.Bonding.

Once upon a time there was a little girl who had a handsome dog for a brother. The two didn't always get along, nor did they always understand one another. But, every once in awhile, they did find some common ground...an opportunity to bond. This is one of those beautiful and simple times.

I.O.U.

Wow. I owe a lot of updates and a lot of posts. I know it, no need to rub it in my face. I'm a bad blogger. But, at least I still qualify as a good mom! That is more important any day, right?

This past month has been tough, though. I have been dealing with chronic neck pain and headaches. Daily. To the point that it just about has driven me crazy in the worst of moments. I have been to the doctor weekly. I have had a lidocaine injection. I have been on steroids. I have been on NSAIDs. I have taken nightly muscle relaxers. All for what is probably occipital neuritis or occipital neuralgia (nerve pain / neurologic issue). I have been muscling through...just enough to do all the things my kid loves to do, but not enough to do much beyond that, blogging included. I am feeling better (albeit still not great), but at this point I feel functional, at least. Functional is a vast improvement.

So, feeling functional is a start to feeling good, I hope...and this post will be a start to getting back to the blog. A small start. Until I get around to posting more about Super Bowls and red tie events and birthdays...I will do what is most important...and that is sharing a moment of "Finnley".

This kid gets funnier and smarter by the day. I belly laugh a lot. I smirk, smile, and ponder. I enjoy all the moments big and small.

Today I am just sharing a moment, small as it may be. Here it is. Lunch, Finnley-style. Gotta love it!

Oh the weather outside is....

I don't know. I guess the weather outside is crazy. This winter has not felt like winter much at all. I'm not complaining, really, but I must say that I miss the snow. I don't need a lot of it, but one or two really good dumpings would happily get me through. I love that feeling of being holed-up for a bit during the brunt of a storm, having a nice fire in the wood burning stove to keep us all cozy, and then going out to play in the freshly fallen snow with a silly dog and a beyond goofy toddler. Last year at this time we had approximately 39 inches of snow. And for this year? So far this year we have had 2.8 inches (and most of that was topped by freezing rain...but we didn't let that get in our way). See the difference? I am no rocket scientist, but I can tell that that is a lot of inches different. A sad whopping lot.



Our temperatures have averaged above normal. We have had a lot of rain. Now, I love myself a nice summer rain to break up a dry hot spell...but I do not care for the soaking depressing rains of spring, and that is more like what we have encountered this winter. So, I can only imagine that spring will feel like it has lasted FOREVER by the time summer casually rolls around. Oh well. At least it provides more time for indoor crafting, coloring, painting, cuddling, drumming, and what-not.



Every once in awhile a warm day is delivered to us without the seemingly usual accompanying rains, and we have taken full advantage. Hours spent outside scribbling with chalk on the driveway, playing with our good buddy "Mater", using our imaginations to "make eggs" out of rocks, milk, and a stirring stick spoon, throwing and chasing frisbees, and running around the backyard just for the sake of it. We all need those days, and we all need a taste of some fresh air from time to time.



So, despite the weather (or in some instances because of it), we have managed to keep up our as-always active schedule (including a stupendously fun black tie event for us big people). The busier we are, the faster the days go, and the happier the lot of us seems to be. "We" are just Type-A personalities. It just works.



In accordance with busyness and the not so random crazy things that we do...the other "M" and I are headed to the Super Bowl. The freaking SUPER BOWL! It is all a matter of luck. Specifically my husband's luck. I am, however, happy to partake and ride along on his magic carpet all the way to Indianapolis. We will be fine-dining, zip lining in the city, and wandering around the NFL experience all before heading to the big show on Sunday. Doesn't sound too hateful, if you ask me. Because we only have two tickets, Finnley will be heading to stay with her Mam-Maw and Pa-Pa during our once in a lifetime adventure. She will have several days filled with family love, including quality time with her aunt, uncle, and awesome bigger little boy cousins. I'm sure we will all have our own super stories to tell after this trip. We'll keep you posted once we return!

Imitation.

"They" say it is is the sincerest form of flattery. Well then, consider me flattered.

My daughter wants to be like me. I can't say that I blame her. I know that I think I'm pretty cool. I guess I am just happy that someone else thinks so, too...well, at least for now, anyway. When I put on my makeup, Finnley wants some for herself. She isn't happy if I pretend to apply it on her, either. The girl knows the difference. She wants the real deal. If I put on a hat, Finnley goes looking for hers. Anytime I grab a pen to write out a check or put together a letter, well, Finnley wants to "color"...just like her mommy.

You get the idea.

So, I guess I shouldn't be overly surprised that Finnley stole a pair of shoes from my closet the other night. She then proceeded to bring those shoes downstairs where I was holed up doing some laundry. The rest is history.

She crouched down to get those gorgeous heels wrapped around her feet. She mightily succeeded.



Next thing I know, she is strutting around the basement like she is on the cat walk at a toddler mini model fashion show.



And, girlfriend can strut. She walks (and jumps) better in those high heels than I do. She thought herself pretty fancy, and so did I.



I must disclaim, though, that I personally don't wear my heels while also NOT wearing any pants. Nor do I scratch my butt (at least not while others are watching). Those moves are all on little chick. So, imitate as she may...the girl is also a free thinker.



I sure do like this kid.

HAPPY (out with the old, in with the) NEW YEAR!

2012. Already.

December was a blur. Holidays can feel a bit rushed and crazy in general, but add to the mix a close to 2.5 year old in addition to a family gathering in Florida, and multiple those feelings by a factor of 10. Given that I wasn't a math major, the equation might not be exact, although in my best estimation, I believe it is close.

Christmas this year was amazing for me. I thoroughly enjoyed everything about it with my little girl by my side. Oh, and my husband and dog by my side, too...don't get me wrong! It is just so fun, though, to witness Finnley bridge the gap between cluelessness and true ah-ha-edness! She now realizes that Santa is some guy that she talks to about presents, and then those presents show up! Oh yeah, and she needs to be a good girl for Santa to bring those presents. The whole business of it was a bit of a spectacle sprinkled with magic and delight...all bringing new meaning to the term "Believe". I will savor those moments we had leading up to the big day just as much as the big day itself, maybe even more. The build up is really where the magic and deliciousness is at, isn't it?

Florida was a new twist on an old holiday. The entire Ritter clan was under one roof (although we spent much more time out from under it given the 82 degree summer-like days). Finnley thought that the pool (or as she liked to call it, puddle) must just be part of her present. She was a prune more often than not, but I am glad for it and the fact that she is such a water-babe. There was a lot of card playing, drinking, lounging, working out, grazing, fish-bowling, and other sorts of loveliness-ing. As a small individual family unit, we have yet to spend a big holiday in our own home. It is a wonderful thing given those circumstances, though, that fond memories can be made anywhere, and that home is more a part of your heart that travels with you than a structure that you leave behind.

To add to the adventure and chaocticness (why is that not a word???) of it all, Finnley decided it was a good time to potty train. Nothing says "holidays" to her like freedom from diapers, I guess. She was staying dry during nap times and longer outings, and she seemed to really have the capacity to "hold it" if she wanted to. So, we went for it. Not wholly ideal when factoring in airline travel and several days away from home, but when is anything in life ideal? Here we are less than a month later, and Finnley has graduated from diapers. She is now working on her master's of undies, and she really only has a few more credits to go to get that degree. The only time she is in a pull up is for overnight. She pees on the potty at our request sometimes, but mostly at her own discretion. She poops on the potty like a champ, and trust me when I say that that is no skill to take for granted! There are rare accidents in general, but nothing ever "full-blown". This kid is a rockstar. I do like to feel I had a little something to do with her success, but I will gladly give her the spotlight and all of the credit.

More on the topic of "out with the old" sorts of things, Finnley has also transitioned from her crib into a toddler bed. Actually, transition is not really the right word at all. One night she slept in her crib. The next night she did not. The End. No getting used to it. No crying. No fussing or blathering. No wandering. No middle of the night rendezvousing. No nothing. She is just a big girl, and that is all there is to it, thankyouverymuch.

One thing that Finnley is still transitional on is napping. She can't decide if she is done with the whole lot of it or not. Pretty much, if Finnley needs a nap, she will ask for one. If she doesn't ask for one, she probably really doesn't need it. Granted, now...these rules could not be applied to all (or even most) children, but they do apply to our little girl. The days where she doesn't nap, she goes to bed a bit earlier. She might be a tad bit more ornery, but most people wouldn't know the difference because she is still a pretty laid back and happy kid. The only thing (or, ahem...person) really affected by the lack of a nap time is ME. That quiet alone time was precious. That coveted time was like 18K gold in the jewelry world of getting things done around the house (including blogging). Life is ever-changing, though, so you (and, when I say "you", I actually mean "I")just need to get used to a new normal. (Can you tell that today was a napping day at our house? Here I am! Look at me!)

We rang in this new year in a splendid yet low-key fashion, just the way I would prefer it. It is more special to spend time with a few close friends than it is to be with a bunch of drunk and obnoxious strangers. We still were around a few obnoxious sober people, but they are certainly more tolerable than falling over drunks in my book. In a somewhat surreal yet happy twist of fate, our former neighbors from Colorado have recently moved to "North" Jersey. They reside only a little over an hour drive from our house, and they were able to take time to join us for New Year's Eve and day. Their little boy, Joey, is certainly one of Finnley's favorite friends. (As a side note, the two have been promised to each other so long as neither is grotesque, unemployable, or seriously unlivable-with in the far distant future. Or also if we just change our minds, or they run away in protest.) The two of them had a blast together, and they even partook in their first ever sleepover. I cannot believe that they / we pulled it off given their ages, but it happened with almost no incidences of which to speak. Can you think of anything more adorable than a toddler slumber party of two? That's right, you can't!

Kicking off this new year, Finnley and I are excitedly back at gymnastics class and starting back into more / new routines. Structure is good at this age. It is also important to manage little people expectations. Finnley is a happier kid if we get out and do "things" and see "people". I don't mind that one bit, and I am eager to oblige in as many ways as I possibly can, within reason. So, we have added a "mommy and me" preschool class to the mix. It only meets one day a week for 1.5 hours, and each session is only 4 weeks long. It is the perfect precursor to "real" preschool, which Finnley will begin in the fall (insert heart swell and melt all at the same time!). My babe is a little bit shy, but beyond that, she loves school. We are also getting back into music class come this Friday. Music is certainly a favorite for Finnley. So, we have planned activities 3 days a week for this month. Our other two days during the regular week will be a mix of anything and everything necessary, fun, or something somewhere in between.

I do love myself a new year and a new beginning. A fresh take. New stuff and things to put on the clean-slate calendar. Another part to love is that I get to enjoy every second of moving forward on this journey of Finnleyhood. She is quite the thing to watch. I hope you all enjoy seeing glimpses of what I / we do every day. It is a privilege to be an onlooker in her life, and a joy (minus a few to-be-expected tantrum and "no!"-laden moments) to be her mom.

With all of that being said, a joyous "out with the old" and Happy New Year to everyone!