Reciting Books

For some reason Paulie and I almost always push our time out running errands beyond Lucy's limit. There's always just one more thing to get done while we're out. As a result, we usually have a crying, tired, fussy Lucy on the way home. If she's not too worn out, playing Viva la Vida by Coldplay will usually quiet her down. Her Uncle Joe used to sing this to her on our vacation this past summer to stop her from crying. She must remember because it usually still works! 

But, sometimes even Coldplay can't calm Lucy. That's when Paulie and I start reciting her favorite books that we read her at home. (Peek-A Who?, Where is Baby's Belly Button, Grow Up!, Just Like Daddy- - These work like a charm!) Sometimes we alternate reciting books, and sometimes we do it cooperatively. The trick is to recite them in the exact voice you read them in. After finishing one recitation, you've got about 15 seconds until the crying starts back up. Then you move right in to the next story.  These recitations can usually last from about Herndon and West until we get home. If the crying starts before that point, and all four books have already been recited,  you kind of have to start reciting them again in crazier voices to keep her attention. By them time we get to our neighborhood, I'm sure our neighbors hear crazy noises coming from our car. But at least they can't hear crying!