As seen on Pinterest

Jared's been strangely nervous about the candy passing out situation at our house while we take Harps out in the neighborhood. He didn't want our house to be a non-participant and was considering staying back to be the candy passer outer. I spotted this easy little project on Pinterest. You can use a real pumpkin but I used one of the fake ones from Target so that we can reuse it from year to year. I drilled holes around it, inserted Blowpops and...wha-la! Instant candy dispenser.


Happy Halloween!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Obligatory October Excursion

Yup, it's the pumpkin patch photos.  As you can see, we aren't quite frolicking with glee through the pumpkins yet. And since everyone's blogs/Facebook pages these days are filled with the obligatory trip to the pumpkin patch, I'll spare you details and just give you a quick photo montage.

And just because I'm a mom and mom's do this kind of stuff, remember Harps at the pumpkins last year?  Okay group - let's hear the collective, "Ooohhhhhh!  Wasn't she cute and so little???"

A visit to the Dirty South

We made the trek to Atlanta this weekend and guess who forgot her camera?  Swell.  But I must say, sometimes it's nice to be able to enjoy the weekend and memories without feeling like I have to freeze every minute in time. 

We enjoyed the PERFECT fall weather.  We saw lots of old friends.  We introduced Harps in person to so many people that have followed her along through her pictures over the last 14 months.  We spent three nights back in a city that we loved living in for 7 years.  We had QT with Grammie.  We got treated like rock stars at the Four Seasons (it helps when you have connections!).  We took a drive through memory lane and cruised past our old house.  All in all, a great trip!

And guess who was a star traveler?  That's right - The Squirrel!  She was a fantastic flyer and we were thrilled. Don't worry Atlanta, we'll be back again soon - and maybe next time with Numero Dos in tow!  Why do I feel like flying won't be so easy when that happens???

Thumbs Up Thursday - Local Edition

Okay San Antonians - this one is for you!

Thumbs Up to Holiday Olé Market!  I attended last night's Preview Party for Holiday Olé and I must say this year's shopping extravaganza has a great mix.  So yes, you might see a few bedazzled belt buckles and puff painted pillow cases but, overall, I thought it was a good collection of some kids stuff, some stuff for the home, some holiday decorations and really cute women's clothing and jewelry.  Tickets are only $15 for a multi-day pass and they have designated stroller hours so make sure you take note if you plan to bring the kids along.  Don't miss the Under Wraps booth with CHEAP wrapping paper, gift boxes for $1/each and the rainbow assortment of tulle.  Most vendors take credit cards but Under Wraps only takes cash or check so come prepared.  This fundraiser supports the Junior League of San Antonio so you're shopping for a good cause and don't have to feel guilty about the dollars you spend!

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General Shopping Hours:

Thursday, October 20: Noon to 8 p.m.

Friday, October 21: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. - Stroller Hours from 9am to noon

Saturday, October 22: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Stroller Hours all day

School Bullying

So I know school bullying is a hot topic right now and many-a-celebrity have stepped up to the plate with anti-bullying campaigns and messages. The Meabons would like to officially jump on the bandwagon now that school bullying has personally effected our family.

I go to pick up Harps from school today, only to be greeted by a grimacing teacher and the statement, "we need to talk". Oh crap! What does this mean? Is everything okay? As I was escorted over to sign an incident report, I'm thinking "Oh great. The Squirrel is a biter. Or even worse, did she beat someone up?".

Nope. Turns out my precious little angel is the victim! Insert small sigh of relief that my child is not, in fact, a biter followed by panic that something horrible has happened.

Harper has a pincher in her class who's aggression is now being taken out on the Squirrel's arms. Of course they can't say who did it so I immediately start scanning the room to find out which little monster laid a hand on my child. Which one year old has a look of guilt and won't look at me in the eyes? Come on you little boogers - I see a few unclipped fingernails in this room!




I calm down, get the girl all packed up and head to the car to give Jared a call and fill him in on "the incident". You would have thought I told him Harper had been run over by a car! I might or might not have heard a few F-bombs, a few death threats (yes, to one-year-olds) and the statement "No one hurts my daughter and gets away with it!" And I thought I was over-reacting? Little did I realize I married a meathead five years ago.

So please mark your calendars for the first annual Meabon Family Anti-Bullying, Overly Protective Parents, Child Threatening, No One Puts Baby In A Corner Walk-A-Thon. Details to be announced at a later date.

And to think, we still have middle school ahead of us - ugh!

Just Practicing

Hey-o!  Harper here.  Just practicing with all of these boy toys.  Not quite sure what I'm suppose to do with all of these things but Mom and Dad told me I need to get use to all of this stuff in preparation for my BABY BROTHER!

 

Yup, you heard her right folks.  Numero Dos most definitely has boy parts and we are so excited to welcome a new little Steeler fan into the family!  We had our final appointment with the perinatologist today and since everything looks "totally normal" we will be moving along like a normal pregnancy with my OB, Dr. Cox.  Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support as we get ready for Numero Dos!

No mistake about it!  

Why hello profile shot

little toes

STR-ETCH!

Thumbs Up Thursday - Cabo Edition

 

I'm a big believer in recommendations when it comes to traveling.  In light of our recent vacation to Cabo San Lucas, Thumbs Up Thursday is dedicated to our top experiences from the trip.

Thumbs Up to The Office.  We were in Cabo the week that The Office opened up for business after a month long holiday - it was packed so we didn't get to spend as much time there as we'd have liked but we still made it a stop.  The Office is perfect for daytime, beach cocktails, a little pre-dinner fun or post-dinner festivities.

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Thumbs Up to Mi Casa.  We were warned by the locals that Mi Casa was too touristy but I disagree.  Okay, okay.  Yes they had mariachis, yes they had an amazing gift shop where everything was overpriced, yes the decorations were super festive and mucho Mexican but it set the right tone for a great evening.  Their traditional Mexican plates were muy delicioso and I was a fan.  And yes, we paid the mariachis to sing for us...Guantanamera...Guajira Guantanamera....Guantanamerrrrraaaaaa!  I realize I would scoff at anyone in San Antonio that did this but when in Rome, right?

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Thumbs Up to Captain Bob and Day Sail Cabo.  We hired Captain Bob and his crew for an afternoon and it was a great choice.  They supplied all beverages, lunch, snorkeling and a personalized water front tour of Cabo for a great price.  Captain Bob is FULL of information (maybe a little too much on occasion) but we loved seeing all of the houses of the famous people as we sailed past on the boat.  He got up close to Los Arcos and the sea lions too!

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Thumbs Up to Sunset Da Mona Lisa.  The food was tasty (not my favorite meal of the trip) but it was the views that made this dining experience spectacular!  We were set high on a cliff overlooking the ocean and the surfers with a flawless view of the sunset.  Pretty amazing.

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Thumbs Up to Edith's.  This restaurant is a must do and was most definitely my favorite dining experience of the trip.  The ambiance was both festive and romantic, the food was wonderful and their service was five star!  Get one of the flaming desserts - The Mexican Coffee was perfecto - its totally worth the show in and of itself.

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Thumbs Up to The Pink Kitty.  While I might not recommend The Pink Kitty for everyone, if you are looking to cut loose on the dance floor one night, head here.  I will admit that we were the first ones in the club (we might not be as young and hip as we use to be) and the place was in full swing when we headed out the door for our beds (they were calling our names) and we were probably the only ones in there that had children (at least who were legitimately born) but we owned that dance floor while we were there and sweated up a storm!

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Thumbs Up to The Spa at The One and Only.  Holy cow...or should I say Santa Vaca!  This was a total treat and definitely worth the splurge.  I had a pregnancy massage (of course) and it was fab!  Go early, enjoy the amenities and plan to go have lunch by the pool overlooking the ocean.  I could have gone back every day!

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Thumbs Up to Chris and Courtney Williams!  They planned all of the details for the entire group and are THE best trip planners/vacation buddies around.  Many thanks for all of your hard work on an excellent trip!

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

A Little Vaca

 

Okay, sorry for the long hiatus but I think my mind has still been in vacation mode this week.  But we're back.

We took a trip to Cabo with six of our dear friends and had an amazing time!  A little sun, a little spa for the girls, a little golf for the boys, a little dancing, some great meals, a few cocktails (virgin for me, of course), a day on the boat with Captain Bob, searching for purples, hanging out with Moustie, Preggo & DJ Rainbow and lots of laughs with good friends was totally what the Meabons needed.  And Harps got to have a vacation of her own with Honey and Grandy.

Here's a few of my favorite pictures from our time away:

Let the fun begin!

Off to the Spa

Totally relaxed at The One & Only Spa

Golfing with a view

Group Shot

 Dinner at Sunset Da Mona Lisa

Yes, that would be a baby bump that popped up while we were gone

A day on the boar

with Captain Bob

Plenty of time by the pool 

Dirty Monkeys

Miami Vices

Showing off our tans on our last night