And we're off...spending all day in the van. Watching Happy Feet 2 in the backseat, while in the front your daddy watched Michigan lose to Ohio State on his phone. It was a long day.

Singing along with the Avett Brothers. "Always remember: There is nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name."

This was the holiday, baby boy. Uncle Evan playing his guitar, which you watched intently but without grabbing for the instrument, unlike your sisters before you. And Jackson, the dog, which was your first experience with a big animal like this. You mostly scurried for cover after he enthusiastically knocked you down and licked your face soon after we arrived. By the end of the visit you were creeping close and touching him gently, as long as he didn't come towards you.

Among other things we did today: Visit Uncle Evan's property near the farm, hiking through the snow to get to the spot where a house will be eventually.

Slow mornings, waking up and all piling in together is one of the best parts of holiday breaks.

On our way to West Virginia for Thanksgiving weekend. We stopped for the night in Cleveland and stayed at Grandma and Grandpa's house, since they left it empty when they left for Uncle Evan's a few days ago. It's not easy to entertain a very busy 14 month old in someone else's house. I hope Grandma doesn't mind using rolls of toilet paper that have been rolled back up.

Oh, Saoirse. Will you ever sleep well? (My guess would be no, that's just a rhetorical question) We go through so many phases, and rituals, trying new things to see if this will be thing that allows you to relax, let go, feel safe and sleep. Pretty much every night, you show up in our room at least once. "I just couldn't hold myself back." You are so often your own worst enemy.

Stuff like this is the reason that you all wait anxiously for your daddy to get home from work. He does things like chase the big kids with a baby in a car, and doesn't hesitate to run them over if they are too slow. I don't know who loves this most.

"Hey guys, don't forget me! What about me?!"

You will never have an Elf on the Shelf. I had lots of plans for how awesome I would be at making the holidays cool, I admit. Then I had kids, and it turns out it's way harder than I anticipated. Well, and I have less energy than I realized. So things are a bit lower key around here than I imagined, way back when. It's okay, everyone has to learn to roll with it. That is not my strong suit, but I'm learning. You are, however, really cute playing with these elves at the bookstore in your little fleece winter outfit. Close enough.

I know, this shot doesn't tell much of a story. I don't really see myself as much of a portrait photographer. But every now and then, I can't resist, because this is the face I see every day, smiling up at me. And I can't imagine forgetting it, sweet girl.

When we go to the library for story time now, you love to play with these puzzles, Liam. Mostly that means you like taking the pieces out while I put them back in. Sometimes you bang them against the board. Occasionally you take a break from this to go pull books off the shelves and scatter them around on the floor. It's not exactly relaxing, a trip to the library with you.

I'm not so thrilled about the cold. What I do love, though, is the sight of you in this ridiculously puffy outfit. It reminds me of A Christmas Story, and the little brother who can't even get out of a snowbank when he falls over.

One of your favorite things to do is tear the kitchen apart. I could spend all day, and sometimes I feel like I do, just following your trail and trying to put things back where you got them. You scatter pans, tupperware, lids...all over. You've broken two glass pot lids already, so those are up high now. But the metal is still fair game. Just this week, you've discovered this, that you can actually sit in this drawer and empty it even more effectively. I'm afraid you'll break it, so hopefully you move on before you get much heavier.

I'm really not sure why, but you seem to think that having your diaper changed is pure torture, and getting dressed is only slightly better. It's one thing in the summer, I gave up often enough and left you in only the diaper, or maybe a t-shirt over it. But that won't work so well these days, little boy. Stuffing you into clothes is one of the less fun tasks of taking care of you.

Any minute now, it will be too cold to do this for another several months. But today, you were still happy to spin, and giggle. And show me what you can do on the monkey bars, too, after practicing diligently at school.

A very big day in our family. I still remember the day I got my first one. :) When I said I'd put it in my wallet, and you could borrow it when you needed it, you were quick to correct me. "Well, mom, it's actually mine. So I won't be borrowing it. You'll only be holding it for me."

It's going to be a long time before you're going to be out there, biking with them, little one. Sorry.

You look so old here. This year, between one and two, brings so many changes. At the beginning, you're still crawling and babbling. By the end, you'll be running and talking. I'm in no hurry, take your time, littlest one.

I can't count how many times a day I run my hands over this messy, fluffy hair. I'm not trying to smooth it, if anything I like to rumple it more. I love it.

"Let it go.." You sing a lot, and love to give me "shows." Although here you're singing Let it Go, one of your favorite made-up lyrics lately is "You know me. I know you. You know me and I know you." Not sure why that's on repeat in your little head, but it is, apparently.

I was so hoping for a mild winter, after how hard last year was. But as early as this is starting, that's not looking good.

Where else would anyone want to be?

We're all trying, baby boy, we really are. You are mostly doing this, though. We love you anyway.

This picture is definitely nothing special. The fact that it exists at all is a testament to my persistence (stubbornness...). You have been sick, baby boy, fevers the last couple of nights and a LOT of crying and fussing. You are not a happy boy right now, and we cannot figure out why. So today you were here, crawling around under the table while we waited for results of tests which showed us nothing. A virus, they guess. Hopefully not a long-lasting one...Mama's tired, and you're miserable.

Will you be a reader like the rest of us, baby boy? So far you don't really sit still for books, like your sisters would. You are on the move, and books better be one page long, or they're just too slow for you.

You would still sleep in my bed every night if I let you, baby girl. You still wake up here most mornings, after a sleep middle of the night journey. And I still love watching you sleep, just like I did the night you were born.

There are other pictures from this day. Ones that tell more of a story, even, of our trip downtown to run errands, or of our trip to the park in the afternoon. But something about this one just won't let me go. That face looks like a promise to me, it gives me a glimpse down the road of what your older self might be.

The sweet little face that greets me every day when I get you up from your nap. I love the smell of your sweaty little head when you wake up, and as soon as I pick you up the first thing I do is bury my face in your neck and kiss it a few (dozen) times.

Halloween was not enough Star Wars for you, apparently. You get so absorbed, it's so much like watching your dad watch TV.