts it with a P
P is for Philip it ends with a P
P is for Philip he goes P P P
Oh Philip Philip Philip starts and ends with P
Emily loved singing that one at the top of her lungs!
haha, I like that one! Oh no, I’m sure I’m going to have to think of my own “potty training” songs.
this is a lovely list and even though mybaby is 11 we still sing together alot of these songs
Thanks, Terri!
I love singing with our kids, still. Although we have progressed from these songs, of course I’m often told to stop embarrassing myself too. Ah kids. Lol
Thank you for linking up to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party. I have pinned your post to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest board.
I’m sure it won’t be long until W is asking me to stop embarrassing myself too! Thank you for pinning my post!
Mr. Bill is sung to the tune I The Cat Came Back. And I forgot about the 5Little Monkeys, good one!!
That’s right! I could not think of the original song. I like the Cat Came Back too. We’ll have to start singing that song.
Well I guess I don’t have to spend the weekend figuring this one out!
This is a generational thing but the Koons’ wagon resounded with the singing of “high hopes” and “shine on harvest moon” and “Irene goodnight”
Uncle Tom- I don’t know if I know of Irene goodnight. You’ll have to sing it for us sometime!
So happy you’re singing to your little guy. A child’s musical aptitude solidifies at the age of 8. (Think of it as filling up a glass of water until then. At age 8, you can no longer fill the glass, but just use what you have.) What you do for your child before that is so important! Singing to your child has the most influence on their musical aptitude, but listening to music without words is great, too!
Thanks for the list of songs! They’re a great reminder of what I can be singing to Graham.
Loving all of your blog posts- keep them coming! :o)
Katie- Thank you so much for your comment! I’m sure you sing all the time with Graham and know so many great songs! I never realized that about the music knowledge. I guess that’s why I still play the piano like I did when I was 8 years old! I’m definitely going to keep encouraging W since he’s really into music right now.
Our kids love the “Alligator and the 5 Monkeys” song. They like making the alligator hand motions. Cute list of songs!!
I have never heard of Jelly on my Plate before. I am going to have to look that up so that I can learn it. we sing most of those songs also and my girls love them. Our favorite is the Wheels on the Bus, we can add on so many other things since we actually ride the bus. We tend to add on about the different people that we have met on the bus like the older ladies who always say “Want some candy honey?”.
I find that that song is very adaptable.
Great post, sorry about the loss of Uncle Bill.
Natasha
Natasha- Thank you for your comment! I love that you sing about your real-life experiences on the bus. Jelly on the Plate is such a cute song. We heard it at a music group we attended. And, Uncle Bill is alive and well!
I used to sing my son all the time when he was a baby. It does calm them down. I also composed a song for him. He’s ten now but he still likes me to sing it to him when it’s bedtime.
Joanna- That’s so sweet. I hope W still lets me sing to him when he is ten.
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