Someone turned three this week, and we’re still grinning about it.
To mark the occasion, we continued a little family tradition: letting Clara help design a custom “fabric” for her birthday photos. This year she painted directly onto two yards of white cotton, making a colorful backdrop that’s entirely her own. The result was messy, joyful, and perfect for capturing who she is right now—curious, loud, and full of confidence.
Birthday fabric project: painted cotton backdrop
We had a blast taking pictures of her with the painted fabric, and there were so many fun outtakes that we couldn’t resist sharing a few favorites. One of the first shots we took was a classic parenting trick: we asked, “How old are you going to be?” and Clara flashed seven fingers as if she were planning on growing up overnight. It’s one of those little moments that makes you laugh and then tuck away in memory.
“How old are you?” — the finger-counting face
She also did a perfect Home Alone-style pose—arms wide, expression somewhere between mischief and big-kid swagger. That photo captures her theatrical side: she loves to perform small scenes, invent characters, and use her whole body to tell a story. Those theatrical moments translate beautifully in photos and make for memorable, personality-filled birthday portraits.
Home Alone pose: dramatic and playful
One of our favorite things about the day was how proud she was of the paint-covered shirt she’d made. She inspected each brush stroke like a tiny art critic, delighted by the splashes and swirls. There’s something so genuine about a kid who’s proud of their hands-on creation—no filters, no posing required.
Proud artist: inspecting the painted shirt
And then there was the instant “swag” phase—lots of cool faces, sunglasses-style squints, and a whole lot of attitude. Those shots show a different side of her: confident, a little bit sassy, and totally comfortable being herself. We love how these candid expressions contrast with the more posed images, giving us a full picture of who she is at three.
Swag shots: confident and silly
At one point she struck a pose that looked like a mix of dancing and a dramatic exit—maybe a tiny bit of impromptu crunking, or maybe just a joyful swirl. It’s impossible to remember exactly what inspired it, but it doesn’t matter; the energy in the photo is authentic and contagious.
Dance move or dramatic exit—pure joy
We also sat her down for a few quieter photos toward the end of the session. By then she was unconcerned about a little paint on her pants, and she even let a few playful smudges appear on her face. Those softer portraits balance out the louder shots and remind us that three can be gentle as well as spirited.
Quiet moments: sitting, smiling, paint on her face
We realized, a bit too late, that the photos would have been even cuter without Crocs, so we finished the shoot with a few barefoot pictures. There’s something timeless about little feet and bare toes in photos—simple, honest, and perfectly three.
Barefoot ending: tiny toes, big personality
Of course, we’re biased, but it’s hard not to think she might be the coolest kid on the planet. Her laugh, her confidence, and the way she tackles new things make every birthday shoot feel like a celebration of the person she’s becoming.
Happy third birthday, Beansie!
These birthday photos are more than just images; they’re a slice of family history. The painted fabric will likely reappear in future albums, a colorful reminder of this exact moment in time: three years old, paint on her hands, and a world of possibility ahead.