90. Frances

The following people still have their strings from the circle of protection, that was part of the Buddhist naming ceremony: Me, Diana, Virginia, Aida and Vava. If Andrew's is still on I apologize, I didn't see it last time I saw him, but maybe he still has it.

William fell asleep for the first time on his own, in the crib. Diana said, "I'll believe it when he does it again." That brings up a point. There are little steps forward, but then there are things called "developmental moments" when things are the most important. He may have gone to sleep on his own, but it's not really what he does. He requires assistance.

He fell asleep with his binky, his chupong, in his mouth. I went in once, and his eyes were closed but he was still sucking. He slept 20 minutes for me, and 30 minutes for Abuela, and had a couple hour nap with his mother.

We had a good morning, and I read to him a bunch and enjoyed being with him, and then I thought I should bring him to his Abuela's so I could study for my exam next week. Taking him out, the storm formerly known as Frances, began to dump more water on an already soaked NYC. William got wet. At Abuela's, I said, "if he gets sick the next couple days, Diana is going to blame me."

When she got home, we went to Abuela's to get William Van Billiam. This time we brought the rain sheild. Diana found it. Our new carriage only weighs 9 lbs. instead of the 30 lbs of our other one. The other one was an SUV. This one is a sports car. I really like it. I like the gadgets, the stroller, the monitor.

I read some to William tonight, too. He tries to grab the pages, and beguiled by pages turning. He tries to crumple the pages. He likes the touching books much better. But I can tell he's atune some to the pictures and the language of my reading. He clearly looks at me when I'm singing. I need to get some songs to sing to him.

Gretchen says with William's long hair he looks like Johnny Damon, the Boston Red Sox center fielder. My little Johnny Damon.