Taking a Bite Outta the Big Apple

That's our kiddo. Always trying to be a Big Boy. Lately, this definitely weaves itself through all eating endeavors concerning our Fionny. No small wedges of apple or bagel for Fionn. Not anymore. No sir. He wants (NEEDS!) to hold the whole doggone thing so he can take a big boy bite just like Mama and Dada. A real regular Mr. Growny-Pants, this one.

Oh, he also likes to hold the entire cob of corn.


And the answer, in case you are wondering, is "yes." That is a mohawk Fionn is sporting in the above picture. He can thank his daddy for that one.

Fionn's other new favorite trick involves pushing the stroller instead of sitting in it. That is a true blast, let me tell you. Especially in a crowded grocery store. Or, say, on the busy streets of New York City.

Ah, New York City. The real subject for this post. I realized that my last post simply didn't do enough justice to our fabulous weekend in NYC for the wedding of our good friends, Nate and Maya, which took place the weekend before last. I thought I'd remedy that right here, right now, if that's alright with you fine folks.

So you know it's going to be a good weekend when it begins with matching Father-Son outfits.

Oh no. No, you didn't! you say.

Oh yes. Yes, we did! Boo-yah!


Listen, when it's 6 am, and you have a 4-hour car ride to NYC with an 11-month old on the horizon...you gotta do something to make it seem a wee bit more fun. Don't you agree?

Anyway, matching outfits notwithstanding, you'll be glad to know that we made it to the Big City in one piece. Once at the hotel, our Fionny immediately set off to work, earnestly pushing a valet cart full of luggage around the lobby. Only problem was...it wasn't our luggage. No worries though. The owners of the suitcases thought it was hilarious.


In addition to being the site of Nate and Maya's wedding, New York City is also the current hometown of my dear cousin, Tyndale Brickey, who met us for dinner on Friday night.


It was fantastic to see Tyndale. Fionn especially enjoyed the fact that Tyndale introduced him to his very first pizza (as evidenced by pictures in the last post). YUM!

The wedding itself was just wonderful. Very intimate, unique and personal to the couple. It took place in Brooklyn Bridge Park which was a beautiful park with a pretty unbeatable view. Here is a picture of the scenery as we approached the wedding venue. Not too shabby, eh?


Here is a picture of the happy couple following the wedding. They are flanked by their "Washington, DC friends," including yours truly. Judging by the confused looks on many of the faces, it appears that not many people were aware that this picture was being snapped. But the newlyweds look great, don't they?


And here is a picture of The Boy and His Daddy. Just cuz it's cute.


By the way, I'm sure it goes without saying, but the popped collar on my son? Definitely the handiwork of Conor D. Crimmins. I'm more of a traditional collar sort of person, but I got overruled.

Oh, but let me backtrack a bit. Here was the best thing about the wedding ceremony in our opinion. Our boy? Slept through the whole thing.


However, the reception was a different story altogether. So, although Tyndale had sweetly arranged for a couple of her friends to sit for Fionn at our hotel starting at 6:30 pm, we figured we could still take the kiddo to an hour or so of the reception so that he could socialize with his adoring public.

And socialize he did. Fionn wasted no time marching up to the lovely bride in order to offer his most heartfelt congratulations and best wishes for the future. Oh, and maybe some pureed butternut squash from his Plum Organics veggie tube.


Fionn's other activity at the wedding was hazing. That's right. Our boy is getting started early in that department. Preparing for frat life, no doubt. Here is Fionn "gently urging" me to drink more beer at the reception. I'd be a bad mommy if I didn't oblige, right?


Then Fionn moved on to Scott O'Reilly who was all too happy to cooperate with his hazing mission.


I guess Fionn figured that hazing others was the next best thing to drinking the beer himself. Which, believe me, he definitely attempted to do.


After an hour or so of hazing as well as charming the other guests at the reception, we decided that it was time to take Fionny back to the hotel to meet his fabulous sitters, Kiley and Kendall. It was so kind of these girls to give up their Saturday night in order to take care of our boy.

Assured that Fionn was in good hands, we were then free to enjoy the rest of the reception on our own. Whoo-whee! Such a good time. Congrats, Nate and Maya, and thanks for a fantastic weekend in the Big Apple.

Until next time, folks...