The Enchanted Garden - Los Angeles Child Photographer

Two babies in the garden alone but for the breeze

The dancing light above their heads in ficus tree green leaves.

All lulled by fairytales, the scent of lavender air

The seeds take flight where heads they lay and rest upon their hair.

The breeze she slowly beckons, the lil' bugs to play

To tickle twice upon their hands, upon the chair they lay.

The leaves catch light ethereal, the light it ebbs and flows

O'er downy skin, the nape of necks, and piggy little toes.

Oh dream of bugs and reindeer, of fairies, knights and foals

Those dreams which guide you through your sleep and nourish your sweet souls.

Enchanted little children, your dreams beneath your tree

That take the path that leads to fields, and streams to open seas.

- Love Mama




I'm reading stories to the boys in the garden. Reuben's just home from school and Callum and I have enjoyed our morning at home doing puzzles. They nestle into me for some stories with the sun high above us and I feel them both become heavier beside me. Their breathing each mirrors the others and I know they are both now asleep. A poem starts to dance around in my head and I save it for later.

How do I say I love Roo?

Scrap of paper, idly scribbled
Orange, blue and green,
Taken from the waiting room
Crayola markings seen.

Finding words to say I love you
Learning signs to show
Couldn't sleep for want last night
To show you all I know.

Sweet smile on your face
That's wheeled through auto doors
I catch a glimpse now once again
Down shiny white corridors.

Looking down now to those scribbles
As you're wheeled away
Cannot take my eyes away
From what it has to say.

What has my sweet boy drawn on
This idle script from Reu?
Your namesake on this colouring book! titled
"How do I say I love Roo?".


[Idly scribed by Mama as I await your return from the operating room, clutching the colouring book page you found in the waiting room and were scribbling on an hour ago]

Update: Surgery went very smoothly, the simplest yet. I'd brought my laptop not knowing how long we'd be around for so he could watch Baby Signing Time and with his hand swaddled in bandages with the cumbersome IV underneath, he started trying to sign along.

24 lbs on which my heart lingers

What shall I say to you, darling

On the eve before you're one

What can I say of you, Cali

Of my love for you, my dear son.

I'll say how you've lightened my heart
With your chuckling notes in my ear

I'll say how you've given your brother

The greatest joy we shall ever hear.

At times you'll run from my arms dear

For adventure, the rush and the wild

But you'll always return to me yearning

The warmth from being my child.

The squeak of your bed frame each morning

Lets me know when you're awake

I have not far to be summonsed

Crib beside me as much for my sake.

Then your eyes open wide and there's huge blue
Staring at me from the side
Seven milk teeth erupt from your face
So I want nothing more than to bide.

Your morning bottle it beckons
Your body so warm and so near
Tiny hands they run through my curls
And those same curls then tickle your ear.

For breakfast you'll munch on grain toast
Sweet honey for a treat
Bananas, juice, Mama's mush
Oh how you love to eat!

The days they race past us so fast
To school, appointments and class
Yet I try so hard to inject still
Fresh air, the beach, the grass.

I listen to voices like monkeys

From the car seats in the rear

I'll hear how you imitate each other

Such ridiculous noises I'll hear.

I'll watch how you'll shriek with laughter

When you sight each other post school

Never mind there are friends watching over
For now's not a time to play cool.

You point to it all with a "dat"

Your word for this and that

"What's that dear mama?", you ask me

"My love, once again, it's a cat."

At bath time you seem to insist now
On climbing up to the spout
A shock of cold water upon us
Brings "STOP", a sharp breath and a shout.

And I find it hard to miss

A single moment that passes us by

A want to capture that moment
With my eye, I can't let it lie.

Did I blink too fast and miss your

Tiny changes that occured through the year

No amount of watching and writing

Can catch up with the speed of time dear.

As I lie here I'll ponder how you now
Have your mother wrapped round your fingers

Yet the thought of it makes me laugh so
24 pounds on which my heart lingers.

An angel with the touch of the devil

A Scorpio through and through
I'd have you no other way darling
It makes you the way I love you.

I didn't know

I didn't know the meaning of downy

Until I felt your skin at birth

I didn't know you knew all your school friend's names in sign
Until I asked
Nor that you could reach down and pick up a book and stand back up again unsupported
Until you showed me
I didn't know you could jump without aid
Until the music played
I didn't know there were 2 lights on in the car
Until you signed "it's the same"

Nor that you knew the origins of pain

Until you signed ow-wee at a tiny long faded scratch on your hand
I didn't know you knew the signs for cloud, windy, lightning and rain

Until the weather changed

I didn't know you knew about wipers on cars

Until the first rains came today
Nor did I understand the power of "yet"
Until you taught me patience
I didn't know the sweetness of your voice
Until a miracle in June
I didn't know of courage
Until you let me see
Nor did I know of defiance
Until you became a toddler
I didn't know you could tickle yourself
Until you showed me how
I didn't know you felt unconditional love
Until I saw your love for Callum
Nor did I know the best smell in the world

Until I smelt your hair this evening

I didn't know I had it in me

Until you brought it out.

If all these are things I didn't know because I've never asked, seen, heard, touched or smelt, I can only dream of what it is that you will continue to bring to this World and I can only feel emotions cement inside my heart that you are here for great things, Reuben.

Night light

Reuben, bathed and ready for bed

Night light on in your room

Entranced by the soft glow which lights up your face in a darkened room

I lay you in my lap and nestle my face in your hair

Wild golden curls

Sweet smell of lavender and of you

Luminous

I breathe you in

That deliciousness of a baby's head

My baby. Still

Callum in the mirror, 4 months

There's a cute little boy who sits by the mirror mama

And who just like me is doing yoga
I feel a little bashful and I'm trying not to laugh
He's here again for me tonight before I have my bath
He stuffs his fingers in his mouth just like I like to do

And wow I see a lady now who much resembles you
He's also had his little jabs with trucks on his Bandaid

I guess they did the ouchy thing and covered the pricks they made

Oh mama, mama, you will know, what we should really do?

I'm scared if he sits on Reuben's potty, he might just leave a poo!

For Lucas

When Angel Lucas took his first long flight
To God in heaven bathed in wondrous light
He looketh down to see his brother Pierce
And mom and dad so sadly bathed in tears

He asked Dear Lord “Why did I have to go
Just as my life was blossoming, all aglow?”
His tiny wings then mustered up the strength
To meet his Guardian Angel, Heaven sent

And God embraced him in his loving arms
All saints and heavenly creatures with their charms
With God he understands what we can not
It all makes sense, no need for Why and What?

A special place in Heaven has been saved
A place where God has gathered those he made
You’re dancing now with Angels, children too,
With patience they have waited long for you

That heavenly place more beautiful than we can say
A place for love and laughter, ecstasy
So Lucas asks you not to grieve for him
For he has done Lord’s work with your dear kin

Upon this Earth he touched and he invited
A plethora of lives across the world united
He playeth now in wonderment with God
Stands by his maker’s comfort, staff and rod

You ached for him to grow to be a man
Yet he fulfilled what God intended, his great plan
A life full of such intense family love
It overwhelms, it breaks my heart to think of

Go rest in peace our dear sweet Lucas boy
Your life has touched so many lives with joy
The peace I found within me when I saw
The love and excitement of your darling boy

With love, Catherine

Beautiful mamas

Beautiful mamas
Beautiful faces
Friends I have made
In far flung places

Eloquent writers
Creative passions
You capture your children
With love and compassion

Names I have etched
In my daily thoughts
Head, full of ideas
Of things you have taught

Continue to inspire
Continue to teach
Of the love of motherhood
Of the goals we can reach

Days when I wake up
Think, How can I cope?
Yet you fill me with promise
You fill me with hope

It’s hard to imagine
How far we’ve all come
We've come through together
To accept, not succumb


- I had these words dancing round my head whilst in hospital and wanted to get them down, so comforting are your thoughts and words in difficult times. Cx

Asleep

When I survey the wonder in your eyes
On bended knee beside your crib at night
And kiss curls frame the face that holds those eyes
You hold that gaze, it sets my heart alight.

When fast asleep, your fingers dance in words
And tell of dreams, enchantments, learned thoughts
Bewitched am I by aura, radiant light
'Neath fairy tales that speak of wooded walks.

And gentle shadows dancing softly cast
O'er tiny hands with dimples in a row
Such gentle hands that daddy's hands do touch
And downy toes then flicker all aglow.

Your cupid's bow that graces your dear face
I kiss those lips that ne'er fail to melt
My heart and when you try to speak
It grows the vines of love I've always felt.

Yay you have put me under your sweet spell
I cannot lift your face from my closed eyes
And when you wake in morning's summer light
Afresh! Anew! for life with great surprise!

- Mama

1st birthday

What sweetness in your face
What loveliness in your eyes
What love we share
What hope you bring
What beauty there resides.
Your funny smile
Your mischievous looks
Your patience, sweet and true
Such qualities to bring such pride
Your true and pure virtue
Your mama loves you oh so much
My pride for all those things
In darkest nights and longest days
I never dared to dream
Of what your spirit brings
And so today
My darling boy
My message feels so clear
To thank you, bless you, love you so
For all your joyous cheer