When I was pregners sitting in the day care centre for monitoring (as they do with heavily overdue mums to be), I was forced to stare at a "babies don't come with a manual" advert. Daft I thought, of course they don't.

Nine months on, yes, the length of pregnancy (except for me that is...) and I'm still bewildered by how often I need to ask really simple questions, because, frankly, I don't know.

Can babies eat ground nuts? Or bread (there's salt in bread...) Are babies supposed to go absolutely bonkers in the bath? (I only remember smiling babies sitting buddha like in their wee tub, an image unbeknownst to my little one) When can I sit my baby into the child's seat in the supermarket trolley without exposing her to potential accidents caused by gravity and the mismatch of potential and judgement? When am I supposed to change from car seat 1 to car seat 2? And before that, which car seat 2 should I buy - there are as many models as wireless routers (the other bare essential in my life).

Luckily there are parenting forums on the internet and mums love to give advice, makes them feel good and there is a real sense that you only understand the implications of being a parent after you've been through it. Nothing prepares you, not even that infamous yet non existing manual. Nothing. That's part of the adventure, good and bad, but thanks to neither being the first nor the last new mum, I ask and answer and get ever more addicted to those forums.

Gotta go, Cubling has just managed to crawl to me and needs rewarded for this feat by being picked up. Isn't she so clever, to be crawling and all that!

All the while I'm thinking of I. who was in labour last time we spoke and G. who's got it coming not so long from now. I'm so excited for them, for sharing this amazing adventure of parenthood.