“They” prepare you for a lot of things.  The child birth classes seem to cover every certain event, all the eventualities, all of that stuff.  Parents and family, friends and neighbors, shopkeepers and strangers: everyone has a tip.  “Watch out for…” and “Just wait until…” and all of that kind of stuff.

There are things too that you just “know”.

You just “know” that babies cry.  And anyone that’s spent more than (say) 30 seconds around an infant has probably heard about the “cooing” that they tend to do as well.

But no one warns you about all the other noises.  The grunts, squawks, quacks, wheezing, and gurgling.  The non-stop parade of miscellaneous, unclassifiable noises that they (or at least he) contentedly make, more/less around the clock.

I was (and continue to be) shocked at the variety of non-speech sounds They Boy makes.  And makes all the time.  I suppose we’re lucky that he doesn’t cry very often.  But that doesn’t mean he’s quiet.