My son just turned three and I CANNOT BELIEVE IT.  Where has the time gone??  I’m sure that’s how every momma feels about their growing little one, but geesh.  Slow down, will ya!

One of my favorite things that I’ve ever created (besides my growing-too-fast little man, of course), is the family growth chart ruler that I made right before his first birthday.  And since he just celebrated another birthday, it was time to update it with his current height AND picture! 

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Our Family Growth Chart Ruler Updated with Yearly Photos: Rowan Turns 3

Like I said, this growth chart ruler is one of my most favorite things I’ve ever made.  It’s such a nice way to document Rowan’s growth over the years, not only by marking his heights but also with corresponding photos at each measurement….and who doesn’t love cute baby and toddler photos??

He’s only three, but you can already see how much he’s changed and developed since birth (which is also included on the ruler!).  Hair styles, face chubbiness, gummy grins to a full set of teeth, not to mention lots of personality (just check out Year 2)….it’s all documented and on full display.  And since the photos are repositionable, the growth chart ruler is ready to adapt and make room for our next little one’s arrival this fall!

 

A Complete How-To

I’ve already shared a full and complete tutorial on how to make a family growth chart ruler with yearly photos, so check that out if you’re interested in making one of these for your family!

{Oh, and that tutorial was one of my very first blog posts ever, so please forgive me for the terrible photos and excess wordiness….let’s just say I’ve learned a lot about blogging over the past two years.}

 

Grab the FREE Growth Chart Ruler Cut File!

And if you’re a fellow Silhouette enthusiast (*high five*), you’re in luck!  I’ve also shared the cut file I used to create this growth chart ruler, and you can snag it for FREE right here!

 

Taking Rowan’s Picture: Year 3

Like I said, Rowan just turned three this summer (although he tells everyone he’s four), so it was time for us to finally hang up our growth chart ruler in our new house.  It only took us about seven months, but hey, that’s what ya get when you find out you’re pregnant a couple weeks after moving and have terrible all-day morning sickness, on top of keeping a rambunctious toddler occupied.  The house decorating takes a backseat.

But the growth chart ruler is now hung and looks beautiful in our new kitchen!  Here’s Mr. Rowan putting on a big, cheesy smile for his Year 3 update:

{A little behind-the-scenes backstory on this photo: Rowan’s new thing is giving a super creepy serial killer glare when you ask him to smile for a picture, and he kept doing that for these photos….the joy of toddlers, I tell ya.  Therefore, in order to get a decent snapshot, I told him that if he didn’t give me a happy face, he wouldn’t be allowed to go outside and ride his Power Wheels while his Daddy mowed the lawn.  BAM!  Instant smile.  He’ll do just about anything to cruise in that Jeep.}

 

Creating the Polaroids

Once I had a picture I was happy with, I uploaded it onto my computer and got to editing it in Photoshop Elements.  After converting it to black and white and sizing it to roughly 2″ x 2″, I printed it along with his two-year-old picture (which somehow managed to get lost in the move….) out on a sheet of glossy photo paper.

Then it was time to add all the details to a couple of mini Polaroid-esque frames.  I had cut these out of some cardstock with my Silhouette Cameo back when I originally made the growth chart ruler….and thankfully I’ve been able to keep track of them over the years. #littlemiracle

For each picture, I jot down Rowan’s age and corresponding year along with the official height numbers from his annual doctor checkups, then tape the photo into a frame.  A small strip of washi tape holds the photo in place on the board, and voila!

 

Our Updated Family Growth Chart Ruler!

And here’s how our family growth chart ruler looks now with our updated three-year-old’s pic!  I just LOVE this thing.  I love that it’s personalized with our name (that’s a thing of mine), and that it’s a living photo display that grows right along with our family and documents Rowan’s development.

And since the photos are attached with washi tape (as opposed to permanently marked with a Sharpie), it’s super easy to move them around.  This will be handy once our next little one arrives in October….gotta make room for another kiddo’s heights and pictures!  Yet another reason why I love flexible decor….

 

Just look at this little cutie!  I know I’m probably biased (just a wee bit), but this kid couldn’t be any more adorable.  Although I cannot believe he’s already three! #sadmommy

 

Here’s how the growth chart ruler looks on a little sidewall in our kitchen.  It’s the perfect spot: we see it every time we’re eating at the table, walking through or cooking in the kitchen, or entering the house through the garage.  Melts my heart.

 

If You Enjoyed This….

Make sure you check out my Project Gallery for lots of other crafty creations and mom life fun.  You’ll probably notice that I’m a huge fan of keepsakes of all kinds for my kiddo, and this ruler is just another way I’m trying to freeze time.  Here are some other keepsakes I’ve made for Rowan:

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!