Carry on… laughing!

It’s a funny question to be asked. I thought for a moment.
“What, about Sam, am I most proud of?”
There are a million possible answers to this question.

If the question had been asked regarding an adult, answering might have been simpler. We tend to look towards personality traits and achievements when talking of pride in others.
Yet, when the question is posed about a baby where do you go with that? 

“Oh, I think it’s his tenacity when under fire, or perhaps when he rowed the Atlantic to raise money for…”

See what I mean?

I do think that there is often a lot of over-thinking that takes place around babies. Parents are expected to give answers to questions that really don’t matter and act as if they do.
People have genuinely asked me:

“Does he have a favourite colour?” 

A favourite colour? 
Seriously?
As if we got out some colour charts one afternoon – with Sam and I debating the relative merits of mauve and turquoise before he finally settled on tangerine.

“Does he have a favourite teddy?”
“Well, there’s one he’s been sick on slightly less frequently than the others – if that could be regarded as a sign of preference?”

I think you get my point. 

Sam is a baby on the cusp of toddler-hood – his achievements, thoughts and outlooks are what you would expect. He likes food, chewing on things and anyone who can make a convincing raspberry sound.

Back to being proud.
I realised that there was something that I was genuinely proud of: Sam’s laugh.
Sam has what I can only describe as A VERY DIRTY LAUGH. 

Seriously. 

He laughs like he’s a modern reincarnation of Sid James. Tickle his feet and he cackles like someone has told a VERY rude joke.

IT’S BRILLIANT. 

“His laugh?” replied the questioner, confused.
“Yeah, it’s a real cackle. Like Sid James.”
“Sid James?”
“The actor from the Carry On… films… The one who wasn’t Kenneth Williams.”
“Oh.”
“We’re very proud.”

And we are.

It’s not that I’m hoping he emulates all the facets of the Carry On... star. I just like his laugh – when it’s coming out of a baby.

Trust me, you would too.

I look forward, in the years to come, to getting to know and being proud of Sam’s true personality as it blossoms – I’m sure there will be many surprises along the way – but I’ve no doubt that an incredibly infectious chortle is a good place to start!