.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!