Got up to Alison's at 9 on the dot and was delighted to find Jen there doing her wash. (A. gave her a key and she's welcome anytime.) Even more delightful was the little guy she brought with her: Tristan. He's such a sweetie-pie, happily barreling along the floor and cramming everything possible in his mouth. Lulu stays in the laundry room while Alison and Mike are at work, but she has a dog door, so can go in and out (they have a large fenced-in yard). We wouldn't let her in the upper part of the house and she barked and pawed furiously at the sliding glass door off the kitchen. Well, "T" scooted in there, hauled himself up to the door, and was absorbed for a good 10 minutes (a long time for a 7-month-old) with the phenomenon of doggie jumping and barking, but no contact.
The couch came about 11:00 and is in place in the addition. It's so good-looking, big and plushy in a deep chocolate fabric; feels something like suede. After that, Jen and I took T. for a walk in his coach--he immediately fell asleep--and I left for home about 1:00.
Such a nice baby day!