The Only Boy In Dance Class

My name is Bayman and I love to dance!  My parents say I was born with rhythm in my bones, a song in my heart and a bounce in my step. My mom even says I was tap dancing while I was growing in her belly! But how in the world did I get tap shoes on when I was inside her belly is what I want to know?! Do they even make tap shoes that small?

When I was two years old and full of energy my mom took me to my first tap and ballet class. I loved it!  I walked in and saw the wide open floor and the mirrors and the ballet bar and the great music and the lights and the cool shoes and I thought, where has this class been all my life? I never wanted to leave. My tap shoes were so loud and I got to stomp, stomp, stomp around like a dinosaur. My ballet shoes were so quiet I got to leap, leap, leap through the air like a ninja and no one could even hear me coming. I was so excited to meet some other boys in ballet who also wanted to stomp like dinosaurs and leap like ninjas, but I was the only boy in my class. Even though I wished there were more boys, it didn't matter, I still loved going. While all of the girls are wearing pink tutus and leotards I got to wear my favorite camo shorts and motorcycle t-shirt. Just something comfortable I could move my body in, Miss Cristina said. Sometimes I even wore a funny T-shirt that looked like I was wearing a tuxedo and bow tie, or suspenders and red bow tie that my mom got me if I wanted to be extra dressed up. I choose black leather ballet shoes and tap shoes that look like fancy dress shoes you'd wear to a wedding. But they aren't fancy wedding shoes at all because they are secret noise makers once you get on the wood dance floor.  I actually got to stomp and make noise and I didn't even get in trouble for it and no one told me to be quite. I think that is my favorite part.

The classical music we dance to for ballet was so relaxing for my wild body I got to twirl, jump and stretch my body until the calmness came over me.  The music we listened to for tap was so happy and fun, I got to tap, tap, tappity-tap my energy right out onto the floor. Miss Cristina even let us bring our favorite stuffed lovie to class for the Teddy Bear dance where we hugged, twirled and rocked our animals to sleep. My favorite part of the class was when we had our rainbow fabrics that we would ball up and toss into the sky and watch it was gently floated down to our open arms where we would then leap all around the classroom holding our ribbons like kites as it flew behind us. Actually my favorite part of the class was when we got the hula hoops out and set them on the floor and would jump from hoop to hoop like quite ninjas in our ballet shoes not making a single peep and at the end we got to take a bow. I had a different bow from the girls because I am a boy and the boys bow like fancy knights bowing for the king and queen. Then we would do all sorts of hula hoop tricks. Wait, I think my favorite part of the class was when we changed into our tap shoes and we shuffle-ball-kicked our way across the floor in a funky rhythm.

Then my favorite part of ballet and tap was getting a sticker and a hug from Miss Cristina after class. But my very favorite part was when she said, I'll see you next week because then I knew I got to do it all over again!  I sure do love my tap and ballet class!  Even if I am the only boy in class.

Written by Colleen Canavan
Instagram: @naturemama3

The Barefoot Boys

The barefoot boys like to have snacks together.
The barefoot boys like to play cars together.
The barefoot boys like to hum the same songs. Sometimes together and sometimes different songs at the same time.
The barefoot boys can turn anything into a musical instrument and start a band.
The barefoot boys like to play wooden blocks together.
The barefoot boys like to play balancing games together.
Baby barefoot likes to copy big barefoot, especially when he puts a bucket on his head.
The barefoot boys like to ride scooters, bikes, motorcycles, skateboards and basically anything with wheels.
The barefoot boys like to play basketball, hit golf balls, throw baseballs, kick soccer balls and basically do anything with a ball.
The barefoot boys like to take tubs full of bubbles.
The barefoot boys like to explore nature together.
The barefoot boys like to build castles of sand, build towers of blocks, build mountains of pillows, build forts out of furniture, and basically just build anything from anything.
The barefoot boys like to play baby dolls, they like to rock, feed and put their baby's to sleep, they like to give their baby dolls a tub and change their clothes and give them a fresh diaper after they poop or pee, they like to play kitchen, they like to help clean up the house, they like to play school where big barefoot teaches baby barefoot everything he knows and basically they like to play anything that will help make them good daddies someday.
The barefoot boys like to play dress up together and put on puppet shows and have tea parties with their stuffed animals.
The barefoot boys like to make up dance routines together, take dance class together and stomp around in their tap shoes making as much noise as possible. They also like to dance hip hop and be B-Boys.
The barefoot boys like to swim and swim and swim.
The barefoot boys like to run and run and run.
The barefoot boys like to sing and dance and have fun, fun, fun.


The barefoot boys also like to sit quietly together with their arms around each other and holding each other tight forever - as only brothers can.

Baby Barefoot (2 years old) Big Barefoot (6 years old)

Written by Colleen Canavan
Instagram: @naturemama3

Ode To My Espresso Machine

You saved my life during those early days of postpartum depression -
instant rewards for my dedicated repetition.
Your shiny square body distorting my face.
The only reflection I recognized.
Tiny cups collecting your liquid gold
Lacy chocolate ruffles clinging to the cup as I pour.
The color of Happiness.
The pungent smell of sunshine.
The protector of the sugar - holding it in each drop.
Your steam like an old black and white movie -
far off train whistle
pushing me closer to my destination.
The joy and anticipation of a relaxation vacation.
Toddler fights and baby cries became muted by the scream of your steam.
Tight white foam flows into your muddy lava bringing you to life
while bringing me back from the dead.
I am a life giver, but you, you my dear are a life savor -
All $350 dollars of you.

Written by Colleen Canavan
Instagram: @naturemama3

Did I Mention I Wrote A Children's Book? My Baby Brother by ColleenDuncan Canavan is here!

I entered a contest to get a children's book published as an e-book with NY publisher MeeGenius (now acquired by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt!) and although I didn't win the most votes in the online contest they still wanted to publish my book. It was inspired by a conversation my little daughter and her baby brother had on the living room rug. They were playing quietly together and they did not know I had snuck in to watch them. My son, who was just a baby at the time was playing with the toy his big sissy had given him and he gave it a love making her laugh. My daughter leaned over and gave him the biggest hug then placed his tiny face into her hands, kissed his cheek and said to him, "Thank you for coming to me, Baby Brother!" and with that I started to write this story so I could remember that moment forever! After I wiped away my tears of joy, of course, because it was a moment of love in the purest form share by two tiny people.

My Baby Brother is available on ipad, iphone (download in the App store), android App on Google Play, Windows, computer, etc. It's currently featured on the "Home/Featured" page or it can be found under the categories of Family and Meegenius Originals and sells for only $2.99 if you buy it alone or you can join their book club which gives you access to over 700+ titles for just $5.00 a month with a 30 day free trial!  

My Baby Brother is perfect for families who have a big sister/baby brother relationship, but all siblings will connect with the love for one another that is shared in this sweet, heartwarming story about a big sister wanting to teach her baby brother everything she knows. Big sister talks about how she's loved him since before he was born and how she used to talk to him and hug him while he was growing in mommy's belly.

"I will love you forever. I am your big sister and you are my baby brother." 

I wrote this story because my own daughter was having a hard time adjusting to having a new sibling and I wanted to show her just how wonderful it can be - once we get past the crying infant stage. She gets to teach him all sorts of wonderful things once he grows up! I've had moms tell me it made them cry. (Best compliment ever!)

Are you new to MeeGenius and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt?  Check it out because this site is really cool. They have tons of books on there and it's set up to where you and your child can flip through the book yourself (by 'turning' the pages and reading it yourself) or there is a feature where it reads the book to your child, highlighting the word while it's being read so your child can start to get familiar with reading. My children love how it turns the page for them so they can read it all by themselves! Each book has a fun, silly, or heartwarming voice for each story. (I am not the narrator of my story.) When you sign up they even give you some free books to get your library started. My book is only $2.99 and it stays in your library forever! Please check it out! 

I hope you like it and I want to thank you so much for your support!

To read a preview of my book, My Baby Brother by Colleen Duncan Canavan and/or to order it for your iPad, click here!

To get more information about My Baby Brother by Colleen Duncan Canavan click here. 

If you like it then please do this small time children's book author a huge favor and PLEASE click the "Suggest It" button on MeeGenius! next to my book!  Thank you!!

During the Author's Challenge Contest, I was featured in the Long Beach Post!

Exciting News! Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Acquires MeeGenius!

To read more from My Tales From The Crib click here.

To follow me on Twitter click here. 

To follow me on Pinterest click here. 


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Someday: A Poem Inspired By My Toddler

Someday you won't need me to rock you to sleep while I stroke your hair and hum your favorite songs holding you for as long as you need me to because I know this won't last forever.

Someday your tiny body won't feel like a squishy marshmallow.

Someday you won't have that sweet baby smell.

Someday your chin won't be as soft as a baby's bum.

Someday you won't be sucking your thumb and twirling your hair as you gaze into my eyes while I make you laugh and watch your thumb fall out of your mouth.

Someday I won't lift you up to change your diaper and gasp at what a heavy baby you are.

Someday you won't cry when I leave the room and then throw your arms around my neck sobbing into the soft spot between my shoulder and cheek all because you want me to hold you.

Someday you'll be big enough to ride all of the "big kid rides" with sissy.

Someday I won't be the favorite person in your life.

Someday you won't run everywhere you go making your cheeks bounce up and down while you are making silly noises.

Someday you won't stand at sissy's door crying your eyes out because she won't let you in to play Calico Critters.

Someday mommy will let you have an ice cream cone even though daddy already has.

Someday you'll know every word to all of your favorite songs and you'll have lengthy conversations with your friends and we'll no longer marvel at your amazing vocabulary for a 1 & 1/2 year old.

Someday you won't want to hold my hand.

Someday you'll say, "Goodnight mom. Goodnight dad." And you'll walk into your room and go to bed without first needing to read, "Goodnight Moon."

Someday daddy and I will be able to eat dinner and watch a movie without any interruptions.

Someday you won't spontaneously break out into a silly dance while you are eating animal crackers.

Someday you'll stop eating all of your veggies.

Someday you'll be able to cross the street without me holding your hand or carrying you.

Someday you'll be too big for me to carry.

Someday you'll be too heavy for me to pick up.

Someday I'll be able to get rid of the diaper bag, the stroller, the car seats, the Ergo, the crib...

Someday you'll tell me that you fell in love.

Someday you won't cry in the middle of the night and daddy will bring your into our bed where you'll proceed to do downward dogs and then fall on us and jam your head into our ribs and make snow angels until you are taking up almost the entire mattress...at 3am.

Someday you'll jump off of the side of the pool and you won't need us to catch you.

Someday I'll say, "Give mommy a kiss" and instead of reaching up to kiss me you'll say, "Mooooom!  You're embarrassing me!"

Someday you won't need a high chair, a bib, a toddler spoon or a sippy cup.

Someday you and your sister will be mad at us for moving from Kauai.

Someday you won't use your entire hand as a yogurt spoon.

Someday you won't draw all over your body with markers.

Someday you won't find it hilarious to walk around the house with a box on your head while you bump into the walls.

Someday you won't need a night light or a bed time story or a favorite lovie to comfort you.

Someday you'll make yourself something to eat.

Someday you'll complain to me about your own toddler going through the "terrible two's" and I'll smile and think back to this phase of my life and I will laugh because I'll be so far removed from it, it will finally become funny....I look forward to that day.

Someday you'll want daddy to teach you how to ride his shovelhead, and we'll hold our breath as we watch you ride away.

Someday you'll have your own life, your own thoughts, your own ideas, your own worries and someday you won't want our advice.

Someday you won't need me to rock you to sleep while I stroke your hair and hum your favorite songs holding you for as long as you need me to because I know this won't last forever.

******

So today I'll cherish this life we have right now with you being my baby and me being your mommy. I'll cherish the laughter and the tears, the tantrums and the all-nighters, the Houdini-like escapes as I try to change a dirty diaper, the mad dashes down the hall to get a giggling baby into the tub and the naked baby chases after.  I'll cherish every silly whisper you breathe into my ear, every eye poke you give me announcing, "eye!  eye!" and every wet finger in my ear yelling, "ear!  ear!"  I'll continue to marvel when you say things out of the blue like, "5-4-3-2-1 Blast Off!" because you aren't even 2 yet or when you spin in a circle singing, "ashes, ashes..." I'll laugh when you stack all of your toys up on top of each other and when they don't fall over you throw your arms out parallel to the floor and yell, "Taaaa daaaaa!" And above all my heart will continue to melt whenever I see you smile or laugh or run and jump, or say "thank you mommy" when I bring you your "eggy and cheeee" at breakfast, or when you reach for sissy's hand to hold, or say, "ess you mama" when I sneeze or when you keep repeating, "thank you, thank you, thank you!" until I take the thing out of your hand that you no longer want to hold. Because you are my sweet, precious angel baby and I will still love you even when I am no longer walking this earth.

You will forever be my beautiful baby boy with the bright blue eyes and the bouncing blonde curls as you run away from me when I try to kiss you.

Love,
Your mommy



-Colleen Duncan Canavan

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