YES! 

The website is back up and running! Woohoo!!! 

Thanks everyone for letting me know that the site was down, and for cheering me on in my pursuit to detach and stay calm.  

I loved hearing how you handle a curve ball. Just nice to know we all have so many ways to not spin out, and if we do…to not judge ourselves for it!  

In keeping with the celebratory vibe over here at CatherineJust.com 

Here’s what I want to do for you: 

I’m giving away 10 *FREE* mentoring sessions  

Yep. 1 on 1 with me. for FREEEEEE.

Here is the link to sign up. And once they are gone…they are gone.  

***UPDATE! All Sessions are booked already! WOW! My mind is BLOWN!

I opened up 15 more spots and those filled up too! Thank you for signing up. I’m so looking forward to it.

 There’s still room to sign up for the Deepening!

Here is the link to join us. 

You know my motto ” Don’t leave before the Miracle Happens “. 

Don’t give up.  

There is something even more amazing just waiting for you when you step up to that fear, confusion, self doubt, uncertainty and create a plan to hang on rather than giving up. 

Can’t wait to connect with you! 
xo 
*c 
 

And yes – You are all invited to the Deepening. 

Registration ends April 30th. I’d love for you to be a part of this exclusive group of amazing individuals all ready to deepen their experience to the everyday. Both inside and out. 

Here is the link to join us. 

Ohhhhh yes. It’s the FABULOUS Michelle Ward! I was so totally thrilled to get a moment to sit down and talk with her. The last time I saw her she was standing on stage in front of a thousand people, singing and playing her ukulele and singing something about…..well….I’ll let her tell you all about it. It had me in tears and deeply moved with joy. And that’s not all that impresses me about Michelle. Check out this interview and find out why she was on my short list of people to interview.

Do you need the transcript? You got it. Michelle Ward Transcript 

Do you want to listen to the MP3? Hey it’s right here! ( stay tuned it will be here in a nanosecond )

Want to learn more about Michelle Ward? http://www.whenigrowupcoach.com

Twitter @WhenIGrowUpCoach

Like this episode? Share it with your peeps!

LOVED @whenigrowupcoach on CtheGtv! 

Comment below and let me know what wisdom bombs you heard during the interview.

Thank you for stopping by CtheG tv. For more information on this new series, click HERE.

Sending you all love,

xo

*c

Don’t leave before the miracle happens.

Receive notification when CtheG tv posts new episodes

Welcome to another episode of CtheG tv! Today I’m really excited to share with you my interview with Tommy Rosen

We have a few things in common, as you will find out in the interview. He’s an amazing life leader with wisdom bombs galore. If you are interested in finding more EASE in your life and less Dis-Ease, You will hear many tools today to feel and be more connected in your life.

Grab your favorite coffee or tea and have a seat. This interview is longer than the others and well worth the time.

Tommy Rosen has an upcoming FREE ONLINE EVENT that starts this Sunday called Recovery 2.0:Beyond Addiction

30+ AMAZING life leaders including: Richard Branson, Gabrielle Bernstein, David Wolfe, Noah Levine, Mastin Kipp, Guru Prem, And many more are in this life changing event.

SIGN UP for RECOVERY 2.0:Beyond Addiction HERE

More about Recovery 2.0: Beyond Addiction

Recovery 2.0:Beyond Addiction is a free virtual conference that brings together the voices of 30+ professionals and thought leaders to deliver cutting-edge, inspirational, spiritual, medical and practical approaches to overcoming addictions of all kinds. We’ve gathered the best information and teachers in the world to help inspire people struggling with addiction, supporting their families and loved ones as well as those who work in the field of recovery. Guests will leave more aware, more empowered, and with the tools needed for successful recovery, optimal health and a life of fulfilling purpose, BEYOND ADDICTION! Tune into the live streaming video conference from March 17-21, 2013.

And yes it’s FREE.

Here is the link to sign up.

More about Tommy:

Tommy Rosen is a yoga teacher and addiction recovery expert who has spent the last two decades immersed in yoga, recovery and wellness. Tommy is certified in both Hatha and Kundalini Yoga and Meditation. He is one of the pioneers in the burgeoning field of Yoga and Recovery and has over twenty years of experience assisting others to holistically transcend addictions of all kinds.

Tommy teaches regularly at yoga conferences and festivals, including Wanderlust, Hanuman, Bhaktifest and Tadasana. He is the host of the upcoming Recovery 2.0: Beyond Addiction Online Conference and also teaches annually at Esalen, Omega and Kripalu.

Do you need the transcript? You got it.  Tommy Rosen Transcript

Do you want to listen to the MP3? Hey it’s right here! Tommy Rosen Podcast

Want to learn more about Tommy Rosen? http://www.tommyrosen.com/

Twitter @tommyrosen

Comment below and let me know what wisdom bombs you heard during the interview.

Thank you for stopping by CtheG tv. For more information on this new series, click HERE.

Sending you all love,

xo

*c

Don’t leave before the miracle happens.

Receive notification when CtheG tv posts new episodes

like this episode? Tweet or post on your FB page. Spread the love.

Sheri Rosenthal from Journeys of the Spirit interviews me today. It was really fun to explain to her all the ways that photography has changed my life and how I bring these things into my teaching. My Sedona Retreat is right around the corner so she was interviewing me for her newsletter because I run my trips through her company. I thought you might like to hear more about the trip as well. There aren’t too many spaces left and I’d love for you to join us. Bonus: I’m bringing along my husband and my famous son Max this time. They will be doing their own thing as it is a women’s retreat, but expect cameo appearances through out. I can tell you that the first time Max joined us at a retreat the participants are still talking about it! He stole focus for sure! Plus the little man knows a lot about photography and has started his own series of self portraits. 

Sedona Women’s Retreat is April 16-22nd

Every participant will receive my “In Plain Sight” 30 day home study course for FREE once they are registered for the retreat. It will set the gears in motion and start you on the path of having a transformative experience in Sedona.

For more info on the Sedona Trip you can click HERE 

Do you need the transcript? You got it.  Gregory Berg Transcript

Do you want to listen to the MP3? Hey it’s right here! Gregory Berg Podcast

Want to learn more about Gregory Berg? http://www.ensocreative.com

Twitter @ensocreates

Comment below and let me know what wisdom bombs you heard during the interview.

Thank you for stopping by CtheG tv. For more information on this new series, click HERE.

Sending you all love,

xo

*c

Don’t leave before the miracle happens.

Receive notification when CtheG tv posts new episodes

like this episode? Tweet or post on your FB page. Spread the love.

Morning time photo ritual from In Plain Sight. ©Catherine Just

Making decisions for my business is one thing. But making decisions that impact my sons life is another completely.

Today I filled out the registration form for preschool – decided to go back to the same school he is in now over at the JCC.

But this was not the popular choice by my favorite parents whose children attend the same class as Max, and go on playdates with him.

We all agree that the class is not geared toward academics or toward using music and art to deepen the learning. It’s geared toward learning through social play. While I REALLY WANT him to go where all the other kids will be going next year ( the Arts Preschool ) I went to visit and check out the situation with Max’s specific needs in mind.

While other parents were looking at the actual program, I was looking at how high the ceilings are and how noise in rooms like that will really bother Max with his sensory sensitivities. I was looking at the saxaphone, drum kits and pianos in every classroom and how curious my son is and his need to pick things up, bang on them, check them out from all angles. He is not a boy who just sits down because that’s what is happening in class. He needs to move his body for sensory input and explore, pick up, hold, lick, run with and bang on whatever he finds interesting. Musical instruments are at the top of the list. One of the classrooms I visited was having creative writing time. It was so quiet in there and in the corner was a real piano.

HOW on earth can Max focus on what’s happening with the class when his form of CRACK sitting in the corner?

Believe you me, I think playing piano is AWESOME. But not when all the other kids are writing and learning about how to spell their names.  It’s difficult to reason with him because of where he is at developmentally. I can tell him why, but he doesn’t have the self control yet to just sit there and not climb on  the things that intrigue him. I wish they put things away in a locked cabinet when not in use, but there isn’t anywhere to put things away.

Loads of art supplies in open bins. Computers and stereo equipment in shelving that is not locked up. All the doors are wide open between classrooms. He is a “runner” – which for parents of children who have Down syndrome means that when he is old enough to open doors and windows – it’s time to put locks way up high so they cannot get out and I mean on EVERY door and EVERY window. The school is located at The University of Utah campus and if he ran out the door it leads right to a street and lots of other buildings. Just keeping him engaged enough in the classroom without running out into the hallways is one thing. But the fact that the preschool doesn’t have security like it does at the JCC is something I have to consider as well.

One of the mom’s suggested that I could close the classroom doors and make the rooms safe for him. My question is while I am doing that, who is going to be watching Max? The rooms are enormous. Doors on all sides. Where do I put the drum kit? HOW do I re-direct him so he is more interested in sitting in a circle and listening to a teacher read a book, than going and banging on the drums? Heck I WANT TO BANG ON THE DRUMS. She said that isn’t preschool a great place for him to learn about banging on the piano. She thought that it would be a great space for him to just be himself and explore. Sure – if no one was in the room trying to be engaged with what the teacher was doing with them, it would be GREAT. But not when it’s a structured environment where there are things to learn and do.

I personally was so bummed that the school was not an environment where Max could focus on the social aspects and the art and music aspects because he would be so overwhelmed by the noise level, the stuff in the rooms and the doors to run through.

At the JCC the doors are shut, the rooms are small, the ceiling are not high at all and there isn’t a drum kit to bang on sitting in the corner. There is a mirror to entertain himself in ( which he does during story time ), there are books that he runs over to while the other kids play together, there are art supplies in bins in a small area of the room. Basically the decision came down to his sensory issues, and knowing his personality and what will be the best situation to build on what he has already learned this first year. NOT about the actual stuff they TEACH, but how that space feels to Max and what our goals are for him right now.

My goals for Max.

1. That he enjoys preschool and doesn’t want to run out of the room in terror just walking into the room and experiencing the noise level.

In the beginning he spent most of the time crying from the noise, and trying to leave because it was too much energy and noise. Now, he is a LOT more comfortable in the room and around the noise levels. At times we do need to step out into the hallway but this is less and less and most days not at all. When overwhelmed, he bac s up and finds a place against the wall to stand and “organize” himself, which from what I understand, just means calm back down and take in what is happening. He does NOT want people around him. Most teachers and the aide that used to be in the class for him would get up in his face and try to distract him with other toys and singing and such. um…..NO. Back up people. Luckily I’ve helped them learn what Max needs. ( You cannot teach each human in the same way just because you learned it in some textbook people. PLEASE learn about each human and find out what their individual needs are. )

If we start at a new school – we start over with this process of getting comfy in the classroom, new noises, the echo from the high ceilings. Not really nice to Max.

2. That Max feels confident around other kids his age, makes friends and learns how to communicate with them in some way that is back and forth.

I believe that if Max is dealing with sensory issues, it keeps him from focusing on what’s actually happening in the room. He wants to not be feeling so much pain in his ears and not feel so overwhelmed.

We started Music Together when Max was about 7 months old. We had to leave after 5 minutes for a LONG time. But now he can be in the room the entire time, feels confident, comfortable and doesn’t react to anyone making squealing noises. I’ve seen Max grow to enjoy a space and place and the people in it. Now he travels from person to person, sitting in the parents laps and giving high fives. If we stick with the same environment for Max in preschool I know the same will happen for him. We’ve decided to go 3 days per week instead of 2 to give Max even more opportunities to feel comfortable and confident and for friendships to happen. This will also lead to ME being able to leave the room which will foster more independence. I respect that Max’s process is longer than the other kids and will not go against him so that he is forced to process a situation that just takes him longer than the others. No harm in respect. MUCH harm in not paying attention.

3. Max learns how to sit in a circle with the kids during story time. Follows the group in a line while going to recess. Sits in his chair during lunch. Washes hands when asked. Basically learns social skills in how to be functioning with the group.

The more repetition the better with this. And he is starting to sit during circle time and he sits in the chair at lunch time, washes his hands and is a total rebel walking up the stairs on the other side than the class – but soon enough he will have that covered.

He could learn this anywhere – it’s just making sure the environment is set up for success rather than having to re-direct all the time is an important factor.

4. Hearing and learning speech from his “typically developing” peers.

How will he hear them if the acoustics suck?

5. Watching his peers in socially appropriate play, interaction etc etc.

This brings up the issue of placing him in a school that is “special ed”. NO thank you. I want to give him the best opportunities to learn from typically developing children FIRST. Children are sponges. They learn from seeing, hearing, mimicking. I’ve heard many stories about what kids learn in special ed classes.

People say – But you’ll get free speech therapy, etc in those classes. But that doesn’t mean that those services are GOOD. It just means they are FREE. BIG difference. Maybe they are good. But we already have people we trust to work with Max and I’m not interested in free services in an environment that sets him up for more of the same for the rest of his life (being segregated). If he starts out included in a typical classroom (oh I know I’m not using the appropriate language here…still learning), then he will have MORE of a chance to continue learning and growing within the school system and not down the hallway put in a metaphoric box.

I have so much more to say on this subject -

I want him to be able to go to the Arts Preschool. I LOVE the philosophy. I LOVE the other parents who have kids there. I LOVE the vibe. I LOVE that there are more opportunities to LEARN more topics like opera, Van Gogh, Yoga, drums, piano, dance, art, etc. But at the end of the day, I want to respect who Max is and what environment will provide him with the opportunities to feel safe, confident, and to stretch his attention span on what the kids are doing instead of on being a distractomatic. I respect and LOVE that he is a curious fella. I want him to always be curious. Just not at the expense of everyone else in the class, or putting him in a situation to be able to run out the door.

I don’t dislike the JCC. I’m grateful that they have a safe environment for Max. I’m grateful they WANT Max in the classroom. I’m grateful that they work WITH me and want it to be a positive experience for me and for Max. I just felt that it would be so amazing to go to a school where the philosophy was more directed on arts, music, dance etc.

I cannot compare my choices with any other moms choice. But ….I do.

And then I go inward and the answer is pretty clear, even if I don’t love it for ME (I will miss my friends) and Max will miss out on the arts environment, I know it’s better for HIM. And that’s the point right?

Learning to trust myself to help this little guy have a great life is hard sometimes.  Trusting myself and trusting that the universe has a plan for Max. I’m not his higher power, but I am standing in as his guardian while he learns whatever he needs to along his journey.

I’m feeling this thing out as I go. It’s intense, crazy, amazing, hard, life affirming, scary, and helps me grow up a little bit. (Just a little.)

I finally made this preschool decision after a lot of inner turmoil, talking with other parents, talking with the different schools, educating myself on  the physical spaces inside these schools and trying to really get a handle on what their philosophy was on Down syndrome, inclusion and respecting each human.

I hope I made the right decision. In my business, I am a HUGE believer that taking action is the best decision because it will inform you on whether or not you are going down the right path. You can’t plan everything out in your head until it’s perfect and then take action. What I mean is – making a decision is the best way to know what the outcome will be. You can ALWAYS change course. But you aren’t going anywhere when you are stuck trying to make the perfect decisions in your head and not actually DOING anything.

In the end it’s all just action/reaction. I will not really know until we ACT. I have to detach a bit from perfection and TRUST myself to make a decision that is best for him based on all the info I have. That’s it. That’s all I can do. We shall see how it goes and adjust as necessary.

I’m so grateful that I GET to make these choices. It wasn’t too long ago that children with Down syndrome where placed in institutions with no choice about it and they still are in other countries. I’m grateful I get to be his aide and help him communicate and feel safe as he gets used to this new environment. THAT is amazing. Being with him is incredible. And it helps him so much to know someone is in the room that understands his sign language, can keep him safe, and helps him in the way he needs to be helped. I’m grateful that I have choices of schools who allow diversity.

So my decision is to have Max stay with the 3-4year old class ( instead of moving to the 4-5 year old class ) and go 3 times per week. This impacts ME as well because that means that I am there as his aide from 8-12 3 days per week instead of 2 which impacts my ability to be consistently running my business. And I’m ok with that. I think I would regret not giving my son the opportunity to grow so that I can create my eCourses and retreats and artwork. THAT makes no sense. That means I need to delegate more, let go of the things that I don’t absolutely LOVE in my business and get real clear on how I want my life and biz to look.

What situations have you been in that have caused you to have to step back and remember to trust yourself? Have you struggled with coming to terms with what everyone else is doing and what is really Right for you or for your child or for your business? How did you handle it so you made the best decision for your biz/life/child?

How did you get back to center?

Leave a comment and let me know.

Photography is a tool that can help bring me back to center.

I’ve created a little 30 day photo ritual project

and would love for you to see how you can get back to center and see the world with new eyes.

Hop on over HERE and see what it’s about and sign up.

xo

*c

What is Self-Care?

I’m writing this at 9:28pm. It’s due tonight. Self care for me means sitting down and doing what I say I’m going to do, and noticing how much it sucks when I wait until the last minute.

Noticing is the first part of this self-care equation for me. The second is changing my own behavior so that I’m no longer up late working, feeling pressure of a deadline and feeling a tad resentful. ( Resentful at myself for waiting so long to write this )

Note to self: when you say yes to doing something, schedule it in your calendar during your work hours and set your “concentration app” so that you have an hour or two devoted to the project.

That feels so much better already I must say.

 { Click to tweet! }

Self-care is about awareness, and making adjustments to minimize suffering. @Catherine_Just

This past month has been….interesting.

My family and I flew out to Los Angeles for the Learning Program at Club 21. We go there monthly to give Max the opportunity to live his best life, and it offers us ways to help Max do so. As we landed I felt a sinus cold thing come on strong.

During the trip I had planned on going to a book launch party and was meeting  some friends there. I had been looking forward to this event for weeks. We drove across Los Angeles on a Friday night ( not an easy task to do with a toddler who would rather be doing anything else! ) And when I got there I knew I had made a mistake. The cold was making me feel like I was in a tunnel or a bubble or a little of both. I felt horrible and needed to go home and sleep. Even though it was an event that I bought tickets for and was looking very forward to I knew underneath it all that I cared more for myself than I did for this one event.

I spoke my truth to my friends and went home before the event even started.

I was afraid at first to disappoint them and was saying I was fine but right after I said “ I’m fine “ I knew there was something underneath the surface that I wasn’t saying. I needed to speak it.

{ click to tweet! }

Self-Care = Speaking my truth. @Catherine_Just

So I mentioned earlier that this month has been interesting.  Let me explain.

After we got home from that visit in Los Angeles, I got sick, went to urgent care twice, was on two rounds of antibiotics, and the sickness just keeps moving around. I had the flu, bronchitis, sinus infection, a pulled shoulder blade, pinched a nerve in my neck, pulled something in my lower back, and have had an eye infection for weeks and I’m heading back to the doctor tomorrow morning. { update: the doctor says I have a corneal infiltrate, translation: my cornea is messed up. Going to see a specialist today }

Have I been wondering what this means? Oh yea, you bet. Everyone tells me that it’s the universe or God’s way of making me slow down. And it sure did that. I was unplugged long enough to read and do the workbook for the Desire Map and that my darlings was some of the best self-care around. It took me being knocked down with sickness to go inward.  So for that I can say that there’s a bit of gratitude for the slow down….

But, after a few days unplugged I’m back at it.  I’m still taking care of my son Max as I work from home. I’m still needing to be his aide in preschool Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8am – 12 noon. I’m still needing to schedule appointments for Max and for myself, go grocery shopping, do laundry, take the trash out, interview people for the new CtheG tv, lead my Soul*Full eCourse, share about my newest photo program, write blog posts, market myself through social media, stay caught up in online courses I’m taking, meet with my clients on skype, edit videos,  create new products and services, make my art, go to Max’s weekly Speech therapy sessions, do dishes, look at new preschools, plan Max’s birthday party…… you get the idea. Oh yea…and Shower!

So………How in the BLEEP does self-care happen in this run on sentence of go go go ?

I let go of my image of perfection. And when I grab hold of it again, which I do regularly, I let it go again and again. I suffer so much more when I think everything needs to look a certain way.  I also work at not comparing my insides to other people’s outsides. That phrase is something that was said to me so many years ago when I was first getting sober and it still rings true. Keep your eyes on your own paper.

I ask for help. I melt down. I make green juice. I take a shower almost every morning. I don’t use an alarm clock to wake up. I eat as healthy as I can ( vegan with no wheat dairy and sugar ) unless I’m on a rampage of meat, wheat, dairy and sugar which happens…after which I suffer, notice and make adjustments. I stay sober for over 25 years. I don’t smoke for over 15 years. I surround myself with people who “get” me and who inspire me. I take art classes. I cry. I yell. I feel entitled. I breathe. I don’t put myself in situations that make me feel uncomfortable. And I’m not talking the doing something new, or stepping into my power. I’m talking, situations where the environment or the people and I don’t fit and I feel less than or bad or any of that stuff. That means I spend more time alone than I do out at the the party. I honor that part of me that needs to be alone. I used to always feel the need to be out. I thought that you would forget I existed if I wasn’t out there around you. But that no longer serves me. I prefer to stay home. It’s who I really am right now. The more comfortable I am in my own skin, the less I go against myself to gain external approval. 

There have been times in my life when I don’t really do self care unless I’m in enough pain to notice that something needs to change. I’ve been much more invested in Self-medicating, distracitons and reaching toward something on the outside to fill up the empty hole I feel on the inside. This just causes me so much more pain and eventually I do have to face myself and then on top of it I’ve created a mess with all the drama my actions of caused. At that point I’m on my knees and I cannot take it anymore. Sometimes the awareness comes more slowly and I suffer longer. Like the eating of the darned baked goods. Hello Blueberry scone from Starbucks. Like this “treat” is going to really be a caring thing for me to offer myself? I learn over and over and over that I suffer physically when I eat that way. My body does not do wheat, dairy and sugar without pain. Sometimes the learning curve is a bit longer. Other times it’s a no brainer and I hop off the pain train.

These days, it’s more about time management, speaking my truth, asking for help and personal freedom.

Laundry? Not doing it. Cleaning the house? Um…Not my thing. Dishes. I know it’s suppose to be meditative and all but I would rather power lounge.  ( you can learn about the art of power lounging HERE )

I must get real with what I truly LOVE doing and ask for help with the rest.

At the end of the day I don’t think I’m going to look back over my life and wish I had done more laundry. But I might regret not being at my son’s preschool to help him connect and communicate.

At the end of the day I don’t think I will regret not doing the dishes. But I would be really bugged if I didn’t act on the inspiration I feel to create eCourses and retreats or to connect with other like-minded people through the work I do.

At the end of the day, when I’m a melting puddle of stressed out overwhelmed goo, I call in the troops to help. I’ve seen others brush off the idea of asking for help. I think hey, more power to ya. Not this girl. I cannot pretend I have it all together and pull that one off for even a second. I need help. My husband helps with laundry and dishes ( dreamy I know! ) I have help with Max here at the house so I can go to my home office and close the door and work uninterrupted for a few hours every day. My mother-in-law comes over to watch Max so I can go to the doctor, see the chiropractor and go out occasionally on dates with my husband. I hire professionals to help me clean the house so I don’t live in a mess. I find that asking for more help than I think I need is actually the key my sanity some days.

{Click to tweet ! }

Self-Care is asking for more help than I think I need and allowing myself to receive it.

When was the last time you gave yourself permission to speak your truth, ask for help, notice and make adjustments in your life according to what you really needed?

What is Self-Care for you?

I’d love to hear what your real self-care looks like.

Leave a comment below. I look forward to hearing from you.

This post is part of a Blog Hop that Tamarisk Saunders-Davies and Mara Giatzel asked me to be a part of called “ The Perfectly imperfect Project: Real Self-Care. “

Go check out the other articles in this project. They are truly inspiring, and I’m honored to be a part of it.

xo

The Amazingly Courageous and Brave Andrea Scher!

Andrea is someone who inspires me to be even more authentic and real online. She knows the power of vulnerability and how to share something that others might never have the guts to say out loud without it being all about drama, but instead a way to come together with her community.

I took her course Mondo Beyondo and it was life changing and eye opening.

Her writing and storytelling is healing. You will hear more on this in the interview.

Spread the love and send this click to tweet below. Just click and it’s tweeted! Perfection.

@andreascher talks about @alex_franzen, mondo beyondo and @BenHarper on #CtheGtv. http://bit.ly/12esfOu

Do you need the transcript? You got it.  Andrea Scher Transcript

Do you want to listen to the Mp3? Hey it’s right here! Andrea Scher Podcast

Want to learn more about Andrea Scher? http://www.SuperheroLife.com

Twitter @AndreaScher

Like this episode? Share it with your peeps!

Comment below and let me know what wisdom bombs you heard during the interview.

Thank you for stopping by CtheG tv. For more information on this new series, click HERE.

Sending you all love,

xo

*c

Don’t leave before the miracle happens

Today Max turns FOUR years old and I’m a little bit in DENIAL!

So, I am going through our photos of the pregnancy, birth and the last 4 years to prove to myself that he is actually FOUR.

Above, if you click on that photo, you can see every month of my pregnancy belly (okay, the photos were suppose to get bigger and don’t so I’ll look into that and update it later today). I LOVE taking photos this way and documenting time passing. Picking a day every month to take the same photo to see what changes have occurred or to gather evidence of what’s remained the same. ( I’ve getting ready to launch a course that is ALL ABOUT THAT. I’m SO excited. It’s another type of birth. Not as painful physically for SURE! )

There’s the very first family portrait!

Baby Max on his first day here on the planet.

Very proud parents.

ADORABLE!!!!

Max was TINY. He was born a month early and basically slept the first month. I wore him in a baby sling for months and months. He LOVED being tightly wrapped in the sling and feelings his mama’s heartbeat up next to him. Reminded him of the home he lived in the past 8 months. I didn’t work at all during this time. Heck, I didn’t work the first year and Jerry and I decided that I would stay home the first 3 years of his life. I really love that I did that. I did take online eCourses to see what I might want to do with my life as a new mama and creative person. But, I wasn’t at all interested in being the business owner that I am right now. It wasn’t until Max could walk at around 1 year old,which is VERY EARLY for a child with Down syndrome, that I started feeling the need to create something just for me. However, it always had this flavor of ” How can I be in business and have that business provide us with opportunities to show Max the world? ”

That is where the idea for the photography retreats began.

I have a few friends who have had kids while being very active in their businesses and I don’t know how they do it! I had nothing to give anyone else for a LONG TIME. I remember it being a hard time and a magical time. Hard because being madly in love with this little guy and being responsible for keeping him alive was very scary for me. And it still is. Making the big decisions for him on his behalf every single day is hard for me. It’s been easier as he gets older because I am more used to it in some ways, but it still makes my heart just explode when I think about him, see him, hold him, be with him.

TINY!

Most of you have been watching Max grow up on my Instagram feed. I LOVE that we can connect through photography and Max loves it too.

This forth year has been incredible. AS all of the years have been.

What I’ve noticed is that Max has had his photograph taken so many times that when I say, “it’s time for our morning time photo”, he gets into the position and looks at the camera. He LOVES it. He will stay in that position until he feels like we got the shot. Then, Max grabs the iPhone and flips through the photos with me. Looking and smiling and often times kissing himself as he looks and sees his perfection!

One of the morning photos

The morning time photo series started this year. As a response to the fact that he stopped napping this year.

HE STOPPED NAPPING.

Many of you know who have followed this blog or Instgram, that I’ve been taking a daily nap time photo for the last 2+ years. It started as a response to the fact that nap time was FRUSTRATING ME. He wouldn’t go to sleep and I wanted ME time. By the time he finally fell asleep I was so over it. I was pissed. I hated the dreaded nap time part of the day and decided to take the iPhone camera out as soon as he feel asleep to help me shift my attention. And it did. It was life changing. I couldn’t WAIT to see how he would end up during nap time, and capture that moment as a documentation of our relationship.You can see more of the photo from nap time HERE. It hasn’t been updated in a while and there are MANY more photos to add.

One of the last nap photos. Taken this year.

You KNOW I’m a bit heartbroken that nap time ended. But I’m also in LOVE with the fact that Max goes to sleep at 7:30pm now instead of 11 or midnight.

I love you little dude.

Dear Max,

Today is your 4th birthday and you blow me away. I cannot believe how fast you learn, how much you’ve grown and how smart, talented, fun, funny you are.

This year you are in preschool at the Jewish Community Center, 2 days per week, fully included in the classroom and not down the hall in some special ed class. You are learning how to sit with the other kids during story time, sit at the table during snack and lunch time, how to wash your hands before you eat, how to wait ( sort of ! ), how to manage all the noise in the classroom, and when you feel overwhelmed you take care of yourself by stepping away from the noise and being alone against the wall for a while as you watch and wait. I’m lucky to be your full time aide and now Heidi, your babysitter, is moving into that role. We are there together with you. I’m starting to leave the room for a few minutes to get you used to being more independent from me. You are not liking that part of the process at all. You cry so hard and I can see you through the window that you feel alone. We are taking this process slow. I can imagine that being in a classroom where everyone else can speak verbally to each other and you cannot do that yet is very hard for you. And they don’t always know how to relate with you. Having me in the class with you I know helps you feel like you are not alone and that someone understands you when you sign. I keep moving further and further away from you in class and sitting at the other end of the room, there if you need it. It’s been hard for you to get used to it, and I so respect you and how much time you might need. I don’t believe in the cry it out thing for you. So, taking things slow is how we are going to go.

You love to read books with mama and papa. You point at everything in the books and then sign the object. You must have over 250 signs at this point. You LOVE to dance, expecially to Music Together music, which we go to on Saturdays, Yo Gabba Gabba,  The Fresh Beat band and Elmo are on high rotation on your DVD player and iPad. You have hand and arms moves for everything you see in the videos. You know them by heart and love to do all the moves with them. Especially while watching yourself do them in the reflection in the windows.

You love cuddling, giving kisses ( still working on not having your tongue out during kisses ) and hugging. If you don’t like someone you don’t hug or kiss them. You know who you like and trust right off the bat. And that is that. You trust your instincts.

Max when he got his new helmet

You’re just starting to get more comfortable with your hair being touched, or water on your head. And when you got a tricycle and helmet during the holidays you put the helmet on and were so happy. This shocked us because you’ve always hated things on your head. All of a sudden BOOM, you’re the guy who wears a helmet and loves to take off mama’s hat and put it on your own head. Your last hair cut was this past Saturday and you actually clapped and enjoyed it at times. So different from the screaming like you’re head is on fire that we had become so used to  which is why we shave your head every time we go. Less traumatic for everyone as we go there less).

You are starting to use a fork on your own, and you use the spoon with style and flair. You still have very limited interests in food. Hotdogs, chips, pretzels, grapes, watermelon, cucumber, crackers, unsweetened almond milk, applesauce, eggs, apples, carrots, aaaaaand that’s all folks!

You’re starting to paint and color more and more, and mama made you homemade play dough a few weeks ago and you sort of liked it. Whereas in the past, the texture was a bit much for you.

You went sledding for the first time this past Christmas day. One of the sunniest and prettiest days of winter. “Auntie” Nicole met us there with her dog and you got a few kisses from him which you always LOVE.

And even went sledding again with grandma and grandpa when they visited us for your birthday this past weekend.

You are starting to work with a speech therapist who does something called PROMPT and here you are working it!

And another word you learned this year.

On the plane. Having a great time.

Clearly hating the flight!

You’ve flown to Los Angeles about 4 times this year for the Learning Program at Club 21. We love that we are involved in this program and you get to see your first speech therapist every time we visit there. You do not like being left in the classroom and we don’t really like that part either. We know them. You’ve known them since birth. So we keep on trying. And we learn so much about how you learn and how to give you even more opportunities to live a great life.

P.S.: You LOVE to fly. You certainly didn’t get that from ME. You scream out during take off and landing. And clap your hands and smile from ear to ear. All while mama is having a bit of a nervous breakdown and trying not to show it.

What I know for sure is this-

You light up our lives.

You inspire us to be more like YOU.

And you touch many people with your infectious smile and authentic love.

We LOVE and CHERISH you, Max.

Happy 4th Birthday.

Guess what you are getting this year for your birthday……….

…a camera!

xo

*c

Welcome to the Launch of “C the G” tv!

I am thrilled, over the moon, completely excited to share this first episode of CtheG tv with you.

This episode has the fabulously talented and ultra groovy Alexandra Franzen talking about how she stepped into her greatness and said yes to her dreams to be a full time entrepreneur, writer, teacher, and all things helpful to others.

There are several wisdom bombs in this interview and one that just blew my mind was the idea that:

” Being a great human being is as simple as leaving the people you connect with and the planet in better condition than you found it ” – @Alex_Franzen from CtheG tv with @Catherine_Just

And yep. It’s a TWEETABLE! Just click it and send it to all your peeps.

Do you need the transcript? You got it. Alexandra Franzen Transcript

Do you want to listen to the Mp3? Hey it’s right here! Alexandra Franzen Podcast

Want to learn more about Alexandra Franzen?  http://www.alexandrafranzen.com/

Twitter @alex_franzen

Like this episode? Share it with your peeps!

Comment below and let me know what wisdom bombs you were blasted with during the interview.

Thank you for stopping by CtheG tv. For more information on this new series, click HERE.

Sending you all love,

xo

*c

Don’t leave before the miracle happens