Honey Hijacking - Happy Birthday

Today is my birthday so you should all fully expect a Honey Hijacking Post.  And here she goes....

Preface: Brooke is never happy when I write a highjacking post about her. I tell her, kindly, that if I have taken the time to write a post it would be tacky of her not to post it.

Thus, Happy 33rd Birthday Boogie!!!

Thirty-three years ago today I was a mere 26 years old, we had Brent, 19 months and I had gone to the hospital twice already in false labor. Brooke was about 10 days past her due date and finally after about 18 hours of induction my labor began and one, yes I said ONE hour later there she was...TADA, I had a l girl, well I had a 9 lb. 2 oz. little girl!

Boog was such a happy baby. Legend (and it is legend) has it that I dropped her off at Mother’s Day Out on the way home from the hospital. What an exaggeration!  Brooke was 2 weeks old when she entered MDO. I had made sure I was president of our church’s little MDO program just to ensure my precious darlings would have a place to go so I could well, breathe!

So Brooke grew and she grew, mainly because after breastfeeding for about 6 months I put her on formula. I poured that thick creamy formula straight out of that Similac can in to that bottle and down it went. Easy peasy Brooke was sleeping, happy and fat! Then one day several months later I happened to look down and glance at the label...there it was CONCENTRATE oops!

Brooke has always been fearless. We spend most of our summer days at the country club swimming pool. In Midland, many of the young moms were members and we would gather at the pool for hours and hours in the sun. Sunscreen, well no, not really, instead one summer I decided to squirt Sun-In in Boogie’s hair not only turning it white but soon after a lovely shade of green. At two years I looked up one day and found Brooke standing on the HIGH diving board yelling proudly, “Mommy watch me!” Lifeguards and I jumped into place and Boog boldly bounded with a little splat into those deep waters. At 4 years she was standing on her tip toes to make the height requirement to ride the Mine Train Roller Coaster, Brooke was indomitable!

On the other hand, I know it might be hard to believe, but Brooke was a very shy child. Adults at church would speak to my little toddler and she would stick her head under my dress. She sang in the church angel choir and at 3 years would stand in front of the entire congregation not singing but stuffing her dress in her IC ruffled panties. When asked why she answered, she didn’t know what else to do, all those people were too scary.

It wasn’t until Bowie Elementary School in Midland, Tx that Brooke came out of her shell. As hard as I had tried to entice my little girl to be less inhibited little did I know the answer lay in Christie Van Husen. Christie was Brooke’s friend, she was well- mannered, polite like you have never seen polite, her smile lit up the classroom and teachers loved her. Brooke, having a bit of a competitive nature, had an ah ha moment and realized if she turned into a Christie she too might find favor in those who were influential. So overnight Brooke became an outgoing, vivacious, well over achiever, and she did it well. With her Sally Jesse Raphael big red glasses (they were adult size, but she would have nothing to do with the child size version-always a bit of a fashionista) Brooke began winning the hearts of those around her. She would be the lead in a play, she would sing solos in church (I never knew she could sing until I saw her performance), she would write essays and win city contests in the GT program, she was voted queen at Camp Longhorn when she was 12 and wore her crown on top of her backward baseball cap. My sweet girl was becoming a person I could never imagine being. I was so proud of her accomplishments and so thankful for the graciousness of the way she dealt with her failures. It’s an amazing thing when you realize that your children have gifts that are far greater than anything you have within yourself, it’s a wonderful gift.

Fast forward to the present, I tell Brooke often that I’m sorry I was not the mother to her and Brent that she is to Harper and Harris. I am so proud when I see my daughter discipline her children with such firm love and love them so tenderly and teach them the things that they are interested in, instead of the things she finds interest in.

I am thankful that she and Jared have such a sound and fun relationship. Their love and laughter bubbles over into their children, it is a joy to watch.

I could go on and on but I’m afraid if I did Brooke would begin delete my praises, so I will end here by saying I am thankful for my daughter. She has stood by our sides these last difficult 5 years and there is never a day that she is not there for me. God gifted me with two of the most incredible human beings and today I celebrate my baby girl’s life.

I wish you the Happiest of Birthdays Boogie...

With much love, Mom 

Honey Hijacking - Camp Boswell

I did it again.  I've let my blogging duties slip.  Honey sent this to me a few weeks ago but I'm the slacker that's just now getting it posted.  Heeeeerrrrreeeee'sssss Honey!

January has become annual Camp Boswell time for the Meabon children.  Jared has worked hard and been fortunate enough to be awarded incentive trips in each of the last five years.  Each January we have kept Harper while they have enjoyed a much needed week at a tropical destination.

This year, adding another little Meabon to the mix was going to make our babysitting duty a little more... consuming.  Thankfully Brooke and Jared thought ahead and flew Jared’s mom in to co-sit.  Now, what I’m about to tell you moms with more than one little oneis pure wisdom...a jewel, a pearl, a key to blissful living for everyone so read these next words carefully.  If at all possible, when leaving at least two very young children for more than 48+ hours at a time, having two grandmothers on hand is perfection. 

Daughters/sons we are too old, our bodies are too tired to do what you do as a parent. The current 58 is not really the new 40.  When keeping small children 58 year olds quickly age to about 65 year olds.  It’s not because we don’t love you or your children, we do, that’s why we beg to keep them.  The problem is our bodies can’t keep up with their energy level and when you multiply it by two...Holy Moly!!  So my sage advice to each of you Peep readers is:   Bring in those grannies and I say the more the merrier.  

Here’s a summary of our fun five days.

Grandy and I kept Harris from Friday night to Sunday evening.  Now, I will be honest and say that after knowing how little sleep has gone on in the Meabon household the last 10 months due to Cito being so prone to ear infections I was gearing up for a few sleepless nights.  I was also gearing up for some very active days with this little human tank plowing his way through, and I do mean through everything.  I did think ahead on this and will digress for a moment here to ask a simple question...What ever happened to playpens?   They were a magnificent invention, meant to keep your toddler out of harms way, yet able to be confined and entertained with whatever you chose to plop into the said “pen” with them… a great invention.  I was raised in a wooden one with slats, my children were raised in ones with soft see through mesh sides.  We are all perfectly normal functioning adults now, it caused no mental nor physical abnormalities in either generation.  All I can say is someone needs to rename them and BRING THE PLAY PEN BACK, you would make a fortune.  

Okay enough of that, so I thought ahead and went upstairs a week before the children were to come.  We already have a little Mouse House built into our eaves where the grandchildren all love to play but I felt the need for more space, with the little human tank coming.  So I took a closet and turned it into a little playroom as well!  I put in little drawers, shelves, a mirror, filled it with toys and voila I now have multiple play spaces to occupy busy little bodies.

Long story short, all my fears about Harris, not sleeping,  wanting only his mommy (not unusual for a 10 month old), getting another ear infection...Harris was a perfect baby boy.  He slept like a champ, he took two naps each day two hours per nap.  He cuddled and toddled from one play area to another.  We took long stroller walks, we swung and sang, we took fun baths after terribly messy dinners!  Every minute of keeping Harris was a joy and a delight and Sunday afternoon when I had to make the switch I must admit I did so reluctantly because I had so enjoyed our one-on-one time together. 

Then it was time for Harper.  I helped her pack her bag which was full of dinosaurs, Bruce the Rabbit, Soft Blanket, pull-ups, and a few clothes.  As soon as we got home Harper began constructing her Dinosaur Museum for Grandy, complete with dinosaur fabric that I had found to make her some big girl panties and a wooden spoon to begin her digging for dinosaur “rocks”.  Harper began to amaze and entertain both of us with her incredible imagination and sponge like little mind.  We had such fun washing dishes after meals, putting big girl panties on all the dinosaurs, cleaning up dinosaur tinkle, wearing nothing but big girl dinosaur panties, but not having anything to do with going to the potty.  Oh every minute was an adventure. 

The one-on-one time made all the difference in being able to truly enjoy the time we were able to spend with each child and not feel so strung out at the end of each day.  It was special time not only for Grandy and me but I think it was equally special for Harper and Harris.  Both children were able to have some wonderful quality time with each grandparent without having to share attention.  I’m telling you, this is a win/win situation and if you ever have the opportunity to try it out, do it.  I highly recommend it, as I can honestly say Grandy and I just had one of the most fun five days of our lives!

Much Love,

Honey

Honey Hijacking

My mom wrote this a few weeks ago and I wanted to share.  Thank you Honey for your words of wisdom!

It was over four years ago that I began starting my days with a quiet time each morning.  Much has happened in our lives in those last four years and my quiet times have brought me strength and comfort beyond words.

After reading Brooke’s blog entry concerning Harper’s upcoming surgery, their fears, our fears and the incredible love we all have for both Harper and Harris, I wanted to share one of my most recent quiet times with those of you reading Brooke’s blog.

Ephesians 3:18 says “I pray that you...will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love-how wide and how long and how high and how deep that love is.”   As I wrote that verse the first thing that came to my mind was a little game I began playing with Harper when she was about a year old.  

The game started with me asking, “Harper do I love you this much?”  I would hold the palms of my hands slightly apart and would shake my head and say “Nooo!”  Then I would ask, “Harper do I love you this much?” and I would spread my hands farther apart, shaking my head and saying “Noooo! “The game would continue until my arms were outstretched as much as they would go and still I would say “Noooo!”  Finally I would say “Harper do you know how much Honey loves you?  Honey loves you this much”  and I would wrap my arms around her and hug and kiss her and we would laugh and laugh.  The game soon came to a point when the first time I asked her “Harper do I love you this much?” she would shake her head and throw her little body into mine because she couldn’t wait for the hugs and kisses to come.

I can’t wait for Harris to get just a little older and he can begin to play our game. I can’t wait to see the light in his eyes when he realizes how very much he is loved and the joy and delight that comes in knowing that hugs and kisses are just within reach.

So how much greater then is the power of Christ’s love for us?  How wide?  How long?  How high?  How deep is that love for us and what will it take for us to understand the greatness of that love?  Were those outstretched arms of Christ on the cross not proof enough?  When will we get to a point where we can throw ourselves into God’s arms knowing he will be there to tend to our every need?  I know his love is so much more than any human love and no matter what circumstances we face God is there to wrap his loving arms around us and see us through whatever lies ahead. 

We all face times in the lives of our children when we will worry and fear for them, for their health, their safety, their well-being...that’s part of being a parent, a grandparent, that's part of loving.  I also know that it is so much harder to try to deal with these issues without a faith, without a feeling that there is someone who loves you and cares for you and will carry you through the tough times.

So it is my prayer for myself and to each of you~that we may all have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love, in all of life’s situations.

May your holidays be full of joy,

Honey

Honey Hijacking

Okay - this one is a little embarrassing but thank you Mom/Honey!  What a sweet birthday gift.  And without further ado, here's Honey:

It’s Hijacking time once again as I look back on 32 years of celebrating the life of a daughter that continues to amaze me with each year that passes.

I believe Brooke was born about 90% pre-wired. The other 10% may have had something to do with her upbringing, her peers, her life experiences, but I take little credit for the incredible person I call my daughter.

From the time she could speak Brooke would grab things out of my hand saying, “I do it Mommy…” and to my amazement she could and would. Whether it was putting together a simple toy or something as complicated as a bicycle, she would tinker and snap and voila she had accomplished what I had tried for hours to do and she did it all with such ease.

 

She went through elementary school receiving special honors and awards. I had no idea she had accomplished these things until teachers would call and tell me she would be performing or receiving her achievement award at some special assembly. I would attend the presentations and would be awestruck at her poise, her self-confidence and her abilites.

 

Oh, she had her moments of failures. She tried out for 7th grade cheerleader and lost. As I watched my heartsick little 12 year old bravely go up to every one of her friends and their moms with hugs and congratulations, I knew then that she would always be a winner. 

College came and with little effort she not only graduated early but graduated summa cum laude. Not only was she capable, but bright as well...something she certainly didn’t get from me!

 

She went on to be successful in business, as well in the various volunteer responsibilities she has undertaken. Brooke has always given 100% of herself in everything thing she commits to and she does it with grace and diligence. I continue to be dumbfounded and so proud of her abilities and success.

 

All of this pales however when I now look at my daughter being the mother to her children. What an exceptional mommy she is! She delights in her babies and their smallest accomplishments. Her patience and her disciplinary techniques are so effective and loving. My heart fills with joy and love at the incredible woman she has become and just when I think I couldn’t love my daughter any more I find I can’t help myself and my love for her continues to grow.

 

Am I bragging? Absolutely! Am I biased? Naturally! But this is my daughter’s birthday, this is my highjacking and this is my chance to tell not only Brooke, but each of you young moms that one day you too will be able to look back after 32 years and marvel and at how amazing someone who is such a part of you can fill your heart.

 

Happy Birthday Boogie!

 

Love, 

Mom

P.S.  Just had to enclose a small look back at some of the highlights of the life of Brooke Swallow...here’s a very edited version.

Honey Hijacking - Harper's Vacation

What would a vacation for us be without a stay at Honey and Grandy's?  And what would a stay at Honey and Grandy's be without a blog post from Honey?  

 

 What a difference a year makes.

A year ago Steve and I kept Harper while Brooke and Jared went to Puerto Rico on an incentive trip for Jared’s work. Grandy and I watched Harper again this year as Jared was fortunate enough to again qualify an incentive trip for the two of them to go to Jamaica.

As I watched Harper run from room to room, point to objects and watch our lips form the shapes necessary to make the words and then do her best to repeat those words, as she would touch, feel, open and shut everything in sight I found myself thinking back to what it was like keeping her last year.

Last year Harper was 5 months old. She had been home from the hospital just a little over 3 short months and she was still rather “new” to all of us. I was concerned with dressing and wrapping her Omphalocele correctly, but knew I could never measure up to Brooke’s expert technique. We were so careful with her bottles giving her just the right amount of pumped breast milk mixed with formula in order for her to gain weight. 

Spitting up was an issue and bibs and burp cloths were constantly being washed. Her sleep routine, while at the time seemed easy for a 5 month old was difficult without her mommy and her own bed. I would rock her till she fell asleep, gently lay her down and 30 minutes later she was awake and inconsolable. And Harper was an “easy” baby!

Well, what a difference a year makes! Grandy and I found ourselves watching the monitor each morning just waiting for Harper to stand up in her crib so we could go up and welcome her into the day. She would greet us with open arms and smiles and giggles. Oh sure we stood on our heads to entertain Harper...we went to the park (numerous times), the zoo...she loved the monkeys and bear, we went on extensive walks, we would go outside and swing and blow bubbles, read book after book and play for hours in the Mouse House upstairs. Harper loved watching me get dressed every day. She would stand at the shower door and I would provide commentary on everything I was doing...a little weird, but it worked. As I would put on my make-up & dry my hair Harps played in 2 drawers in our bathroom that are now hers. One is full of bandaids, the other little zipper pouches and travel products. She would then go into my closet with me to dress. There she found my scarf drawer and each morning would pick out different scarfs and we would make new fashion designs that she would run to Grandy for applause and approval.

Harper quickly told us, in her 17 old month way that it was no longer appropriate for me to be the one to put her down for the night. Grandy’s attempt wasn’t good enough either. Then it dawned on me, Brooke and Jared always put Harper down together and voila from then on we had our bedtime ritual of all 3 of us reading “Goodnight Moon,” singing “Jesus Loves Me” and saying a nighttime prayer and with 2 pacifiers in hand the girl was a goner. We quickly realized how fun this threesome was so it became a nap time ritual as well.

I remember when Brent and Brooke were babies and each year thinking, “This is my favorite stage”. I loved the cuddly baby stage, but this toddler stage that Harper is in now, where she is like a little sponge absorbing everything so quickly and delighted in anything you do for her--well, does it get any better than this? My answer is, “Of course it does!”

Each stage holds it’s own magic. When they begin putting words together to make sentences. Brent used to sing “...little ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is STROMA” and Brooke would always say, “hold you Mommy, hold you”. Then they learn to count, to read, to ride a bike and before you know it...in a blink of an eye...they’ve grown wings and they are soaring high. While that is what every parent desires for their

children, it’s never easy to see them go. I often found myself wishing for those tender years that went so quickly to return. I yearned to hear the patter of those little feet, the sound of that small voice wanting to be held and consoled, if only for a few brief moments…but my children were grown up, it was not to be.

But guess what?!? My wishes have come true in the best way possible. Grandchildren! Grandchildren become a parents way of revisiting those precious years we only thought we had lost forever. No, our children will never need us like they once did, but the joy they are able to give us in allowing us to care and love and nurture their little ones is the best gift imaginable.

I love when my wishes come true and I can’t wait for our next little one!

I love you this much,

Honey

A Honey Hijacking

Okay Peekers - she's at it again and with some 1980's Christmas pictures to boot.  I feel a little like Ed McMahon but "Heeeerrrrrreeee's Honey!"

I can’t help myself…

The other day Brooke and I were amusing ourselves with something new and fabulous that Harper had learned to do. We were in my kitchen and marveling at the genius of this perfectly normal child, laughing and going on and on about how truly amazing Harper is, sickening actually. But it was at this point that Brooke stopped dead in her tracks and looked me in the eye and asked, “Were you this delighted with Brent and me?”

My answer, “Of course we were, I thought everything you all did was exceptional!”

Brooke’s question has stuck with me like a looming shadow that keeps haunting me because I feel I need to give her a more complete answer. To those of you reading this blog who are young moms, you may not understand my answer as well as those of you older moms will, but to answer you my sweet daughter, did I find you and your brother as delightful, as brilliant, as creative, as endearing, as enjoyable and adorable as we do Harper? The answer is, I have used each and everyone of those adjectives to describe both of you over the last 33 years and will continue to do so until the day I draw my last breath.

It is these adjectives, these feelings of incredible love and devotion to your children that makes life worth living. It’s loving someone this much that enables you to go through those teen years and stay up till all hours waiting for your child to walk safely through the door. Or be tough enough to discipline that child you love so much because you know it will make them better in the long run.

It’s that same love that makes your heart soar when they are recognized for honors, awards, catch a fly ball, take the lead in the Christmas program at church. And it will cause your heart to break when you see their heart’s breaking. Whether it’s over some silly argument with a friend, losing some well-deserved accomplishment, or worse dealing with their health issues that you have no control over.

This motherly love will never end because from the day I held my babies in my arms, I began to be amazed in awe and wonder at their magnificence and I fell in love with two of the most incredible people I will ever know.

Now you can begin to understand how much I love you, because I love you just exactly as much as you love Harper, and as much as you will love your little son. It just doesn't get much better than this!

I love you this much…

Mom

  

Honey Hijacking - Harper's Vacation

While we were in Cabo, Harper got to spend her vacation with Honey and Grandy.  Hence, another edition of Honey Hijacking: 

Observations of keeping a 14 month old…

Brooke & Jared were able to get away for a much needed vacation.  Grandy and I were fortunate enough to be the ones to keep Harper during their get away.  While it was oh so much fun, I now am ready for a much needed vacation!  Where is my ticket to Cabo, pleeeaaase?!?!?

Having raised two children 20 months apart, I thought I was an old pro at babying.  But having grown older and wiser with age, I now find that I have some new profound observations for all of you PIOW readers.

Harper has often been described  as rather timid, sweet and, at times, the word “tame” has been said of her.   Observation #1: There is no such a thing as a “tame toddler”.   I believe this term is an oxymoron!

Harper is a tiny thing, I’m not sure she is yet in the 10^th percentile in weight.   Why?  I DO NOT KNOW!  I do know now.  While this child eats like a Velociraptor, she’s a little human disposal, I was never sure why she wasn’t putting on weight?   What I now know is that the darling angel poops like a baby elephant.  

Observation #2:  Once a gagger, always a gagger!  It still does me in to change those poopy diapers - always has, always will.

Observation #3:  Going to the grocery store is so much more fun with a little person sitting in your shopping cart!  Not only do countless unexpected strangers stop and want to chat and play (which made me feel like a puffed up Blow Fish) but have you ever realized what fun music HEB plays?  Harper and I (okay so it was just me) were strolling through the frozen food section where I was singing, dancing/swerving our cart back and forth to Cher’s “I’ve Got You Babe” like it was karaoke night at some brightly lit bar.  Then Lionel Richie’s “Dancing on the Ceiling” came on right in the detergent isle and even Harper was dancing in her seat!  HEB may never be the same.  

Observation #4:  Realizing that you have a shopping cart full of groceries as well as Harper sitting right along in that shopping cart.   You walk up to your car, the sudden realization hits you, “How in the world am I going to make this transfer happen?”  So here I am in 99° heat, with one foot under the shopping cart wheel so it wouldn’t roll away from me, one hand on Harper, so she would stay put and my free hand madly stuffing groceries into the trunk of my car!  On top of that, I then had to haul that dumb cart all the way back to a cart station, unload Harper, load her up, buckle her in...it makes me sweat just thinking about it!  What happened to those old “old pro” babying days that I so prided myself in?  I solemnly promise from here after to never again pass by a young mother without waiting to take her shopping cart back for her.

Observation #5:  Taking that adorable little 14 month old on daily adventures. We decided getting Harper out of the house to work off some energy would be a good idea.  So one day we rode the zoo train--twice.  The next day it was off to Kiddie Park, riding all the rides multiple times...planes, boats, cars, carousels (I do believe we had more fun than Harper).  Sunday was spent at the park, climbing over everything in site with billions of other children towering over Harper.  Her favorite activity was swinging and swinging and swinging!  Here’s my profound observation, all the aforementioned activity doesn't ensure that that precious little worn out baby doll will sleep any longer than one short hour once she’s finally home.  What it does ensure is that you will be absolutely wiped out and certain to be in bed by 8:00 p.m.

Observation #6:  When you're lying in bed first thing in the morning with Miss Priss and she flings that sweet soft little body into yours and puts her little head on your chest, wraps her arms around your neck and (in Harper’s case) opens her mouth as wide as possible to give you the biggest kisses she can--well then you know your heart has just melted right down to the tips of your toes.  You know that you would do absolutely anything in the world to make that little girl’s life as happy and safe as possible.  You know right then that when people say being a grandparent is the best thing in the world, that it’s a fact.

Finally, Observation #7:  The morning comes when you wake up and the house is quite.  Your time is all yours to do whatever, whenever, however you want and instead of breathing a sigh of relief...all you want to do is scoop up that precious bundle of joy and watch her make you laugh and love like every moment is better than the next.

Tired yes, ready to do it all again absolutely...Harper, where are you?!?!?

Love you to pieces,

Honey