Do you feel like you missed out? -

i too have watched movies/read books about young women in their 20s doing all the 'fun stuff' of going out, disposable incomes and european tours, and i will be the first to admit that i have moments of longing for that too.

i think it has gotten easier for me what with DD leaving behind the 'baby' stage and entering into toddler-dom as we can be a bit more flexible with bed time and feeding (ie DH can make her dinner instead of needing boobie).

some things that i have started implementing to allow myself to still experience things beyond 'mummy things' are:

1. every second or third friday 3 of us girls go to a cafe/bar for a few wines and catch up. although it is not clubbing and dancing etc, i found it to be a nice release. DH is with DD so i feel comfortable enough to relax and talk crap with some girls.

2. i force myself to call friends (i am notoriously shy!) and organise catch-ups. there are a couple of ppl that have young kids, and although they are significantly older than me, we get on famously because we are in the same boat with raising babies ITMS. always a simple affair where i go or they come to my place and we have a cuppa while the kids tear apart the house.

3. we have to be a bit arbitrary and organise 'date days'. i guess this would be more appropriate once you feel comfy enough to have the kids sitted by someone (or at least have someone around to sit them for you!). DH and i skive off from work while DD is at creche and catch a cheap monday midday movie at the cinema. this in particular is soul saving IMO. allows DH and i to connect and have uniterrupted conversations and eat buttery popcorn LOL!

4. plan for the future. this one is a bit more esoterical but like Saram said, start to plan something truly wonderful for yourselves that you can both work together to achieve for a time in your life when life will be less baby orientated. For us, it is a move to the states, when DD (and hopefully bubby #2!) are a bit older we have planned to make a 12 month move for DHs work. It's something that we could do tomorrow, but i know that it will be even more precious to do when DD can really remember and take on board the experience ITMS.
I also have dreams of taking a few weeks in Kenya and working in a lion rehabilitation centre as a volunteer. this was on the cards for us to do for our honeymoon...just before that BFP lol! i havent let go of that dream and am determined to make it happen. and when i feel really overwhelmed by my 'missed experiences' i think of that and it kinda gets me through.

i know that i have missed out on stuff. it would be naive to think otherwise. especially with FB i am able to see what my mates are up to ;) and i do feel jealous at times. but i reckon before you have kids you just dont appreciate the simple pleasures IYKWIM. so in a way i feel lucky that when i do get to chase my dreams, i will be able to enjoy them in a much more intense and wholistic way (and no doubt they will be changing nappies and cleaning wee and vomit off their pyjamas at 2am! bwah ha ha ha!).

it can happen, my friends mum married young and had 3 kids and yeah, did the 24/7 thing while friends were out partying and all that jazz. but now her kids are young adults and she is off to france each year having the time of her life!!