It's not all bad, right? Please tell me your lovely experiences of early childhood..

[Chequers]

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My first child is 3 months old and it is the most amazing journey in the world. DH and I look at her and cannot understand why more people don't go on about it more - we want to burst with joy love and pride most of the time.

I love the way newborns bring family together - dh's brother comes round so much more now to see his nece and I et the brothers bathe her at the weekend - the noises and conversations coming from upstairs were mildly worrying but it all went swimmingly. And seeing my parents with their first grandchild is so special.

I love when she is tired she turns into my shoulder as if I am the only one she can trust to make the world safe.

I loved her breast feeding at the start when she looked up at me like we shared a secret - even the night feeds where it's you and her against the world in the quiet and the dark. Ad now she's on bottles I love her excitement as te bottle comes towards her and she tries to hold it closer to her.

I love the cuddly feeling where they haven't quite filled their skin yet, and it is the softest skin in the world.

The intense effort and concentration when filling a nappy.

The first everything - smile, coo, grab, roll - etc....

Yes there are the hard times - I loved her so much I was sure I was messing it all up at the start and nearly killing her or destroying her self confidence or whatever - but you get used to that and forget what life was ever like before she arrived.

Oooops - mammoth post! Good luck and congrats to all

I had loads of horror stories about the birth and about the first few weeks, in a way that was good because it was nowhere near as bad as I anticipated. DS's birth was really positive, and although I'm sure there's some rose tinted glasses stuff going on the first few weeks were nowhere near as bad as I had expected.
Everyone tells you about the lack of sleep, but you do get used to it, and manage - that doesn't sound like a good thing, but it is. And then the first time your baby sleeps for a significant length of time at night you wake up feeling absolutely full of energy, like you could run a marathon and write a PHD thesis, all before breakfast!

Coming off your breast, smiling and saying agah agah agah over and over again in a soft voice.

Being asleep on your shoulder, mouth open like a little fish.

Being greeted by a big smile when picking him from his cot

Nightfeeds, when he curves into a comma shape ready to latch on as I carry him into bed, and feeds feeds feeds before falling of asleep.

Little head in your hands trying to get a burp

endless

I've got a 15 week-old daughter and I love it, love it, love it! I always knew I wanted babies, but I had a long old wait til the age of 34 to finally have my lovely little one. It's every bit as beautiful as I thought it would be. I've already had 'I want another one' feelings - and that was after a very tricky pregnancy and birth - so babies must ROCK for me to want to do that again.

Trust me - it's delicious. Even at 4am. Well, there's nothing SO important to do the next day that she can't come first....

and not to forget, sleeping with little arms stretched out all the way above their heads. Can watch that for hours.

yes, everything on this thread AND when they do the 'little mouth' thing. When their mouth goes so small and their eyes are really wide open - it's just fantastic and I laugh with tears in my eyes everytime.

I am actually sitting here with dd2 (3 and 1/2 weeks old) on my lap - just gazing and gazing at her ... my MN habit is suffering severly because of her

not to mention the pet lip and the 'vogue' poses when they are tiny

Two I'd forgotten - the wobby lip just before a cry. Sooooo cute. And DS used to do the most amazing flip-top head yawns. They were so funny, we could have sold tickets!

Chequers - they aren't trying to scare you but they are trying to prepare you.

My friend described it very accurately once -it is the hardest thing she has ever done in her life - but also the most rewarding.

Children make you laugh, refocus your life and they give you a lot of hugs and kisses which is lovely!

My DS1 is 10, DS2 is 7 months. WONDERFUL WONDERFUL WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!! Cant imagine why I left it so long to have DS2.
Anyway, heres mine.
The way they smile at you when you sing to them, you might have the worst singing voice in the world, but they think youre better than Amy Winehouse (or substitute other amazing voiced popstrel).
The way when youve found their best tickly spot and they laugh fit to burst when they see you going anywhere near it.
The teeny tiny fingernails.
Just the way they look at you with such utter devotion.

These have all been beautiful to read. My first was due yesterday (eeek!) and of course I am apprehensive about things. But although people delight in telling you how hard it is, everyone with children is SO pleased for you when they hear you are expecting. So it's gotta be good really hasn't it? Good luck all.

I have an 11 week old daughter and I am so smitten. Yes, it is incredibly hard... I was shocked! But wow, is it goooood, too!

This person is so small... it boggles the mind. While I was pregnant, I was ready to admire my DD's eyes and fingers and toes, and when she came I did admire those things. But there are so many other things that awed me and surprised me by their perfection and their smallness: her tiny ears, her dimpled knuckles, the faint little 'fur' on her arms and shoulders. This tiny package, whole and perfect and miraculous, is wholly dependent on you. It is a tremendous responsibility, and a tremendous and awe-inspiring honour. That you care for them in their smallness and vulnerability creates a pact for life. When else could a yawn or a stretch or a poo move you to tears of joy and pride?