Name That Tune! (Now With Answers)

Recently on the blog of our dear friend, Heather, she offered a game of "name that tune" in which she shared the story of her toddler's request for a Christmas song called "Tails" and her two week search to try and figure out what her daughter was requesting.

Of course, Matthew and I laughed ourselves silly at this story -- it's always fun to hear other parents experience the same things we do. Malcolm, as you'll know if you've ever met him, is very music oriented. Every toy in our toy box is either a microphone (hairbrush, flashlight), a guitar (broom, hockey stick), a drum (hamper, cardboard box), or a drumstick for banging on the drum (chopsticks, pencils). His favorite activities include playing Rock Band (especially if we play the guitar and he does the singing on his new pencil, or drums on his upside down toy bin), drumming along to music on my computer, and singing along to music in the car. Like all young kids, he has his favorites, and demands them constantly. And like our friend's daughter, it can be something of a mental puzzle to figure out just what song, exactly, he's requesting.

So, here is our own Malcolm edition of Name That Tune. Please feel free to post your guesses in the comments section, or send me an email if you prefer!

What song is Malcolm requesting when he asks for:

(Hint: these are all from Rock Band, if you don't know the game, just think Rock genre)

• Tiger (Eye of the Tiger)
• Opening (Hello There by Cheap Trick)
• Hayho Less Go (Blitzkrieg Bop)
• Sisamisssy Keen (Mississippi Queen)
• Woah Woah Woah Woah (Welcome Home by Cohead & Cambria)

Halloween Fun at the Zoo with Friends!

Safe & Sound

We have safely arrived in NY, and are tucked into our new apartment.  My mother-in-law kindly took care of Malcolm for several days during the moving process, so we were able to load/unload and manage the long drive up without our sweet toddler's "assistance."  I'm happy to say that we managed to completely unpack prior to picking up Malcolm.  So his room was all set up by the time we brought him back, even down to the teddy-bear decals on the wall.

The apartment is very nice, and has lots of "extras" -- like a pool, kid's splash pool, playground, movie rental, library, party room, etc.  If it weren't for our dogs, I'd consider staying here a lot longer than our sublet (which goes thru November.)  The apartment itself is pretty small, so half our stuff is in storage at my in-laws.  Thank goodness they have a huge basement!

The dogs are dealing with apartment life.  We won't let our boy dog off leash at all.  He marks everything (for the non-dog people out there, that means he pees on the corner of all our furniture, cabinets, shoes, etc. in an effort to mark his territory.)  So he spends his days on a leash attached to my belt loop, or sleeping on the couch, our bed, or in the crate (the three places we can trust him to lay down without peeing on something.)  Hopefully this is a stage, and we can break him of the habit.  Cuz 24-7 dogwatch is already getting old.  He's especially good at sneaking off for 3 seconds to mark something while our back is turned, earning him the nickname "Ninja Penis."

Malcolm is adjusting very well.  He enjoyed his vacation with Grandma & Grandpa.  When I ask him about it, he just tells me he had fun.  Other than that  . . . "what happens at Grandma's stays at Grandma's."  Fair enough!  Though, he did demand cookies for breakfast his first morning back with us!

We've been home only a few days, and already we are pleasantly overwhelmed with all the wonderful social opportunities.  Friends calling, friends stopping by, friends inviting us over, friends inviting us out, friends inviting us to playdates . . . . . I don't even have the words to begin to explain how amazing that is to me.  While I met a few nice folk in Atlanta, I found the last two years to be achingly lonely.  To be home, and welcomed back with such love, is an overwhelming and warming confirmation.

"I think I'm gonna like it here . . . "