On Holding Bao

Everywhere we go, people ask to hold the baby. I know some of the other parents, once they got their precious babies, grab on and don't want to let go, as it has been such a bumpy ride. But we love it when someone holds baby Bao, and he loves it too. It seems so calming to him that someone speaks softly to him in Vietnamese, and he always starts babbling like crazy. I will be so sad when we have to leave and then he will hear no more Vietnamese.

So, the attention he is given by others is immense. People say "I really like that baby." "I want to take that baby." "I want to carry that baby." It reached an apex last night during dinner. We went across the street for pizza, and as soon as we walked in, our waitress offered to hold the baby. She kissed him, touched his cheek, and hung on his every coo and babble. During appetizers, we looked up and saw that two staffpersons were doting on Bao, and while eating our pizza, that number had increased to three. They were rocking him, kissing him, and giving him full on language lessons. "We'll never be able to pay him that much attention," Allen said.

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