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Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts

January 18, 2014

Insomnia Strikes Musician Mom!

Voice classification in non-classical music

Insomnia Strikes Musician Mom

You know the feeling, it's 4am and you need to sleep, your body says it's time to sleep, but your mind is racing over the latest issues of the day. Maybe you are worrying about that cough that Maria has had the last week, the test that John may or may not pass, maybe you have a big project at work or need to buy groceries tomorrow but don't have the time. Maybe a relative really, really got on your nerves or your spouse has been insensitive. Maybe you are stressing about getting pregnant or about the newborn that has just managed to fall asleep in your arms while you brain is wide awake. 

Whatever the case, whatever the reason, all moms go through this - insomnia. 

English: Keyskills Centre toy piano model BG01...Tonight's insomnia was brought by work and music. If you don't know already, I am a composer and last year I finished my first opera. It took two years. That means for half of my daughter's life, mommy has been working on an opera, which only makes sense since I was writing an oratorio when she was in utero. Our lives became so enmeshed in mommy's opera that my hapless preschooler would proudly bang on her toy piano and announce, "I am writing MY opera!" (To date, she has decided not to continue the task, although there are two songs that she has been singing for a year that still stem from her earlier opera days, one of which I hope to record later this year.)

Mommy and her Angel
My mind has been racing. I finished the opera earlier in the fall and it has been premiered. It's an animated opera, so it's up on YouTube. Welcome to the 21st century! In any case, I have been enjoying a less creatively stressed out time, although I have to admit that I have other projects and classes to teach that always take up time, but compared to finishing an opera, well, this has seemed less stressful.

I've enjoyed teaching our daughter. We are going through kindergarten material right now and it really is fun to see how much she enjoys the little projects that we do. She really likes science and math and loves books, although reading has been a chore of sorts.  

She loves all of this one-on-one mommy-time, and I enjoy seeing her grow and learn and explore the world.

So why the insomnia? Maybe it's decades of pressure as a classical musician, always trying to one-up myself on the next project, maybe it's the positive response to the opera that has encouraged me to expand on the project considerably, maybe it's just pride in my work, but in any case, a part of me wants to continue to work on the project, make it bigger, better. 

But why? And perhaps that's the biggest issue. The why...My daughter is young, we are hoping to expand our family this year (fingers crossed)...

The next opera or symphony or film can wait until those days where my daughter doesn't hang on my every word and the silence of the house needs to be filled up with the sounds of music.

 
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January 26, 2012

Free Picture Books for Iphone and Kindle!



Hello Everyone,

There are three exciting books for your iPhone or Kindle available now from Mami Mozart. You can enjoy Kindle books on your iPhone, computer, or iPad with the free Kindle Reading Apps available here:

Hello Goose: A Picture Book

Free TODAY on Amazon!!!!
Enjoy this beautifully illustrated picture book. Lovely geese swim in a placid winter lake. An excellent book for young children and beginning readers. Every parent, grandparent, and teacher will enjoy sharing this beautiful book with their little ones.

Baby Shoes: A Picture Book

Parents and kids alike will love this delightful picture book. Baby plays with her shoes, takes them on and off, and makes silly faces. Every grandparent, parent, and teacher will enjoy sharing these adorable illustrations with their little ones. An excellent addition to any children's library at home, school, or church. Baby Shoes will bring a smile to your little one's face.

Baby Faces: A Picture Book

Your little one will laugh and giggle at Baby's silly faces in this adorable illustrated picture book. Grumpy, happy, and messy - Baby loves making fun faces for your baby or toddler in this cute and colorful book.
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October 30, 2010

Baby's First Birthday Mami Musings

Birthday cake with 28 candlesImage via WikipediaHola Everyone,

One year ago, I was in the hospital, watching my baby's hear rate in the monitor and some late night TV, unable to sleep, waiting for the contractions to start. I can't believe it has already been one year. I have been emotional, up and down and up and down again. One year! Everyone said the time would fly so fast, so very fast, and it has. She walks around now, loves to say "Hi!" to everyone, has suddenly entered a picky stage, and finally has a little bit of auburn hair on her head. She looks like my husband still, but she has my eyes (oh, and my temper!).

Put on some dance music (techno, salsa, or even celtic) and she starts bopping up and down. If she is sitting on the floor, she does a weird little baby butt dance. It's cute, and pretty much looks like her attempting to lift her diaper in the air repeatedly. (You have to see it). She loves playing the drums and can hold a drumstick properly (its in the blood!). Her Nana and Abuelo just sent her a package with wooden spoons, a cowbell, and a couple of metal pots to drum on. I still don't know if my mom is attempting to enact long distance revenge on my ear drums! (haha)

Her Grammy in New York sent her a storybook, with Grammy's voice reading the text. Uncle Al, soon to go to Iraq, and Aunt Gretchen sent her a sweet little Elephant. She gets birthday packages every day. So much fun for mommy, too!

Today was preparing for the birthday party day. I went to my friend's house so she and I could make the sporty cupcakes (cute little basketballs, soccer balls, and baseballs). I finished the piñata, strings and candy and frills and all, with both babies' names on the side. My husband stayed up late making the baby birthday cakes, those cute little birthday cakes for them to dig into all by themselves. Mmm. So good, chocolate and looking like little basketballs.

So much fun!

If you have a sweet child in your life, cherish each and every moment. Hug them instead of getting mad at them. Turn that TV off and read them a book instead. Keep them with you every chance you get. There is only so much time before school and romance and work and college and work will separate you from your little one. Academics, sports, clubs, adult life can all wait. We let our kids grow too fast in this country. Kindergartners acting like teens, teens acting like adults, adults acting like kids. So backwards and hurting us all. So love your little baby, whether he or she is three or thirty. Cherish your children, your grandchildren, your great grandchildren. Hug your little nieces and nephews. Smile and let their happiness warm your heart.

Happy birthday, my little sweet baby. You are sleeping now, just as you were sleeping then in mommy's womb. And just like then, I was watching and loving and praying. Happy birthday little girl, my little princess, mi princesa.

Besitos mi vida,
Mamí
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September 22, 2010

Baby Growing up

Photo of 2 day old baby girlImage via WikipediaHello Everyone,

My baby girl is slowly growing up. She "runs" around everywhere, teeth are coming in, and she finally started feeding herself Cheerios. Yesterday my friend asked me how I was feeling since baby's first birthday is around the corner. I suppose the feelings are mixed. My friends and family, everyone, said that the baby stage is a short one and that I should enjoy every minute. It would be so short.

Now she has begun to toddle (granted she started early before 9 months even). She still talks in baby babble, but now she hates drinking from a bottle (and she stopped nursing months ago). She still looks cute in onesies, but she was too grown up to sit in my lap during music class this week.

I am glad that she is independent, or as independent as babies can be. She is pretty fearless like her papa and like her mommy tries to be. She welcomes new challenges and is excited to meet new people. She loves to cuddle, but on her own terms. She is stubborn but has a sweet, sweet spirit. She loves to laugh and smile. My baby girl might have her daddy's eyebrows and physique, but she has her mommy's big brown eyes and heart.

Baby is growing up. And mommy is growing up, too. Cherish your little one and hold her tight. The seconds are fleeting and soon she will be grown.

Smiles,
Mamí Mozart
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September 9, 2010

Screenshot from a public domain film The Littl...Image via WikipediaHola Everyone,

Baby has a cold this week. There is nothing sadder than watching your baby sick and tired, whining because she doesn't feel well. Thankfully, it's just a cold, but coupled with teething and a rash, she is one miserable little child. She usually is so very, very happy, but this week she has been clingy and tired.

We enjoyed watching Shirley Temple movies since she is sick this week. Normally she doesn't care for videos at all, but something about Shirley Temple's sweet voice and sunshine smile really touches everyone in the room. My baby girl dances around with the songs coming from the video, and waves bye bye to Shirley. Somehow, even though she is sick, this week has become another special memory: my baby girl, Shirley Temple, and me.

Smiles,
Mami Mozart
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September 7, 2010

Important Pampers Dry Max Diaper Recall Update

diaper pileImage via WikipediaMy sister mentioned a possible diaper recall when my baby daughter got a chemical burn on her back from Pampers Dry Max diapers. My sister wasn't sure of the diaper brand, and to be honest, I thought that the weird rash on my daughter's back would disappear after a day. It has been a week, and Beudreaux's Butt Paste has only slightly alleviated the bizarre rash.

I just got off the phone with Proctor & Gamble. Yes, officially there have been no indications that the Pampers Diaper Max diapers have any specific ingredient (but we all know how reliable the government is in protecting our children from corporations...Salmonella in your spinach or Children's Tylenol anyone?). However, there is a five-inch patch of skin peeled from my daughter's back (above the diaper area where the waistband would be), and some scabby looking things. No matter what the pleasant (if somewhat flustered) woman on the phone from Proctor & Gamble stated, my baby does not have a diaper rash.


(PS Dear Proctor & Gamble, please do not think for one instant that you can convince America's moms that a chemical burn is a diaper rash. No diaper rash on my baby has ever peeled off a layer of skin.)

To be honest, we have used Pampers before, with no problem. In fact, she had worn several diapers from the same Pampers box with no obvious rash (mixed with Huggies diapers). The rash did not happen until last week when I ran out of Huggies and started to use Pampers Dry Max only. The rash started on the same day. Maybe it was only the one box? Or maybe, like many parents have indicated, the new Pampers Dry Max formula has a questionable ingredient in it. Maybe the heat activated the bizarre ingredient in the Pampers Dry Max diapers, or maybe, as the Proctor & Gamble representative stated, "Maybe there is something in the diaper that your baby has a sensitivity to."

In any case, my daughter is not alone. And I am not buying Pampers, ever again, for my child. How do I know if any other possible Pampers chemicals in their recently changed formula will hurt my baby? I am not willing to take that chance.

What can you do?

1) Switch diapers IMMEDIATELY.

2) Call your pediatrician for medical advice.

3) Call
Proctor and Gamble and complain.

4) Call the
US. Products and Safety Commission and file a report.


Please share if your child has had any reactions to Pampers Dry Max diapers.

Sources:

Horton, Bella. "
Diaper Recall Looming? Government inspecting Proctor & Gamble Dry Max Diapers". CNM News Network.
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August 23, 2010

Mami Ghost writer

old ghostsImage by theloushe via FlickrHello Everyone!

(YAWN) Baby girl has fallen asleep, and I am sure to follow! Another typical Monday. I really think that Monday should be part of the weekend.

I have almost completed a music ghostwriting job that I am working on (oooo....spooky). I don't know how I feel about the ghost writing thing. I don't mind this particular job since it is mostly a clean up job, but I see some job postings where the ghostwriter creates the entire book from scratch (and not for much). It might just be worth it to write your own e-book and sell it. It may not make much for a little while, but I am pretty sure that your book will make at least the nominal fees that someone else is willing to offer.

Maybe I just like to receive credit for my work. Right now I am working on another project where I create music exercises for a music company. At the least, I am beginning to realize that there are lots of ways to make money out there in music. I just need to do it somehow.

Anyway, for now I am busy, busy, busy with baby and music and writing and teaching. I wonder if Mozart was as busy? Would Beethoven had written great music if he had to worry about naptime? Who knows?

Have a lovely day!
Mami Mozart
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August 20, 2010

'Cavendish' bananas are the main commercial cu...Image via WikipediaHola Everyone,

Making delicious whole wheat banana raisin muffins for my daughter. Our small apartment smells like bananas, vanilla, and cinnamon. Was up till 3:30am last night writing and composing. I managed to release two singles that I had been meaning to for awhile, as well as wrote maybe ten articles for a website I am freelancing with, and also redid the audio for an album release that I meant to finish a month ago. But who has the time?

Fabricación de los molletes deliciosos de la pasa del plátano para mi hija. Nuestro pequeño apartamento huele como plátanos, vainilla, y canela. Estaba para arriba hasta que el 3:30 que escribía y que componía anoche.

My baby girl and I visited one of our close friends who had her baby yesterday afternoon. I can't believe how tiny her daughter is! To think that my baby was that size not too long ago. My friend's baby has more hair than my little girl, though. I have such a baldy of a baby!

Mi bebé y yo visitamos a uno de nuestros amigos cercanos que tenían su bebé el ayer por la tarde. ¡No puedo creer cómo es minúsculo es su hija!

Right now my baby girl has walked up to me, babbling about a crinkly book that she has ignored for months now. She has rediscovered it and is so excited that she wants to show me.

Ahora mi bebé ha recorrido para arriba a mí, charla sobre un libro rizado que ella ahora ha ignorado por meses. Ella lo ha redescubierto y es tan emocionada que ella quiere mostrarme.

Well, I must go back to being a mom. The timer is about up, and soon we will enjoy yummy banana raisin muffins for lunch.

Bien, debo volver a ser una mamá. El temporizador está alrededor para arriba, y pronto gozaremos de los molletes deliciosos de la pasa del plátano para el almuerzo.

Smiles and Happiness to all,

Mami Mozart


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August 18, 2010

Cuban Music FestivalImage by victoriabernal via FlickrAfter a creative hiatus, I have decided that I will embark on my first symphony. I have so many ideas in my head, so many things that I want to accomplish - a film, an opera, a novel, a symphony...mentally checking each off in my head before the last day I draw breath.

I will dedicate this symphony to my abuelita, whom I miss each and every day. How I wish she could hold my daughter in her arms! She would smile at my new mom anxieties, help me care for her, she would be here each and every day, just like she was when I was a child. I loved her, and still love her, so much, mi abuelita linda. I hope she watches her great grandbaby from Heaven and sends her besitos. I hope she intercedes with God for us daily, like she did when she was alive...her Bible worn and always in hand. I hope her and Abuelo have regained their youth, have reunited with their first daughter, Iris, who they lost before they left Cuba in '65.

I hope that this symphony, if I am able to create it, if time and resources will allow, that I will be able to create a work worthy of their struggles.

I send you besitos, Abuela. And little Eva sends the same.

Mami Mozart
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August 12, 2010

Quiet Thursday

Hola Everyone,

Baby is sleeping soundly on the futon, and I am just enjoying the quiet before the craziness of the school year begins. Hubby will be working again 12-14 hours a day with the university basketball team, I start teaching music, and it seems that the lazy (and ridiculously hot) summer is coming to an end.

Smiles,
Mami Mozart

----
El bebé está durmiendo a fondo en el futon, y apenas estoy disfrutando de la tranquilidad antes de que la locura del año escolar comience. El marido trabajará otra vez 12-14 horas por día con el equipo de baloncesto de la universidad. Comienzo a enseñar a música, y parece que el verano perezoso (y ridículo caliente) está acabando.

Sonrisas,
Mami Mozart

July 2, 2010

Back from Kansas

Hola! 

My daughter and I returned from Kansas this week. It has been a much busier summer than I thought. My brother is scheduled to be deployed to Iraq, so my sister and I decided to make an unplanned trip to Fort Riley to visit my brother and his wife. It was a crazy trip. My sister brought two of her children and I brought my baby, making for a fun 12 trip with three kids! On the way over the trip became 15 hours since we hit two construction sites, rush hour traffic and an accident! It was crazy! But I am glad that we got to hang out with my brother. There is just something special about siblings. I love mine very much. Hopefully, someday my little girl will have a sibling of her own someday!

Smiles,
Mami Mozart

June 22, 2010

Back from the library

Hola,

Well, when its too hot to go to the park, you can't afford Chuck E. Cheese...can't even afford A/C, there is no better place to go than the library. At best, your child will have fun playing with other kids or even nap, at worst, well, you end up wondering how long it will be before libraries get rid of that silly "Shhhh....Silence" rule! Anyway, enjoyed hanging with my daughter and will soon be curling up with "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies".

Fun summer times,
Mami Young

June 18, 2010

A Lazy Friday Afternoon

Hola Everyone,

Well, baby is asleep and I don't have to pick up the esposo from work for another hour. Spending this time just surfing the net and writing articles for random blogs that I write for. Yes, I write for a few different websites, including the IAWM Blog, Associated Content, and Easy Ear Training.com. I enjoy writing. A lot. In fact, before I wanted to be a musician (and sometime after I decided that being an international spy would be too dangerous), I remember that I wanted to be an author of science fiction novels. Well, I haven't written one yet (still working the first one), but I have created many music and video works that are sci-fi-ish. Yep, love sci-fi.

Well, back to work, although I don't know if you can call it work when it is so much fun. 

:-)
Mami Mozart

June 17, 2010

Vacaciones en Nueva York

Hola,

Volvimos a partir de nuestras vacaciones en Nueva York. No hay nada como tiempo de la calidad del gasto con la familia. Estoy tan alegre que teníamos una ocasión que visitar.Vida hasta ahora lejos de la familia (por todas partes nos separan literalmente, de Nueva York a la Florida del sur a Kansas) esa es grande disfrutar de la compañía de la familia (y conseguir una rotura, también!). Mi hija tenía un rato maravilloso con sus primos (aunque lucharon sobre los juguetes casi tanto como jugaron!).

Si usted está buscando algunas actividades de la diversión para usted y sus niños este 4 de julio, usted puede ser que quiera controlar hacia fuera mi último artículo:

Hasta luego,
Mami Mozart

Back from vacation

Hola Everyone,

We returned from our vacation in New York. There is nothing like spending quality time with family. I am so glad that we had a chance to visit. Living so far away from family (we are literally spread everywhere, from New York to South Florida to Kansas) that it is great to enjoy the company of family (and to get a break, too!) My daughter had a wonderful time with her cousins (even though they fought over toys almost as much as they played!). 

If you are looking for some fun activities for you and your kids this July 4th, you might want to check out my latest article:

WIll be writing more soon. Just started using Scribefire, so I am hoping that I will be able to post more often.

Take care,
Mami Mozart

May 25, 2010

The Composing Mommy

Good Evening (Almost Morning),

I wonder if Mozart, Bach, or Tchaikovsky ever had to worry about how they were going to balance taking the sick baby to the doctor, caring for their significant other, attempting to have some semblance of a clean home, and trying to compose music? I am working on an album right now for a music company, and I have to have the final track (with shorter edits) done before we leave for vacation this week. Craziness!

The music is jazzy, with a Latin twist (I have a blast throwing in all the percussion parts, since I have played drums for over twenty years now). Anyway, it is nearly midnite, I am trying to finish, and baby starts crying. Poor thing is sick with a cold. Anyway, I tuck her in and then back to composing. (Yawn). I am super tired, but I need to meet this deadline. (I am sure Bach would understand, he worked fulltime as a choir director, writing a cantata per week AND he had about 20 biological children. Ack!)

Well, gotta run, even with my soundproof headphones, I can hear my baby calling from the next room. Ciao for now!

Mami Mozart

May 23, 2010

Midnite musings

Hola Everyone,

(Yawn) Its 4:30 am and I just managed to put my little baby to sleep once again. She started crawling a few weeks back and her sleep schedule went out the window. The funny thing is that she started pulling herself to stand a week before she started to crawl. In fact, except for chasing down mommy or daddy in our small apartment, she tries standing more than she crawls.

Having your own child is definitely much different than teaching someone else's children! I have probably taught thousands of kids by now, from preschool to graduate school, but having my own little booger running about sure changes things. :-)

Plus side today: I made her some yummy peas/carrots/onions stuff and she actually ate it, no questions asked!

Ok, back to sleep....(YAWN!)

Mami Mozart

May 20, 2010

Bebé y trabajo

(Hablo "Spanglish" pero no puedo escibir muy bien pero creo es muy importante que madres se hablan ingles y español pueden enseñar música a sus hijos. I hope you find the information useful.)

¡Hola!

Para los que no saben, el otoño pasado di a luz a a nuestro primer bebé… una niña dulce que es tan activa como su mamí, aunque ella parece su papá. Ella ha tenido un frío toda esta semana, así que he tenido menos tiempo que había esperado trabajar en Mamí Mozart.

Vea las paginaciones del plan de lección de Mamí Mozart. He estado trabajando en la educación del arte y de la música por encima una década, y conectado a alguna diversión y proyectos fáciles del arte y de la música.

Añadí una sección “verde” que iba a la paginación del plan de lección. ¡Estos planes de lección no sólo ayudan al ambiente, son a menudo fáciles y barato! :-)

¡Le espero que comparte a Mamí Mozart con sus amigos y familia!

Sonrisas,
Mamí Mozart

Juggling Baby and Work

Hello Everyone!

For those that do not know, last fall I gave birth to our first baby...a sweet little girl who is as active as her mamí, though she looks like her daddy (bald and all!) She has had a cold all this week, so I have had less time than I had hoped to work on Mamí Mozart.

Check out Mamí Mozart's updated Lesson Plan pages. I have been working in art and music education for over a decade, and linked to some fun and easy art and music projects. I hope to add another twenty links or so (maybe today?). Please feel free to share these fun music activities. They work great at home, at school, at daycare, or just because!

Much of my educational experience has been with at-risk children, and I have tons of music and art lesson plans to share that are specifically for children with ADD, ADHD, live in the inner city, have emotional disorders, etc. I really feel that music and art gives a creative outlet for these children, who often have very few safe outlets to express themselves. Parents have loved these lesson plans, too.

I also added a "Going Green" section to the Lesson Plan page. These lesson plans not only help the environment, they are often easy and FREE! :-)

I hope you sharing Mamí Mozart with your friends and family!

Smiles,
Mamí Mozart

PS I will try to post in Spanish as well. Pero, hablo "Spanglish" y my Spanish writing skills are "muy mal" (or is it "malo"?). Right now I will be using an online translator and doublechecking it. If anyone has any Spanish resources (or other language resources like Creole) that you would like to share, just let me know!