Life with Margo

…is her two front teeth. And it looks like she is going to get them. Today, Margo stuck Maia’s finger in her mouth (as she often does), and Maia felt something sharp poking out of Margo’s gums. She’s growing up so fast.

Margo has recently starting “talking” a lot more. As opposed to her previous vowel-based conversations, which consisted primarily of “aaah, aaah,” she is now using consonants and saying things like “aah, da, da” and “aah, ba, ba.” Here she is chatting with her mother in bed.

Margo Tries Eating Jake

On November 3, 2008, Margo went to daycare for the first time. On November 4, 2008, Margo helped elect Barack Obama President of the United States. While nobody knows when it first started, Margo also recently decided that she likes to try eating Jake’s nose. And, with the recent changes in Margo’s diet, her poop has become much more like an adult’s poop.

Margo has attended daycare six times, and it’s going pretty well. But, it’s an adjustment for Margo, Jake and Maia. Maia has been taking Margo to daycare on her way to work, and Jake and Maia shared the pick-up duties during the first week. Margo has been happy each afternoon when she gets picked up, but it’s a big adjustment to leave her in a new environment with new people and lots of other kids. The pick-up arrangement means that Margo and Maia don’t get home until around 6 p.m., which is just a little before Margo’s bedtime; that means less time for Maia, Jake and Margo to play together. Maia and Jake are both going to try spending some time at the daycare to learn more about how the teachers interact with the kids and especially how they handle them when they are fussy.

Maia and Jake took Margo to the polling place at 7 a.m. on Election Day. Margo waited in line patiently and then Jake and Maia took turns holding Margo while the other voted. Margo voted for Barack Obama for President and she voted no on Proposition 8, because she supports the right of same-sex couples to marry.

Margo, Maia and Jake celebrated Obama’s victory at Alix’s house. Maia and Jake don’t normally allow Margo to watch TV, but this was a special occasion, so Margo joined in the fun as the news reported Obama’s victory.

Margo’s diet is expanding; in addition to putting Jake’s nose and Maia’s chin in her mouth whenever possible, she is also now eating apples, bananas, pears, carrots, sweet potato – one of her favorites, squash – not her favorite, plain yogurt, and peas – her favorite. Soon, the real excitement begins: she’s going to try eating foods in combinations. Maia does nearly all the feeding with Margo, because when Jake tries feeding Margo, she mostly rubs the food on her highchair and forms a food goatee. Below, Margo enjoys a delicious meal of sweet potato.

Margo the Duck

Margo celebrated her first Halloween with a mom’s group Halloween Party today. She went dressed as a duck. Turns out ducks were a very popular costume this year as two other babies came as ducks as well. Other costumes included two bumblebees, a skunk, a black cat, a dinosaur, and a strawberry.

Two Ducks in a Row (Margo & Maya)

A Skunk & A Duck (Lila and Margo)

And the rest of the Ark (Margo, Amelia, Isabella & Fiona)

Margo had her 6-month doctor’s appointment on Monday, October 27. Her weight was 14 lbs 11 oz (25th percentile), head circumference was 16.25 inches (25th percentile), and her height was 27.5 inches (95th percentile!). There is just no good explanation for Margo’s height!

Margo’s doctor was particularly impressed with the development of Margo’s motor skills–how steady her body is and how well she can use her hands. And, all week, she has been strengthening those motor skills even more. On Wednesday, October 29, Margo pulled herself up onto all fours for the first time–and now she is practicing this all the time. She doesn’t quite know what to do once she is up there though.

On all fours. Now what?

In addition to getting up on all fours, Margo is getting better at sitting independently. On Saturday, Margo sat unassisted for 25 seconds before falling over (Maia counted).

Margo sits by herself... but not for long

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