10 years.

But we were just at the hospital with my wife giving birth!

Then again, it was a lifetime ago that Julia kept us awake at night or wore diapers or lived on breast milk.

And yet, sometimes, I feel like she’s always been the smart, curious, independent, sensitive, cheeky preteen kid she is now.

The speed of life.

I know for a fact I was there for the whole 10 years, but I absolutely cannot string together a coherent narrative of Julia’s development off the top of my head, never mind a coherent linear one. Either that’s just how time and memory work, especially when you’re looking at something from the inside out, or that’s how my brain fails at working. I suspect (and kinda hope) it’s the former, but I wouldn’t be too surprised if the latter also played a role.

In any case, what better excuse for a retrospective? Julia’s tenth year does not readily yield to a single overarching theme anyway, so a retrospective is also just convenient.

Now, I’m not even going to attempt to spin that linear narrative, coherent or otherwise. Instead, I’m going to share one highlight from each year of Julia’s life: something that (a) I haven’t covered on the blog before and (b) comes with some associated (or even remotely related) photographic evidence.

Year 1: Homecoming

Kätilöopisto, the maternity hospital where Julia was born, was unable to furnish us with a family room so that I could spend the nights there with my exhausted wife and infant daughter. So, when the womenfolk finally got to come home, it was a joy and a relief, to say the least.

Fun fact: My wife and I were also born at Kätilöopisto. Like, a really long time ago.

If it walks like a smile, talks like a smile, and smirks like a smile, it’s a smile. Even if a three-day-old can’t technically smile. (It’s apparently called a “reflex smile”.)

Year 2: Nenä

On 2015-07-06, as we’re putting Julia to bed, she suddenly turns to me, touches my nose with her tiny finger, and clearly says “nenä” (“nose”). She did the same to Mom earlier during the day. She’s said “nenä” before, but today marks the first time she pronounces the word clearly and with obvious intent.

Huge and so cute. (Her behavior, not my nose.)

That is one cute nenä.

Year 3: Comedian

On one July afternoon, as we’re walking home after a visit to our favorite café, with Julia in my arms – she’s feeling too lazy to walk – I jokingly comment how “Julia söi niin paljon, ettei jaksa kävellä” (“Julia ate so much she’s too tired to walk”). A few minutes later, when I ask Julia if she’d walk since Dad’s arms are getting tired, she deadpans: “Julia söi niin paljon, ettei jaksa kävellä.”

She’s been goddamn hilarious pretty much from birth.

So, let me explain…

Year 4: Promise

It’s a warm May evening and we’re enjoying Pingviini ice cream bars outside on the balcony. Julia and I discuss the fate of the last remaining Pingviini in the 15-piece three-flavor box. Julia wonders whether I will eat it before she has time to. I tell her that I shall not eat it and that she can have it unless she wants me to eat it. She says she does not. I tell her that I won’t then and that it’s hers. She looks at me seriously for a moment, raises a finger toward me, and asks in a firm, clear, measured voice:

“Lupaatko?” (“Do you promise?”)

This might be the first time Julia has ever proactively asked me to promise anything. She takes her dessert very seriously.

Ice cream is serious business.

Year 5: Snow angels

On Christmas Eve, the whole family rushes out screaming from the sauna to make snow angels in the yard outside. This is Julia’s first time making them. Mom and Dad make just the one angel each, while Julia makes two on two separate excursions and even braves the −10 degrees Celsius a third time (but smartly opts not to freeze her butt again). It’s a proper white Christmas.

The snow angel was screaming and flailing quite a bit.

Year 6: Deep

“How was the first person in the world born without a mother?”

We’re into the deep stuff now.

Sometimes, in between all the deep puzzles of the universe, the brain just needs a break.

Year 7: Dad FTW

2020-10-14: After cleaning Julia’s room, I put her stuff back in place on my own for the very first time. (Up until now, I’ve always left this part to Julia and my wife.) I’m sure I’m going to get shit for something that’s misplaced. But, lo and behold, Julia’s actually impressed and doesn’t find any faults, not even on principle. In fact, she’s so impressed that I managed to not tip over a (specifically planted) baby bottle in her Sylvanian Families Red Roof Country Home that she promises me an extra hug today. Which is saying something since she’s now productized her hugs with gift cards I got for my last birthday.

Fun fact: Hugs for Dad remain an expensive commodity to this day.

No hugs, but teasing is free of charge.

Year 8: Family TV

On 2021-10-09, we binge the first three episodes of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. We’re hooked. Two months later, on 2022-01-02, we watch the double-episode series finale in one sitting. We love it.

What an absolute joy of a series to have as our first proper family TV show. We all genuinely enjoy the five-season run of extremely well-written, well-acted, and well-crafted science fantasy superhero girl power.

But now what do we watch?

Much better than the original show I watched in the 1980s.

Year 9: Perfect day

Julia dips into the sea for the very first time at the Mellsten beach in Espoo. It’s a bright, beautiful summer day; there’s a strong and wonderfully cool wind buffeting the beach; and the water is cold.

Julia loves it.

Mom loves everything else but the cold water.

Dad loves the café by the beach. (He does not go into the water.)

Beautiful day.

Of course Maikki was there, too.

Year 10: Champion

In October, Julia takes part in her first ever horse-riding competition. She lands shared first place! She’s a little nervous before the competition but completes the track calmly and confidently like a pro and, as she tells me afterwards, enjoys the experience immensely.

Mokkapala of champions.

* * *

Back in my second blog post, I made a wish:

PS. Please grow up to be a decent person.

10 years later, it’s looking good.

* * *

2015 / 2016 / 2017 / 2018 / 2019 / 2020 / 2021 / 2022 / 2023 / 2024

Yeah, I know, it’s getting pretty crowded up there. And the image file size is pretty insane, too. At some point soon, I’m going to have to figure out a new way to present that set.

Anyhoo, finally, let’s look at some shots from year 10 itself.

* * *

Thoughts on a spring evening.

The flame salmon at Kauppatori was actually delicious.

Good reading. So immersive you actually forget to give Dad the fist.

Neighborhood watch.

Dad’s old school looks even older than Dad.

Saving the Rebellion. This is about as close as I’ve gotten her to anything Star Wars. I am failing as a parent.

Even a random horse gets a hug.

First open-sea voyage. We braved the windy expanse between Helsinki and Stockholm.

Of course we went climbing again. Spot the fist.

Lovely Linda. The gentle old mare died not long after this photo was taken. Julia drew a farewell card for her with the message “Safe journey”. Even made the parents tear up a bit.

It bites.

Of course Daughter & Dad went camping again. On grandma’s lawn. But in a proper tent this time. It was great.

First Christmas at home if you can believe it.

Favorite pony is favorite.

Setting cakes on fire for ten years.

Zen about the future.