Tell me the nice things :)

[tinywife]

Hi all

I got married earlier this year and recently me and my hubby have been talking about starting a family. I have been reading the pregnancy and parenting boards on Mumsnet for a bit info/research and whilst it has been really interesting and I have enjoyed reading everyone's posts, I know that people often use message boards to vent or ask for help when things are hard. I'd really like to hear all the positive sides of having little ones and was hoping some of the parents here wouldn't mind sharing your experiences!

So - what's the best thing about becoming a parent?!

Thanks in advance :)

Where do I start?I'm welling up even thinking about it all.The first time you feel your baby kick,the first time you hold your baby against your skin and kiss their little face , breastfeeding, baths,cuddles,kisses.Its very overwhelming.Then when they get older its the walks to the park and paddles on the beach.Its the joy of sharing all their firsts.The joy in all the simple pleasures.Painting.Blowing bubbles.Swinging.Christmas...now where do I stop!I could go on and on.There will be tough times too.You will be tired.They will be sick.You will worry.You may have to return to work :(.But all in all for me it feels like I've won the lotto!

Their newborn smell - unbeatable!

Again, thank you all so much for taking the time to reply.. your experiences sound amazing and so full of love :)

princesspants - the start of your post could be me now! My hubby and I have been together for 9 years, own a lovely house (which although I keeping think otherwise, could fit a baby!) and nice sporty car which is always clean, meals out time to ourselves etc etc but with the big 3-0 looming next year I too get the "is this everything?" feeling. My DH works abroad for most of the year and sometimes I sit here in my lovely tidy house and just think it seems so quiet - do you know what I mean?

If it wasn't for him being in Canada I might have jumped him tonight with all your encouragement! You really have made me think about waiting for the "right" time - I keep thinking we should wait until our extension is done, and then maybe have a couple more holidays.. but really it looks like I am just putting off something which will make our lives even better!!

They bring me a lot of joy and my life seems richer. I love our weekend family times together:)

My 3yo was playing away by himself and randomly stood up and gave me a tractor. He said "this is for you because you're a nice mummy". Cue heartmelt.

I spent hours debating kids with my mid thirties crowd for years and then we all just went for it one year and now we kick ourselves for not doing it sooner!

Fat, squidgy bums.

Bedtime story cuddles.

The first time they manage to say "thank you, mummy"

Watching them run around the house wearing sunglasses and shouting "awesome, awesome!"

The little hand that sneaks into yours when they're sitting next to you and you thought they were in a world of their own watching telly, but they weren't, they still want to hold your hand.

tinywife I had to get everything perfect for my first coming. Our house had been extended out and up and renovated well enough to get Sarah Beeny's approval. I did that 'last holiday' 3 times until my tour of America satisfied! Honestly, what a load of crock. You will see what I mean.

It was like I thought a baby = holocaust! Once it arrived we would no longer be able to function.

While he was a baby funnily enough our ambition didn't leave us and we started another business, renovated a 4 storey Georgian townhouse, then moved into rented for 2 years, had my second, built a house from scratch, lost both businesses and had to sell built house we had just moved into with 4 yr old and 18 month old, fell PG again whilst trying to sell it, moved into a building site of a house needing full renovation 2 weeks before number 3 was due, started a new business and survived it all.

OK, I drive a transporter van now instead of a BMW but im way too busy to give a shit! Appart from loosing street cred it all worked out.

I could laugh when I think about how 'ready' I felt I had to be before my life was apparently about to end!!! It just begun.

As soon as hubby gets back from Canada, grab him! You might be a good age now for kids but you don't know how many you will want - you may surprise yourself with that one.

Once you are pregnant get back on here to tell us!