we have tons of videos that need to be uploaded, but my computer is in rapid decline and won't open flipshare anymore. hmph! here instead are some snippets of life with alden at almost 15 months.

just now, i was trying (as i have been for the last two and a half hours) to get alden to sleep. he was settling down, finally and i lay down next to him and closed my eyes. this gesture he did not imitate, but instead, proceeded to smack me in the nose, yelling, "OW!" before i had the chance to offer the protest myself. i then explained that that was not nice and gentle, but mean and monstrous and that i would appreciate that he not hit me again, to which he replied, "mean! roaaaarrr!" so now i am having seconds of our cold soup dinner while ian tries his hand at settling the beast.

since he has had a cold, i've been offering alden chamomile tea in a real mug as a special treat. last week i served him an owl mug for the first time and he was smitten. he loves owls. he pointed and said, "owwwwl,  hoooo" very seriously, then pointed to himself, looking at me earnestly and said, "owwwl."

we have started a new semester of music together classes and have a new cd of songs (flute, for anyone familiar with the program), which has been very well-received. the song about shaking those "'simmons" down is the favorite by far and on friday it was causing some problems, as when it came on, alden had to stop whatever he was doing and trot into the living room to dance. lunch was interrupted, as was a phone call (i am expected to dance as well) and when the song ended, he would howl like his little heart was breaking.

and now he's asleep! way to go, papa! i asked ian if he had any alden stories to share and he replied, "he is a sweetie petey bun bun bun." that's a fact.

xo