Madeleine Sings a Lullaby

Madeleine wasn't satisfied after I sang her the usual one bedtime song this evening.

MADELEINE: And Mama?  Can you sing ANOTHER one?
ME: Well, what do you want me to sing?
MADELEINE: Uhh...how about..."Five Little Laps."

Seriously, AGAIN with the "Five Little Laps"??

ME: I can't sing that, honey.  It's a song you made up and I don't know how it goes.
MADELEINE: Okay.  Mama.  I will sing it to you, and then YOU sing it.
ME: No, sweetie, we don't have time for that.
MADELEINE: Okay.  Mama.  How about *I* just sing YOU a song.
ME: Okay.
MADELEINE: (launching into song) Five little laps on the top of the roof...bouncing up and down...and...and...and...and...one little lap fell down from the roof...now there's...NINE little laps on the top of the roof.

NINE little laps now!?  I thought one fell off.  Why are we getting bigger?  Why aren't we at four little laps??

MADELEINE: Nine little laps on the top of the roof, bouncing up and down, and one little lap fell down from the roof, now there's eight little laps on the top of the roof.

At least this time we did the math correctly.

MADELEINE: Eight little laps on the top of the roof, bouncing up and down...la la la la loof...and one little lap fell down from the roof, and now there's seven little laps on the top of the roof.

I see we added a little to the lyrics this time.

MADELEINE: Seven little laps on the top of the roof, bouncing up and down, la la la la loof...and...and...and...one little lap fell down from the room, and...and...and...(breathing hard from the effort of trying to keep her song going) now there's six little laps on the top of the room.

I was starting to feel like the song was never going to end.

MADELEINE: Six little laps ont he top of the roof, bouncing up and down, YIPPEE!  La la la la loof, and one little lap fell down from the roof, and now there's...there's...there's...(heavy panting) Mama?  What number is next from SIX?
ME: Five.
MADELEINE: Five little laps on the top of the roof...

Okay.  Finally, we are at least back where we started.

MADELEINE: Five little laps on the top of the roof, bouncing up and down, YIPPEE!  La la la la loof, and one little lap fell down from the roof.  OUCHIE!  And now there's FOUR little laps on the top of the roof.

It seems the verses get longer with each repeat.

MADELEINE: Four little laps on the top of the roof, bouncing up and down, la la - uh... YIPPEE!  La la la la loof!  And one little lap fell down from the roof.  OUCHIE!  Mmm hmmm hmmm hmmm.  And now there's THREE little laps on the top of the roof.

OMG.  Three more to go.  Then freedom.

MADELEINE: Three little laps on the top of the roof, bouncing up and down, YIPPEE!  La la la la la loof!  Mmm hmmm hmmm.  One little lap fell down from the roof.  OUCHIE!  Mmm hmmm hmmm hmmm.  Now there's...there's...there's...
ME: Two.
MADELEINE: Two little laps on the top of the roof.  Two little laps on the top of the roof, bouncing up and down, YIPPEE!  La la la la loof!  Mmm hmmm hmmm.  One little lap fell down fro the room.  OUCHIE!  Mmm hmm hmm.  Hmm hmmm hmmm hmmm.  Now there's ONE little lap on the top of the roof.

FINALLY.  Last one.

MADELEINE: One little lap on the top of the roof.  Bouncing up and down.  YIPPEE!  La la la la loof.  He...he...he...he fell down.  OUCHIE!  Mmm hmmm hmmm.  Now there's NO little laaaaps!
ME: Great song!  Hooray!  That was-
MADELEINE: Noooo little laaaps on the top of the rooooof.  Mmm hmmm hmmm la la laaaaaa!  Oof!

Oh, thank goodness, we were finally done.

ME: I liked your song, honey.
MADELEINE: Yeah.  It was pretty GREAT.