My Brain Is In A Million Places

Where do you go when you want to talk about everything?  In my case, everything I'm doing.

I'm a dad.   Where to begin there?

I'm a new husband ... well, fairly new.  That's a lot to talk about in itself!

I'm a photographer.  I run and maintain a business, with hundreds of clients, just as many websites, blogs, Facebook Pages, and Twitter accounts.

I make websites.  Really cool sites for really cool people.  I could create a new blog to write about what I do with that.  (I probably will).

I mean, there's taxes to worry about, insurance, laundry, feeding my family, bath time, friendships, advertising, diapers, target runs, playing and so much more!

There's so much to do, so many things to create, so many people to talk to, so much to teach my daughter, so little time to tell my wife how much I love her.  Sometimes I don't know where to start.  But I create that list, the list that never ends, and I jump somewhere in the middle of it and come out the other end with a new list, but feeling more accomplished.

I say that I'm glad there's a lot to do.  If all these goals and accomplishments were achieved already, what would there be to live for?  I don't think I'll ever retire.

Why would I?  I love what I do.  Allllllllllllllllllllllll of it.

Peace,
-marc

I'm Like My Family

A lot has happened since I last blogged.  June rolled around, I turned a whompin' 26, and my oldest brother Todd and his beautiful wife Jill celebrated a wedding anniversary.  Which one?  I couldn't tell you.  I could text him and ask ... then pretend like I knew all along ... but I think it's something like 9 years?  I'll text him now, and see if he replies by the time I'm done writing the blog, and I'll let you know if I'm correct.

It's 9:29 am, on a Friday, and Zoe and I have already been out and about.  In our sweats, no less.  We got coffee and a very exciting official City of Los Angeles Information Update Form.  I'll fill you in more on this as the months progress ... but it's exciting stuff! 

Brb...the babe's cryin'. 

...

Ok, and we're back.  The little monster is asleep in her swing, full and as content as ever.

More and more, as I get older, (haha) I find I'm just like my mom.  The amount of love that I have created, since Zoe has been born, has been incredible.  That love has over flowed and spilled over into Stacey and my relationship, making it the best thing that has ever happened to me.  I see this as my life has changed.  I am more selfless, I am responsible and attentive for the needs of my family, and I only want the best for those I love.  To know you are loved, as much as you love, if not more, is simply amazing.  So when Stacey and Zoe smile at me, when we are all hugging and playing, my life couldn't be better and I know this.

Other than the love stuff, life is good!  Stacey's working hard at her 9-5, and I'm crankin' away scheduling weddings right and left, shooting headshots, and working on the business of makin' business! 

Hope you all are well.

Peace,
-marc

8 months ago today a monster was born.

Just kidding...she's not a monster.  Yet.  :)  It's hard to believe that 8 months ago today Stacey was as big as a whale, and I shoved her in the car and drove over the hill to a Beverly Hills hospital where a one very beautiful baby girl was introduced to the world.

It's been an exciting 8 months!  A lot has happened!  Stacey was at home for while during pregnancy leave, but then went back to work.  Zoe has started eating baby food, she's crawling all over the place, her vocabulary and vocal pitch have changed, and she's even starting to stand up, but only for a few seconds at a time.

Stacey and I have gotten closer and have fallen more in love, thanks to time and this little bundle of joy.  Zoe and Stacey still stop traffic by their stunning good looks, and it's fun to be surrounded with so much happiness all the time.




Here's to the next 8 months!  :)  Thanks for reading and watching!

Peace,
-marc

Happy 1 Year Anniversary / Mother's Day!

A year ago tomorrow I was the luckiest man in the world.  Today, I still hold that title.  I took the girl of my dreams and changed her name.  I told her, and the world, that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her and only her.  A year later, a baby later, a whole helluva lot later, we've made it! 

Everyone says the first year is the hardest.  And I won't deny that, but I think it's also the best.  (Even though I think next year will be better, and the year after that, and after that ... )  :)  Stacey and I have gotten closer than anyone I've ever  connected with.  She is my best friend.  She is my rock.  She makes me the man I am.  She makes me a better person.  When I'm weak, she is strong and vise versa.

Stacey also has risen to hold the title "Best Mom In The World".  And it's a crazy title to be given by a Blackwell.  5 years ago I was shaving my head, taking pictures of flowers, and sending my mom all sorts of goofy stuff to tell her how much I appreciated her on Mother's Day.  5 years ago I had a mom.  Today, I have a mother of my child.  The circle of life continues to amaze me.  A life is extinguished and another life is lit.  Without Stacey, without Zoe, my life and heart would have an empty hole that my mother had always filled with love.  Stacey has stepped up, in honor of Marcia, to fill that spot and shower me with unconditional love. 

My late mother and my wife would've been besties, I'm convinced.  They would've been able to sit around a kitchen table, sipping tea and laughing about all the Blackwell boys.  I could go on ... but it's best not to dwell in the past.

Here's to the best wife I have ever had.  :)  I love you Stacey Nicole Blackwell.  You are my best friend. 

Here's to the best mom that I know!  Zoe and I love everything you do for us, and we will always be trying to show you how much we love you. 

Mush!
Peace,
-marc

This Is It

We're watching Michael Jackson's "This Is It" for the second time today and I'm feeling inspired to write. This guy, MJ, was a genius. And watching this film reminds me of when I was on tour with High School Musical. More on Mike in a second.

Kenny Ortega, the mastermind behind HSM and MJ's This Is It, is someone I've worked for and highly respect. Travis Payne, the choreographer and Chucky Klapow, a dancer on tour, have all inspired me to creative ends unkown. Watching this doc has made me reflect on what it was like to have a family such as the concert experience family. Love abounds in such situations. Kenny was the man in charge of HSM and I quietly admired his genius. Watching him on film reminds me of the time my camera was working over time and I felt the euphoria of having beautiful and magical moments happen right before my lens. I was capturing a special moment in time, and I wish I could've photographed This Is It.

Michael is like another Hunter, or Dave to me. The more I surround myself with the greats, such as my friends, Keegan O'Keefe, Michael Brown, Stacey Blackwell, Anton P, and Lucas G. We are inspired by love and music and real creativeness. Here's to art, and music, and love and beauty.

:)
-m

Zoe Loves Taking Shots!

We went to the pediatricians today for Zoe's 3/4 month check up and shots.  The little princess checked out perfectly and even turned around right after getting shots and smiled at the nurse who delivered them to her!  That girl LOVES taking shots!  Haha.

It's crazy ... being a dad.  All dads nod your head.  Enough said.

And as tough of times as we are in, we're still good.  I understand what my mother meant when she used to say "Love doesn't pay the bills".  I used to quote the famous Beatles line "All you need is love" and my mom would come back "Love doesn't pay the bills!".  Well, right now the California Blackwells are livin' on love.  :)  But we're a lot better off than some other people.  Like the people of Haiti, who just had a major earthquake.  I don't know what would happen if that happened here...my biggest fear living in LA. 

But at least I didn't have to get any shots today!  ... right? 

Alright, Zoe Toes is askin' for my attention. 

Good day!
-marc

Sittin' in Oklahoma with my baby girl...

It was around Christmas time last year that we made Zoe. Now, I'm sitting in my relatives' home in Oklahoma with my very own baby girl next to my side. I'm married and a dad. A lot changes in a year. Stacey just went out with one of her old best girlfriends and Zoe and I? We're just chilling next to each other. What better time to blog? Oh wait ... I think Zoe might need a diaper change.

Actually I wanted to change the design of the blog, then I figured I should post too. Why not, right? It's always around this time of the year when I think "Hmmm...I should blog more."

Hold on ... diaper change time.

OK ... man I thought of a lot to write about in that couple of minutes. Like, how lucky I am to have a loving wife who loves me and our little girl more than the world. I couldn't have asked for a better woman to be in my life for the rest of my life. She's perfect. Well, except for her tardiness, but I can overlook that. :) I see couples having problems and divorce rates going through the rough, an unhappiness running rampage between parents - but not with us. We're a team, and a damn good one at that.

Hold on ... time to feed the baby!

OK ... now my brain is getting too full for this post. I should blog professionally. I did back in college. Back in Oklahoma, only a few blocks from here I got $5.15 for every blog post I wrote. I could be a part of the mom and dad blogging community. Diaper companies and toy makers, feel free to send me samples of ANYTHING and I'll write about it. Send me samples and $$ and I'll write positively about it. :)

Next year will be crazy. After our trip to Oklahoma Stacey goes back to work at Advertise.com. I will be a full-time dad. That is my job. Photography is taking a backseat, as hard as that is to type, it's important for me to focus on the most important thing right now, and that's little Zoe. I never thought I would be part of the statistic of growing stay at home dads, but here I am, and happy to do so. Life will be a trip, like it always has been, but it will be fun. I'll still shoot on the weekends or after 5, and with RLP growing and becoming more successful I'll be able to create websites from home while watching Zoe! But I might stay in my sweats for weeks at a time... ;)

Having a child has been crazy. I know people do it all the time, but I've never done it before. My favorite part? When she smiles at me ... like she is now. It makes all the financial hardship, late nights, and difficult situations worth it. I've lost friends over Zoe, missed out on "opportunities" for work, and haven't gone to see a movie in 13 weeks - but I wouldn't change a single moment.

So here's to 2010. I want to show my baby girl that even though the world is way messed up, life is alright if you surround yourself with people who love you and who you love. Love is all you need!

Much love,
-marc