22:09

Mum is trying to sleep. The antibiotics are doing their thing, but nevertheless it has been a draining process and rest is needed.

As a treat, we ‘boys’ find ourselves settling down to watch a film on iPlayer. Well, the film is on at least. I’m quite preoccupied with looking at the handsome little man propped up on the cushion next to me. He just stares back, mysteriously dark blue eyes trying to make out my face and what I might be thinking. His mouth moves silently.

And then it happens.

The air is parted mercilessly by the coarse ripping sound erupting from my child’s backside. He is barely 6lbs in weight, and yet I find myself in awe of the volume produced but what I assume must be a relatively small amount of wind. What a boy.

While this is impressive in itself, the wide grin that crosses his face, seemingly at amusement to his own impolite act, is fantastic. We’re told that ‘babies cannot smile at this age, its caused by wind’. While I can’t deny that wind has caused me to smile many times, I simply cannot believe that there was any wind left in his body.

In order to distract me further from the mediocre iPlayer offering, Solomon is busying himself with ascertaining the source of the shadow on the sofa, which is actually caused by his flailing hand. I add my hand shadow to the equation, and watch in delight as his eyes begin to track between the shadow and the source.

Figuring it all out.

This is so simple, and yet so enjoyable. Learning is taking place. Connections are being formed in a little brain that will last a life time. We are engrossed, together, for a long time.

Television really is no substitute for interaction. What a boy.