Has it really been a year?

Thanks to everyone who supported us through this year of blessings and trials. We love you all!

Beautiful Sedona

We woke up on Memorial Day and decided to throw the baby in the car and get the heck out of dodge for the day. So we thought either Prescott or Sedona, and since we hadn't ever been to Sedona that's the direction we pointed the car and went. We didn't think to really research anything or get directions, duh, so it was a very fly by the seat of our pants day. The baby screamed bloody murder for a good hour of the drive then finally fell asleep. It was a beautiful drive up there with hardly any traffic at all.

Once we got to Sedona we just drove until we found an interesting little corner with lots of trees, terracotta walls and cobblestone streets. So we decided to stop there and do some walking. There were some amazing shops including a photography studio that affirmed to me that I have 0 actual talent with a camera. Oh my heck I would have sold the car and walked home to buy a few of those prints, absolutely amazing.

The architecture was just beautiful. On one corner it felt like a small Tuscan village and then you'd turn around and it looked like old Mexico. I was frothing at the mouth for a family or a bride and groom to photograph. (I just found out that a good friend of mine and here family were wandering around the same day and time we were, dang it and they just had a baby too, great photo op)

So here are some shots from the day. We are so going back in July for another day of exploring.



I loved this frog sculpture. Totally made me think of Mr. Todd's wild ride.
There was amazing art all over this place. I loved it!

Caden was fascinated by the flowers. I leaned him over and he would just stroke the petals then look back at me with a big smile. It was so cool to see him exploring.


I didn't get to be artistic like I wanted cause there was a ton of people and the baby really wanted us to keep moving. Any time I tried to set up a cool angled shot I would have to wait for the people to clear and he would start screaming so I just walked and shot. Oh well next time right?





Even though I'm the size of a small planet, I love this picture of us. The sun was blocked for just a minute by the clouds and the lighting is great and I love how lush everything looks. Oh and the little man is adorable too =)
He was very interested by the waterfall and the sound of the water. I would hold him up so he could see down in the fountain and his legs would start going crazy. Hence his new nick name Crazy Legs Cuglietta.
You can totally see how his eyes are changing in this shot. The look s green here!

And here's the red rocks. Loved them, loved them, loved them.




So it was a great day. We got stuck in the biggest traffic jam I've ever seen and I was raised just outside of San Francisco and have lived in LA. We sat on the 17 and I was in 1st gear for over 2 hours. It was unreal. So any families that want to take the trek up there I'll totally photograph you in that gorgeous little villa of shops. then we can eat at the amazing little Mexican restaurant there, mmmmmmmmmmmm yummmmmmmmmmm.

I know where I'll be November 20th

A year ago today

I was holding this miracle in my hands

And today I am holding this miracle in my arms

Happy mother's day to all the amazing mothers in my life. I am better because I have known you.

Current Obsession

I love this song to pieces. This is what I sing to Caden every night while I put him to bed. Oh there is just something about a guitar and a strong voice. I pray there is music in Heaven. For you Lynard Synard fans you'll recognized this is a cover by one of my favorite rock bands, Shinedown. I am currently working on a scrapbook page with these lyrics on it and a letter I wrote Caden. I hope you enjoy the song and if not at least the beauty of the lyrics.

So thankful tonight

I am full of thanks tonight for the amazing bond between women.

I'm thankful that I was able to go sit with my beautiful friend who just had a beautiful baby.

I'm thankful that I was able to hold her hand when she was in pain, comfort her when she was scared and talk to her while she cried.

I'm thankful that my husband was able to come give her a sweet blessing.

I'm thankful that I was able to cuddle on her baby girl for her when she could not hold her.

I'm thankful my Heavenly Father blessed me with Caden so I could better serve this beautiful sister knowing what she was going through.

I'm thankful tonight that I was able to be there for her in the moment that she needed me and that I was able to know that I needed to be there with such a powerful prompting.

But mostly I'm thankful for her friendship tonight and her willingness to let me serve her. It's been hard to get people to let me help them (right Robyn) and tonight my sweet friend let me fulfill that desire in my heart to simply serve. And for that I am truly thankful.

The most traumatic day I had since I've become a parent

Let me start by saying thank you for the supportive comments from my previous post. And just to let you know that if you live in AZ you were not one of those mentioned in the (you know who you are) portion of the letter. And most likely if you're from CA and are reading this - you're not them either. That post was not meant to fish for compliments I promise. All I'm gonna say on the matter (because with writing the post I put the issue to bed, washed my hands of it and am at peace) is that prop 8 has angered many, and amongst that number are a few "friends" who no longer believe that I am their friend all because of my choice to be a Mormon. And when challenged or told I won't do something I am the type to take something to the extreme to make sure the challenge is met. So in the most public form I have I declared my feelings and said good bye to any regrets that I succumb to the world. Done.

On to my current trauma. So Friday I wake up and go to work and I'm thinking woo hoo it's Friday it's gonna be a good day - i'm ready, i'm ready, i'm ready (spongebob lovers out there get that last part). About a quarter of the way through the day I get a call from my mom who proceeds to tell me that she can, as of next week, no longer watch Caden on Mondays and Wednesdays. So I email Amie to see if she can take him 5 days a week. She of course says Yes! oh and by the way my last official day of day care is August ## - all cause she's gonna become the best RN in the world and change peoples life and crap like that (shesh totally selfish of her having dreams and stuff - seriously though I'm so proud of her, you go get em girl.

So I'm stressing a bit by now. I knew Amie was shutting down the business this year but having an official date made it real and that meant I had to deal with it now. Well I had put in a call to a local day care center a few weeks back and I called to get the quote and set up the walk though and interview. Holy Toledo - $850 dollars a week to take Caden there. I about had a heart attack.

Then about 10 minutes later I end up reading the saddest child abuse case I have read to date. I see pictures of the most egregious acts of abuse and my mind goes into full forced panic mode. I could feel the tears welling up and I knew there was no stopping them. I just sat there at my desk crying - uncontrollably. I wanted to hold my baby so badly right then. I couldn't get to Amie's house fast enough after work. I swear I was no more than 2 feet from him the whole night. Now in my previous post I stated that I was not ashamed that I was a working mother - but that in no way means I like it. I would have quit right then and there if there was any way at all that I could. I even pulled up my budget spreadsheet and tried to tweak the numbers. Can't afford the $850 for the center, can't afford to stay home, can't bring him to work with me - well crap.

So should anyone know someone who does in home day care I would love the referral. I know I have a few months, but I'm a planner and I will freak out until I have a person lined up. I'm officially invoking that great promise of sisterhood here - with a pretty please and a cherry on top for good measure. I mean come on look at this face and tell me you don't want to snuggle and laugh with him all day long. Oh and he sleeps, never cries and his diapers smell of roses - just ask Amie =)