Sweatin' with the Newbies (aka Grease is the Word)

When Max was just a few weeks old, we quickly realized that he LOVES music. From two parents who are pretty lame about music (Charlie still listens to RUN DMC on repeat and I can't find anyone cooler than Dave Matthews Band), it's funny that Max is so into it.

He and I started dancing around his second week of life (I'd dance on the balcony as my "outdoor activity" before he could be in public). One day, I decided to put on the soundtrack of GREASE and what transpired is nothing short of miraculous - we now refer to this as the "Grease Effect". Max can be full-force crying with a dirty diaper, empty tummy and sweaty brow and the moment those first notes of Grease come on he goes limp in my arms as if shot with a stun gun. Exhibit A below (the role of Becky has been filled by Chewbacca). This was moments after a metldown, and yet.

The first time Charlie saw this phenomenon he was in shock..... We have a one second accidental clip of my rendition of "Hopelessly Devoted" - ignore my voice but check out the limp baby (Max is the only person who actually likes my singing voice).

NOTE TO OTHER MOMS: The effect only works on babies - once, as I was singing to Max and he was beautifully calm, I noticed Charlie staring at us and I thought, "He is probably thinking 'wow, that's my beautiful family'", so I asked Charlie his thoughts and he said, "Honestly, I'm wondering when you'll stop singing". Ouch....

Should THE GREASE EFFECT not work on your child, try different music - Max has many interests, recently Charlie lulled him to sleep with AC/DC for instance...

Another bonus to "Dancing with the Newbies" is that it's a great workout (or at least that's what I keep telling myself since I haven't been able to stop eating five meals a day quite yet). I'll let you know how that works out in a few months.