Duncan: 19 Weeks Old

Duncan & his Ba Ngoai

Dear Duncan,

You turned 19 weeks old on February 22, 2012. This last week was awesome! Well, aside from the plane ride from SFO to DEN. That was NOT awesome. But there were lots of firsts for you!

Your first time traveling by plane was not good. All seemed to be ok on the way to the airport on the 15th, even though you cried a lot in your car seat (because you hate it). Once we got to the parking garage and you were able to be in the front pack, you were much better. You were pretty quiet and spacey from the parking garage to the airport to check-in and to the gate:

The moment we got on the plane, however, all hell broke loose. You were MAD!!! There are no photos of this part, only the horrific memories forever etched into my mind. You cried (screamed) for what seemed like forever (it was probably 15 or 20 minutes straight) and we could not console you. It was hot, the flight was full, and it was 5:30 am. Your screaming (at the top of your lungs) and flailing made Mommy wish she was invisible. The woman sitting in the window seat of our row was clearly not impressed by the look on her face. Luckily, you finally fell asleep. Mommy & Daddy passed out, too, probably from the relief of it all. After you woke up, you were again MAD! So I had to nurse you and you pooped (giant). The plane toilet didn't have a changing table so I had to put you on the changing pad on the closed toilet lid (which was too small for you) and you were MAD! So much screaming... In such a tiny compartment... After we were both traumatized by the whole ordeal, we returned to our seat and you continued nursing (it kept you quiet). The seatbelt sign came on and guess what? You had another GIANT poop! For the love of all things holy!! Well, nothing we could do but keep you on the boob until we landed (felt like forever) and we rushed off the plane in search of a bathroom. After a clean diaper, a deep breath, and I luggage pick-up, we headed to get the rental car. You cried in the car seat all the way from the airport to your Great-Grandma's house. It was the least fun Mommy's had since her root canal in junior high...

Mommy had to document all that because she is going to try to forget that it happened. But it's hard. Anyway...

After the horrible, traumatizing start, the rest of the week was so awesome because we spent the whole week in Denver with the entire Vo family. This gathering was much overdue for all of us since your Ong Ngoai & Ba Ngoai (maternal grandfather & maternal grandmother) have been in Vietnam for almost 5 years. Mommy & Daddy haven't seen them since we were in Vietnam in December 2009. I was so happy that you were going to get to meet them, your Ba Coc (great-grandmother), all the cousins, and baby Dustin! As expected, they all LOVED you and could not put you down. :)

Cousins Dustin & Duncan

Daddy & cousin Dustin

Duncan & his Ong Ngoai

Duncan & his Ba Coc

Duncan, Daddy, & Ba Ngoai

Auntie Heather & cousin Logan

Duncan, Ba Ngoai & Ong Ngoai

Duncan & Ba Ngoai

Duncan & Ong Ngoai

Duncan & Michelle

Duncan & Logan (after Logan bonked his head)

Snuggling w/ Michelle :)

Playing w/ Ong Ngoai

Duncan & his Ba Coc

Dustin was so nice to share all of his toys & play things with you all week. That little cutie is a good cousin! We discovered that you LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Dustin's jumperoo. You bounced in it like a madman! You had so much fun in it everyday that we just knew we'd have to get you one when we got home. :)

By the end of the week, an amazing thing happened. Since we had to put you in the car seat every single day to drive from Auntie & Uncle's house to see Ong Ngoai, Ba Ngoai, & Ba Coc, you FINALLY got used to the car seat! No more screaming your head off in it the entire car ride! I'm not going to say that we didn't have to suffer through several days of ear-piercing car trips to start the week, but by the end of the week you were completely cool with the car seat now. That is the BEST! Mommy is so proud of you, buddy. :)

By far, your 19th week was the most fun for all of us. We shared some new experiences and survived with only slight mental scarring. You met so many loved ones for the first time. You discovered so many new things. I so enjoyed watching you with all of your family. They love you so much and you were constantly rewarding them with smiles & giggles. If we lived in Colorado, you would for sure be spoiled rotten. :P

Love,

Mommy