Life lessons, size and soft.

1. He is waving his fists in front of his face, snapping with his mouth and looking disappointed at not catching something to suck. I give him a cuddle and tell him about hand-eye co-ordination, depth perception and not being too hard on oneself.

2. My aunt holds Alec and says: "I'd forgotten how small they are!"

3. Against my chapped lips Alec's forehead is as soft and as welcome as the thawing rain the night before he was born.