Stevie’s Art Print

Just recently a client had mentioned that I didn’t have any new pictures of Stevie on my blog. What a bad mom I am!  So I went into the studio and gave Stevie a mini session. I loved this little peach dress that my mom gave her.  She just looked so pretty, just like an angle. 

 

Since I absolutely love art prints, I thought I would do one of Stevie that would match my maternity print. This will look beautiful on my wall!

 

Sweet little baby girl! Oh I can’t take it.

 

Madison

This sweet face is Madison. This is her second portrait session with me. She has just turned one and oh boy was she a mover! Madison was so funny! She could laugh and cry at the same time. I have never seen a baby do that. I wasn’t sure and I had to ask, “Is she laughing or crying”? It was both. Mommy says she is just very dramatic. I thought she was funny!
Here are a few of my very favorite images. I gave these two images an old fashioned effect because she has such a beautiful and classic look. And I think this expressions collection shows a bit of her drama. It totally made me laugh. Isn’t she so cute?!
   Here is an update of a few of Mom’s favorites. She was just in love with that sweet little profile. What a beautiful smile!       

Little Rina

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

This is Rina. She is just about a month old and was so much fun to photograph. When they got to the studio today I was just sure she’d be wide awake for the entire session. She was so alert and she has these beautiful big brown eyes. Well, like all babies she passed out! So we ended up with a pretty good variety of sleepy and awake images. This was my favorite image of Rina. She just looks so peaceful and timeless. 

I was lucky enough to photograph her mommy & daddy’s materinty session a couple of months ago. So I couldn’t wait to meet their new baby. I just love that I get to document the lives of so many wonderful little people. It is amazing to watch them grow, so quickly too by the way… That still shocks me.   

 

 

Announcing Stevie

  

I promise I will stop blogging about my self soon. This is really all I have been up to though. My recent newborn session was of my sweet little monkey. I am really enjoying this!

 

Sweet Little Stevie Dain

 

 

 

 

 

Here is our sweet little girl!  Oh I am so in love.

She was born on April 30th at 10:52 AM. 6 pounds 14 ounce and 18 3/4 inches long. She in the smallest of my three kiddos but so darn cute Here’s a gallery if you want to see more. I know every one has been wondering if she had arrived yet. Thanks for all of the emails and calls. http://web.mac.com/amydawnelle/Stevie_Dain_Paddie/Stevie_Dain_Paddie.html 

We’ve pretty much just been cuddling an sleeping since she arrived. I love to listen to her little noises and I have been sniffing her like crazy. I just can’t get enough of her. 

Any hoo! We’re gonna take a nap now!  

 

    

 

My Maternity Portrait

 

       This is the art print that I created with 0ne of my Maternity Images. Thank you Brandy Pellegrino of Pellegrino Photography company for my maternity session. You should check out her beautiful boudoir photography http://www.intimatephotographer.net/ .

 

I learned how to do this new technique at the Professional Photographers of California convention this year. I love it! I printed a canvas 16×24 and hung it in my room. This is such an awesome heirloom to have for my last baby. I look at it and just imagine it being preserved for the next 100 years in my family’s portrait history.

  

 BABY UPDATE 08: I will be induced this Monday because I have another breech baby.  Why do my babies just want to stay inside? I can’t wait!

Michelle’s Place

A couple of weeks ago I donated head shots to Michelle’s Place for their Spring Gala. Michelle’s Place is an organization and resource center in Murrieta for women with breast cancer.

A few survivors are chosen to have their hair and makeup done which is donated through Murrieta Day Spa and then I get to photograph them. They all write a bio and then it is displayed at the Gala.

I always forget how appreciated it is when I donate in this way. I always say yes when asked to donate my time, I just don’t realize the impact.    

All of these women are just like you and I. They have people who love them; families, children, careers and then they got breast cancer. It is so hard for me to imagine what that could be like. What bothers me the most is the possibility of dieing and leavening your babies to grow up with out their mommy. They all faced it and got through it.  It just amazes me.        

Take some time to read their bios (bring a tissue). It is important to open your eyes sometimes. I spend a lot of time ignoring tragedy because it is so hard to understand. But this one always wakes me up (each year). 

For more information about Michelle’s Place or their Spring Gala on May 16th please go to  http://www.michellesplace.org/   The Spring Gala will be such a fun event at South Coast winery with entertainment & silent auction. I hope to see you there!

 

Christina’s Story

It’s August 25, 2006 and from this day forward my life would never be the same.  I would have never thought at the age of 30 years old that I would ever be told that I had breast cancer, but indeed the test results were clear and uncertainties became certain. I remember looking at my doctor while trying to hold back my tears at the same time to ask him this one question. “Am I going to die?”  As I waited for the answer, I felt my heart stop, and my life suddenly coming to a halt. For that brief moment of silence, I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to hear the answer.  My doctor looked at me and said, “Christina you’re not going to do die.” I looked at my doctor and although I saw his mouth moving, I heard nothing but my heart and pulse, and felt nothing but numbness flow throughout my body. My body language read strength but inside I was truly scared. 

 

A single mother of three beautiful girls full of life and joy, I was faced with the reality that I was diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma in Situ, a type of breast cancer.  I was the first in my family to be diagnosed with breast cancer, and did not understand how or why I had this disease. With many things running through my mind such as how do I tell my girls their mommy and only sole provider has breast cancer.  

Or how do I explain to my family and friends that I am sick, but look healthy.  For a long time I tried to put my personal sufferings and devastations to the side because I knew I had to dig deep down within to carry enough strength for all of us.  As much as I tried to carry that strength for all of us, I knew I couldn’t do it alone. The help from my dear mother, family, friends, was great and very much appreciated but I needed something more. I needed to know that I was not alone and that there was someone that has fought the same battle I was fighting at the time. 

 

I searched for answers and while searching for those answers, I stumbled upon contact information for Michelle’s Place.  After many days of hesitation I finally challenged myself to go to Michelle’s place and it was one of the best choices I could have ever made during such difficult times. The staff at Michelle’s place was and still is incredible, remarkable, and they instantly made me feel like family. Due to Michelle’s place impressionable reputation for cancer support, I found my two survivor sisters Candice Nagel and Teresa Moreno. Candice’s Mother who is a Michelle’s place volunteer heard my story and immediately gave me her daughter’s number for support since she also was diagnosed with breast cancer around the same age as I. Through Candice I met Teresa who was also a young breast cancer survivor. Others may see these young ladies as strangers, but I assure you they are far from strangers to me. These two wonderful ladies did not even know me but opened their hearts to listen to my story and share their own. They helped me realize that I was not in the fight alone and that their support was always available to me when in need. 

 

I am honored to stand here today and say that I am a survivor and that without the support of my family, friends, and all the support I received from Michelle’s place, I don’t know how I could have gotten through this. And I want to thank all of you that have come here tonight to show your support to many women and even men that are currently battling cancer and that need our help and support such as I did. I thank you for taking the first step in becoming aware and not just becoming aware but being active in wanting to help save a life.  

 

 

Ginger’s Story

Shortly after we moved to Murrieta, I read in the Murrieta Monthly about an organization called Michelle’s Place. They offered mammograms to all women during the month of October.  I picked up an application and returned it and was approved.  I was very grateful as I did not have insurance at the time.  Later I read that Michelle’s Place was looking for volunteers. I felt this was a perfect way I could give back.   I called and talked to Cheryl and made an appointment to meet with her.  That was almost 5 years ago.  I have been working there since that time.  I enjoy working at Michelle’s and have met so many caring people serving the needs of young women with breast cancer.  I have met many survivors and others who came in for the many services offered.  This was a wonderful place to serve! The staff and volunteers were all so caring and giving.  I felt proud to be part of this wonderful organization.

 

In January 2007 I had my yearly mammogram, and received a clear report. Just 2 months later I felt a sizable lump in my right breast.  I went to the doctor was scheduled for an ultrasound. 

I shared this with friends, family and people at Michelle’s Place.  Many encouraged me with the possibility that it was probably just a cyst.  I held onto that hope.  It took several weeks for all the tests to come back including my biopsy, as the lump continued to grow larger.  I was diagnosed in June with Lobular Cancer.  I was shocked and could not believe this was happening to me.  I could not have been in a better place than Michelle’s as I dealt with this overwhelming news.  Everyone surrounded me with support through my chemo, surgery, more chemo, and then radiation.  I finished my radiation several weeks ago and am now officially a survivor!  

 

I am fortunate to have had unfailing support from my husband, family, church and friends who upheld me with cards, calls, meals, visits and prayers.  Michelle’s Place was a large part of that support.  I received many calls from several people, but especially Carole who called me every week and sent me many cards.  She helped keep my spirits up, and kept me laughing.  She came and stayed at the hospital all day on the day of my surgery.  I received so much from so many.  How could I survive without Cheryl’s weekly hugs and encouragement, and the support of staff and volunteers?  The day of my last radiation,   I came into Michelle’s to work and on the desk was a large bouquet of flowers and balloons, a card, and other gifts. Though this has been a year I wish never happened, I believe what the Bible says that God does not allow us more than we can endure, and He has made me stronger through this.  I am now prepared to be able to serve others with greater understanding and compassion because of what I have experienced.  I thank God for Michelle’s Place and look forward to serving there still.

 

 

Laura’s Story

I am a 41 year old Hispanic woman born into a loving family of seven. I was the oldest of four sisters and one brother. We were raised to do everything as a family. My father worked hard to send all five of us to Catholic parochial elementary school and Catholic High School. I also attended a Catholic College for a couple of years. Unity, togetherness was instilled in us at an early age. Family traditions included gourmet cooking, watching funny movies and quoting them, singing Motown and just being together. We are a very tight family and have a very bright light about us because we are so close. When we are together our light is usually showing!! 

 

Shortly after school I met Rich, the Love of my Life. Rich was Italian, a musician and drummer in a band when I met him. He was almost done with his music major. We knew we were more than just in-love, we were soul mates, it was destiny! He was my lover, my best friend and now has become my angel watching over me. We married and had three daughters, Marisa,, Jade, & Sydney. Rich was diagnosed with a rare inoperable brain tumor. It had been a couple of years being treated with meds and things seemed OK. But then when something didn’t seem right we didn’t get the chance to find out anything was wrong until the morning of Christmas Eve, 2006 when our lives changed forever. I can’t begin to explain the pain, the horror that was my life for many months. This was a love that could never be broken and the earth was taking away my Rich. I could not stand the idea of life without my love.

 

Somehow, I was able to say to myself that my health better be A-OK because I don’t want any surprises. So I started to schedule everything I hadn’t done that I needed done. One being my yearly Pap that was a year over due. They ordered a routine mammogram because I had just turned 40. By November I was in surgery having my first excsional biopsy done that proved to be malignant. Only eleven months after my husband’s death, I’m told its not surprising and is very common. It wasn’t long before the Wellness Program caught my eye in the newspaper that Michelle’s Place was sponsoring. I already knew about Michelle’s Place because I had been there for a friend when she was diagnosed years ago. Well, now it was my blessing to be involved!

 

My experiences have been with wonderful, loving, real ladies who genuinely want to help you understand what is going on with your Body, Mind, Soul & Heart. There is nothing better than to feel an embrace from someone you know really cares. My Real struggle has been living without my husband, my Love of my life, my Heart. The cancer just became something we couldn’t share together. Because of the women that I have met from Michelle’s Place for the first time I finally felt HOPE! Hope that I am going to make it on this journey, this path that I have started. I have learned more about myself and just that you can still get great satisfaction from letting people in. I look forward to spending more time with these women. There is a sense of community that I am proud to have joined by no coincidence, I believe. Many Blessings on these women that give so much!