The boat on which your mum and I spent our first blind date. Christianshavn’s Canal, 2010.

The woman I fell in love with. Your mum at my apartment, a few days after we first met. Christianshavn, 2010.

In my mum’s safe and loving arms at one of the collectives we lived in. My mum has dark hair and socks on with her sandals. Photo: unknown.

Happy childhood – my dad and I at the summerhouse. Photo: Sonja Iskov.

The first trip with your mum was to Thailand and Burma. Newly in love and sure that it would only be a short time before your mum was pregnant. Thailand, 2010.

Pancake restaurant. Your mum hopes and believes there will be two lines on the pregnancy test. Burma, 2010.

Your incredible mum in her favourite spot in the kitchen, preparing to inject herself with hormones. Christianshavn, 2011.

Caroline looking pregnant. She is in lots of pain that night, however, and the next day it turns out she is hyperstimulated. Christianshavn, 2011.

The Gumball 3000 rally with Danish TV 2 Zulu – we have just arrived in Venice in our yellow taxi. 2011.

The family dancing in the Californian sunset. 2011.

I love that smile. Sadly, it completely disappeared when a few days later we discovered that Caroline wasn’t pregnant. Koh Lipe, 2011.

The front page of See & Hear. A literal translation reads: “Pelle Hvenegaard in shock. MY GIRLFRIEND GOT CANCER”. May 2012.

Your mum trying to tempt me into the pool. She claims there is classical music playing under the water. The Beverly Hills Hotel, Los Angeles, 2012.

The heart of flowers my dad made on the lawn the day we got married. Valby, 2012.

Caroline’s girlfriend Helle and the other guests come round the corner and surprise your mum. Photo: Theis Mortensen.

Surprise! Photo: Theis Mortensen.

We say “I do” beneath the grapevines in my dad’s garden. Photo: Theis Mortensen.

Now that’s a busker! Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2012.

Sunset and love beside Iguazú Falls: the Brazilian side, 2012.

We’re back in Rio and this time we more or less spend the week lying back and enjoying life by the pool on the roof of Hotel Fasano by Ipanema Beach – forgetting everything we’ve been through for a little while. Brazil, 2014.

Early morning in Mumbai. There are people lying asleep all over the streets – it breaks my heart. Mumbai, India, 2015.

She is waiting for us. Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro. Moshi, Tanzania, 2015.

On the way to the summit to call to our coming child. There is only one way: up through the clouds.

05:10 on the 1st of January. We are the first to reach the peak of Kilimanjaro in 2016 and we call to our coming child. Uhuru Peak, Tanzania.

Sunrise over Africa. We send our thoughts down towards South Africa, where we hope they reach our coming child.

Total – and well-deserved! – relaxation after Kilimanjaro. Zanzibar, Tanzania, 2016.

With Bo, Maria and little Davin. Karen Blixen’s farm, Nairobi, Kenya, 2016.

Palestine Marathon. A surreal experience, running along the wall. Bethlehem, Palestine, 2016.

Banksy’s freedom-seeking little girl with balloons on the wall.

Physically on top of Mount Zeus, the highest mountain in the Cyclades, but mentally at rock bottom. Naxos, Greece, 2016.

BEFORE: ‘The child’s room’ as it looked when we got the phone call. Christianshavn, 2016.

AFTER: The child’s room ready for our little girl, one week after the phone call.

Ready to shut ourselves away with the little diamond. Pretoria, 2016.

Our last evening of childlessness. Your mum is writing a diary for you of our first few days in South Africa. Tomorrow you arrive.

This is what release looks like after six years of struggle. The first bottle. September 12th 2016.

‘Our’ neighbourhood in Pretoria with its many beautiful purple-flowered jacaranda trees.

Thank you, Mandela – without you the chances are we wouldn’t be here!

On our road trip. Your mum tries to help you to sleep on the terrace of a lovely Airbnb apartment in Jeffreys Bay, South Africa.

We are so in love with you. This is one of the most beautiful beaches we’ve ever seen. Brenton-on-Sea, South Africa.

Home in Christianshavn. Your first birthday with the family gathered around you.

It melts my heart to see you exploring the summerhouse, just as I and my dad did before you. Vilsbjerge, Grønnestrand, northern Jylland, 2017.

You eating blueberries with your mum on the mound where both your granddad and I also sat when we were small and filled up on berries.

I know the huge area around our summerhouse like the back of my hand. Now it’s your turn to learn it. On a raspberry-hunt with your dad.

You in the bathtub two minutes before you say “DAD!” for the first time.

Lunch and calm. Tel Aviv, Israel, 2017.

Your first trip to the beach – you love it! Tel Aviv, Israel.

Mum and daughter. Venice Beach, USA, 2017.

Thailand with your grandma – we have to come home early, though, as you miss the security of Christianshavn. Koh Samet, 2017.

“HURRAH” – your second birthday. Christianshavn, 2017.