This post on Blogging Baby was full of things that people/baby books/paediatricians should tell you, but for some unknown reason, don’t.

Things that seem like universal truths to me.

1. A tired baby will not sleep

See the previous post on the drive-in. This is one of those “no kidding!” truths. No one tells you this, and it seems like one of those things we regularly forget. Just because our boy is tired does not in any way, shape, or fashion mean that he will be getting to sleep anytime soon. In fact, the more tired he is, the more he fights sleep.

2. A favourite food may only be a temporary favourite

OK, this one we’ve heard before, but it’s so true. Will he like corn today? Mandarins? Meat? Bread? You just have to hope against hope that you’ve guessed right today.

3. Diaper changes are bad

I never thought I’d say something like this … but I’ve actually become used to diaper changes. Sure, there are some that are just pure nasty, and he still rolls and twists like a trapped animal sometimes, but diaper changes are nothing compared to having to clean up after a good puke.

4. Baby will no longer prefer his Mom

I can’t comment on this one. I suspect that there is some element of truth here, but it’s beyond me.

5. Baby will change his mind often

Kristin’s comment on this one is “Your dimpled little one, who has always loved animals, will develop a sudden aversion to squirrels.” All I can think about are the bunnies.

6. When it comes to parenthood, there are no rules

Again, one of those universal truths, but not everyone believes this one. There are lots of people who will tell you what they think are The Rules, but the truth of the matter is that no matter how much advice you receive, no matter how many books you read, no matter how many courses you take, and no matter how many blogs you visit, we’re all just making it up as we go.

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No, not that kind of crack. The kind that keeps them glued to one spot. The kind that lets you strap a mask on the poor child and get through a half hour of medication into a struggling infant. The kind that lets you take the child you are taking care of downstairs for a nap and knowing that you son will not have moved at all. You know that he is safe and not showing you how small he can make himself by going under the baby gate and into the always fun bathroom. (Or going down the stairs by himself in a tumbling scare your mother to death kind of way.)

Yes boys and girls I am talking about the Veggie Tales Sing Along Videos. They are better than any other tv show. Aidan has always liked them. In fact when he was very small I used to feel guilty about letting him watch tv at all. But I soon got over it when I realized that I could actually get something to eat or, god forbid, go to the bathroom.

Now that I am taking care of my friend’s son, it is the most valuable piece of toddler equipment that I own. I am so glad that I discovered the effects of Veggie Tales.

What about you? What are your best forms of baby distraction?

As some of you may know there is not a lot of yard space in Vancouver. In fact most people do not have any yard and just have a balcony. This means that there are not a lot of pools in which to dunk your toddler in the blazing heat. Well, I guess that I spent the best five dollars of my life. (Except maybe the cat basket I bought for a buck, but that is another story.) I bought a blow up wading pool.

Now usually a blow up anything will take forever to inflate and leave you breathless. This one took only five minutes and that was while taking care of a 16 month old and a 12 month old. The boys have enjoyed the wading pool in my living room for a few days (dry of course) and I wasn’t sure if it was going to be very good with water. Until today.

I put the wading pool on our tiny balcony, put less than an inch of water in it and Aidan crawled into it right away. I think that he has spent an hour and a half out of the last two in it. It is small enough that he can crawl over the sides and with the small amount of water he was very happy to splash and play without any worry. He was also cool.

Now, how do I get the water out?

One of the things that books don’t tell you about is just how much you will enjoy certain moments. The first time they sit on their own. The first time they stand. The first word.

The abject terror they feel when confronted with electronic bunnies.

So, there we were last Wednesday night at a friend of Lynn’s. Lynn was back in town from Depot (ever so briefly) before shipping out to the Creston detatchment to report for duty. Lynn, of course, is Aidan’s Godmother and had bought him what she thought was a cute little bunny rabbit. Aidan has lots of bunnies (of the stuffed variety), which is a reflection of his mother’s predilection for them. None of the existing bunnies, however, move independently.

This particular bunny (which, like all of his stuffed toys, remains unnamed) moves. Its ears quiver, its nose wiggles, its nose squeaks, and it takes a few hops forward every once and a while.

So, Lynn, Aidan and Gwen were in the living room of Lynn’s friend (Dina). Hardwood floors and lots of space. Anyway, Lynn put the bunny down on the floor some distance from Aidan, who was on his stomach, crawling towards it.

Then she turned it on.

It did its little dance, hopping, and quivering, and squeaking.

Aidan looked at it and slowly backed up. I’ve never seen him do this, crawl backwards as if that was the natural direction to be crawling. The bunny went through its cycle again, and this time Aidan …. um …. hauled ass. He scooted backward absolutely shrieking in terror, shaking with fear.

The poor guy. This is clearly a pivotal and traumatizing moment in life.

And we laughed. Well, not for too long, because someone had to comfort the boy (and Lynn, who couldn’t believe that such an innocent looking gift had gone so wrong). But, it was funny. America’s Home Video sort of funny.

Subsequent exposure to the bunny has not improved the situation any. He definitely doesn’t like it in all its glory, turned on and quivering and squeaking, etc., but he even doesn’t like it when it’s just sitting there looking cute.

He was crawling on the floor, came around the corner of the coffee table, saw the bunny there and broke down into almost hysterical tears.

It still seems funny … but we need to get him over this.

And I can’t believe that we need to get him over a fear of … bunnies…

*These* are the moments we remember. :>)

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