today, after spending some time chewing on sticks, being walked through the sprinkler and swinging in the park, alden received his first dousing of pigeon guano, right on his smooth, little forehead. welcome to life in the city, my dear bun! nothing that clear and clean, nyc water, gushing from an open hydrant can't fix. ah. new york.

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we bought alden a little waldorf style doll, because i expect that soon he's going to need a lovey of some sort, as i start thinking about night weaning. just thinking about it, as it's still easier to nurse him back to sleep than to deal with the irate screaming that ensues if i try just shushing him. anyway, i didn't expect him to take to the doll so quickly, but here he is, napping with clown baby. he even hugs and kisses it on demand. it's pretty much the cutest thing ever.

i can't believe he's almost a year old.