He stands next to my bed smiling at me. The most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen.

The cheeky devil is lucky he’s so damn cute. He is up, so as far as he is concerned the rest of us should be.

“Mummy get up” he squeals as he jumps up and down with way too much enthusiasm for six o’clock on a Sunday morning, especially after waking three times during the night demanding a drink and his blanket to be pulled back up.

“It’s still nigh nigh time buddy (I yawn) It’s still dark outside (I stretch) Go back to sleep (I roll over).”

“NOOOOOOO Mummy get up”.

Buzz Lightyear’s turbo boosters ignite at the touch of my son’s finger, then he crashes into my head announcing “To infinity and beyond”.

I get up and slump out to the kitchen to make some Crumpets, his current favourite.

“Cartoons on the TB Mummy”.

I turn on ABC kids so I can go and have a shower in peace.

There is a crash, a yelp of pain, and a “Riley what are you doing”, followed by a grumpy and tired Daddy stomping down the hall.

Charge gives a howl and Ellie a bark to let us know the commotion has gotten their attention. The whole house is awake and it’s only ten past six. Good job Riley, let’s see if you’re so keen to start the day in ten years’ time when you’re a teenager, ha.

I stand in the shower with the heat right up and ponder the long term effects of sleep deprivation. I sigh knowing all this will only get worse once the second child arrives.