Rock on with your bad self!

We love music in this house. All kinds with the exception of country (I apologize to all of my Texan friends - I can handle some crossover stuff!).

When DH's gave me an iPod Nano last year along with a stereo on which I could play it, I was over the moon!

And when he upgraded that Nano to an iPod Touch this year, well, we all know how I feel about that! You would be absolutely amazed at the insanely diverse selection of music stored on my favorite gadget.

However, I digress.

I used to listen to music of all kinds while pregnant with the Mad Hatter. I loved to sing along to my belly.

We brought CDs and played music the entire time I was in labor.

When we brought her home from the hospital, we constantly had music going - it seemed to have a complete calming effect on her.

And as she's grown, she has shown a love for music that thrills me beyond belief!

When she was around 6 months old, we discovered Jack's Big Music show on Noggin and although her taste in TV has changed as she's grown, she still asks for it here and there.

We did a Music Together class for two years in a row. I'm not sure who loved it more!

We have just about every musical instrument imagineable, and often have impromptu band practice.

We have found some amazing artists that completely redefine "kiddie" music. If you haven't checked out Dan Zanes, Milkshake, Laurie Berkner, or David Weinstone/Music for Aardvarks, you most definitely should.

But what makes me the proudest is that we don't just listen to "kiddie" music around here. She comes to us with very specific requests for what we play!

As I sit writing this post, my little girl has been rockin' out to a variety of songs including Earth, Wind, & Fire's "September" (better known in our house as the Bah-Dee-Aah song), "Dancing Queen by Abba", "I Want You Back" by the Jackson Five, and "Rock the Boat" by the Hughes Corporation (can you tell we're in 70's mode this morning?). We just moved on to the groove-contagious Celebration and she can't stop boogie-in (her term!).

We're (or should I say she, some stuffed animals, a couple of Barbies, and a few My Little Ponies) having one hell of a dance party in my kitchen right now! And my girl has more rhythm in her pinky than my entire family combined.

We have no idea where she gets it but it is awesome.

The best (and most entertaining part)? She does not need music when it comes to moving. She is in constant motion and sings her own songs all day long. It's a hoot!

I hope that she will always continue to have such a zest for music in her life - whether she learns to play an instrument, continues to dance, or just keeps growing and developing her appreciation for it, because I believe music helps make the world go round.

And who doesn't have that one song (or a few) that can completely turn their mood around and put a huge smile on their face?

I am lucky enough to have both a list of songs that do that for me AND the sheer joy of just watching the MH.

And I guarantee you that if you were watching what I am right now and listening to her sing every lyric to Barry White's "My Everything" as clear as day while dancing along with Barry the Dog (more on him at a later date), you'd have a smile the size of Utah on your face too!

What's your happy song?