For NaiveNewbie - What makes having a baby so rewarding?

[piprabbit]

Thought I'd start this thread for naivenewbie, in the hope we can tell her about the wonderful bits about having a baby (and save her sanity perhaps).

When my DS was just 10 hours old, I was sitting in the hospital chair rocking him. He opened his huge blue eyes, looked up at my face with a very serious expression, and then reached out his hand and patted my chest. At that moment, I fell in love.

Now he is 18mo, he is learning to jump. So far he can bend his knees and move upwards vigorously - but his feet remain firmly on the floor. I could sit and watch him flapping determinedly all afternoon - he is such a tiny, independent little person.

What makes having a baby so rewarding?

That soft, velvetty bit at the nape of their necks. Little chubby thighs. Snuffly snuggling into your neck as they fall asleep. The smell of a newborn. A toddler's cold hand down your cleavage because "I holding your shoulder mummy" helps him fall asleep.

So many firsts - first step, first word, first smile, first night they sleep through.

Having a 16 year old ds who still sits on my lap for a cuddle. Seeing them grow up and become independant beings. Watching them relate to other people.

Hmmm, my suspicious mind is now thinking the mumsnet team actually started the other thread to keep us awake!! I think NaiveNewbie is a fictional character !

I enjoyed reading this thread though instead of all the miserable bastards determined to make sure a new mum (even if she's fictional) believe she is about to enter to doors of doom and hell....whats that about?

Gahhhh... I'm 31 weeks pregnant with our first child, and in serious danger of sobbing at my desk!

Thankyou for talking about the good bits. I have always felt sure that they dwarf the bad.

Everything everyone has already said How proud they are when they master something new. Learning to walk and throwing themselves into your arms over and over again while crowing with laughter. The love recognition looks, when you look in each other's eyes and just know. The realisation that you have performed the ultimate magic - pulled a whole, complete person into existence through your body.

On a more prosaic level, making them laugh! The feeling of achievement I get when I discover something random that makes my DS phsl is second to none

I'm 8 weeks in as a first time mum. DS was up til 5am last night as he got overtired. Yet this morning he's asleep on my chest, wriggling and farting and I've forgotten my tears of desperation at trying to get him to sleep. I love him so much!

"I made that"

wow!

the smiles - it's all about the smiles for me at the moment and the fact I can eat again

The smell. The newborn unwashed smell. I remember rubbing my nose against each one of my 3 when they were newborn and feeling sad when it disappeared. I still smell newborns (of close friends and family!) and have a lump in my throat knowing I won't have another one of my own to smell.

The manic laughing also did it for me. Blowing raspberries on a naked babies tummy and hearing them guffaw was a special time.

Can someone please hand me a box of tissues!
i can tell you this has been great reading! I am 20weeks pregnant for the first time and i cant wait for all these happy times to happen for me and hubby.