Is it too early to read to Little Bean?  I think not.  I’ve already been talking and singing to him/her.  I made a CD with songs I picked out just for Baby, and we’ve bought a couple CD’s that I’ve been playing for Baby when I’m driving to and from work.

Aaron’s been talking, singing (much better than I) and playing guitar and banjo for Little Bean.  He makes me laugh when he is talking with his face right on my belly, so I am pretty sure that Baby will associate big belly-shaking laughter with Papa’s voice (which seems perfectly appropriate since Aaron has elicited many such laughs from me and will no doubt elicit such laughs from Baby).

Self portrait of goofy & very happy parents-to-be in Driftwood Mirror by Ben Forgey

Talking, singing, playing music….Why not read books to him/her, too?  I’ve decided I will pick a few books and start reading them to our baby now.  I happen to have several children’s books in our basement library: most of which are by Dr. Seuss, plus two collections of poems by Shel Silverstein and the Precious Present.  One of my personal favorites is Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss, so that is what I’ll start with.

I did a quick read-through to validate my choice (Is this appropriate to read to Baby?) and was quickly reminded why I love this book so much.  Here is an excerpt from page 2:  “You have brains in your head.  You have feet in your shoes.  You can steer yourself any direction you chose.”  WOW!  Simply (not to mention poetically) stated universal truth.  I think this will be good for me and good for the Little Bean.  Thank you, Dr. Seuss!

Now, off to read a bedtime story to Little Bean.