Saturday, January 10, 2009

Bedtime Stories and Sweet Dreams

Gracie - 8 months old

"Goodnight moon

Goodnight cow jumping over the moon

Goodnight light

and the red balloon...
"

My favorite part about bedtime is the stories. I love bedtime stories. Gracie and Annelie do too. Is there a single kid out there in the world who doesn't like a bedtime story? Doubtful.

Annelie's favorite book is Goodnight Moon, written by Margaret Wise Brown, which is one of the most beloved bedtime stories of all times. Every night, I read Goodnight Moon no less than two times, then proceed to say goodnight to everything in Annelie's room, while she echoes me.

"Goodnight books."
"A niiii booo."

Goodnight window."
"A niiii win-no."

"Goodnight pictures."
"A niiii chich-chers."

"Goodnight door, books, babies, and music (currently an Ella Fitzgerald CD, that lulls her to sleep)."

"A niiiiiii."

My mom read to me and my big brother Dan, until we were in high school. Even though both my brother and I loved reading on our own, we still piled onto the couch while my mom read us a chapter or two from an adventure story. We especially loved when she read us the Prydain Chronicles, which is the 5 book adventure series by Lloyd Alexander, based on Welsh mythology. You better believe I'll be reading these books to my half-Welsh daughters when they are older.

Bedtime stories just make bedtime better, don't you think? Even now, at the age of 27, I can't go to bed without reading myself a bedtime story - or a chapter or two from a book, at least.

I hope that the memories my girls will have of us cuddling up together in bed, reading a book before they drift off to dreamland, will be wonderful memories, just like the ones I have of my own bedtime story-time.

Here are a few nighttime-loving items from some favorite Etsy artists of mine:

This Babymoon Love print by Flutter Brush, the art of Kris Aro McLeod (you can find her published book HUSH-A-BYE COUNTING on Amazon.com), is simply adorable! You can find her shop at www.FlutterBrush.etsy.com

KJ, the artist behind the awesome shop, The Dreamy Giraffe, invites all little girls to Dream Big, with this adorable print - also sold as a little redhead and a little blonde. You can find this print at www.thedreamygiraffe.etsy.com

I just love this Good Night print from Manuela DeSimone Illustration. That little clown, basking in the moonlight, on the window sill is soooo stinking cute! You can find this print at www.desicloe.etsy.com

And for the nighttime loving big girls... this adorable pair of Sweet Night Earrings, by Oh Mandie at www.ohmandie.etsy.com.

(and psssssst... if you stop by Amanda's blog {Click here}, you can enter yourself to win a pair in her New Year giveaway!)

Sweet dreams and enjoy!

xoxo,

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

We read Goodnight Moon every night :) And we've started also reading Goodnight Gorilla, which is another really cute one for babies.

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

A great tradition! Those are beautiful finds!

Almay Alday said...

I love bedtime stories! Sometimes I will make up stories to the kids I babysit and they'll say "that's not how the story goes!"

Kim Caro said...

i love that book.

Oh Mandie said...

Aww I love Goodnight Moon! That and Where the Wild Things Are and The Giving Tree are in our nightly rotation :-)

Nothing says relaxation like curling up with a great book!

Karen Faulkner said...

Even though my babies are now nearly 14 and 9, I can still recite every word of Goodnight Moon (and The Runaway Bunny) from reading it so often years ago. Sweet post, Marisa.

Allie said...

We love reading at bedtime too. The snuggles and giggles are too precious! I enjoy the books as much as they do, maybe even more sometimes... I am already missing this when I think about them growing up....Lovely heartwarming post, Marisa~

Momma J said...

Love bedtime stories and what beautiful prints.

Lorissa J. Longfellow said...

I love bed time stories. We read to our daughter every night and then she "reads" to herself.
Great picks and thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Oh, what a wonderful article on Bedtime stories. It takes the imagination into the bedroom, with small kids, listening to mom reading a soft story to help them sleep.
I believe this type of book is essential, and have spent many happy hours reading to my children, and then my grandchildren.
I am now (proudly) the published author of such a book of ten (linked) stories (one per night!)
which my grandchildren love. Maybe one day, if I am lucky, you will look at and write about my book.
Irene J Harvey
i.j.h@live.co.uk
http://eloquentbooks.com/WilliamtheFairgroundCar.html

New England Quilter said...

Hubby just started reading to the little guy as I was reading your post. Bedtime stories are the best!
Amy
http://newenglandquilter.blogspot.com

Cathy said...

Bedtime stories are the best!! Hope my kids have fond memories of them too...

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...