When Fidge Comes to Town

Growing up I always heard the story that my Grandma Lowman did three summersaults when she found out I was born. She and my grandpa were in Hawaii at the time and she was so thrilled that I was a girl that she celebrated by doing three turns on the ground of their condo.

When I was in the middle of having Maggie my mom made her way to HBHQ and found herself planting lettuce in our garden. Eventually my mom found her way back to the hospital, but I like to think that my mom was outside planting lettuce at our house while Maggie made her way into our lives. It is a story that I hope Maggie grows up hearing.

A few years ago we branded my mom with the nickname “Fidget” since she never, ever sits down and usually has two or three things going on at once. I like to think of myself as somebody that has the ability to multi-task, but she really takes it to a new level.

Fidge came and stayed at HBHQ a couple nights ago and as I was up every couple hours feeding & changing Maggie, Fidge would appear with my water bottle filled offering to take fussy Maggie off my hands, sending me back to bed.

Food appeared in front of me when it was time to eat, the floor got swept, flowers planted, fridge cleaned, wood polished and laundry done. All things that would eventually get done around here, but since our newest family member has arrived it might be months- or even years- until we’re on top of our game again.

Generations

We spent today at Camp Janet with 27 other people passing babies around, eating delicious food, reminiscing, and just enjoying the sun!

My family – and I use this term loosely since it extends to my cousin’s other grandparents and cousins as well – has been getting together to celebrate Mother’s Day for decades. Now we’ve got a new generation to ensure that this celebration continues.

Maggie was a rock star and she got to meet my cousin’s baby who is just nine days old – they are already buddies! Little Peyton Lowman and Maggie were the source of entertainment today and, I’m sure, will be for years to come.

Most importantly, I got to spend Mother’s Day with my own mom and she with her own mother.

Generations.

Two Maggies on each end.

To be the link between the generations – where I get to be the  granddaughter, daughter, and mother – fills me with a sense of purpose.

Happy Mother’s Day to all: mothers, daughters, and granddaughters.

The First of Many

Yesterday Chach stopped by to get some Maggie time in and allow me to take a super long shower.

Chach & Maggie

After a few hours of chit-chat she left to go take care of business in the Outside World, but before she could get her foot out HBHQ’s doors she stumbled upon a box that typically shows up in October when my grandparents are in Hawaii.

We both instantly recognized the box, but weren’t sure who would send me flowers from Hawaii – especially from the shop in Kona that our family loves.

After breaking the seal and reading the enclosed card I discovered that my aunt and uncle, Nancy & Mike (who recently got back from a Hawaiian vacation), sent me the bundle of flowers in celebration of my first Mother’s Day! How thoughtful!

Chach and I snipped and arranged those beauties and now I’ve got three vases full of Hawaiin flowers to help celebrate this new chapter of my life.

Thank you, Nancy & Mike!!!