Christina Perri Announces Lullaby Album Dedicated to Daughter Carmella

Christina Perrihas been waiting what feels like a thousand years to dedicate her voice to a daughter.

While the"Jar of Hearts"singer may have taken a momentary hiatus from putting out new tunes after the release of her 2014 albumHead or Heart, it turns out she hadsigned her voice over to motherhood. Perri and her husbandPaul Costabilewelcomed their first child, a daughter namedCarmella Stanley, on Jan. 17, shortly afterthey tied the knoton Dec. 12, 2017, in New York City.

“Putting out new songs that I sang to her all year feels so authentic and genuine as to where I’m at in my real life. I am a huge fan of when people are authentic of where people are at,” she tells PEOPLE about her albumSongs for Carmella: Lullabies & Sing-a-Longs, which is set to be released on Carmella’s first birthday.

“I just didn’t want to jump into a new project that wasn’t related to how amazing my life is right now due to my daughter,” she adds. “That’s the biggest andbest thing that’s ever happened to me, so I didn’t want to pretend that didn’t happen.”

Christina Perri and daughter Carmella.Emily Winiker

Christina Perri.Emily Winiker

Christina Perri and daughter Carmella.Christina Perri/Instagram

Christina Perri and husband Paul Costabile with daughter Carmella.Christina Perri/Instagram

“Shereallysings along with me and my husband,” Perri explains about how Carmella reacts to her singing.

“I really wouldn’t be surprisedif she grew up to be a singer,” she adds about their mother-daughter similarities. “I don’t want to put that on her, but she’s been singing in her own little language for months and sings instantly when she hears this record.”

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While using her voice to serenade her daughter has been effortless, Perri says the “most challenging thing is breastfeeding and not sleeping” — two aspects of motherhood “you absolutely cannot prepare for.”

“WhenI was pregnant, I did everypreparation possible — went to all the classes, read all the books and all the blogs — so my mom and all her friends really thought I was going to have a grasp on it,” she reveals. “Experiencing the lack of sleep and breastfeeding are two of the most challenging things I have ever experienced in my whole life.”

“It’s equally the best and the craziest thing at the same time because you made this little person that’s looking at you and you’re so grateful that you’re doing these things for her, so it’s super worth it and fulfilling, but at the same time you getreal weird when you haven’t slept forsix months,” she continues. “Carmella started sleeping through the night at 8 months old, so for eight months — close to nine months — she didn’t sleep through the night one time.”

“The most surprising thing is how much youlovethis little person — you also can’t prepare for that!” she says. “It’slike the Grinch: Your heart growsfive sizes when you meet this little person. Every month, you love them more and more and more, and the more they become who they are and their personalities start showing, you just melt.”

“We’re just obsessed with her,” the proud mom admits.

source: people.com