When Saoirse arrives on the scene, she does it like a whirlwind. And you are always glad to see her, Liam.

You have been sitting in this chair "reading" since you were so small that you couldn't get into the seat by yourself. Now you scrunch up your legs to read, and it just amazes me every time I see you.

I don't really know why I love this picture. I think maybe just because I love how quirky it is. How expressive your little face is, Liam, especially as you get more and more yourself every day. You are less a baby and more a boy every day. A part of that is sad, yes. But it's also awesome, because we get to know you better all the time.

Are you getting the feeling that I'm not exaggerating about Lego fest? Good.

This Christmas could fairly be described as "The Year of the Legos." That and Calico Critters. These post-Christmas days are sort of a Lego festival around here, with Daddy home from work and just as eager as you are to build these creations. Not only that, but he usually does it with a baby on his lap. Do you know how lucky you are to have him?

You seem a touch skeptical about this sparkly accessory that Saoirse added to your outfit on the way to the mall for some last minute Christmas shopping. Four kids on an errand to the mall on December 22...what could go wrong? Actually, nothing major. Gifts for Grandpa, Daddy, and Daddy's office employees bought. Only minor chaos, no meltdowns. We survived. Some days you just have to savor the triumphs you do achieve.

This is the twelfth in a 12 month series of letters written to my children.

Dear Saoirse, Rowan, Fiona, and Liam,

A few weeks ago Saoirse told us all at dinner that they were talking about family traditions in her social studies class, as part of a unit on community. She told us about some of her friends traditions that they had shared, and then asked, "What are our traditions? I want us to have traditions." Although we named a few, she wasn't happy, insisting that they needed to be weekly for her taste. I guess we don't have a strong weekly tradition, and I'll try to work on that in the new year. But here, at the end of the year, we did follow one of the family traditions that I think is the best. We went to a hotel just to use the pool. Your dad is a huge fan of pools, hot tubs, and water slides. Indoor water parks are his idea of heaven. Since you guys seem to agree with him, we do this a few times a year. So, in the midst of the holiday craziness, we snuck away for a night, just the six of us, to spend 24 hours at a hotel. We swam for hours, Liam found a beach ball and threw it around, which is his favorite thing right now. Once you were done swimming, Daddy took you to play video games in the arcade. Then we ordered room service, including dessert, and ate in bed. Fiona refused the macaroni and cheese because it was "different," and you guys got melted chocolate ice cream on the white duvet cover. But it's a vacation, so who cares?! We finished off the night with a movie in bed, which this time was Home Alone. A Christmas classic now, which is weird because I totally remember it being new. It's such slapstick humor, you guys were crazy about it. The family seemed a lot meaner to each other than I remembered them, and I was really hoping you guys didn't get any ideas. But you laughed like maniacs, so it was worth it. I love this tradition. I love that it's ours. I hope you look back and have lots of memories of hotel pools, room service meals, and movies in bed.

Love Always, Mom

Although you are always willing to be in front of my camera, I find it hard to photograph you. Getting you to look like yourself is the hard part, you want so much to make me happy that the results are often stiff. A side of you, yes, but not what I'm trying to capture. It's a metaphor, of course, for so much. You are the only one of my kids that I worry will make it to adulthood and struggle with knowing what YOU want, and being able to stand up for yourself and let other people deal with their own reactions. This, though, this is you. This is the real face I get when you look at me, without a camera. I want to remember it always.

Reading a book about attachment theory the other day, I came across this way of describing what happens in a good mother-child dyad: "The child learns that they are a cause for delight..." The author was talking about our parents' delight in us, teaching us that our fundamental nature is lovable. But I couldn't help but think that in our family siblings also teach this. You have so many to delight in you, Liam, our littlest entertainer. And we do.

I spent longer than you would believe trying to catch this photo of you, and this was the closest to focused I could get. You careen through this place these days, often pushing this shopping cart at a run, and this photo is pretty accurate, really. You are funny, and a bit of a show-off, and I love it.

We go to the library for story hour most weeks. To be honest, baby boy, this is kind of new to me. Your sisters sat through the stories at your age. You almost never do. Fiona ends up listening with the other kids her age, while we walk around and I put things away after you tear them off the shelves. Almost as soon as the stories end, I throw in the towel and leave, trying to get you home before you fall asleep so you can take your nap in your own bed. It's a bit stressful. Today, though, you really liked these robots.

You are a mess making machine. Good thing you're adorable.

Baby brothers steal your stuff a lot.

Big day in our house. We started Harry Potter. We're one chapter in, officially. I've been waiting for this since I was about 24.

I tried to catch you dancing. Not easy in a still frame. Just chilling and listening will have to do.

Your sisters went out of town for a couple of days to visit Grandma and Grandpa. So your dad and I spent some time with you, Christmas shopping and eating dinner out. You're a sweet companion when you get ALL the attention. ;)

This was a hard day. It was time for your 15 month checkup. You were behind on shots, because you were sick right after turning one. First a stomach bug, then a bad cough that needed steroids. So you got 5 shots today, and they poked your finger twice to test your iron levels. Within a few hours you had a pretty miserable fever. My poor baby. And poor Mama, to be honest, because you were just getting into a good rhythm with sleep...and now all that is blown away again.

Your haircut. I admit, I miss your longer hair. You were so sure, though, that you wanted it short. And I want you to be able to choose for yourself. But it wasn't long before you decided that actually you needed to grow it back out. So you're getting your first taste of the torture that is growing out hair. It's messy, and all over the place. The one bright spot was Halloween, when it just happened to be completely perfect for a Luke Skywalker costume. Now even Luke would probably want a haircut. We're hanging in there, though. What will you want to do next, big girl?

Getting your diaper changed, or your clothes, is the worst kind of torture to you. No matter how much we try to make it fun, you are just not having it. Toys handed to you to try to distract you will be flung. And the screaming...all we can do is try to make it quick. Which would, frankly, be easier if you would stop fighting. Something to think about.

Bedtime. Fairly typical night at our house when there's only one parent. When I come back from putting Liam down, this is the scene I find.

Making hard choices in the Target aisle, choosing one new ornament apiece.

According to you, Saoirse, this is your favorite part of Christmas. Cutting the plastic net off the Christmas tree so we can decorate it. I don't think this is Liam's favorite part: Getting stuck in baby jail so we can get the tree in the holder safely without worrying about him.

Soon I'll take you to bed. Just spending a few last minutes with you before I do.

This is a totally normal place for a baby to play, right?

Today you did this all on your own. You dragged that stool from the bathroom, climbed up and unlocked the door. Just like that. Another thing to need to keep an eye on.

You don't really like the pickup line at school, but you do like getting out of the van finally. Tears still on your cheeks, graham cracker bribes clutched in both hands, so happy to be free.

So glad to be home, back to playing at the train table every morning. (Train table being used lightly, given that the train set that belongs on it hasn't been put together in probably a year)

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.