Under the big golden tree...

art in the office

after we got back inside

kisses

my love.

Dear Little Man,

Seems like this week I have wanted to do nothing but be around you holding and kissing you. Today, I brought you with me to my office and you were in love with all the fun toys and art supplies!

Then, as I was walking out the door you shut it behind me and... it locked...with my keys and camera inside. I just had to laugh at this moment. We made the best of the beautiful weather as we plopped right down under a big golden tree watching the leaves float and fall around us in the wind... it was a magical day.  Thank you to our really sweet landloard who came back from his lunch to let us back in. It was a great day to be locked outside.

Little Man-I am loving this stage you are in...so cuddly- so expressive- so lively- so curious-so you.

I love being your mom.

XOXO,

Your mommy

Boots and Pj type of a day.

Dear Little Man, 

I want you to know that despite my sleepless night last night- I loved having a sleepover in your room and cuddling you...even if it was on the hard floor. I held your warm little body and couldn't help but kiss those soft little cheeks of yours. 

I love being your momma. 

Today may be a PJ and boots type of a day.

 That is okay. I love you to the moon and back. 

Besitots, xoxo, 

Your mama. 

Dear Diary,
I love being a mom. Have I mentioned that recently? I really do. 


But it is not always easy breezy...last week was rough. Thanks to a little stomach bug that we passed around...we have been out of commission. Feeling feeverish, cranky, and tired-  Nixon (and I) wanted to be constantly held.

I would put him down for a second and then would feel a little tug at my shirt... I'd look down  to see this little face peering up at me with his arms raised grunting as to say "hold me, hold me." So I did... even with week arms, an upset stomach and extreme fatigue. I am a mom... that is what we do.

 I am so glad we are all healthy and back to normal... so much more fun to have this summer!

Besitos xoxo,

Grateful mama

This is my little boy.

Dear Diary, 

This is my little boy.

  

 This is my family...

 with mustaches.

I heart them.

Besitos, xoxo

Proud Mama

Box car.

Dear Diary,

Nixon and I decided to make a car out of the pile of boxes that were in our dining room from a recent shipment of Proof sunglasses. Best day ever. Check out the process here. 

I love this kid. 

Besitos xoxo,

Proud mama

My date with Summer.

Dear Diary,

For my birthday (Yikes- June 9th) Brooks is taking a mindful class with me (it's my second time!) and one of our daily assignments this week is to write about a pleasant event each day and keep a gratitude journal. Today this is mine. I title my event: A DATE WITH SUMMER AND MY LITTLE MAN. 

Today I felt like gardening. Nixon wanted to help.

He also wanted to try out our new hose. 

Mommy had to help a little bit. 

Time to turn it down

Not happy about this.

Today:

I saw: a beautiful sunny day

I touched: dirt between my fingers

I tasted: water from a garden hose

I smelled: sunblock on my cheeks

I felt: joy in my heart that summer is here.

Although Nixon was a bit sad to have to go inside, we treated ourselves to an orange Otterpop- that can always make things better. Ahhhh what a refreshing summer day- mud, water and all. 

Besitos, xoxo

a playful mama 

P.S. gratitude journal assignment:

5 things I am grateful for today:

* the slobbery kiss Nixon gave me after I gave him one.

* the tomato plants we planted in the earth.

* the sound of the birds singing in the morning.

* the smell of sunblock as we lathered it into our skin.

* the amazing husband I have who comes to a mindfulness class with me.

Life began the day I became your mommy.

Dear Diary,
My heart is full of gratitude today. I went back and read my diary and came across this post I wrote about a year ago. It made me smile.


Motherhood has opened my eyes to a world I didn't know existed... to love that I didn't know existed. Life began the day my baby boy arrived giving me the honor of being his mommy. I am blessed to have that privilege of experiencing my divine role of motherhood. Thank you. And thank you to my beautiful mom whom you can see here and my fabulous Mother-in-law whom you can see here. I love you both for being inspirational women and mothers in my life.


besitos, xoxo


A grateful mama

amazing mama mimi

Dear Diary-

Do you want to know who is an amazing mama?

Evelyn Dame (AKA Mimi). She raised 5 busy body boys (including Brooks)... okay enough said!? But not only that- she did it all with such style and grace. Did I tell you she is an AMAZING semestress and while I was writing this post I received a text from her telling me she was working on finishing a wall panel for my office and to text her back a measurement. What? It is nearly 11pm... She is amazing. You can find more about her and her sewing abilities on her etsy shop. I'll post our office amazingness when it's finished! Thanks Mimi!

So in honor of Mother's day approaching, here are photos of our Mimi and my cute little niece McCall who was visiting last month.  We were lucky to have her come over one afternoon to play. Of course I had to capture the moment... More photos of McCall can be found on my photo blog here.

Give Mimi a squeeze

Little tighter

Okay that's good!

McCall: "Lets play doll house!"

   

Nixon: "...More into playing with a ball"

Hmmmm....

How will this work?

Besitos, xoxo
a grateful daughter-in-law

Mindfulness.

Dear Diary,

I remember it like it was yesterday the fall of 2009. There was such a crisp October smell in the air. Me, a frazzled post-graduate student who had just spent the last three years in utter chaotic stress from school had the desire to do nothing but BE STILL. However, I didn’t know how. I had tried mediating once or twice in the past but was discouraged with what I perceived as my inability to sit still for longer than one minute.

The opportunity came to enroll in the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Class from Heather Donahue and Kristin Koskella and it was after that class that I walked out of the fog and saw my life clearly before me. It couldn’t have come at a better time.

You see, I was about 20 some weeks pregnant and had just found out that my baby boy may have some “complications” and there was a chance he may not survive.  Naturally, my mind ran wild with obsessive thoughts and fear with the inability to control the outcome and the future for this child. Through this class, I was able to become free from the paralyzing worry that was holding me hostage.

Living moment-to-moment, day-to-day I pressed forward breathing along the way . I am blessed to say that my little baby boy is now a healthy happy little one-year-old boy and such a joy in my life. Vowing to never take a moment for granted,  I am continually practicing being present with him each and every day. I am truly a better mother, wife, friend, sister, daughter, photographer, and counselor because of this class. 

This class is amazing. I would recommend it for ANYONE- in fact, Brooks is giving this class to me as my birthday gift... and he is taking it with me. I don't think I could ask for anything better! I can't wait!

If you are interested in taking this class visit my Live Inspired Blog here for more info.  

Besitos xoxo,

CDame

My #1 fan.

My #1 Fan

Dear Diary,

Even as a 28-year-old I love spending time with my mom. We had a slumber party over the weekend while Brooks was out of town! Plopping ourselves on the bed in our PJs, we laughed and cried while talking about life. I love watching her face light up as she talks about something she is excited about. Isn't she pretty? 


Today I am grateful for my mom. She literally is our NUMBER ONE fan. She would wear around a t-shirt that says that if she could. 


You may find her handing out my photography card, being the only brave one to dance at Bianca's concert, or filling every inch of her wall with Mandy's artwork! I really can’t think of a single time that she has ever made fun of or put us girls down... not even once.  Wow, I guess I have taken that for granted. 

I have always had a strong positive view of myself- there wasn’t/isn't anything that I thought/think I couldn’t do. I think much of that is due to the fact that my mom thinks we are so fabulous.

I attended a play therapy conference this weekend and had the opportunity to reflect on my upbringing and the style of discipline I was given. Reflecting back, I really had such supportive parents who always were encouraging! I think that is why I have such passion for teaching the parents I work with about positive parenting. 


I was over on my Live Inspired blog writing about it here if you want to check it out. 

Anyhow- I love you mami! Thanks for being so unrealistically positive towards us girls. It is nice to know someone believes in you. It has given me the courage to always shoot for the stars and beyond. At least I know I will always have a #1 fan no matter what I do.

Besitos xoxo, 


A very loved daughter

I really want family photos done...

(I didn't get a chance to post this last night)

Dear Diary,

I it is true I am a photographer. And it is true that I have over 15 empty frames in my house just waiting for just the right photo to be placed in there and hung on our bare walls. But just the perfect photo of our family just doesn't happen like that. Last October this was my attempt of getting a family photo... propping a camera on a tripod just wasn't cutting it-  so, needless to say- it turned into another Nixon photo shoot. I am okay with that- he is pretty cute.

 With Spring here- I am determined to get photos taken and frames filled. Here are the photos of our attempt to take family photos last fall. Get ready for our spring collection! It's coming.

Besitos xoxo

- CDAME 

Yes a smile!

Smiles didn't last long

   

Serious face

Brooks is showing leaves- trying to get Nixon to Smile.... 

  

Resort to kisses

cuddles

Checking out leaves

   

Peek a Boo

Now we get smiles

I

Love

This 

Kid.

Nixon the Builder Boy

Dear Diary,

Nixon and I walked outside to see what daddy was working on...

Looked like Man Projects...

So, Nixon wanted to help...

And I quietly watched and snapped some shots. 

My little baby boy is not looking so baby anymore. I love these boys. 

Besitos,XOXO 
A proud mama