One year ago..

..I had just spent a weekend with my colleagues and friends, celebrating my boss' marriage; an Indian temple wedding on Saturday and a Singaporean wedding lunch at a hotel on Sunday. In between I dashed to the stores shopping for the last necessities, and thought constantly of the little boy who was set to arrive in our home on Monday. It was my last weekend of 'freedom'. Just the dog to look after, so I really could have gone nuts partying!

The little boy that arrived on that afternoon one year ago, was swaddled tight and kept quiet. Another strange place and new people, he must have thought. It was surreal to hold him, feed him, rock him to sleep. A little person I had only met once before, and now on his way to become our son.

Today, one year after that day, I am so happy, lucky and grateful to have him. Never mind the lost freedom, sleepless nights, endless poo diapers, despair over not knowing what is wrong when the crying just won't stop - I only think of the smiles, cuddles, joys of seeing him grow and develop, fall asleep on my lap, calm down as I hold him and light up as me, Antti or Rekku walk into the room.

It's been a wonderful, challenging - but rewarding, year as a parent. 

Ps. It has also been a nice day despite of feeling like I'm going to have a cold and Valtteri has a runny nose.. 

(Notice how Rekku goes and stands in between Valtteri and the sheep? Valtteri was afraid of these sheep, he has not seen black sheep before.)