Call "CODE" I've got a baby in Meltdown...

Awww the sound of silence...oh wait NO that's my son screaming in the background!

Let me just tell you how my night has gone...lol! Austin has started preschool twice a week to have more interactions with other children and not to mention give mommy a little time to herself while daddy is away. So today started like any other Tues/Thurs. we got up, got ready, and headed out the door to preschool. The day was great...mommy got to catch up on some much neglected laundry, cleaned the bathroom and so on. UNTIL, I picked my little man up from preschool this afternoon. I don't know what possessed him, but he was in meltdown mode from the time I picked him up at 4:30. He screamed, cried, and threw tantrums all the way to bed time. It got so bad that his normal bedtime which is 8pm quickly moved up to 7pm. He's the sweetest little guy I swear, but after today's episode, I wanted to put MYSELF in a straight jacket.

The funniest moment (not really) came at the point of making dinner for Austin. Normally he plays nicely while I cook dinner, but tonight, all he wanted to do was throw plates and bowls at mommy's feet so what do I do, I put him in his play pin for him to throw his fit elsewhere. Finally the macaroni and cheese that normally takes 10 minute to make (felt like forever) was finally done thirty minutes later. So we sit down at the table together to eat and he so beyond tired that the macaroni on the spoon was hitting his lap before making it to his mouth. So the nice mommy that I am, I took the spoon and started feeding him myself. Well that worked for about three spoonfuls and then he was done...hysteria broke lose and it was time to call CODE...the child was officially done and wanted no part in dinner, mommy, or even his most loved blanky. I finally had to say enough was enough it's off to bed we go...so he did! This was the hardest part of the night for me...letting him cry it out. After singing him my song...

Mommy loves you
Mommy love you
Yes I do
Yes I do
Your the best little one
I could ever wish for

Mommy loves you
Mommy loves you...

While screaming the whole way through...I shut the door and fell into the couch. I was pooped and it was only a couple of hours today that I had him. While some of you reading might be saying the whole way through...yup been there done that...I will have to say I felt like I was in a war zone. I felt horrible putting him to bed early and hearing him cry, but that's all I could do...nothing and when I say nothing I mean NOTHING was working. Needless to say my heart ached for the twenty minutes it took him to finally fall asleep...AWWW the sound of peace and quiet! Tomorrow is another day and he'll start fresh in the morning. As for me, I am now going to have to figure out how to release this straight jacket so I can head to bed myself...I may need the extra sleep in the morning!!

To all those parents who have been through this stage before...I will take any advice you have with open ears! Thanks for listening:)))

Summer...Summer...TIME!

It's summer time and there is nothing better then ice cream and dirt..hahahaha! Today, Austin experienced his first ice cream cone and oh boy did he LOVE it! He loved it so much that he combined it with his most favorite texture...dirt! There is no way to stop this young man from being all boy, so I just sat back and snapped as he enjoyed his summer experience! Hope you enjoy...Well I mean as much as Austin did:)





This is where his two loves came together...He didn't like the taste of dirt...YUCK!





Austin dropped his cone and went quickly inside for his bath...can you tell how badly he needed it!!

Michael Jackson 6-25-2009

Wow, where do I begin or should I start by saying...I can't believe I am going to write this, but I have to because it's really laying heavy on my shoulders.

Let me first start off by saying that I think Michael Jackson was a great American talent and I do believe he did a lot of great things with his career in the earlier years. While yesterday was a sad and unfortunate day, I can't help but have a sickening pit in my stomach on how some people are reacting to his passing. I was listening to our local Seattle morning show this morning and some of the things people were saying really got me going. They were crying, going on and on about how wonderful and magnificent he was. It even went as far as some saying that they were in near depression over the matter. I simply cannot say that in the last 15 years Michael Jackson has done anything positive with his career. I mean if you want to say hiding out in La La Land a success, more power to you. I am even more sadden by the fact that another wonderful talent has been overlooked in the passing of yesterdays events. Farrah Fawcett who fought a brave battle with cancer and did more in the last year with her career then Michael did in the last 15 lost her life as well.

I guess you could say that I am just having a hard time wrapping my head around peoples ways of mourning and idolizing celebrities. I frankly believe there are more important people to mourn and be sadden by with their passing. I bet yesterday there was an American Soldier who lost his life fighting for his country and that makes me so sad that a family will have to live without their hero or possibly a child grow up without his father or mother. To me, that's who we should be mourning and paying our respects to...I know I am going off on a tangent here and I will step down from my soap now before I really get into it. I just want to make the point that there is much more to life then idolizing celebrities and believing they are the best thing known to man. Life is way to short for that kind of behavior and to be honest, I believe the everyday person like you and me do a lot more for our society then celebrities making good television and tabloids...Just my personal opinion!

On a positive and respectful note, I am sad for the families who lost their loved ones yesterday. I hope that in the midst of a very sad day, they are able to remember the good moments they had with their loved ones...I will keep you all in my prayers. God bless!

We've entered a new stage...

Austin has entered a new stage of testing and tantrums. As birthday number two approached within the next four months, I wonder what the next year will hold for us. I hope and pray that this stage does not last long, because mommy's buttons aren't sure how many times they can be pushed...hahaha! On another note, we went to the doctors yesterday for his 18 month check up and he's right on track. With his height and weight in the 90th percentile, we're certain he'll make a great quarter back on day...lol! As for the rest of the family, I am managing to live day to day while looking forward to December 15th when Joel come home for good! Yup that's right...the dates been set and we're in the home stretch...YEAH! Well I suppose that's it for now...tootles:)

Here are a couple of pictures to mark Austin's growth and milestones...I can't believe he's almost TWO!





Well I suppose the terrible twos won't be too bad with a smile like this...seriously how could you get mad at this little guy:)



Oh yes and one more...Monkey see monkey DO!

Had the time of my LIFE...

Well the wedding weekend is over and I must say I had the time of my life. It's late here, but I could not wait to post these pictures. I took well over 3,000 pictures this weekend and these are just a few of my favorite...Sorry there was no way to share all 1,000 of my favorites. Hope you all had a great weekend! I am off to get some well needed ZZZZzzzzz!

Oh MAN this was my favorite of the two weddings. Hannah and DJ loved the camera and it showed through their pictures...beautiful couple!









Wedding number two was on Saturday at a very nice Country club on the water...This wedding was the harder of the two because the lighting (sun) was so intense.

Weddings Jitters...ALOT!

Today is the BIG day! I am photographing my first wedding today and I have a bit of the wedding jitters. This is a huge honor and yet a HUGE responsibility. Taking pictures of someones special day is a one time opportunity...I can't tell them if I don't get the shots to come back later and we'll re-shoot...NO can't be done. So needless to say I am a little nervous! OK a little is an understatement...I mean ALOT. Oh yes and to add to the pressure it's not just one wedding this weekend It's TWO (one tonight and one tomorrow). Well wish me luck and stay tuned for my first ever wedding pictures! TGIF:))

Fields of Gold...

Fields of Gold...I love this song (currently my default song)! What a beautiful expression of love and hope for a bright future. I heard this song the other day while I was relaxing during my mommy moment pedicure at a local salon. This song immediately sparked many great memories that I have enjoyed with my husband. Traveling the world to watching movies on the couch together. Whether big or small moments this song just brightened my spirit and reminded me of how lucky I am to have such a wonderful life. I truly am blessed to have a wonderful husband who loves and supports me in every moment of my life. I am also soooooooooooo very lucky to have such an awesome and adorable son. He is truly my beating heart...he keeps me going and every time I see him I can't help but to smile. He is the product of a loving, supportive, and strong marriage. One that was built on a solid foundation of love and respect. I am babbling on now, but I am sure you get the point. Love is so amazing and this song shows how beautiful it truly is and can be for all! Thanks for listening....

You can just call me a Mamarazzi...

I can't help it, but I think my blog is on it's way to turning into a photo blog or maybe I should start one...hmmm! It seems lately, all I have done outside of being a mom; is taking pictures. I love the way it makes me feel! It's funny when you look through the lens and get that fuzzy feeling. It's hard to explain and I don't know if any other photographers feel this way, but I know when I get the picture right...I can feel it in my heart! It's a great feeling to have and I love it when a parent or family member gets the same fuzzy feeling when they see their loved one in print. What a great hobby to have. Hope you all enjoy this round!

I've been busy...

I've been busy...doing what I love...capturing the moments! A.K.A (Also Known As) Photography. I've had quite the week and there is still more to come...I hope you enjoy the few I have to share! Let me know what you think:)

This family was so much fun to take photographs of and obviously very beautiful!!














This little guys name is Blaine...He has such a contagious smile!





Tomorrow I am photographing twins and next weekend I filled with the honor of capturing two very special days...weddings!! Yeah....stay tuned:)

Love, God, and Many Prayers...

As promised, I am here to UPDATE you all on baby Alexander. Last Wednesday evening I wrote a post for prayer that little Alexander made it through open heart surgery. At just a week old, Alexander and his parents (my friends Andrea and Jon) experienced the power of prayer and love between family, friends, and those who they didn't even know. While it was touch and go for a while, god blessed our prayers and baby Alexander was taken off the ventilator and removed from ICU today at 1:30 (west coast time). Below are pictures taken from Andreas family and while I look at them I am amazed at how such a little angel has remained so strong through this time. God is amazing and no one can tell me that his grace isn't a powerful presence. Thank you all for your love and prayers.

After surgery Thursday May 29, 2009





Today Tuesday June 2, 2009