Same thing with my daughter (she was 3) when I had shaved off my mustache. Didn't shave it off again until she was a teen.I shaved my beard once when Ox the Destroyer was about 10 months old. He was afraid of me till I grew it back.
All that may be... but Mrs @Lead Belly and I think you look younger and down right handsome clean shaven.It was long, all the way down to my belt buckle. It was definitely "full ZZ Top" length. When I doubled it up and tucked it inside my t-shirt, though, it looked normal. Actually, I think it looked pretty good; judge for yourself from the avatar picture. But when it was out front, it was a thin, scraggly, sad mess.