A Fig in Sweden Portland

fira fyra!

(Translation: Holy smoked salmon, I've been in Sweden for four years!)

Every year on Nov. 11, I think back to the day I hopped on a plane in Denver with bags that weighed more than me and said goodbye to the city and man that I loved. Luckily, our house sold fast and Lewis was only 6 weeks behind me.

It was a leap of faith into the unknown. And it all turned out better than we ever expected. It's changed us for the better. The much better.

During this past year, I started a new job and Sophie started Swedish preschool. A big step for both of us.

Looking ahead, I think this will be the year for Lewis' something new. 

Hello, unknown. You haven't failed us yet.

baby clothes for the many people

I was shopping for baby clothes this week and stumbled upon a Swedish brand I had never heard of: Maxomorra. This was an exciting discovery for me in and of itself. Then I went to the Maxomorra website to see that nearly all the clothes are made from organic cotton. And that they are made right here in Älmhult. (!!!)

Further digging revealed that they have a mission that's very similar to a certain other Swedish company with big blue stores. "We want as many people as possible to have access to children clothes with quality, function and lovely design. We have chosen to eliminate all unnecessary costs in supply chain."

Their clothes don't seem to have funny names though.

the stuff that matters

There are a lot of things I've been looking forward to doing with Sophie since the moment she was born. Making stuff is very high on that list. Cookies, cakes, paintings, mouse houses, anything. Of course, some things are best left up to her to make on her own (mouse shoebox houses were a personal favorite when I was little.)

For the past few weeks, we've been coloring with crayons. And then on Sunday, as I started to make lingonberry scones, I whipped out the BEKVÄM stool so she could help. Help is a loose term. Her contribution was moving flour from one bowl to the other. She thought it was the greatest thing on Earth. And while flour was being sprayed every which way in the kitchen, I felt the exact same way.

I'm looking forward to many, many more messy hand moments of me and my girl making stuff.

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