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    Today I am filled with gratitude to have the privilege of cuddling babies at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Lovelace Women’s Hospital in Albuquerque. As irony, paradox, and synchronicity would have it, in 1945 I, too was born in a Neonatal Intensive Career Unit in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

    Historically, at that time, my father was chaplain in Europe at the end of World War 11. And in the dead of winter, my pregnant mother was living with her sister and her family an hours drive from Pittsburgh. My mother had miscarried before, and I was about to be born 6 weeks early. The day I was born, the doctor told my mother, “Go home and come back in a month to take your baby home. Your baby will be just fine.” Apparently, in 1945 it wasn’t deemed that important for moms and dads to be in a hospital NICU as much as possible to hold and cuddle their new babies. My older sister, about three years old at the time, remembers being sad and confused that, for a whole month, she couldn’t see and hold her little baby brother. She had been waiting for him to arrive for so long! 

    One of the favorite stories I was told later as a young boy was this: My grandmother from Ohio come to see my little body in an incubator in the hospital nursery. Later she told my mother, “I’m sorry but I won’t be able to come to the baby’s funeral.” My mother was irate. “There’s not going to be any funeral. My little Bruce David will be just fine!” Of course, I took this to mean how much my mother loved and cared about me! 

    Having been a singer and songwriter for many years, I have enjoyed cuddling, whistling and singing lullabies to these brand-new babies. I often kidded the nurses that none of the newborn babies had ever filed a formal complaint about my singing, (although I must admit I have seen a few funny looks now and then). But just a few weeks ago, a baby did file a formal complaint—she threw up all over me! Oh, well, another opportunity for me to learn and grow from my cuddling and singing mistakes!     Recently I was surprised to cuddle two babies who had the same names as my mother and my daughter. What did this mean, I wondered, in the more mysterious realm? With respect to my mom, I imagined hearing her say, “I just wanted you to know how much work it took for me to help raise a boy I am proud of.” Regarding the baby with my daughter’s name, it reminded me of the joy I felt holding my daughter when she was a little baby! And my sister is eager for me to one day cuddle a baby with her name, too…and let her know what it meant to me. 

    Since beginning to cuddle babies in 2018, I have written about twenty lullabies. Some I wrote specifically for the NICU babies. Some I wrote from the perspective of moms and dads appreciating the important and delight-filled roles they would play in raising their new baby. I will now share some of those lyrics. 

AS I LOOK IN YOUR SWEET EYES 

As I look in your sweet eyes, I wonder why We are all so lucky that you dropped by. Thank you for coming. We’re so glad you are here. Another sweet, newborn baby is here. As I look in your sweet eyes, I wonder how We are all so blessed that you’re with us now. Thank you for coming. You are so dear. Another sweet, newborn baby is here! 

YOU ARE SAFE WITH ME 

You can relax now and close your eyes. You are safe with me, and will always be. I am here and I will always be in your heart. You can relax now and dream sweet dreams. You know you are safe with me and will always be. And you will always be in my heart. 

ONLY YOU CAN BE YOU 

You are here to be YOU. You are here to go far. No one else can ever be the special one you are! No one else, no one else, no matter how hard they try. Only you can be you. That’s why we’re so glad you’re alive! You are here to be YOU. You are here to go far. No one else can ever be the special one you are! No one else, no one else can play your special drum. Only you can be you. That’s why we’re so glad that you’ve come! 

ROCK-A-SWEET-BABY-BYE 

Rock-a-sweet-baby-bye, You bring warm tears to our eyes. You are new to this world, like a new found pearl! Rock-a-sweet-baby-bye. Rock-a-sweet-baby-bye You are like a brand new sunrise. When we cuddle you tight, your eyes sparkle bright! Rock-a sweet-baby-bye. When we cuddle you tight, We feel warm inside, Rock-a-sweet-baby-bye. You are OUR sweet-baby-bye. 

ANGELS ARE SMILING TODAY! 

Angels are smiling and laughing today ‘Cause you fill them with joy in your own special way. Yes, angels are smiling and laughing today. Angels are smiling and happy today ‘Cause you fill them with love in your own special way! Yes, angels are smiling and happy today! 

 

I would like to end on a light-hearted note. I remember a song I learned as a young boy with the following verse: “Oh, you can’t get to Heaven in a rocking chair, because you’ll rock and rock, and get nowhere.” Now I strongly disagree. When I rock newborn babies, most of the time we travel all the way to heaven and back! Yes, I am so grateful for the privilege of cuddling newborn babies!