Since we transferred to a school that's not in our neighborhood, I have to drop off and pick up every day. It means that the little siblings have to get used to spending some time in the car every morning and afternoon. When the babies are small, they nap while we wait in line. Fiona sometimes "reads," sometimes plays in her carseat, and sometimes whines that she needs to get out of her seat because she can't wait that long....

He's always glad to have you back when you've been away. And you, sweet loving big sister that you are, cry when you tell me how much you miss him. Even being away from him when you're at school is hard for you, and you tell Fiona how jealous you are that she gets to be with him all day long....

And another year of our annual college reunion weekend is in the books. One of the reasons that we bought a house as big as we did when we moved back to Ann Arbor was that your Daddy really looked forward to entertaining friends. He looks forward to choosing a football weekend in the fall and opening our house to friends all year long. This year, the football was less fun than usual, for sure. But friends were here, and that's...

We do not have babies with lots of hair. That is just not something that your dad and I have in our genes, apparently. Our little ones, and you are no exception, spend their first year very close to bald, with just the softest fuzz on those little heads. Now, though, you are growing curls. With your sisters, I was in no hurry for haircuts. Fiona never got one until she was four, actually. With you I imagine it will be different,...

This is the ninth in a 12 month series of letters written to my children. I'm so excited (and honored) to be a part of this great project with a group of fellow photographers and moms. The next up in our circle is my friend Val. Click here to read her letter to her sons. "If one does not lie back & sum up & say to the moment, this very moment, stay you are so fair, what will be one's gain,...

When Grandma and Grandpa decided to buy Rowan and Saoirse scooters for their birthday this year, they debated whether you would even want one. You're littler, and they didn't know whether you would be able to ride one, and whether you wouldn't like something else more. I am so glad they got you one, too, because the truth is you love your scooter even more than your sisters love theirs. You are fast, and confident. And you use...

We're out for ice cream after dinner again. We have a few options for ice cream dessert runs. There's Dairy Queen, which is close enough to ride bikes to, but that's only open for 6-7 months. There's the Washtenaw Dairy, where I get Superman ice cream and Saoirse hopes for lemon custard (even though she hates actual custard). There's the new Blank Slate, which costs twice as much as anywhere else and has fancy flavors like salted...

Saoirse chose this Spiderman figure for one of her birthday gifts this Spring. After she brought it home, she said to Chris, "Dad, aren't you so excited about my Spiderman? You can play with him when I'm not home." Spiderman has been very popular since he joined us. Here he is being your "husband," which is a not uncommon sight. This reminds me that all of you girls seem to think that dancing together is what makes you married....

Fiona started taking preschool classes at the Nature Center this fall, like her sisters did before her. In my mind, it really hasn't been long since I used to pick up the big girls, with baby Fiona in tow. Now Liam is the little sibling on the edge of the crowd, wanting to be one of the big kids. In the blink of an eye, it will be his turn....

Two for the price of one, today. Morning on top, afternoon on the bottom. This is the second day in the last two weeks that Rowan has stayed home from school because of puking. The second morning that she has spent napping on that couch, bucket close by in case she needs it. Both days, she rallied in the afternoon. So once I was pretty sure we weren't in for any more vomiting, we made a trip to the grocery store, where Liam...

Although we have a family dinner every night, at twelve months that usually means that you are in a high chair, eating some small part of what we do. Something we can cut up small, and you can manage with eight teeth (all in the front). But at the end of this meal, you made it very clear that you were not happy with that arrangement. You wanted to be in a chair like everyone else, and you wanted some of those whole, raw baby...

Texting with Sol during the Michigan game. This is one of those things that will always seem normal to you kids, I think, but that was not always the norm for us. There was a time when watching the Michigan game meant watching it with whoever was physically in the house. And then, when cell phones got more common, sometimes commercial breaks were opportunities for Chris and Sol to check in with each other, analyze, commiserate,...

Eating at restaurants with children can be such a struggle. I have always really liked having dinners out, and have been so determined to keep it up even with children. There are times, though, that it just doesn't seem worth the trips to the bathroom, the over-priced chicken fingers and fries, the mischief caused by boredom and hungry waiting. This particular night was one of those, although from this peaceful scene of coloring...

This is not a view I'm used to. Sleep has not come easy to my babies, and I'm used to it being a battle. A thorn in my side. A test of my endurance. And theirs, I suppose. You seemed not all that different, you slept next to me, woke in the night a few times. Not the best sleeper in the house, not the worst. Then one night last month your big sisters were out of town and your dad announced that this was the time to try sleeping...

At your yearly checkup, Rowan and Saoirse. Some day I suppose you'll want to go to the doctor alone. But for now, it's a group effort. Liam crawls on the floor under the exam table, all three of you sit up there even though you're not being the patient. And I try to answer questions and keep track of what the doctor is telling me in the middle of the chaos. Total insanity. And a perfect example of how lucky we are, every year...

We are a "dessert every night" family. I know, I know, sometimes I feel guilty about it and swear that we're going to start making it more of a special occasion thing. Maybe make you eat fresh fruit for dessert. But since you eat so much fresh fruit anyway, and I love dessert as much (or more) than you do...it never goes anywhere. You guys are frequently totally content to raid the pantry for leftover Halloween candy, or something...

Some days I feel like all you girls do is fight. I have quite a few friends with twins, and read about even more. And sometimes people post pictures of their twins doing things that are so obviously "twinny," and it makes me sigh a little. You two don't sneak into each other's beds at night, never did. You never had some secret twin language. You're totally fine being in separate classrooms at school. You are SO different, in...

Sometimes I think you get shortchanged, having such an introvert for a mama. It means I don't go out of my way all that often to make social engagements for you. I rarely even think of it, we entertain ourselves and pass the time. And, frankly, just our crew seems like a lot of people (and noise) to me. But this summer, one day the doorbell rang, and I didn't even ignore it. ;) Lucky for you, because it turned out to be our...

If I had to name one obsession that has defined my life, it would be reading. I dreamed of reading to, and then with, my own kids. But when it came time for you, Rowan and Saoirse, to learn to read...well, it seemed that you did not share my enthusiasm. Listening to stories, sure. But reading? You fought. I worried that I had wanted it too much, poisoned it for you, claimed it so thoroughly as my own that there was no room...

You love this shopping cart so much, Liam. I love to watch you load little toys into the basket, then push it around, careening across the slippery wooden floor. Sometimes you let go and stand there, grinning at me. I call it showing off, and it slays me, my sweet b...

The sickness this week has been rampant. A major downside to back to school. Poor Rowan, all ready to go to school this morning. Dressed and actually in the car before she said, "Mom, I think I'm going to throw up." Yep. Luckily Chris was still home, too, so that he could watch her (and clean up) while I took Saoirse to school. Rowan slept on the couch until around 10 AM, then played, got bored, and argued with Fiona for the...

And here we go again. Liam is one year old today, and our second year as a complete family starts. I couldn't be luckier, and I know it. Well...it would have been a teensy bit luckier if Liam were not sick on his birthday. He was very cranky, snotty, and coughing. These first weeks back in the school routine are always filled with sickness around here. Was it like this when we were kids and we just didn't remember? Or do my...

365/...

364/...

363/...

362/...

361/3...

360/...

359/...

358/...

357/...