This is the fourth year I have documented C. He’s now three and started a school this Fall. As he grows, C has acquired a new skill: climbing. He has mastered climbing his big boy bed and the window sills, but his favorite spot to climb is the bookshelf. “He loves the clock on the top shelf,” his mom said, pointing to a clock with big numbers on it.
C’s fearlessness and sense of adventure show in how skilfully he climbs the window sills, bookshelves, and climbing wall, and in his precision when he jumps from the shelf to the sofa (I gasped; his mom just smiled). “I hope he always remembers his fearlessness and sense of adventure,” his mom said.
C still loves raspberries. He also added a few other favorites: helping Mom prepare her coffee in the morning, playing with water, and wrestling with Dad.
Although he’s much taller and his baby face is almost overgrown, one thing stays the same. C still loves books. During the session, he would suddenly stop, sit on the floor, grab a book, and immediately shift his focus to the pages.
This year, few things around the house changed. A different bookshelf in the family room, C’s bigger shoes, a baby room turned into a sensory play room, the tiny crib replaced by a big boy bed. But one thing remains consistent. This is a family who is there for each other. Their love shows up in every corner of the house—a sensory playroom with a big swing, climbing walls, and educational toys and books to help him learn; an extra padded floor so C can jump comfortably without disturbing the neighbor; and the teamwork between the parents.
I am grateful to be invited to witness how their love and support for each other grow bigger each year.
