[edgeofelise]

You guys. Eliza has been so awesome lately. It took a few days to hit me, but I finally realized we're in one of those sweet spots where the stars align and you get in a groove and things just rule. Frustrations are few(er), sleep is on track, and giggles come easily. There haven't been all that many points in her baby-dom where I've been so lovey that I've wanted another, right now.

It happened at 3 months, when she started sleeping five hours straight and I was able to wash my hair sometimes. And then her brain woke up at 4 months and she wouldn't sleep EVER, and I wanted to pull my dirty hair out.

It happened at 9 months, when she had mastered crawling and was content to do just that. And then she started trying to walk, and was frustrated all the time. And then she did walk, and I felt like every second of my life was devoted to keeping garbage, rocks, and cigarette butts out of her mouth.

...And it's happening right now. It might only last for a few days, but we're in the zone. It must be my Christmas present.

What's been your favorite age so far? Mamas of older kiddos, what are your favorite ages to look forward to?

[misscari]

awww

day 1- 3 weeks LOVE it! the baby smell, the warm squishy, the tiny diapers, the spitting up, the wee little baby poop, the falling asleep anywhere, don't even mind being bone tired those first few weeks.

4 weeks-3 mos love them- but wonder if you will ever sleep or shower regularly again-what day is it? what year again? what's my real name? I need a nap!

3-6 months is fun for me, all those adorable grins and giggles. They seem like they might actually notice you beyond the bottle or boob once in a while.

6-8 month Then the crawling started-not so good, but it's fun finally seeing them do something besides lay there all the time.

9mos-14 mos Walking AHHH! me running behind trying to prevent falls, what is that in your mouth? How can a bow legged midget actually out maneuver a grown woman from catching them? I don't understand it- but it happens. Fun at times but I barely remember much of this age-again I needed a nap!

14-18 months running now-less falls so you don't worry so much about child services being called on a daily basis. I stop even asking what's in your mouth, it's probably just the fruit bar you fed the floor last night. They can sometimes entertain themselves for 15 minutes with toys or tv. You realize now you really could care less if your toddler watches 15 mins of cartoons before the "appropriate" age because it's 15 minutes of peace!

18 months-2 if you're lucky, it's fun and the calm before the storm. Right now I'm in a sweet spot too-he's really just becoming a fun little boy with so much character and at the moment he is a total sweetie bug. Always giving me hugs and kisses or patting me while sitting on my lap, starting to chatter a lot more, it's just great seeing him become his own person-babies are wonderful but they don't really interact much other than those adorable toothless grins. Occasionally we have fits but mostly he's over that stage unless he gets too tired.

2-3 not entirely fun-but there are enough cute moments to keep you from choking them.
Potty training-enough said. They now build elaborate towers to climb everything- get into cookies, dump plants, unlock doors and run around the front yard naked at 7am so your neighbors see them on their way to work. They feed their siblings dish soap, they help wash the dog in the toilet, they are sneaky and SMART! Do not turn on the oven, start your car, program the remote, or do anything remotely interesting or dangerous because they will watch you and figure out how to do it. Lying begins at this age too-did you eat all my cookies? they will get all wide eyed and say no mommy (they haven't realized I can see the chocolate all over their forehead, chin, ears and fingers) They run away from you in public, holding your hand is likely to lead to a kicking screaming fit on the pavement while you try to drag them back to the car with minimal road rash. Who needs groceries anyway!

Age 3-5 was always fun for me because you can really start to enjoy doing things with them. Mostly they are over the crazy tantrums and listen if you ask them to wait for you, they can tell you everything going on, what they want, don't want etc. Some kids really start to develop a sense of humor around this age too and it cracks me up to hear the silly things they say.

5-6 is a little sad because your baby goes off to school, but let's face it some days you can't wait to drop them off and actually get something done for yourself.

I'll hold off on the older years because it makes 2-3 look fun!

[Runzbarrel]

I'll just ditto most of everything above It's different for me since I have a girl and now a boy and they are polar opposites for this age. Colton is a freakin tornado when he's awake! lol Caitlyn was content to play with her toys etc at this age. I do love the squishy baby phase though who doesn't? A big sigh of relief for me is around 5-6yo when they can bathe themselves!

[-erin-]

To be honest, I guess I'm not really a baby baby person. Like they're cute and all, but since Juliet's birthday or so, each day I just think, I LOVE this age, more and more. She is so independent, but still can be snuggly. She is so smart. Her personality is coming out. She is talking more. I love it. I don't know yet how I'll feel when the terrible twos really come out, but for now, I'm going to say 12-24 months or so is the best age

[speechteach42]

I love the tiny newborn phase! I love how little and squishy they are, and I love that if you can get past your exhaustion you can actually go places because they will sleep anywhere, anytime! Two-four months were great with E too because she slept 12 hours straight through the night, like 8-8 and was SO happy and easygoing during the day.
I also do like this age too though. I love watching her learn new things and say new words. I'm constantly amazed how smart she is and how much she understands now.

[survey77777]

I am LOVING right now. I just hope that I am always loving the right now stage. I really do love babies though so I never imagined I'd love this stage so much.
My mom says she really loved the teenage years. Not something you hear often, but my mom has truly been wonderful about appreciating us for who we are throughout our lives. I hope I've inherited that quality because it's a pretty great thing to feel from your mama.

Cari...you should publish that. I love it.

[BobbityBoo]

Honestly, I love every age for different reasons. I'm most always liking waht is happening currently but still missing what was a few months past.

After this new baby is here though I'm really looking forward to being out of the infant baby stage for good. I think moving forward in life with my kids will be really interesting. Seeing how we develop as a family of older children will be fun! Hopefully we will be afford it all! lol

[PurpleStar]

Ditto on loving a little something from every stage, but I LOVE this stage right now! I love the interactiveness...his personality is coming out, his ability to participate in "decision making" of sorts & demonstrate thoughts/opinions, his independence, and most of all - I love how he can show love & caring back. I know my baby loves me, but nothing beats when he just spontaneously wraps his arms around my neck and gives me a BIG hug or kiss or BOTH!!! It makes my heart just swell and I usually blubber...kinda like I am right now just thinking about it while I type this. Sheesh. But I am just really in love with this time...

[Danielle.W]

Originally Posted by -erin-

To be honest, I guess I'm not really a baby baby person. Like they're cute and all, but since Juliet's birthday or so, each day I just think, I LOVE this age, more and more. She is so independent, but still can be snuggly. She is so smart. Her personality is coming out. She is talking more. I love it. I don't know yet how I'll feel when the terrible twos really come out, but for now, I'm going to say 12-24 months or so is the best age

ditto!

[edgeofelise]

I love that I wrote this this morning and my baby was total jerk all afternoon. Oh well, tomorrow's another day, right?

[survey77777]

I actually considered not answering out of fear for the same situation! Mine is being a turd ( I am now saying turtle out loud when I think this, now that he's caught on), but the sick brings the sympathy.

[momoftwins]

Lol...these are too funny!

Cari- Ditto to all!!!

I love 6 months when you can start to see their little personalities starting to develop.

And this current stage is so fun. All the new words and experiencing everything on their own two feet is exciting to see.

Other than the potty training part (gives me shivers thinking about it) I love two year olds! That's when they really start to get me laughing!

I have enjoyed the independence that 4-5 brings though. I don't have to be eagle eyeing their every move anymore. That's pretty nice, I must say!

[lunarmagic]

I dunno. I love squishy baby stage, I seriously just held her all day long and did nothing but cuddle her.

I really had a lot of fun once she started smiling and making noises, and once she started the laughing we were silly fools all day!

I think my least favorite so far has been the 9 months - 1 year because that's when she started walking and refusing to sleep. I was so freaking exhausted.

After a year she started finally sleeping better in her crib, I started getting my personality and self back, and she started really just learning so much.

We're in a really good spot with sleep right now.... although these past 3 months has not been my favorite of my life because I've been so blessedly sick with nausea, Kate's been really good. Tantrums have started, though. And with it the demanding of Things. She wants my food, my computer, my TV, my remote, etc etc. So no, right now I don't think I'd say this is my favorite age. LOL

[sarahp]

I've always love "this current stage". But I really really think right now is the best stage! She's so much fun, so expressive, sleeps well, and can still be contained if needed I love that she runs up to me saying "cuddle cuddle!", I love that she randomly kisses me on the cheek, I love the funny little things she comes out with, and I love spending time with her. I know the terrible 2's are coming, and I am trying to enjoy these moments as much as I can