I can hear DH upstairs pretending to stomp around like a monster, and the kids are shrieking with joy...

[SagaNorensLeatherTrousers]

...and I just got one of those, stop-and-smell-the-roses moments where you realise those sounds are a very temporary thing.

Some day they'll grow up and not find this kind of thing amusing anymore. And I won't be able to sit down here and happily listen.

Sniff, sniff.

I think I've had one too many glasses of .

DS 6 months old is shrieking with laughter at DH who is blowing raspberries on his tummy and playing peekaboo with a cushion. Do love them both .

This thread has made me well up

saga my pleasure cheers

I'm on my third vodka

Is this going to turn in to a drunk thread ?

Potterwolfie mine are that age too. You can kind of feel their childhood slipping away in front of your eyes, can't you?

I've gone in pretty much every day of their lives after they've fallen asleep and stroked their faces and told them I love them. It's my nightly ritual, they are fast asleep though and probably have never noticed!

I think I am in the wilderness years. The bit OP describes is long gone (teenagers now). There is much shrieking but not from joy I am afraid. GCSE revision/falling out with friends etc

I am told that it does return though.

Pass us a tissue someone?

Every so often, when all 4 of us are together, being a proper family,, just chilling on the sofa, or reading a bedtime story, or tickling each other, I look around and think "bugger the whole rest of the world, everything I need is right here in this room"

I envision us all embracing, passing the bottle of vodka, and laughing through our tears by the end of this thread!

That's lovely, cakes

And oh! Ds has just started saying I love you, and when he says it to me it's wonderful, but when he says it to his little sister, and holds her hand (they're 3.10 and 2.3) I just want to parcel up that moment and cherish it forever.

Haven't even had a drink yet!

Aw you lot are so soppy

Every night that dp has worked a 12 hr shift (usually 4 a week), he comes in and takes over so I can get a shower in peace. & every night without fail, I get out to the shreiking and giggling you describe OP.

I sometimes sit and just have a 'moment' listening to them & laughing at them being so giddy

Bugger, there is summit in my eye...

Oh how lovely. Enjoy the moment. Don't worry about the future.

cakes that's so sweet. My littlest is 2, and she's a destructive force to be reckoned with. But she's our little dream, and loves her older brothers to bits. The other night I went up to start bedtime and DS(8) was reading to her, both cuddled up together on his bed. Little sibling moments are precious, too.

lucysmam it's the wine!!!

My 9 year old slid his hand into mine today - he'd forgotten he was too cool for that and I felt his warm dry hand squeeze mine and I did send up a silence "thank you" to someone for one more "hand that makes me happy"

Argh, your killing me Saga!

I have 2 boys with the same age gap. Those little moments are so precious.

Ahh this is a lovely thread ! I was just thinking this today whilst I watched ds 7 and dd 4 rolling round on a lawn doing 'meatballs' and 'sausage rolls' they were so cute, and ds 9weeks was in his pram fast asleep.

I was so happy just sat watching, it was lovely

Stop it all of you now!! blows nose bostonbaby I feel your pain

thenapoleon I think they will notice the sleepy kisses and love yous, even if they're not conscious...they just know

I'm going to be honest, reading your post has actually made my day and slightly teary (in a good way). Perhaps one prosecco too many for me...

Oh goodness Kewcumber now I am officially teary! My Ds(8) does that sometimes and I just lightly hold on, hoping that he won't realise, so I can just enjoy the feeling of him being my wee baby and not the boy desperately striking out for independence.

Oh my goodness. I am a bit tearful as well.

I have DD home from uni unexpectedly and DS has broken off a date with his girlfriend to come and see his big sis.
We are just planning what I expect will be our last family holiday before they want to go off in different directions. I am so, so very proud of them and happy how close they are, and that they now WANT to spend time with us.

But I so wish I could just have one day again of when they were one, one day of when they were two...and so on, just to revel in the joy of them without being bogged down in the drudgery.

Thank you OP for a genuine opportunity to count my blessings

But I so wish I could just have one day again of when they were one, one day of when they were two...and so on, just to revel in the joy of them without being bogged down in the drudgery.

Me too.