As my son grows I am aware of how bedtimes have changed and evolved for us. When he slept under my arm as a newborn, when he began sleeping in his Ambybaby and then his bed, our family bed and all the transitions in between.

I remember the exhaustion of the early years and now know how much I have come to love our routines as a way of connecting. Now my son has nights when he prefers his father to put him to bed and I must admit that while there is nothing more beautiful than watching my husband with my son, I miss those final kisses of the day.

Last night I asked, “If Daddy is going to put you to bed, do you have any extra special hugs for me?” “Mommy, I will give you the most specialist hug and kiss I have!” he replied. He did and it helped me to sleep.

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This post was inspired by a beautiful article in the New York Times by Siri Hustvedt. I hope you will take a moment to read it. It touches on the importance of bedtime routines and rituals, how they shape us and prepare us for dreamtime.

I am thrilled to announce that our first lullaby CD, The Divine Hours of Motherhood, has won a Gold Mom’s Choice Award!

The Divine Hours of Motherhoodbegan in my search to find a spiritual reference point for the hours of mothering. I thought of the nuns and monks who got up to sing and pray at set intervals called the cannonical hours and found a source of strength.

My son was born prematurely and needed to be nursed every couple of hours around the clock. Needless to say these were challenging times, but once I embraced this schedule as a spiritual practice I felt connected again to all the other mothers who were up at the same time all around the world caring for their children.

I began to see my time with my baby as a time for prayer and song and these moments, though often trying, were also transformational.

The songs on this CD are ones that I wrote for my day with my son. They follow a parent and child from morning Lauds through to Evening Vespers. Compline is a time for meditation after baby is in bed.

This CD is designed as a companion to my book Transformational Mothering-A Prayerful Companion for New Mothers which was also honored with a Mom’s Choice Award.

It fills me up knowing that there are people being touched by my music. I thank you all for your interest in lullabies, in music that touches the heart of our relationships with our children.

If you are looking for a gift for a family with a new baby I hope you will consider my book and CD.

Blessings,
Amy

We are so excited to announce our new newsletter e-course on LullabyLink.com!

I remember just how difficult it was to find a music class for my son and me that was both within our budget and not during a nap time.

Now we have put it all online for you!

Just sign up for our newsletter on the home page of LullabyLink.com and you will immediately be sent our Crying Baby Tips, a Lullaby Lyrics Songbook, a free MP3 and a welcome video with our first technique; “Having a Heart to Heart” with your baby, toddler or preschooler.

In subsequent emails you will receive Bedtime Routine Secrets full of helpful tips to get you and your child the rest you need, musical activities to do with your baby, toddler or preschooler, even karaoke lullabies to learn!

In addition, we will be including articles on research into early childhood music, and interviews with musicians and people in the field of music and child development.

Our goal is to get you what you need in a fun and easy way so that you can build a “sound” foundation with your child. Of course, you can unsubscribe at anytime and we never share your information for any reason.

Sign up today! You will be glad you did!