Hello, again.

I've been a bit absent from the blogosphere lately, and I blame things like democracy, an extreme lack of sleep, children (not my own), Christmas and housewarming parties.

But I'm back. And I'm back with a vengeance.

Because doesn't my dog KNOW that just because there is a 7 1/2-foot tree in my living room that it doesn't mean "OOOH! A TOILET UPGRADE! This is way better than peeing on the rug."

No. As a matter of fact, as Mr. Big is learning, it really means "TOUCH AND DIE, LITTLE ONE."

And when I say "die," of course I mean "not die," as he really is the cutest puppy in the world.

Sigh. Go ahead and say "I told you so." For added Mom effect, you can also throw in ERIN FRANCES in there. That's what she usually does.