What is your favourite age?

[bbface]

Reason I ask is that my DS is 15 months and I love love love it!

When I think back to 5 / 6 / 7 months etc. I see it as a completely different mothering experience. I adored my boy but I didn't adore motherhood.

Now, it is a completely different story. It is so much fun. I love just standing by the pushchair watching DS as he explores a crevice in a brick wall or picks up a tiny pebble and turns it over in his hand or gasps as an ambulance whizzes by. He is cuddiling me, kissing me, patting me on the back when I pick him up, loves making me and DH laugh, runs to the door shouting Da Da when DH walks in, scoffs down his favourite foods, I could go on and on.

I got so sad the other day as I realise that he won't be this age forever, but then I get incited and intrigued about the next step.

I am curious about what other people have seen as their favourite age

All of them.

I've got a ten year old, an eight year old and a five year old. Every age has things to love, and things to find hard I find. If I could "freeze" one age I would probably go for about four.

Oh how lovely! Thank you, makes me even more excited about the future!

Like others, I like the age he happens to be at. 11yo and counting :) It's fun reminiscing but, as I always say to him, 'you were a brilliant baby, but I much prefer you the way you are now'. And I mean it.

Such a good thread for me! I love scrunchy newborn but have left that behind now and am excited about dd being bigger. I think I love all ages when I remove the challenges. I need to try not to get bogged down with those. Newborn challenges kind of suit me as mostly physical (wind, food, nappy) not psychological! I love the sturdy baby stage-4-8 months or so. I love the four year old Pre school stage. And I loved teaching ten and eleven year olds. Haven't had one of my own yet though

I have an almost four year old and have always found that I love every stage better than the last. He's so full of wonder and we have such funny conversations, but he's still my baby. This morning he said that he loved mummy and daddy up to the moon and stars :) I worry about how he will change when he starts school next year.

Two dss 4 and 6 and now is the best age ! Both at school (well settled and happy) and I am now focusing on me a bit more (study, start my own little business) and they sleep at night. They sleep until 7:30 most morning and I don't have to fight them to brush their teeth. I did love every age though, minus the sleepless nights.

All ages - after the first year - so far (dd is 6). But during that first year, I really couldn't understand why some mums were so eager to keep time from passing. I'm more a child rather than a baby person. Now I think she's very cute just as she is - wonder what she'll be like when she's fully human...

My DD is 15 months old too and it's great :) I remember starting to enjoy her around 3 months (but I had an awful first few months) because she was smiling etc, and ever since then I've always thought "this is a great age!", and still do. She is saying a few words now, and it's so amazing - I can't wait until she can talk (although I said that someone and they said "Ha, you'rll regret that, she won't stop!").

I didn't like the 0-12 month bracket. Well, it's not so much I didn't like it, but it was much harder I think... all the sleepless nights, so much crying and I had bad reflux to contend with until I cut his bottles out at 12 months. But 12 months + has been absolutely fabulous. I remember feeling the same as you when he was about 15 months too, thinking this is just wonderful! He went through a tantrum phase early on and I think just come through it by about 14/15 months. He's just turned 2 and is so much fun - I'm still loving each and every day!

The age they're at now. It's always the age they're at now, whatever age it is.

Yes, I think the first year is pretty hard, though towards the end you're starting to see some return on your investment! So far I love the toddler phase - they're learning so much and when they start talking the stuff they come out with astonishes me. SO cool seeing their personalities emerge!

I mourn each and every month of 'firsts' that pass all too quickly (wish i could bottle it!) and celebrate each new month of discoveries. They are changing so much all the time it's hard to pick a favourite. They are all favourite for different reasons.

My DD is 16 months and I feel exactly the same as you. I didn't really enjoy the first 10 months at all because all DD seemed to do is feed and winge because she was bored with not being able to move around and do things.

Now shes walking and starting to express herself everyday is amazing and it feels like you can almost see her developing and more each day. I love watching her try to figure things out and the joy on her face when she manages to do something for the first time.

Even the annoying things like having to read the same book 15 times a day are endearing. I'm trying to really enjoy all these days of discovery because I suspect they'll be gone too soon :(

I have a DD age 3.10 and a DS 16 months. So far, I adore the age between 1 and 2. It's aces. I am both shocked and encouraged by people telling me 4 is nice. Everyone has been telling me it is a nightmare (and three has been a - ahem! - challenge at times!)

latrucha - 3 was my least favourite!

Three was so much worse than two. When she was two I thought I must be some kind of magic mum as it just wasn't terrible. Then three struck, and oh my lord the whining! She is also adorable but am glad there is some hope for four.

DD was the greatest at four. DS wasn't so great, but then again, he's still challenging at five. I love all ages really, except the baby stage.

there's nothing in this world I love more than little boys who are one and I miss them so much now I have two enormous boys instead!

Babies once you get used to them and aren't afraid they'll break and any age after they can talk and you can turn your back on them for 5 minutes.
The crawling toddling fiddling, eating things they shouldn't baby into toddler stage was exhausting. DD1 would only play with things that weren't toys and she wasn't supposed to have. I spent the best part of 3 years never finishing a grown up conversation without having to see what she'd sneaked of to mess with this time.

I love how cute DS2 at 2.5 sounds with his funny talking that only I can make out (so selfish but it makes me feel special to be the only one that really understands him )

I love how DD (almost 5) now notices when I'm 'getting all fancy' and how she loves it and can't wait til she's old enough to get fancy like mummy !

I love how DS1 is starting to experiment with his independance now he's old enough to go out and play in the field behind the garden on his own.

But I most love little babies in the first 6 months or so....'ve been very lucky mine have been generally contentet babies and I'm sure I'd feel differently otherwise, but for me it been that feeling that so long as I can feed them, keep their bum clean and keep them close by I can't do anything wrong, just have to love them and that's all they want. DS3 just turned 6 months, wont be having any more so maybe I'm just mourning leaving this phase behind for good.

Each and every age they reached I thought this is the best one.
If forced to choose I think 7 to 11.
Now DS1 is almost 16 I'd say it is fun and interesting but I yearn for the little boy he was before.
As the mantra goes enjoy it as it goes so quickly.

Every age is the best age and you love them more every single day. My dd is 12.