This little guy taught himself how to read and he loves it! He sneaks books into his bed all the time- tough to get mad at that!
These two have so much fun together!
Miriam and Fin reading books together. These two have become such good buddies.
Fin reading while putting on his shoes...and looking like such a big boy!
Jeff sent me this picture one day when I was at work. Looking like so big!
Fun times at Oxbow Park with Dada!
Making jugo de piña with Dada. Fin is such a good big brother to share!
This is the glamorous side of being pregnant during residency: too tired to get a plate. Just. So. Hungry.
Rice Krispie Treats!
Up at NanaBob's Cabin. Fin has become so comfortable in the water. Woot woot!
I had to work but Jeff and the boys went to NanaBobs. They had a great time and the weather was fantastic-good times had by all. Fin and the clam he caught!
Golf day at the The Legend golf course in Giants Ridge.
While they were all gone, I rearranged Mac and Fin's room so they share one now (getting ready for Peanut). They LOVED it and have been doing well with sharing a room. Mac initially woke up at 4am everyday to play with Fin but that has improved, fortunately!
Up at Nanabob's they had an early birthday party for Mac. Look at this kid. So cute. His vocabulary is getting so good as is his ability to communicate. It's helping his mini-tantrums so much now that he can tell us what he wants! Much better on everyone :)
Blowing out candles...or his hair.
Visiting Great-Grandma and eating raspberries out of her garden-nom, nom.
Dada played in a golf tournament at the Club. There is his name! Not his best performance but he had fun.
Monito (little monkey)
These two love each other.
Building forts.
36ish weeks pregnant. Can't believe she's almost here! We are all getting so excited. Well, maybe not Mac because he doesn't know what's about to happen (he points to my shoulder and says "baby"). I told Fin this would probably be the last baby and he innocently and sincerely looked at me and said, "Why? Can you not have anymore?" He really loves being a big brother and would like to have many more siblings. He's even asked about adopting! Lol. What a guy.
Getting a haircut from the barber! He did wonderfully!
Pool time!
A co-resident got married at the end of August and Fin came as my date (Jeff and Mac stayed home). This kid was a blast-he wouldn't leave the dance floor! He was super enthusiastic and obviously the best dressed there.
Me and my date.
My little buddy.
As promised, the next morning we had room service and watched cartoons!
We rushed back to celebrate Mac's second birthday! Grandpa and Mama D and Auntie Haley came down to celebrate with us. Can't believe this little mister is two already! He is so much fun, extremely strong willed, laughs ALL the time, and will do whatever Fin does. He keeps us cracking up.
Happy Birthday to Mac!
Playing with his new truck.
Happy Birthday Mac! We love you!
Even Bubba got in on the birthday action.
Jeff and I celebrated our anniversary a bit late but in the tradition of my pregnancies, here I am wearing my wedding dress with a baby bump.
Jeff Mulligan, I haven't always made the best decisions in my life, but when it comes to choosing you as my partner, I knocked it out of the park! We've now been together for 11 years, married for 7!
Nanabob got married at the end of August. Jeff and Mac surveying the Duluth skyline.
Look at that baby bump! I was told not to swallow watermelon seeds as a kid-it looks like accidentally did!
Family pic.
Fin loved the hotel room and of course had to jump off the top bunk onto the bed. See Mac climbing up too! Yikes! Monkey see, monkey do.
Playing by Lake Superior.
Throwing rocks.
Skipping rocks.
Scraped up knee doesn't bother this kid!
36 or 37 weeks pregnant!
These boys were watching Chef's Table on Netflix and fell asleep together. It was a sweet thing to come home to.
Choo choo Dada!!!
Minnesota State Fair! We got there early in the morning and it was an awesome experience. No one was there, there were no lines, and it wasn't too hot yet.
The boys did the Giant Slide (Mac in Dada's lap, Fin by himself for the first time). Lots of fun!
Fin and I found an orange caterpillar on the ground. He wanted to keep it. We let it go.
Riding the Skyride.
Pronto Pups for breakfast! What a tradition.
Fin building pyramids at the giant sandbox.
There was a kid's stage and Fin hopped right up to get down in a dance contest!
The Miracle of Birth Barn-always a favorite. Baby cows.
Mac LOVES animals and wanted to pet all of the animals. He did NOT want to leave the Miracle of Birth Barn at all.
Bumper Cars!
Fin waited patiently all day to ride the River Raft Ride. Our friends Betsey and Jhon joined us at the fair and indulged Fin on the ride-they all got pretty soaked but had fun.
This little guy started Kindergarten the next day! How did this happen! Pretty amazing. He was so excited to ride the bus and go to school. Uffda. Lots of feelings.
He woke up bright and early the next morning and put his backpack on first thing.
Dada made First Day of School waffles.
Some current facts about Fin.
Walking to the bus. It picks him up just at the corner.
Miriam goes to a different school but gets picked up at the same corner-they love it!
Have a great first day of school, buddy!
Adios buddy! We love you!
Well, Mama and Dada dropped the ball a little bit. We were so busy processing our own emotions and making sure Fin was ok with going to school that we forgot to prepare Mac! He was dumbstruck when Fin got on the bus and kept yelling: No No No No No! And then he cried. Poor buddy! He and Fin are such good buddies. Juliana said that when he went down for a nap that day he just kept saying, "Fin. Fin. Fin." Uffda.
Pretty happy that Fin was home again that evening.
Bedtime stories with Dada.
37 weeks! Last 24 hour call until the baby comes. I was up all night doing a kidney transplant-awesome for the patient! Tough on a Mama.
Quarry Hill Fall Fest! Punkins (as Mac says).
Fall fest was a beautiful day.
After my last 24 hour call I went to volunteer at Fin's school as the cafeteria helper. I wasn't sure how he'd act: shy, excited, embarrassed that Mama was there. He was SO excited. He told EVERY one: That's my Mom!
Buddy at his lunch table. At "Meet the Teacher" night before school started, I spoke with teacher about Fin. I admitted that I'm sure she hears how parents think their kids are really smart, and that indeed I am biased, but that he really is a self-motived, intelligent, eager, excitable kid. I explained that he taught himself how to read, loves doing math problems for fun, etc. She was like, "of course" but I could tell she may have thought I was a little nutty. My reason for bringing it up, and I told her this, is that I want him to continue having fun and learning. Well, last week he was tested two or three different times because they couldn't believe his reading level is just about the second grade level. He's obviously killing it and his teacher is supplying level appropriate books.
He asked me to stay at recess so obviously I obliged. He wanted to play basketball with me and his friends and would say: My Mama used to play basketball, go mama! Lol! So fun.
Mac getting used to one-on-one time with Dada. So sweet.
He likes the morning walks to the corner though!
The garbage man let Mac sit in the truck! Mac calls it a Spanglish word: Barbage (basura-garbage).
Nice Saturday at the Public Library. Fin is reading to his fish friend.
Juliana taught us how to make a traditional Colombian soup called Sancocho. SO GOOD! The boys ate it up.
Close up of Sancocho. Plantains. Potatoes. Corn. Yucca. Avocado. Chicken.
Lots of time biking around the cul-de-sac. Mac is so good at the glider! I keep reminding myself he's only two! Very coordinated.
More bedtime stories with Dada.
Mac golfing in the back yard. He loves watching golf on TV and practicing in the yard. He makes great contact and gets the ball off the ground-better than Mama!
Birthday Pancakes for Fintan's 6th Birthday! The night before his birthday, Fin was a little "off". I asked him if everything was ok at school, on the bus, with his friends, was he mad at Mama and Dada? No to all. I then asked if he was nervous about turning 6 and the sweetie-boy BURST into tears. After some cuddles, I asked what he was nervous about. He answered, "Being five has just been so much fun." Oh man. What an awesome kid. My heart.
Juliana gave him an awesome remote control car for his birthday-he loves it!
Nanabob came down to celebrate Fin's birthday. I told him we would go out to dinner wherever he wanted. I braced myself for Chucky Cheese or Perkins or something and he said "Chesters". AWESOME! Chesters is a tasty place, we all won with Fin's great taste :)
Fin had a proper birthday party with seven of his friends. The kids did great and Fin was pretty stoked to have all of his friends over.
A piñata is always a blast.
Fin was actually the kiddo to bust it open too! It was great!
Ice cream sundae's for dessert! The kids got to make it themselves and were pretty liberal with the sprinkles.
I had a practice oral exam which was tough (I was pretty hot and sweaty!) but I came home to this guy. Pretty easy to move on when this guy is around.
These two are so wonderful together. They love each other so much. Can't wait to see how awesome they are with Peanut!
