Ask me to recite just about any Dr. Seuss book (or Fancy Nancy, or Eric Carle) and I’ll probably be able to do it from memory. Do you want to know the lyrics to a Veggie Tales song? How about the Imagination Movers? It’s all stored in my head, and I don’t think it’s ever going to get purged.

Once my kids find something they like, whether it’s a certain book, song or movie, they never seem to grow tired of it. I know this is fairly common among babies and children, and I also know that it helps the kids learn. I get it, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.

I’ve been reading the same Diego book every night for the past couple of weeks. The suspense as to whether Diego will indeed save the baby sea turtles has long since been lost on me, but every time we read it my kids sit in hushed anticipation to find out what happens next. I’ve also had They Might Be Giants: 123 in my car’s CD player for a straight week now, and any time I change it I get a stern tongue-lashing from my kids in the back seat who want their music back.

I keep reading Diego and keep listening to They Might Be Giants in the car because I know that the kids love them. I also know that it won’t be long before they get passionate about a different book or CD, and although we’ll undoubtedly read the book over and over and listen to the CD over and over, it will also pass someday soon.

Besides, every so often I do manage to talk them into trying something different and they actually take to it. They were initially iffy about the Olivia books but now they love them, and I saw some scowls when I first slipped a swing CD into the stereo at home but now they dance like crazy when I turn the music on while I cook.

Repetition is a necessary evil, I’m afraid, but it could be a lot worse. At least my kids pick music I enjoy and books that are clever. I don’t know what I would do if their music of choice was something horrible and I was stuck in the car along with two kids who like singing along with vigor.

Currently accepting:

• “Belly” Pictures
• 3D and 4D Ultrasound Pictures
• Pictures of Baby’s First Year

Click here to submit your photos now, or read on for more info …

Admit it.  You’re proud of your big, pregnant belly.  Sure, it can be tough to waddle around with the extra weight on your front and it can be downright horrifying when stretch marks start showing up, but I distinctly remember walking through a crowd and thinking to myself, “Hey! Look what I can grow!”

How would you like to show off your belly while also helping other women learn more about what to expect with pregnancy? Babies Online is accepting photos and videos from expectant moms to accompany the Pregnancy Week-By-Week section.  How would you like to be the official belly of Week 17? How about the official belly of Week 36? Let everyone see your smiling face and expanding waistline.

What’s better than sharing photos and videos of your pregnant belly? Every parent knows the answer to this one, of course:  Sharing pictures of your adorable baby!

Babies Online is also looking for photos and videos from your Baby’s First Year.  You can share your favorite pictures or videos of your cute baby while also helping expectant parents get a glimpse at what they are in for.  You already know your baby is cute, so why not share a picture or video with all the other Babies Online members?

Click Here to submit your photo online today to be featured in our weekly baby calendars

You can also upload your pics to our Flickr Photo Pool and your videos to our Youtube Group.

Sending in a picture or video won’t guarantee that it will be featured, but if it is then you’ll have a great link to send to family and friends to either show off your belly or to show off how incredibly cute your baby is.

Be Creative!

To really get our attention, send in pictures of you wearing our free Babies Online Wristband or your baby sporting Babies Online Baby Gear (tip! get free printable iron-ons and make your own)

It’s not easy finding fun music for kids that parents can enjoy as well. As the first-time mother of an infant, it took me exactly three months before I started cringing when I hear the repetitive electronic tones of Bach or Beethoven coming from a swing or mobile. And don’t even get me started on Brahms’ Lullaby.

That’s why the newest CD from Milkshake, titled “Play,” has been getting quite a workout in our house. The companion DVD, “Screenplay,” rocks too! The Baltimore-based band has a simple mission: To create great rock music for kids.

The band is made up of singer Lisa Mathews and guitarist Mikel Gehl, along with drummer Tom Moon, Michael Sheppard on electric guitar, and Brian Simms playing accordion and keyboard. Lisa and Mikel began their musical careers together with the indie rock group Love Riot. Milkshake’s sound is deeply rooted in sounds from the 70s and 80s pop. That’s why today’s parents love it so much; it reminds us of songs from our childhood and especially our teen years.

I first heard a clip from the song Superhero online, a song with great lyrics and a positive message, hailing firefighters and teachers right next to Batman and Spider-man. Lisa’s throaty vocals called to mind Melissa Etheridge. That sound is prevalent, too, in the oh-so-catchy We Got a Band. That’s the track I find myself humming in the car, in the shower, while washing dishes. It has the easy-to-sing vocals and catchy chorus of an 80s rock anthem, and a great message for kids. “I’m not gonna just sit around / Wondering what to do / Gonna call my friends, get together and play a few new tunes.”

The CD contains 12 songs plus three bonus tracks. Play is the band’s third CD.

The real fun begins when you hit play on the band’s new—and long-awaited–DVD. “Screenplay” incorporates concert performances with fun, animated music videos. There’s even behind-the-scenes segments called Backstage with the Band. Eleven musical numbers and six bonus videos make this DVD a real bargain that will keep your kids entertained for hours. It also promotes movement; kids will want to get up and dance and sing along with the DVD. They won’t just sit like couch potatoes and stare at the television. That’s a big plus for me. In fact, I spend about a half hour a day dancing around with my daughter and singing along to this DVD.

My infant can’t keep her eyes off the screen during the song Bluebird, which shows animations of flowers, greenery, bluebirds and other living things. The simple melody is more like child’s music than many of the other tracks, but there’s still something very likeable about it. She also loves the animation in Fingers & Toes, a catchy and repetitive counting song. I like that it’s teaching numbers.

As a writer, I love what is perhaps the most creative alphabet song I’ve ever heard: ABC of Me. Lisa and Mikel, who wrote most of the songs on both Play and Screenplay are talented wordsmiths. Too many children’s songs feature trite lyrics with no surprises or fun phrases. Not so with Milkshake, who put real thought into not only the tunes, but the lyrics, as well.

Milkshake is currently supporting the release of their DVD with a concert tour, and have appearances scheduled up and down the East Coast through May. If the live performances on the DVD are any indication, seeing Milkshake live is a real treat for tots (and their parents).

I have to admit, from the opening chords of the first track on Play, I became a fan. Now, Babies Online is offering you a chance to discover this great kids’ rock band. We’re giving away FREE Milkshake media sets, which include the CD Play, the DVD Screenplay and the first ever Milkshake comic book. We have three CD/DVD/Comic sets to give away. (This contest is over – Congratulations to the winners! )

Simply go to www.milkshakemusic.com, then come back to this post and tell us WHERE the band is playing on Sunday, February 22. List the city OR the venue (or both) in the comments section of this post here at Babies Online.

While you’re at it, feel free to add your thoughts on children’s music. The contest ends Thursday, February 12 at Midnight (Eastern Time), so be sure to post your comments before then.

We’ll pick three winners at random and notify you by email to get your mailing address to send your FREE Milkshake set!

We’ve had several posts on autism and vaccination in this blog. Many of us parents have divergent points of view on this matter.

A special on autism has been featured on Good Morning America, presented by Dr. Timothy Johnson, medical editor at ABC News. These stories are also now available online as short, easy-to-digest video clips available on the website of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

One news video gives an overview of what is officially known as Autism Spectrum Disorder. Then there are a couple of interviews of celebrity parents who have children with autism. Among these are actors Didi Conn, Joe Mantegna, and Ken Reibel. Every parent interviewed agreed that it is very difficult to live with autism yet they also give some messages of hope to other parents in the same situation. Didi’s message is “don’t be afraid of the “A” word.”

Of course, an autism spotlight program wouldn’t be complete without touching on childhood vaccines. Here we can hear both sides of the argument and inform ourselves. Didi Conn asked some interesting questions at two health experts. Finally, the program also presented and discussed autism treatments and research advancements.