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 .

shakey I can't link on my phone but it's called 'no overwhelming rush of love'.

It would be really kind of you to pop over there - it's in Chat.

littlest one (nearly 2) just came up and uncharacteristically gave me a big grin and gently stroked my arm. My heart melted a bit ... then I realised he had a mouthful of marbles and was getting my attention so he could run off with his horde while I chase... but hey - still a great moment there :D

just remembered - yesterday my oldest (just 4) went (without being asked) got tissues and blew the little ones nose. eeeek - helpful and adorable!

My DS was ill a few weeks ago and asked for an apple. He wanted it cut up, he's 17. Made me feel all 'ahhh'.

I'm in BITS here. What an absolutely wonderful thread!

Ds2 (7) told me last night that his friends at school laugh at him when he says he loves his Mummy. :( And that someone asked him who his girlfriend was, and he said, "It's my Mummy," and everyone laughed again. Little buggers!

We have rather a soppy, cuddly relationship. It's different with me and DS1 - I found it really hard to bond with him when he was a newborn, and it's resulted in us having a rather less mushy, more "intellectual" relationship. He's 12 now, and we talk far more than cuddle. But this thread has REALLY inspired me to keep working on the cuddly/huggy bits with him while I still can. I love the loooooooooonnnnnng chats we have, but I'd rather he remembered me as a kind, cuddly Mum rather than one who just made him laugh and gave him unsolicited life advice.

Thank you for starting this thread!! And for posting that The Last Time poem -- that sent me over the edge into proper sobbing.

Shakey that is wonderful, and your son is adorable

I've finally read the poem and it's taken me back to the last time I breastfed DS. I knew it was the last time and enjoyed every minute of it (about 3 minutes...he wasn't interested by then!), but I still sometimes get emotional about it

This thread has given me a good kick up the backside and reminded me to live in the moment and just cherish every little thing that DS does.

Thank you...you nest of vipers!

I never imagined this thread started in a wine-induced, soppy moodwould turn into such a lovely thing! All of your stories have actually helped me to think about stopping and enjoying more of these moments with the DCs since I started it...so thank you all for that! Too many times I get caught up in the hustle and bustle of day-to-day stress but I've actually tried harder since to just let things go or to just stop and cuddle, spend time, and enjoy them. And also has made me realise that the moments don't really stop, either...they just change.

Lovely, lovely thread.

I am in our darkened bedroom watching 4.5mo DD to see she is properly settled to sleep. Sometimes I find bedtimes and night wakings frustrating, but I know they will slip by so fast.

Last week, I was at postnatal pilates and DD got in a grump. She didn't want to be in her car seat, she wanted to be on me. So whilst we were doing pelvic tilts on our backs, I sat her on my tummy facing me.

This was apparently the funniest thing ever, because out of nowhere she started to do a belly laugh, a proper deep hilarious laugh. It was so loud the instructor couldn't make herself heard and had to pause till DD was done

I know I'll always remember that little baby face lit up with mischief and joy, cackling down at me.

Oh and DM and DMIL birthdays are coincidentally next to one another. This was their e-birthday card this year!

Thank you all for this thread - haven't finished it yet

My eldest is 3 and she loves singing to her baby sister (16m). She sings 'Daisy Daisy' replacing Daisy with DD2s name. I had to tell her no singing in the car as I get so tearful every time. But, even that has changed and evolved - in the 2 or 3 months since she learnt the words, she's stopped saying "you'll look freet upon the meat" and sings the proper words.

Am crying so much that I can hardly see. Thanks for all of the beautiful posts.

What a lovely thread. I'll add 2.
First one from after dds birth. Her dad, my exh had 2 kids already and I was worried how they'd feel about dd, if they'd be upset. When dd was a week old and we were all in mils for tea, dd woke in her car seat whimpering. We rushed through just in time to see her half brother ( 18 months at the time, his mum left when he was weeks old ) gently rocking the car seat saying, " ssshhhh, ok wee baby, ssshhhh. Mil promptly burst into tears as did I!
The other just this weekend. First meeting of DP son ( 15 ) and my dd ( 4 ). We were out hiking and chatting, walking single file. We hear dd giggling and turn and see dps lovely son holding dds hand as she tip toed along a stone wall. Knew everything was going to be ok

I have just read this whole thread through. At 38 weeks pregnant I am feeling a bit overwhelmed by the imminent birth and the thought of DH and I coping with a newborn, but this thread has given me a glimpse of some of the sorts of good times that will hopefully lie ahead.

And Shakey's post about when she finally felt the rush of love had me in floods.

to you all