A cold February dawn, a crying newborn and the glow of the Snow Moon combine to create an unexpected moment of peace in the early hours, says Elle Duffy

At three in the morning, under a moon bright enough to cast shadows, it can feel as though you are the only person awake in the world.

The February Snow Moon hung low and shone bright, bleaching the blackened sky with an almost icy blue glow. I remember a similar moon last February - we walked home by it, stumbling slightly as the effects of our warming pints made the trip home feel like both seconds and hours all at once. It’s a different experience this year. This week, it poured into my living room, entering through the only small window that we’ve neglected to cover with a blackout blind, shining on my slightly rocking body as I will my baby to sleep.

Cailean is three months old now, and we’ve finally started taking our nights in shifts. In the first few weeks, we basked together in the novelty of it all - I’d feed while my husband prepped a cup of tea, and we’d stay up for longer than we had to just to stare at the little sleeping being that we got to........

© Herald Scotland