Baby pictures

He called it his awkward phase. I called it a relationship milestone.

Either way, there was a bowl cut involved.

You know you've fallen hard when you want to see your boyfriend's baby photos. Glamour describes the phenomenon here.

On the surface, the scene's appeal doesn't make sense.

You're on a crowded couch staring at faded images of people you don't know and parties you weren't invited to. Often, there are illegible captions involved.

Somehow, this becomes one of the most romantic moments of your life.

Why?

If nothing else, it marks a link between past and present -- confirmation that someone likes you enough to let you see his short-lived goth phase.

And, if you're really lucky, a bowl cut.