12 years later, on our daughter's first birthday, it was perfect timing to, yet again, take that boat to Stockholm.
No high school, no vodka, but yes to love. Pebbles gave zero fucks about the fact that she had travelled 365 days around the sun, therefore it was more of a celebration of me and my uterus. One year is kind of a big deal, because everything becomes comparable. "What did I do one year ago today? – opened door to a huge Trauma-town."
Travelling is so difficult with a baby, so I guess I am not doing it. Internally I felt the resistance. Grocery shopping is so difficult with a baby. Eating out means chair, cups, food, mess, worry thoughts just whirlpooling in my mind. The more I avoid stressful things, the more stressful it is.
Also, I found the confirmation that highest standard of parenthood can be found in Sweden. The easiness of commuting with a pram, the empowerment of not needing an assistance, the idea of babies as part of daily life not just special "baby friendly areas".
I felt happy and normal, it was sad to leave.
I loves Pebbles so much that I was ready to put my fear towards boats aside for a minute:
"Here's the place where mama & papa started to tap-a-tap-a":
Husband material and baby daddy in 2010:
Pebbles can already read,
next week she will get her driving-licence:
Greatest advice I can give to Pebbles?
When life gives you lemons,
leave them be and go to the All-You-Can-Eat Buffet:
The amount of times you fill up your plate = n.
The amount of times you fill up you plate at All-You-Can-Eat Buffet = n+1:
Pebbles, the House of Wilma Circus, has lived on this planet 365 days:
The pirate of Kitties & the pirate of Titties:
The face when you just found a box of sand,
but it turned out to be poo & pee spot for travelling dogs:
The discourse of female babies being princesses makes me vomit,
but the sound of 'Baltic Queen' is not too shabby:
"It's just a shark decoy tied to a raft
Pebbles, my sperm donor and I:
Mister Dad being Out of Office and not taking any business calls:
Ja, mĂĄ hon leva,
Ja, mĂĄ han hon leva,
Ja, mĂĄ hon leva uti hundrade ĂĄr!
Ja visst ska hon leva,
Ja visst ska han hon leva,
Ja visst ska han hon leva uti hundrade ĂĄr!
Hurra, hurra, hurra, hurra!
It's always two weeks warmer in Stockholm:
We spent the 16th of May, the International Pebbles Day, at Skansen.
The slogan "children's favourite since 1955" really delivered:
A cocktail that tastes like David Attenborough and the TV show Osoon:
Ain't no mountain high enough,
ain't no chair big enough:
Sun's so bright like Pebbles' future:
Our relatives are not allowed to give presents to Pebbles,
but this rule does not apply to Fred & Wilma (power trippin'):
The moment he got lost in the "Holy shit I have a kid" rabbit hole:
Let's start learning about mental health early.
Pippi LĂĄngstrump has ADHD like traits and also a hint of narcissistic and histrionic disorders:
One of my favourites, the Gullviva:
The modern meets the ancient:
One of my favourites, the Syren:
A year ago I would have rather died instead of showing my bellybutton:
All sweet stories about love, birthdays and other cute bullshit aside,
we are here for one thing and one thing only, MAX BURGERS:
We don't fear the Russian bear,
we support the Swedish Björn in NATO:
No bullshit, travelling with Pebbles is awesome:
Balconies are my vibe:
The hotel was great, but they did not have baby potties.
"But where do I poop then? In my diaper??! No, be serious!"
At 21:55 I felt relieved.
A bit happier then the year before:
What a historical day to be in Sweden:
Pebbles does not sleep in the carriage,
so here is a floating bedroom:
I already did my part of carrying her 9 months:
The right way of being rich:
"Pebbles, I am your father":
Fallin' into your ocean eyes:
The May flowers:
Gentle paw:
That's my kid with "Fuck the system" attitude:
It's a bliss with a kid,
that boats are part of Stockholm's public transport system:
Look at this bloody tourist:
"Mama lived here for two years, papa one year. Soon you will live here":
You have no idea, how I avoid playgrounds in Estonia for its awkwardness between parents.
Holy shit, how chill the whole interaction in Sweden was!
No pretentious bullshit, just fun between kids:
Travelling around and showing Pebbles the world,
that is one of the best aspects of having a kid:
"Yes, very interesting"
*YAAAAWWWWWNNNNN*
The one and only birthday cake – PrinsesstĂĄrta
The land of IKEA:
You might laugh when I say GĂĽnter's serve the greatest hotdog in the world.
But laughs on you, since IT IS TRUE MAGIC:
Sausage Gang:
Day by day she gets more amazing.
I cannot wait until she starts speaking full sentences,
because at the moment "lamp" and "thank you" is rather dull conversation:
Hates face cleaning and shoes.
Loves food and grass:
Let's ignore gravity together:
"Good morning, world!"
"So VOLVO means
I roll in latin. That's interesting":
22°C
AYYYEEEAAAH!
Congratulations, we have survived yet another winter:
A little kitten at Vetekatten:
"I have no idea what cake is or how it tastes,
but I LOLz anyways":
Breastfeeding with pride:
She likes the birds and the bees:
Cute as a button, discovering the world:
Ok, let's go home:
The trip turned out shorter than we wished for,
but we had more fun than should be allowed:
If you're happy and you know it,
rise your feet.
If you're happy and you know it,
rise your feet:
It was nothing like I expected, it was nothing like others told me,
I designed motherhood for myself:
Stepping on the same beat:
The boat is ridiculously outdated, full of drunk teenagers and the bar is turned into a playroom.
Booze cruise at its finest:
Booking our next trip as we speak:
Kendrick Lamar put out a new album and recently it's all they listen to.
"Bitch don't kill my vibe":
Island in Swedish is Ă–.
So one ö here, one ö there:
Tax-free and karaoke:
My fear of boats was rather mellow,
I probably had to show Pebbles that I'm a hero without a cape:
And a new tradition on 16th of May is born
Few observations during my one year of being a parent:
1. I didn't love her from the moment she was born. Our bond was built over time.
2. It is possible to set myself first, our relationship with Fred second and baby comes after all that. Pebbles benefits from everything not revolving around her.
3. Life got a wonderful upgrade after 7-months old Pebbles moved into her own room (which was long overdue).
4. The amount of toxic advice from relatives and close ones is so damn high. "You better wait, soon they will..." There’s a lot of anecdotal stuff out there.
5. Fred and I have stronger relationship, which is less to do us having a baby and more that we are forced to communicate better.
6. Sense of self. My biggest fear was losing myself in motherhood. For people without kids, parenthood seems like it’s this suddenly all-encompassing thing. Nope, I designed motherhood for myself. First and foremost I'm Wilma Circus, being a mom is huge part of my life, but it’s not all I am.
7. Utilise therapy tools.
8. No matter what choice you’re making, it’s not the right one in somebody else’s eyes.