Year 3 in Review: The Pictures

Three years. That's how long I've been a father; it's how long I've had a daughter. Now that I have two kids, I spend a lot less time dwelling on that pair of facts. It's just a fact of my life. As clichéd as it is to say, and I'm certain I've said it before, everything changed on September 12, 2010. Life is harder now--some days remarkably so--but certainly more interesting.

In what has become a tradition around these parts (it's officially a tradition after three years, right?), I celebrate LG's birthday by looking back on the last 12 months to see how she's changed. The physical differences are less pronounced than in years past, but the mental, verbal (and good gravy, behavioral) differences are vast. 

As with the last two years, each of these photos was taken on or near the 12th of each month.

For reference, this is more or less where we left off.

September 2012

At two years old, and even now, she's not a super adventurous eater. She wouldn't eat a tomato if her left depended on it, let alone a green one. But if presented with green eggs and ham, I believe she'd scarf them in a heartbeat.

October 2012

One of her many pensive pictures. At 25 months, as ever, the smile is a difficult thing to capture. It's not that she doesn't grin; she does so frequently. It's just extraordinarily hard to get it on camera. It's just as well, since this look suits her.

November 2012

I have no recollection what came in this box. But man, did 26-month-old LG have a flippin' field day with it. Boxes: perfect for hide-and-seek, or shipping your kids to Abu Dhabi.

December 2012

At 27 months, LG ate waffles nearly every morning. The habit was so entrenched that at one point, I had to buy two boxes of waffles each week. The problem was that she eventually stopped eating waffles altogether, but I was so used to buying them in large quantities that we ended up with a large stockpile.

January 2013

What is she doing here at 28 months? I have no idea. Science, I guess? That's Hollie's story, and she's sticking to it. Personally, I think they like to see how much permanent damage they can do to my cookware. (Spoiler: It was Pyrex, and it's fine.)

February 2013

I cannot believe it took 29 months for us to get enough snow for her to actually ride a sled we bought when she was six months old. AND we had to travel 50 miles north to do it, since on this same day, we got maybe 3 inches of the white stuff. See her in action here.

March 2013

It's a maxim as old as statuary itself. If a toddler can climb on a statue, she will ride said statue. It was true at 30 months, and it's true today.

April 2013

Two things LG learned how to do this year: blow bubbles (for real, without simply covering her face in soap) and hang from things. It's hard to tell in this picture at 31 months, but she is hanging under own power an inch or two off the ground. These days if she had a little more dexterity and agility, she could swing on the monkey bars without a problem. As it stands, she can hang there for at least a minute or two.

May 2013

Speaking of covering her face in soap, it's hilarious to me that she had no problem doing this to herself at 32 months, but if she gets even a drop of water in her eyes at bath time, it's GAME OVER.

June 2013

She does clean up nice, though. This is from a backyard photo shoot that Hollie orchestrated as part of my Fathers Day present. LG was 33 months, and G2 was just under 3 months. You can see the top of his head in this picture, but this post isn't about him. Sorry, G2. You'll get yours next March.

July 2013

I'll be honest. I have no idea what's happening here at 34 months. I'm gonna guess she was eating watermelon in the rain. Let's go with that.

August 2013

I love this picture. If memory serves (and Hollie will correct me if I'm wrong), at 35 months this was LG's fourth time at Bug Fest at the Academy of Natural Sciences. The only thing that would make this picture better is if the butterfly had landed on her nose.

September 2011, 2012, 2013

As is our custom, we went to the beach the week after Labor Day this year. The timing was such that it was the first time LG didn't celebrate her actual birthday at the beach, but man-oh-man, did she tear it up on the days we were there. Rides; ice cream; games; and the ocean: she took full advantage of each and every one. Seriously, have you seen this video? And check it out; I think it's the first time her bathing suit actually fit.

But for an honest-to-blog picture of a three year old, we had to wait until yesterday.

September 12, 2013

See? She does smile.