A simple family moment turned into a nationwide favorite after a Michigan father began recreating the same photo with his son every year. The images, widely shared on social media, show more than just growth over time.

They highlight consistency, affection, and the quiet bond between a parent and child. The tradition centers on Vance Kirkwood and his firstborn son, Vance Kirkwood II, and it continues to resonate with millions.

How the Tradition Began

Vance Kirkwood, 35, and his wife, Essence Kirkwood, also 35, welcomed their first child after years of infertility. When Vance Jr. was born, now 7, photos quickly became part of daily life. One unplanned moment sparked what would later become a yearly ritual.

On that day, Vance needed to grab something from the car. Instead of strapping the baby into a car seat, he tucked his son inside his coat. Only the baby’s head peeked out. A friend noticed the scene, laughed at how sweet it looked, and snapped a photo. That single image stood out from the rest.

“This particular day, I was running to get something from the car really quickly, and rather than bundling Vance II up in the car seat, I just tucked him in my coat,” Vance Kirkwood told PEOPLE.

“A friend of ours laughed when she saw how funny and cute he looked with just his head popping out of my coat, so she snapped a picture. It ended up being an adorable picture that we loved and cherished.”

From One Photo to a Yearly Ritual

Instagram | @v_joel_kirk | The photo is taken around the same time every year, usually three to four days before Christmas.

After the photo was shared online, the response surprised the family. The image spread quickly, with people calling it heartfelt and relatable. Encouraged by the reaction, the Kirkwoods decided to recreate the photo the following year. What started as a spontaneous snapshot became an annual tradition.

Each new photo shows subtle changes. The coat remains the same, but the child grows taller, more aware, and more expressive with every passing year.

Looking back at the full collection brings mixed emotions. The photos mark time in a way words often cannot.

“It makes me realize how much he has grown and brings to life the saying ‘the days are long, but the years are short,’” Vance said. “That baby we prayed for and wanted so badly is growing up right before our eyes, and it’s truly beautiful to behold.”

A Record of Growth and Connection

The tradition offers more than a visual timeline. It also reflects the closeness between father and son. According to Vance, each image captures the same sense of comfort and trust, even as everything else changes.

“Looking back at the photos gives us a snapshot of how much he changes and grows each year,” he added. “We rewatch the videos and photos all the time. It means a lot to both of us and to him as well. This was also a launching pad to recreating many photos with him and our other children.”

Over the years, the Kirkwood family expanded. The couple welcomed three more children: Karsyn, 5; Ellis, 3; and Maisyn, 10 months.

Despite busy schedules and the passage of time, the “coat pic” remains a fixed point on the family calendar.

A Holiday Marker the Family Looks Forward To

The photo is taken around the same time every year, usually three to four days before Christmas. As the holiday approaches, everyone knows what comes next.

“We do it around the same time every year,” Vance explained. “We look through the old photos and videos together and talk about how tall he has gotten, how adorable he looks each year, and how he has changed in so many ways.”

Some details never change. One favorite topic is a small chin freckle that appears in every photo, a feature the family has grown especially fond of.

Around year three, Vance Jr. began to understand the moment.

“He went from being clueless about it to smiling big,” Vance said. “He looks forward to it just as much as I do, and I love that it’s special for him too.”

Social Media Response and Viral Reach

@mytruessence Replying to @Lizzie_poppn ♬ These Memories – Hollow Coves

The tradition reached a new level after Essence Kirkwood shared a video on TikTok showing her husband and son preparing for their annual photo. The clip gained millions of views, along with a flood of likes and comments.

The response crossed demographics and backgrounds. Messages came from people of different ages, races, and beliefs, all reacting to the same feeling.

“The love, emotions, stories, and positive words that have been shared have been uplifting, beautiful, and sentimental,” Vance said. “It crossed age, gender, race, and political borders. It hit us all in the feels in the same way.”

Many commenters focused on what they felt the photos revealed.

“They’d say our kindness showed through our eyes,” Vance added. “One commenter said our family was in good hands, and they saw a protective man who knows how to care for people and things.”

A Mother’s Perspective on the Meaning

Instagram | v_joel_kirk | Seeing strangers embrace her family’s spirit via photography brought Kirkwood immense happiness.

Essence Kirkwood shared that seeing how others perceived her family brought its own joy. Viewers felt they could sense the character of both father and son just by looking at the images.

“Those words could not be more true,” Essence told PEOPLE. “Vance is truly a loving, present, active father and husband. And Vance II is genuinely a compassionate, kind, thoughtful, sweet son and brother.”

She added that the reaction carried a simple reward.

“It made our hearts happy to be able to provide a bit of positivity and love to so many people, as evidenced in all the comments,” she said.

Plans to Preserve the Tradition

The Kirkwoods plan to keep the photos safe for years to come. Both physical and digital albums are in the works. The images are also expected to appear at major milestones, including high school graduation, college graduation, and a future wedding.

There is one long-term hope tied to the tradition.

“The hope is that he will keep the tradition alive with his own son, too,” Vance said.

The annual photo of Vance Kirkwood and his son stands out because of its simplicity. No elaborate setup, no staged poses, just a familiar coat and a growing child. Over time, the images became a shared point of reflection for the family and a source of comfort for viewers.

In a digital space often filled with noise, this tradition reminds people why small, consistent moments hold lasting value.

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