Hello Spring!

Last weekend, we celebrated the actual arrival of spring by cleaning off the deck and enjoying lunch (and later some cocktails with Holly and Lock) outside. It's been not too hot, not too cold; warm but a little brisk. Just what spring should be. As you can tell, Margot was over joyed to be able to wear her new hat sent from her cousin Ava in Boston. Thanks Ava!

We also got a chance to catch up with our friends Susan and Walter. We had brunch at Zest and they had a great time meeting little M. Susan and Walter's daughter Lena is headed off to the London School of Economics in the fall so we'll be looking for advice on how to raise a confident and ambitious girl. They're experts!

Five Years

Five years ago today, Tucker and I met for the first time.
04.07

I had flown down to DC from Boston on a whim to visit my friend Christy. She and her then boyfriend (now husband) Matt were living in an apartment in Cleveland Park and I was staying with them. Matt was getting a little tired of our girly squeals and laughing fits and decided to meet up with his friend Tucker to watch some basketball and get out of the house.

After a few hours at the bar, the boys came back to the apartment. Tucker walked in and the theme song to "Dallas" started playing in my head. Kidding! I do remember, however, that he leaned down on the counter and looked right at me in a way that gave me goose bumps. I was pretty taken by his voice, too.
04.07

Later that night, the four of us went out to Adams Morgan and wound up dancing at the Ghana Cafe. Matt and Christy headed home and Tucker and I stayed and decided to plot out our future together. We broke quite a few rules (like talking about how many kids we wanted to have) though clearly, it didn't matter.

Here we are, 5 years, 1 house, 1 baby, 1 cat later. We've told the story of our meeting so many times and I imagine it may be one of those things that Margot gets sick of hearing. At least she'll know that she's got two parents who love each other deeply and dreamed of her existence from the night they met on March 31, 2007.

Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice

We've recently had friends in Texas and New York welcome little girls into the world. Margot can't wait to meet her new pals!

On March 12, our friends Sara and Lucas welcomed Colette Elizabeth into their family in Glens Falls, NY. We think Colette and Margot are destined to be great copines!

Just this past Friday, our friends Jake and Callie welcomed their daughter Piper into the world in San Antonio, TX. We can't wait to meet Piper and love her already.

Hooray for baby girls!

Blue Eyes

Do you think she takes after her Daddy?

Big. Girl.

Margot is getting so big....

but she's still our little baby.

Yankee Aunties

The term Yankee was something I never really thought twice about until I met Tucker. I just thought it referred to people from the north; end of story. After meeting Tucker, I realized that Yankee also refers to a whole culture that's unique to the northeast part of the US, and it's not always meant to be nice. I guess we're a little more liberal, we can be a little outspoken with our opinions, and we're pretty proud of where we come from, where we're educated and the way we go about life. While we may not be the friendliest at first, give us some time, and we'll be your loyal friends for life.

I am proud to say that Margot will have some strong yankee women to look up to as she grows up. This weekend, three of these women came to visit us.

On Saturday morning, Katina came over for brunch and we had the McDonald house specialty: Texas waffles. (They're just so good!) Katina is a Lowell, MA native and lives in Jamaica Plain (in Boston) now. She lived in DC for many years and met Tucker on the campaign trail in New Hampshire back in 2003. She comes back to DC for work and to visit her mom often so we're lucky to see her during these trips.

When she and Tucker get together, the political lingo comes out which loses me every time. Maybe someday Katina can share all her political/campaign wisdom with little M.

On Saturday afternoon, two of my close girlfriends, Jen and Kara, flew down from Manchester, NH to stay with us for the night. They both live in Newburyport, MA now which is one of the most adorable, quaint, and historical New England towns you'll ever see. We had a fun afternoon hanging with Margot and then shopping and having dinner at Redwood in Bethesda.

These two are like sisters to me. We lived in Boston at the same time and went through many growing pains (or they wittnessed my growing pains) in our 20s together.

Not only am I thankful for their friendships and the fact that Margot will grow up knowing them, but my hope is that Margot will know friendship of the sort I have with these girls. It's these friendships that sustain me through the good and the bad, remind me of where (and how far) I've come, and make me thankful for all I have.

This trip, Jen and Kara reminded me that I have all I ever wanted. And, they're right.

Happy Hour

Margot brings new meaning to the term "happy hour". My pals from my old job at the Forum came over on Friday for drinks and nibbles and a chance to coo over Miss Margot. It was a fun way to start the weekend.

Margot snuggled right up to Elizabeth. I think she could tell she'd found an experienced mama.

Margot showed Danielle her wiggly moves.

Margot and her mama!

HAPPY FRIDAY!