New Years Eve. Gratitude.

December 31st already. Today will always remind me of being in labor!! What a lovely experience it was. Three years ago, I had planned on going to Maritessʻ (one of Milesʻ ninangs) birthday but God & Miles had another plan for me. Anyway, the irony is that tonight, we are getting ready for NYE and going to see Maritess for her 27th birthday--and now she is the pregnant one in our fam! So many great things to look forward to in 2009.

2008 was another crazy year. We lost some loved ones, gained a progressive Black U.S. president, survived hardcore science courses x days of studying, watched Miles & Darrien grow into the big (& funny) boys they are, had some memorable & fun DJ gigs, Justin travelled to Korea to DJ (& got some love from Conzo & Waxpoetics in the latest issue!!), he also got a great new job working with kids, & spent so much time with family and friends...so much to be thankful for!! Give thanks!!!

I could not have asked for a better year of learning & growing with Justin and Miles. They have been my greatest teachers these past years!

So thankful for all of our fam & friends (including YOU reading this right now) for having our backs and taking the time to kick it with the Cadabes Crew. WE LOVE YOU!!!

Speaking of friends, Christina aka DJ Chungtech (look out for her big moves in 09!?!!) hooked me up with Xmas pics...enjoy:


The first Christmas dinner I prepared! Thanks to Rachel Ray & my Mom--sheʻs a boss!!


Yes, Ruben can cook..and bake!!


Miles, I mean, Batman serving up the desert made by his Aunty Cathy.


Miles went to town on the the ebelskivers.


Brushing his teeth after all that sugar!


Working the sugar out on Uncle Mikey.


Miles loves books!

Our Fam (L to R) Aunty Cathy, Uncle Ruben, Aunty Christina, Miles, Justin, & Uncle Mikey

Merry Christmas!

Thanks to Aunty Erica, Dangs & Miles had a very focused, calming, holiday kitchen project--a gingerbread house. More Christmas pics and holiday stories to come...

Winter time is here!

Itʻs sooo cold. Miles is waiting for the snow to fall. We definitely gotta get him and Darrien out to experience the snow. Heʻs so into Christmas and all the decorations and lights we see on peopleʻs lawns. People seriously have been doing it up! I need to take some pics just to show you how some fams went all out in Vallejo & American Canyon, alone.

This week we celebrated our vacation with our first Warriors vs. Magics game. Miles enjoyed the outing with nanay, Bobawts, Aunty Jen, Dangs, & Uncle Eric. He lasted for about the whole 1st quarter than got very restless and Justin and him circled the arena for the most part. He kept asking, "Whoʻs the good guys?" And when I told him Warriors, he said, "oh, I like the Magics." This boy has an affinity for the dark side.



















Lately, heʻs been picking up the phrases Jus and I say to each other. Like today, he saw something funny on tv and I heard him say, "what the feezy?" well, hey--guess thatʻs better than "what the f#%*."

Yesterday, we were driving down Soscol in the camry, and the radio is on. KMEL was playing that annoying song by T.I. where thereʻs some yodeling going on. Anyway, as soon as Miles heard the yodeling he says, "Mom, I donʻt like this song!" and his whole mood switched, adding, "And I donʻt like this car....Nah! I donʻt like this car, it plays ugly music" (he gets the "nah" from his dad who always says it). The picky music aficionado, finalizes & decides, "Nah, I donʻt want this car. I want a yimo."

Yimo = Limo.

Inhaling Spirit

This morning, on my last errand at the post office I did a funny thing that reminded me to be more in the present. So, Iʻm talking to the postal worker, asking for some stamps, asking about a missing package, followed by asking for a pen to borrow--heʻs pulling out stamps, holding onto his pen, and while heʻs talking to me--I reached over, and mindlessly grabbed the pen out of his hand and almost start filling out the package that I was sending out. I just grabbed the pen from his hands. It felt as if I got a glimpse of what I had just done, and saw that moment from an out-of-body perspective. He looks at me like "Huh? wtf?" And I realized I did that whole thing mindlessly and impatiently. Listening to what he was saying, on top of "whereʻs my package?", on top of "can I use a pen?", on top of I need to fill this out....Talk about, multi-tasking gone bad. Luckily, he just laughed it off with me (while, internally I was thinking, "wtf is wrong with me? why did I just grab a pen out of this manʻs hands?!) Hahaha..anyway, that was a clear sign for me to stop with all the errands, chores, tasks for the rest of the day and just breathe.

Thinking back to almost 3 years ago, one of the most important things that got me through childbirth was remembering to breathe. Inhaling fully, and being in that moment--followed by fully experiencing the exhale was all I could do to live thru the contractions & labor pains. Breathing is so automatic that many times, I go through the days without truly experiencing that breath. Iʻm sure you can relate. Maybe thatʻs why many smokers rely on cigarettes (or herb)--maybe its because (well--besides the nicotine, thc, etc..) thatʻs the only time they are experiencing that inhale and exhale of whatever it is that they are smoking. Why am I talking about breathing? I totally forgot. Just kidding...

Iʻm talking about breathing cause thatʻs exactly what I am doing, right now, as I am sitting in this Ikea lounger (thanks Bobawts), hitting the keys of this mac. Within the past 2 weeks, I have been inundated with mommy & wifey duties on top of all the studying for the last 4 exams--and within that time, I seriously felt crazy--up until my last errand this morning. I totally forgot to just breathe. Itʻs so simple. I tell Miles to do it all the time to calm him down from a tantrum. I know something is wrong when I feel disconnected, rushed, with my mind racing down a to-do list. Maybe its the holidays + finals week + life in general. Anyway, I am so loving this moment with Miles at preschool, Justin at work, and me--here, at home. I can just chill out. It will be really good for not only me but for my boys when they get home, mamafeelgood will be in a super chill mood.

I spent this first morning of down time, and I mean--at home, nothing to do--(in the past semester of school), burning calories on the eliptical, re-reading my momfullness book, and meditating, and now this--reflecting while listening to some good music. And let me tell you, I feel so good. The endorphine rush from working out + leisure reading (w/o having to memorize s#@%#), + just being, breathing.--Iʻm telling you, I feel like Iʻm on a mini-vacation.

Donʻt forget to breathe...

Two Things

At 2.75 years old, two very important aspects of life for Miles are--family & self-expression (in the form of Bboyinʻ). Thanks to Uncle Rube and Aunty Cathy, we have some pictures to share from the Jam @ SFSU (Miles battled his Uncle Profo!) and a few from Great Grandma Lucy & Great Grandpa Ernieʻs 60th Wedding Anniversary celebrasyon in Vegas.


Dad got multi-taskinʻ skills.


Aunty Cathy got photography skills. (Miles & his Ninong Rube Dude)


This is the smile that makes me happy :)


Milesʻ You-shot-me-freeze.


Big Miles givinʻ Lilʻ Miles some pointers...


Got the toprocks.


Got the makings of a 6 step (Iʻm so proud to be his mama)!


And, hereʻs one of Miles bugginʻ out at Lucky Chances, the after party.


Cadabes Pamilya.


Uncle Ruben & Daddy w/ Great Grandpa Ernie & Great Grandma Lucy.


Miles was checking out his cousinʻs dancing skills! She set the dance floor w/ Grandpa Ernie.


He saw people throwing money on the ground for the money dance and tried to collect (Cidney is his new favorite Aunty)!


All of Milesʻ aunts & uncles & cousins on the Cadabes side (with a handful missing)!

No Place Like Home!

Weʻre back! Vegas was full of non-stop activities & fun. Miles is still recuperating and catching up on all the sleep he missed from his time in the city that doesnʻt sleep--literally. Got more stories to tell but for now, while I still need to upload the photos from the trip--here are some memorable moments from this fall...


Tunnel fun!


Papo & Aunty Cheryl aka Awts @ our going-away-brunch for Papo. Heʻs been in the P.I. since November!


Nanay & the Boys enjoying the feast.


Miles & Ayana Jamminʻ ( he loooves her so much & asks me, "whereʻs my sister?" omg.)


Ayana is a true rockstar!


Miles w/ Mama feel good, Aunty Sheila aka Shred One, Jeskilz, & Dr. Lundy @ Rock The School Bells

Thanksgiving is around the corner!

"Vegas baby!"

Miles has been anticipating an airplane ride since the beginning of this month and tomorrow, his wish will be granted as we head over to Vegas via Southwest. Woo hoo! I think Jus and I are more excited than he is! :) Right now, we are just packing and getting everything organized and ready so after school & work--we'll be ready to jet.

We will miss being with Nanay & Dangs & the whole gang for thanksgiving but yo, Miles got fam in all area codes...
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Vegas here we come...


(Miles' Kung Fu Panda face)