3 Months ‘Til 3 Years
I can’t believe Clara is almost ready to knock on 3′s door (great, now I’ve got the Three’s Company theme song stuck in my head). But it’s true. At 33 months old, she’s rounding the last corner of being two years old and this month’s photo is sure to remind us forever of the terrible terrific twos. Just check out that attitude.
Given the tie-dyed look of the fabric, we originally thought it’d be fun to get kind of a hippie vibe for this picture. Then we realized she doesn’t own any boho-style outfits and the only headband we could find wasn’t quite the style you’d expect to see at Woodstock (it’s from Etsy). And even our attempts to get a peace sign in the picture didn’t go so smoothly.
This one turned out more home-girl than hippie-girl. Put those deuces up, Clara!
And despite the serious face on our final selection, there were still some sweet moments during this round.
And you know what three months left ’til her birthday means? Only three more photos left for this entire project (then we’re just doing them annually)… dun dun DUNNN!
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And it means only three more months till a 3RD BIRTHDAY PARTY, right?!
Wahooooooo!
xo
s
Aww, I’m really going to miss these once you guys cut back! How am I going to fill my monthly cuteness quota without them!?
We’ll still have tons of photos and videos of her – not to worry!
xo
s
I seriously feel like you just had her birthday party. But I suppose you probably feel the same way…though maybe not with all the furious activity you’ve had going since then (aka book tour!) We just celebrated my son’s first birthday this past weekend and I got my first taste of planning a kids birthday party. Are you already making plans for Clara’s 3rd?
Wahoo! We’re just starting to think about it vaguely – nothing major going on in the planning department yet :)
xo
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I can’t believe Clara is already 3 photos away from being three! It’s crazy to think I started reading your blog when she was still in single digits months-wise! Time flies. :)
The headband and fabric are adorable… as is Clara of course!
I love these and will be sad not to see monthly pictures (although I totally get why). She’s adorable.
Have you considered doing them every 6 months after 3 years old? I know I always took great pride in saying “I’m four AND A HALF!”, like the 1/2 was the most important thing in the world…
That could be fun!
xo
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I agree! It would be great if there could be a halfway picture, but I respect the YHL choice! It’s been so great getting to see the monthly pictures up until now!
I agree with 6 months. She’ll change more than you think she will. I paged back through a couple of the latest monthly photos and was amazed and how much older Clara looks in this photo compared to her 27 and 28 month photo.
Whatever you decide to do, it’s a wonderful collection of photos of your little girl.
No kidding! My kids are so into the “and a HALF!” It is such a big deal for discussing when their birthdays are going to be.
Even if you don’t post it – I think that’s a great idea!
That’s what I was thinking too – they change too much in a year for just one ‘photo session’.
these photos make me smile – please don’t stop!!
Awww, such cute pictures! I’m disappointed the monthly pictures are going to stop, though :(
I just wanted to say how much I love these Clara photos, and what a beautiful treasure for your family they are. Not only that, but I feel like these pictures are an amazing chronicle of how people grow and change for the sake of science. Not many people can say they have done that. Do you plan on keeping up with it? Also, will you ever transition from months to years on her shirts? Love your blog!
We’d love to keep up with it her whole life, but after doing weekly for the first year, and monthly from a year to three years old, we’re ready to cut back. Now that her life is so busy and she’s not growing as furiously, it’ll be nice to give her a break (and not feel guilty for being 3-5 weeks late some of the time!).
xo
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noooooo! i don’t want these super cute pictures to stop. such a beauty!
I love this! So cute. Why did you decide to do it annually after her 3rd birthday?
We just had a hard time staying on top of it now that she’s busier (she has school two mornings a week, a music class, a day out with her cousin and grammy, etc). So we were chronically late and even missed one by a whole month! She’s also not growing as much as she did when she was a newborn or was one, so each month we might not catch as much growth so it won’t be as necessary to do it so close together :)
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What a stinkin cutie. I’m kinda pumped to see what you’ve go planned for the big 3rd brithday! It was fun watching you plan last year! :)
So what’s the theme for this year’s B-day party???
Time to par-tay!!
~ Jillian
Well let’s see, she’s currently obsessed with dragons so that’s a front runner but we’ll have to see what she says a little closer to the big day (don’t want her to change her mind after we get all the details worked out, haha!).
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She is too cute!
Wow! Such a lovely little lady…I love that the backdrop looks like she’s in space, haha :)
Think I could sweet talk you into quarterly pics?
Haha, you guys sweet talked us into continuing them monthly for the entire past year, so we’re ready for a nice break (Clara’s so busy with school and music class and play dates that we’re chronically late every month these days!). Maybe twice a year will work though. Will keep you posted :)
xo
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Maybe do every 6 months until she’s 5 or 6?? They change so much in an entire year… <3
That sounds like it could work! We’ll have to see how it all shakes out. You know we’ll keep you guys posted!
xo
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Oh man. I seriously feel like it was just a few months ago that I was reading about her worm party! I can’t believe how fast it feels like it’s gone, especially since I didn’t feel like it was fast at all when my daughter finally turned 6 months old on the 15th (woohoo!). How did that happen? But, I’m going to miss the monthly photos, too. Not just because Clara’s adorable, but also because I love the fabrics you guys have picked out! Haha!
Isn’t it crazy how time flies?!
xo
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From day one your Clara photo project has been absolutely priceless…what a special treasury of Clara’s first two years. She has been such a trooper. What a creative idea you shared with so many & I am pretty sure there are lots of families that were inspired by your most clever idea. Clara is just darling and I get the biggest kick out of her expressions. I also especially loved her chalkboard video as well. You are truly blessed with such a cutie. I can tell you enjoy every minute. :)
She just keeps getting prettier and prettier – watch out you two! Although, I guess she already has a Bower BF, and you know he’s good ;) So great – love this series!
LOVE the second last one. Oh and I think it’s “dun dun dunnnn” rather than duh. :P
Hahahh! I think you’re right!
xo
s
Aw, I wouldn’t skip to doing them annually just yet! They still change a lot during the course of a year. I’d suggest quarterly. Not that my opinion counts for much, but as the mom of a 4-year-old I am still surprised by how much she changes in a matter of months.
I vote yes to doing the photos every six months!
Thanks for sharing the photos. It’s amazing how someone else’s idea can spur a multitude of others for other people!
My son is turning 3 in June and I’m freaking out a bit. Two was still kind of a baby but three is definitely a big boy. Where did the time go? Although, I must say this stage of finding a sense of humor is a riot!
Ohhhh no! I will miss the Clara photos terribly.
How much time does one shoot typically take you guys? I know you did a post on it when she was a little tyke, but now that she can take direction a little better has it gotten easier or sassier :)
Not much these days, it’s just actually fitting them in and doing them. Maybe half an hour to iron the fabric, tape it to the wall, and then five minutes of actually shooting her (we usually get 30 shots in about 5 mins and that’s it, Clara’s running off to do something else and we’re sure we have something in there that works…). Haha!
xo
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Man, I still wish I had done this. I mean, I have pictures of my son from just about every month of his life. I take photos ALL THE TIME, but I wish I had done a series like this to really see the changes. Maybe next time around?
Forget terrible twos, my kids had the terrible threes!! Four and five are by far the best!!
We have been doing weeklies of our 7 month old (eek! how did that happen) and want to thank you for the idea. It is so amazing to look back and see how much she has grown. I understand the cutting back, but what you have so far is such a wonderful record of her life so far (and your memories!). Thanks for the inspiration and sharing your adorable little girl with all of us!
Aw thanks Alyson! Congrats on your little seven month old!
xo
s
It’s going to be the end of an era when you guys stop the monthly pictures! I mean, think of all the great things you could do with this series if you kept it going? Graduation present of a photo book? 12 pictures a year (plus the first 52 pictures) is only 256 pages. That would make a perfect coffee table book. I think I’m just another parent who is so sad I didn’t start something like this from the birth of my kids so I’m sad to see you guys stop. Never you mind sappy old regretful me. :)
ps I came up with a great (enter eye roll) comment name for myself.
Hahah! I love it!
xo
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I can’t believe she is turning three already. It seems like yesterday she was just a baby. Mine is turning two in two months lol! They always say it goes fast but wow! What a beauty she has become!
Love the picture of her putting up her deuces – pulling out her inner $herdog! I’m gonna miss all the cuteness of the monthly photos. I remember your blog announcement that you were with bean! Crazy how fast time flies!!!
Oh my goodness. I laughed out loud in cube-town on the homie sign. I love that one! Maybe because I’ve been known to throw up some signs to try to up my street cred.
She seems so tall in this one! I sorta love the picture you picked. it’s sassy with class. Beautiful girl!
I love these photos! I love the ones that show her true personality. I’m on the “you-should-do-it-every-six-months” boat. I teach and it is amazing how much kids grow throughout the year! When I taught second grade one of my students fit under his desk one week and not the next! Do you guys have a way to track her height? I love those giant rulers people have made in case of a move ;) She’s so cute! My little guy is two and a half and put on his boots and hat and jacket today…. Makes me sad and happy all at the same time!!
We have a growth chart hanging in her closet and we keep track of it there, so there’s nothing in the pic for scale since we just wanted the bright fabric background (and the focus to be on her sweet face :)
xo
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I think I’d go every 6 months, now, instead of every year. Kids change so fast! I wouldn’t want to miss anything. ;-)
What an honor that my headband make it into one of the coveted fabric photos! It looks great with the fabric and I’m glad she kept it on her sweet head! Thanks so much for the shout out too, you guys rock! (and so does Clara!)
Wahoo! Thanks so much Sara! Clara loves her sweet headband – it’s lovely :)
xo
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Clara ‘throwing her deuces up’ has to make her Jersey-lovin’ mama proud! Too cute!
What!? I feel like we only just had the worm themed party in the last couple of months.
Also, is Clara really tall for her age? I’m no expert on almost-3-year-olds but she looks so tall to me!
Oh yeah, she’s super tall and skinny. Just like her daddy. She’ll probably be taller than me by the time she’s 12. Haha!
xo
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I totally understand cutting back. I loved the project you did for Clara and was so inspired I took on the challenge with our little boy who is 1 year younger than Clara. We did the weekly pictures for the whole first year and then started the monthly pictures, but as Eli got to be about 15 months he hated standing still long enough for a picture and by the end of the shoot both of us were frustrated. I decided that since it wasn’t fun for either of us anymore I would stop doing the monthly pictures. I still get plenty of pictures of Eli but wish that we were able to pull off what you have done with Clara…it is AWESOME!! You can check out Eli’s photos until we stopped…still my most cherished photo project to date. Thanks for the inspiration!
http://www.harperheadlines.blogspot.com/p/elis-photo-project.html
Aw, they’re adorable! Eli is a sweetheart!
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You have to capture the moody with the giggles, how else are you going to remember the terrific twos?
Her monthlies will be missed, but it was a great project that inspired a lot of other photo projects by other parents. You trendsetters!
Along with the ever popular “Clara Conversations”, perhaps there could be an accompanying “Gorilla Glue” (props to Jamie for that little moniker :) photo? :)
xox
Haha, that could be fun!
xo
s
So sweet. Today is my daughter’s 5th birthday and we just did some photos. I wish I had done weekly photos like this, although I probably have a cell phone photo of her just about every day lol.
She is such a big girl! She is beautiful and I really enjoy her pictures…maybe you could do monthly photos of my main man Burger for a little change??
Haha, his would all be the same! Burger sleeping, Burger trying to eat my food, and Burger barking at a squirrel! Hahah!
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Guess this means it’s time for you all to have another baby ;)
I wish I could thumbs-up this comment!
Thank you! I was just wondering, where are all the “have another” comments? I was sure this post would garner nothing but baby propaganda. Man that makes me feel obnoxious. I think we’re just rooting for our favorite young family to expand- though so sorry for the rudeness! None meant! We just love you guys to bits!
Haha, don’t you worry – we get that every day!
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Max’s birthday is in April. (He’ll be four.) I told him “Your birthday is in two months. What do you want to do?” He asks, “Two weeks?” “No, two months” Then he asks, “Two days?”
Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned it. :)
Hahahahah! When we say something is in a week Clara says “no in thirty seconds!” – hahah!
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you guys should make a game called ‘Name That Blogger”
I swear i almost always guess who writing the post from the first couple of sentences!!
Haha, someone told us they play that game! So funny!
xo
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Love these. So glad I’ve been able to see her grow thought these pics. Crazy how time flies…she’s a cutie! :)
Oh my goodness she is too, too cute. I totally get how hard it is to keep up with the photos – totally not the same thing, but when we adopted a doberman puppy back in September I tried taking weekly photos of her because she was growing so fast. It was SO hard to keep up with – especially with a crazy puppy who wouldn’t stand still for more than 2 seconds. :)
Haha, that’s so cute!
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I was scrolling through pics of my daughter (now 3 months shy of 4) over the weekend. I was surprised of the transformation from age 2 to age 3. I agree with the other commenters – you really should consider more than just annually. Good luck in whatever you decide is best for your family. :-)
I think we’re down for twice a year! And who knows, if Clara’s into it we can do four times a year – just don’t want to feel guilty if she’s busy/uninterested, so starting with twice a year is a nice goal I think :)
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