If these pics are any indication of life ahead, Tucker and I are in BIG trouble. I don't think I would ever have it in my heart to say no to this face. Could you?
Margot at 5 months, 1 week!
Margot: Can I eat my dessert instead of dinner?
Us: Sure sweetie.
Margot: Can I stay up past my bed time so I can Facetime with cousin Chance?
Us: Of course.
Margot: Can I have 20 friends over for a sleep over?
Us: Why not?
Margot: I feel sick and I might have a test today. Can I stay home from school?
Us: Sure, poor thing.
Margot: Can I get a new car on my 16th birthday?
Us: Well, your dad did promise this to you when you were 2 days old......
Margot started army crawling yesterday...not quite crawling, but she's thinking about it. We've got a little wiggler on our hands!
Since March, I've been running with the Montgomery County Road Runners Club in their Beginning Women Runners program and it's been going pretty well. While I haven't been able to make it to every run, I've been present for most and feel stronger than I have in a long time.
This past Saturday morning, we met at the Winding Creek Park in Wheaton. Since Tucker was in Hyannisport, MA for work (how does that happen?) I had the choice of bringing Margot with me or staying home. I chose the former and we had quite a run together!
While our head coach didn't seem to be a fan of me running with the stroller (due to steep hills, a narrow path) everyone else who ran on Saturday (most of the 130 women in the group) encouraged me to give it a shot. Once on the trail, it was hard to stay up with my group, but falling back was to be expected. The trail turned out to be plenty wide, smooth, and though the hills were VERY steep, I did my best and felt pretty amazing when the 3 and a half miles was complete. Margot, in typical form, slept as we ran along in the woods. Above is a pic of Margot, me, and some of my running buddies!
Auntie Cameron was in town for work last week. After many busy meetings and fancy-pants dinners, Cammie made a some time to catch up with her old "fivesome" (Ty, Liz, Tucker, me + Cam) with the additions of Emma and Margot, last weekend. As soon as I passed little M over to Cam, she settled right in to her lap and was content to be cuddled for the next 45 minutes. It was pretty sweet.
Good thing we had the little blue bow on hand. As you can see, Margot's hair is just so unruly...we needed something to keep it under control. :)
We caught up over margaritas and queso (mmmm) and took some fajitas to go. After a few hours of catching up, Cammie happened to mention (in subtle Cameron style) that a return to DC may be in her future. Maybe we'll be getting more Cammie time on a regular basis? We are all crossing our fingers...(Margot's just sucking on hers for now.)
Tucker made a very quick trip up to Boston and back for work on Friday/Saturday....(sorry friends and family who he didn't get to see!)Before he caught his flight home, he made a special visit to our friends Matt and Christy's house in Somerville so he could meet their sweet boy, Graham Joseph. I was so jealous since I still have not met this little guy. He was born about 4 weeks before Margot and is such a perfect blend of his mom and dad. What a gorgeous little guy?!
Tucker snapped this pic of Graham as he was waking up from a nap. Looks at those adorable cheeks!
I think Graham and Margot are going to be good buddies!
Our friends Helen and Stephen welcomed baby boy #2, Brice Conrad, into the world yesterday. He weighed 7lbs 8oz and was 21 1/4 inches long. We are so happy for the Lamont family and cannot wait to meet their newest little guy.
Yesterday marked 5 months for our little sugar plum. It feels pretty good to be at this point with Margot where she's sleeping well, eating well, and has eased into her own routine of sorts. We've learned Margot-ese with all her different cries and can even have little back and forth squealing/giggling conversation with her.(See video below.) At 5 months, Margot is:
- Beginning to sit up on her own (though we are still spotting her)
- Picking up objects with one hand and passing it to the other
- Trying to hold her bottle
- Rolling, rolling, rolling
- Standing on our laps while we hold her
- Sucking her fingers - not interested in the pacifier
- Trying to get her legs under her when she's on her belly, without much success
- Still drinking only breastmilk; no solids yet!
- Turning up the volume. Her little voice is not so quiet anymore:)
She's at an age where she's very "portable" too. We can take her almost anywhere and she does just fine. On occasion, if it's past her bed time and we're out, she either falls asleep in her car seat or in a bedroom until it's time to go home. I have a feeling our days are numbered with this so we're trying to enjoy it now.
Yesterday was my first mother's day. All day long, I had the recurring thought that what I'm most thankful for is to simply be a mother. I realize it sounds trite, but it's the truth. All the cards and special treatment are nice, but I'm just so thankful/happy/blessed to be Margot's mom.
I started the day off by sleeping in until 6:45. Yes, you read that right. Margot and I had some cuddle time and then the three of us headed to my favorite place, The Parkway Deli, for breakfast. I had a smoked salmon extravaganza (my favorite food)and had so much of it left over, I had the rest for lunch.
When we got back, we snapped a few pics on the front steps which was a little challenging. Though it was a struggle to get Margot to look at the camera, I just wanted to get a pic to remember this day so that in 20, 40, or 60 years, we can look back and remember how sweet it was.
Margot may favor her daddy in appearance, but our almost glow-in-the-dark skin makes it a give away that she's my daughter. Ah, the amount of hats, long sleeves, shady spots, and sunblock that are in this little girl's future...at least I can show her the ropes! Like mother, like daughter. It's nice to be able to say that.
Margot cleverly moved her bib around so that it looks more like she's wearing a cape. I guess her drool catcher was getting in the way of playing with her toys!
Margot is a really good eater. You might say it's her specialty, (along with being a really good laugher, and sleeper). Life is good as Margot McDonald. Over the past few months, it's been kind of mind-blowing to see how much she's grown.
Here she is at her big debut, December 16th 2011
7lbs 3.9oz
On Saturday morning, I announced I was heading to the post office to mail a package and send out some letters. When Margot heard this she DEMANDED that I bring her along so she could see first-hand part of the reason why her daddy must leave her every morning. She put on her polka dots and we were off.
I jogged and she snoozed the whole way there. When we arrived, baby girl opened her eyes to the oohs and aahs of the sweet ladies behind the desk. Margot decided that the Postal Service is alright and that her daddy can continue to go to work (and fight the good fight!) everyday.
On the way home, she chewed on a book of bonsai stamps. I think it was her way of saying she supports 6 day delivery, don't you?
Just over a year ago, we planted a rosebush in memory of a loved one who had passed. We planted it right near the front door, beneath the wind chime.
Despite plenty of sunshine and lots of rain last year, the roses never bloomed. I thought we must have bought a dud and contemplated digging up the bush and replacing it with something else. All we had were lots of green leaves; no flowers.
This spring has brought new life to our little rosebush. As you can see, its pink flowers are finally blooming. I'm not sure what the lesson is here, but it feels like there's some sort of message. These delicate flowers just needed some time to figure things out before they would bloom. I'm glad I waited.
Over the weekend, we celebrated our friends Helen and Stephen's son Chase's second birthday. This little guy is growing up so fast. I still remember our visit to Sibley to see Helen and Steve when Chase was born. They were prepared, organized, and barely showed the exhuastion that most new parents can't hide. These two make a great team, especially as parents.
Stephen and Helen are expecting #2 any day. We can't wait to meet their newest addition! The party was at the Little Gym in Potomac and Chase and all his pals had a great time.
Liz and Emma joined in on the fun, too.
Though Margot was too little to play with the other kids, she had fun watching the excitement and cuddling on her daddy's lap.
Margot and her buddy Sophie the giraffe have been spending a lot of quality time together lately. Are we at the beginning of teething? And look at those cheeks!
