Arkansas for New Years!

This past weekend our little family took a trip to Arkansas to take part in all of the New Year festivities.

Mason & Mommy

Setting up the Money Game

From Mason's Ba Ngoai

Our little Model

Part of the family at Grandma's house

Shorty sneaking inside

Mason is going to have a very lucky year!

It was a short but sweet trip.  We all had a great time!

Happy New Year! 24 Weeks old!

Today Mason is 24 weeks old.  He is surrounded by all the lucky money he received this past weekend from our trip to Arkansas.  Happy New Year!

Mason's trip to Barnes and Noble

I've noticed Mason really loves books and videos.  So we decided to take a trip to Barnes and Noble.  

He's excited to be in the children's section

Mommy reading to her little man

Laura purchased these books to make recipes with the Beaba babyfood cooker

Mason's first time eating solids

Today was Mason's first day at trying solid food.  We started off with plain milk and rice cereal, then moved onto organic Bananas.  He didn't really like any of them and just wanted his bottle of milk.  Laura and I thought it was funny how he was sucking the spoon as if it was the nipple to his bottle.

The little man getting ready

"Mom what is that?"

Main entree: Organic Bananas

Taking Mason Shopping

Today, we took Mason shopping at BuyBuy Baby.  We both like BuyBuy Baby a lot more than Babies R Us for various reasons.  Some being, better prices, larger  inventory selections, and a friendlier staff.  Unfortunately the closest store is 20 minutes away from us in Hurst.

We needed to buy some significant items like the Beaba food maker since Mason is now 5 months old and is going to start eating solids.

Beaba Babycook Babyfood Maker

Laura also wanted to try to feed Mason some premade organic baby food.

I had to get this book for Mason, I can't wait to read it to him.  He looked excited when I showed it to him.

Getting an educational book

We got the second seat for Mason's Orbit Stroller

23 Weeks

"I don't know Mommy"

Showing his abs!

I love his Asian eyes in this picture

NoseFrida

Since Mason has had a cold, we discovered this great tool used to help him breathe easier.  It is called the NoseFrida which works similar to a bulb/aspirator.  The NoseFrida is equipped with a light blue tube which has a tiny blue filter inside, and a long clear tube with a red mouth piece on the end.  

Sometimes he likes it

 This is how it works:  the light blue aspirator is placed inside the baby's nostril and the red mouth piece is placed inside the parent's mouth.  Next, the parent just starts sucking and all of the baby's mucus get sucked into the aspirator.  The mucus never reaches the parent's mouth because of the filter.  Once done just clean the NoseFrida and replace the filter.

Anything to breathe easier

The NoseFrida is only approximately $15.00 and is worth every penny.  For more information:  NoseFrida

Safety First - Shopping Carts

It has always been one of our pet peeves when parents place an infant baby's car seat on top of the toddler seat portion of a grocery store's shopping cart.  I do not think some parents realize how impractical and unsafe this may be.  I remember a story in September 2011, in Georgia in which an infant died from an accident where the car seat fell off the cart outside of a Kroger store.

Infant Car Seat on Shopping Cart Death

We both said we would never place Mason on top of the toddler seat on the grocery cart.  Instead we place him inside the cart, even though at times there isn't much room for our groceries, we still manage.

Anything to protect this precious little one 

This is where out lil guy stays in the cart

We both have done a lot of research on these types of accidents and they happen all the time.  Many infant car seat manuals even directly say not to place the infant car seat directly on top of the shopping cart's toddler seat, it is not recommended.  Some infant car seats now come with snaps on the bottom which click into the shopping cart, however those are not 100% safe either.

Here is a very informative article: Infant Car Seat on Grocery Cart Safety

Sacrifice

 Just as mothers have connections with their children, so do fathers.  There is an unconditional love I have for my son that no one else will ever understand.  This video is a true testimony of making sacrifices for the people you love.

So I was scrolling through youtube and discovered this inspirational video.  I hope I am as good as a father as Dick Hoyt.   The video explains itself but for more background information: Team Hoyt 

I love this lil guy

4 month shots!

Last Friday Laura and I took Mason to get his 4 month shots.  We were a month late but the Pediatrician said it was okay.  Mason is approximately 27 inches long, weighs 17.6 pounds, and still has an above average sized head.  

Mason before the shots

 While we were at the Pediatrician's office he decided to show us a line chart on his fancy laptop computer.  The chart consisted of various lines which represented different weights for children at Mason's age.  First he pointed to a line which represented the "average" child's weight.  Then he showed us a line which was way above the "average" line, and stated this is where Mason's weight is at.  So it was quite obvious the Doctor is trying to say our son is a little overweight.  I told Laura I don't care because how else are we going to keep his fat cheeks!? He seems healthy and happy so that is all that matters.

Mason after the shots....eating again

Overall, Mason is doing well and is a healthy 5-month old baby, despite his first cold.   

Mason's favorite restaurant

Dear Son,

Today your mother and I figured out your favorite restaurant.  We went to go eat with your Aunt Tiara, who chose....Bone Daddy's!  This was everyone's first experience at the restaurant.  Well the food was pretty good but you really enjoyed the scenery!   You sure couldn't stop smiling.  You were very popular with the staff at the restaurant so we thought it would be a good idea for you to take some photos with the waitresses but first I had to give you a diaper change.  

You were the main attraction @ Bone Daddy's

Since Bone Daddy's did not have a family restroom I changed your diaper in Mom's car.  You did a #1 and a #2 so it took quite sometime to change you.  Apparently, Bone Daddy's doesn't have a trashcan outside so being the law abiding citizen I am, I left your soiled diaper in Mom's car instead of littering.  You and I went inside for about 15 minutes and you took your photo, which you loved!  We came outside, and well your diaper sure left a strong odor in the car!  So Mommy said she would take care of the diaper, she took it and came back empty handed.  I asked her where did she dispose of the diaper?  Guess what she said?...SMH.  When you are older and read this, you can ask your mom where she placed the diaper. 

Love,

Dad

22 weeks old!

5 months!

Happy 5 months Mason! At this point you can almost sit up by yourself, you still need a little help from me and daddy. You can roll over half way...the doctor said you probably can't roll over all the way because your a little heavy he he! It's okay though! You are getting there! You laugh all the time. You love Baby Einstein videos, Elmo & you still love watching your Vietnamese "girlfriend" on Youtube!

New York & Wedding Dress shopping!

New York was a great trip. I went with a couple of my bridesmaids and Mason. I was going to leave Mason at home with Phan but I couldn't bare to be away from him for a night.

He actually did great on the plane. I was scared I was going to be the lady with the screaming baby. Luckily, I wasn't. Good job Mason.

The main reason I booked my trip to New York was to visit Kleinfelds to look for my wedding dress. It was a success. I had such a great experience and it will be one that I will never forget. The first dress I tried on was the one I ended up picking, but I continued to try on a few more just to make sure I made the right choice.

A couple of my bridesmaids and Mason

                                         

 

My Maid Of Honor

                                       

                                         

21 Weeks

Officer Nguyen

I think he had too many "donuts"

Lonely, I'm Mr. Lonely....

Well early this morning I dropped off Laura and Mason at the airport.  They are traveling to New York City along with three of Laura's bridesmaids.  I miss them both so much, it hasn't even been 24 hours and I am ready for them to return back to TX.  It is different at home when the two most important people in my life leave for a few days.

They are definitely in New York

This is the first time our family has been separated from each other more than 12 hours!  Thankfully I had to work today which took my mind away from things for a good 8 hours.  Also, my brother Brian is here to visit for a few days.  So tomorrow we will do some brotherly bonding together to distract me from missing them.  I am just grateful for technology because Laura is able to send me cute little photos of my son like this....

I'm loving the shirt and cap

I can't wait until Friday morning when I go pick them up and give them both a big hug and kiss.  GN.

Happy 20 Weeks Mason!

One of his favorite books. 

Happy New Year!

2012! It's our year.

Last night Phan worked, so I celebrated the New Year with my little buddy Mason. I wasn't too worried about him sleeping before the clock hit midnight because this little man doesn't go to sleep until 2:00AM. Here are a few pictures of him last night.