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 lasttwo 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.
As noted
previously, Hollie and I share a lot of stories about the kids on Facebook
that never make it to the blog. These are short, punchy and often very strange.
And some the vast majority have pictures!
Because I am a lazy blogger, and so that we can have a record of them, here are more
of those, from the end of January through May.
1/30/13 - Matt's Facebook
Yeah, she does look cute. *grumble* Princesses *grumble*
2/1/13 - Matt's Facebook
Due to her burgeoning love of Mario Van Peebles' early work,
LG has named her newest stuffed animal Blue Jack Kitty.
(Only half of this is true.)
2/7/13 - Matt's Facebook
This morning at breakfast, after Louis Armstrong's rendition
of Bippity Boppity Boo popped up on a shuffled Disney mix, LG looked up from
her waffle and said, "Daddy, that was a pretty good song."
2/11/13 - Matt's Facebook
LG's first time sledding in the snow. I have to say snow,
because in the absence of the white stuff, I have dragged her through piles of
leaves.
(Apologies for the vertical video. I hate myself a little.)
2/16/13 – Matt’s Facebook
Me: we need to make dinner for mama. What should we make?
LG: something delicious.
Matt: that's a given, but what food is delicious?
LG: hmmm... Fish, pickles, broccoli, apples, French toast, chips...
2/28/13 – Matt’s Facebook
LG, flipping through a DVD portfolio: Daddy, what's this
movie?
Me: That's 'Challenge of the Superfriends.' It has Superman in it.
LG: I like Superman. He's pretty cool. And he's cute.
Me: You think Superman is cute?
LG: Yessiree!
3/5/13 - Hollie's Facebook
Our Tuesday night ride home with LG:
LG: Daddy, do you want some of my snack?
Mama: Honey, daddy lost his voice so he can't talk. He
doesn't want a bite of your snack. Thank you, though.
LG: Daddy? (pause) Daddy?
Mama: Sweetie, daddy can't talk. Just tell him what you want
and Mama will let you know what he says.
LG: Daddy? DADDY?!?!
Mama: He can still hear you. Don't shout. Just talk to him.
LG: DADDY CAN YOU ANSWER ME?!?!
Mama: No. He cannot. Just talk, he can hear you.
LG: DADDY?!?! DADDY?!?!
Mama: He can hear you; he just can't talk because his throat
hurts.
LG: DADDY CAN YOU TALK TO ME?
Repeat for 20 minutes.
3/6/13 – Matt’s Facebook
I mentioned in this blog post that I have to rearrange the kids' room to get the crib and toddler bed
properly situated. Evidently LG is already working on it.
3/10/13 – Matt’s Facebook
How to Eat Frozen Yogurt: A Visual Guide
3/27/13 – Matt’s Facebook
Dear G2,
Your due date is tomorrow. Please come soon. Your sister is getting weird.
Love,
Dad
3/30/13 – Matt’s Facebook
It's déjà vu all over again. Or Hollie's body has figured
out how to clone our DNA and alter a chromosome.
4/4/13 – Matt’s Facebook
This is what we in the parenting game call
"success."
4/6/13 – Hollie’s Facebook
It's hard to sleep 23 hours a day with a noisy big sister in
the house. He makes it happen.
4/7/13 – Matt’s Facebook
Keeping it classy at the Griffattolo household.
4/9/13 – Matt’s Facebook
By the power of trowel, I! Have! The Power!
4/14/13 – Hollie’s Facebook
I can't shake the feeling that they are plotting against us.
4/21/13 – Hollie’s Facebook
All the cool kids are wearing skeleton PJs this season.
4/24/13 – Hollie’s Facebook
LG: G2* is saying (shouting) "I want toys!"
Mama: So he likes all the things you like?
LG: He likes rattles, milk, trees and bushes. All the things other babies like.
*she actually calls him by a super sweet nickname...
5/3/13 – Hollie’s Facebook
My daughter petitioned her preschool teachers for Show and
Tell Fridays, and now it's a thing. With great power comes great responsibility.
5/7/13 – Hollie’s Facebook
So, my baby sounds like the popping noise that announces a
flame spurt in the fire swamp.
5/7/13 – Hollie’s Facebook
Bob Ross would be so proud of her happy little clouds.
5/8/13 – Hollie’s Facebook
Mama, infant and toddler caught in the rain.
Only one of us was happy about it.
5/11/13 – Matt’s Facebook
LG: "Dad, you be Superman. I'll be Wolverine."
Me: "You've made your father very proud today, little one."
5/15/13 – Hollie’s Facebook
-It's always been-"Michael's got the brains, Gob's got
the charm, and Buster's got the--
-High-fastening pants?
5/15/13 – Matt’s Facebook
Hollie, LG and G2 got stuck outside in the rain for about 10
minutes last week. Guess who enjoyed it?
5/21/13 – Matt’s Facebook
And what wondrous thing could cause such joyful expressions?
A blank green wall.
Boundless imagination, this one.
5/21/13 – Hollie’s Facebook
I hand my daughter a sock this afternoon and ask her to put
it in the hamper.
She replies: "Sure. What's a hamper?"
Truly a testament to my homemaking skills .
