celeste-mayermendoza

[celeste-mayermendoza]

[celeste-mayermendoza]

"Ha ha ha. Please, Sloan is stuck with me. Imagining having to do this all over again with some rando gives me hives." That and she genuinely believed in what she and her fiancee had. "I would love that. I need all of the help I can get. How do you feel your mom would feel about performing a song for the ceremony? Just like one song. I think it'd be perfect and it's been so long since I've heard her really perform. I'm going to have to bribe her with gifts. I mean I know she and Rhi are going to have a full time job as my moms tissue holders but I feel like she can manage to escape them for a bit. And in return I will specifically invite some hotties to the wedding for her to pick from. For you too, obviously. I'm nothing if not a gift giver."

"And not even one of the fun ones," she agreed, grinning back at her. Vic kind of loved weddings- getting dressed up to celebrate love was exactly her kind of party, especially if said party included an open bar. She may not have given much thought to her own wedding someday, if she'd ever had one, but she did love attending them. "Do you think you'll only do it once though....? Kidding. I can workshop some stuff for you if you'd like. Take some of the pressure off." She grabbed one of the magazines she'd looked at already and flipped to a page she dog-eared, turning it around to show Gabby.

[celeste-mayermendoza]

"Yeah no pink or beige, imagine if I made everyone wear beige? We'd look like we were in a cult." She laughed as she thought about it. As detailed oriented as she was, she was surprisingly not focused on every detail of her wedding being perfect. Just the idea of their families coming together to celebrate them was enough to make her excited. That and her abuela had already said she would handle the food so she knew it was going to be amazing. "I mean I only plan to do this once so I want to make it count. Look great in photos and make Sloan cry when she sees me. Simple things, you know? Doesn't solve my reception outfit dilemma though. God, do you hear me? Who am I?"

"It could be... depends on the color. Like, prom dress pink, or oh my god, beige-" Vic gagged and reached across the table for one of the magazines, quickly flipping and flagging pages. "But obviously it's not about me and my tastes so do whatever you feel good in. Green on you always slays."

[celeste-mayermendoza]

"Do you think it's tacky if I don't wear white for my wedding?" Gabby sat with Vic at her kitchen table, flipping through wedding magazines. She figured if she could consult anyone about a dress it would be good to get Vic's opinion. "Sloan and I have gone back and forth about it a little bit but it just feels overrated. And my mom's dresses from their wedding are cute but not quite my taste." @scarletvinson

[celeste-mayermendoza]

"I knew if I was emotional enough you'd pop up like a genie. It worked!" She clapped her hands together like she had just won a prize. "You know, I never thought of you with the Santa vibe but the beard and glasses? It's very hot. I'm with it. Plus I'd like for her first Santa picture to not be with a white Santa so you totally win. She'll love it. Which means that we can totally make a tradition of it until she finds out when she's like I don't know..ten? You think we can keep going until like twelve or will we just end up getting her bullied in school?"

"Girl stop being emo, you're lactating again." Rhi pointed to Cel's chest, waiting for her to realise she was fucking with her before she grinned devilishly. As grouchy as she was in general, she loved Christmas and she loved her little family so of course she'd made it her mission to help Cel and Tierney have the perfect first Christmas with little Gabby. "Does it have to be some random guy? Could be me, I'd look hot with a beard. Or Cal, if you're more about the jolly thing."

[celeste-mayermendoza]

"I gotta admit, as stressful as other people are, this baby's first Christmas shit is like...the greatest thing to happen to me. Do you know how many pictures this kid is gonna have growing up? I mean just the outfits alone." Celeste also knew that between their chosen family and biological one, Gabby would already have more gifts than she would probably even have use for. But a full house, a tree full of presents and a now 7 month old baby? It was a dream. Even if Celeste was tired as fuck. "Though I gotta say, I'm not crazy about the idea of sitting my kid on some random guy's lap for a picture.

[celeste-mayermendoza]

[celeste-mayermendoza]

MELISSA BARRERA for ELLE | April 2023

[celeste-mayermendoza]

"That one was super cute, I'll send it to you. I might end up becoming a bitch who scarpbooks, who knows. I only have so many things from my childhood, you know? I kind of want her to have plenty to look back on. Even if I have to get an extra storage unit," she joked but shed didn't put it past herself. Every time she looked at Gabby, it was overwhelming how she felt like she would and could do anything for her daughter. "I love that. A good couples vacation is so beautiful, right? I remember when Tier and I took our first one, I was sore for days," she added with a smirk. Her eyes widened as Colette pulled up her shirt and she leaned in to read it. "All mine, wait, did you and Brodie get tattoos? I know you wouldn't be the only one getting one. Wowww, my girl is down bad. Severely." She laughed as she said it but her expression softened as she did. "Much hotter than a baby but that's like..serious, Coco." She double checked Gabby's car seat and kissed her cheeks before getting into the front seats with Colette. She was still a little nervous about driving around with Gabby in her seat but she was trying. "Was that your first tattoo?" She pulled out of the driveway and checked on Gabby a few times. "You're not allowed to make fun of me for the way I drive with my kid in the car."

Colette knew exactly what scene Celeste had been referring to, as missing a movie release by JLO was blasphemous in the Mendez house. She'd always thought about how JLO's character described motherhood, having already found herself feeling that way about Brodie's little one. She could only imagine how much worse it'd get when she brought more into the world. "You know what that means? She'd heard all about them." Colette joked, making faces down at Gabby, entertaining the littlest member of their makeshift family. Celeste soon joined them again, this time with a camera in hand. "You're such a dork." She teased Celeste, before happily posing with baby Gabby. "How was that one?" She asked, as she followed the woman towards the car before going back to entertaining the baby. "It was everything we needed." As that was the best way to describe how their vacation had gone. The two had been granted time to just enjoy each other's company without any distractions, deadlines, or disasters. "I did a whole lot more than hydrate." Colette bit down on her lower lip, before shaking her head. "I'm sure if you had your way, I would have but I did come back with something." Colette said, lifting her shirt to show off her new tattoo.

[celeste-mayermendoza]

"I am, I really am. The minute she entered the world, something shifted in me. It's like when JLO says in Hustlers that motherhood is a mental illness. I know what she meant now." For all of her fears, motherhood had suited Celeste just as everyone knew it would. But that didn't make her feel any less scared. Just the thought of time passing and Gabby growing was enough to make her tear up. Celeste let out a loud laugh. "Me? Attachment issues? Never heard of em," she joked but she knew exactly how she was and she couldn't even imagine how bad it was by the time Gabby was a teenager. She grabbed their things but spared a moment to snap a picture of Colette with Gabby in her arms. It always warmed her heart to see her friends with Gabby but it meant a lot that her friendship with Colette had grown the way it had since college. Then idea of Gabby growing up around someone like Colette brought her a lot of joy. "I'm sure you'll tell me more over drinks but how as Mexico with Brodie? Did you hydrate?" She smirked as they finally walked out to the car and Celeste took Gabby to get her situated in her car seat. "I'm surprised you didn't come back with your own little one in the oven."

“Three whole months,” Colette repeated after Celeste as time had certainly flown. It felt like it was literally yesterday she'd gotten the call that Celeste's water had broken and the madness that'd soon followed. "You truly thought you'd be able to convince yourself you're not one of those mothers? You are textbook that mother." She let her friend know, before she placed Gabby in her arms. "I'd be awfully offended had she been," Colette said, the smile on her face growing as she watched the baby in her arms. "Nah, I'm good. Go, Go." She told Celeste with a scoff. "Could you believe her? I just got you and already she wanted to take you off my hands. Now, by no means am I a professional, but I think she's got attachment issues." Colette teased.

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"Can you believe she's already going to be three months in a couple of days? Three whole months." Celeste smiled down at Gabby in her arms before looking at Colette in her living room. "I lied to myself and said I wouldn't be one of those moms who celebrated every month but I already ordered the balloons and the outfit I got her is so cute," she told her with a content sigh before gently setting her daughter in Colette's arms. "She loves you, which is no surprise. She's a good vibe reader for sure. Let me just get her bag and then we can get her into her car seat before heading to lunch. You good with her there or you want me to take her?" @colettemendez

[celeste-mayermendoza]

“Baby if you could see the way your arms flex whenever you fold up that stroller, you would be looking at you too.” She was perfect, especially in their eyes. Sure, being a new parent wasn’t a piece of cake. They had many sleepless nights and a few emergency trips to the ER over things that were perfectly normal for a baby. Celeste definitely worried more than she should have but she didn’t care, she would do whatever she had to keep her child safe and happy. “Okay so what’s the issue? If you stay home you may never want to work again?” She laughed softly, reaching out to give Tierney’s shoulder a squeeze. “I mean there’s nothing that says we have to work unless you think you’re going to get sick of me but we know that’s never going to happen.”

“I can feel your eyes on me.” Tier told her while lugging all of their belongings then she turned and sent a wink Celeste’s way, “That wasn’t a complaint, just stating a fact. Proceed.” The blonde smiled softly to herself because she would actually love that because even though she was still hungry to do good and reach her personal career goals, for the time being that was all secondary to her family if she was being honest. “She’s perfect.” Tierney agreed as she started the car waiting for Celeste to settle in the back seat. She missed being able to reach over and hold her wife’s hand, but agreed with one of them being in the back for now, even if they were getting called out by thier parents constantly for ging a little overboard as first time parents tended to do apparently, “Realistically, financially…a very long time. That part isn’t the issue.”

[celeste-mayermendoza]

“The best of the best. Such a bougie little baby. I love it. She deserves. We deserve. Uh yeah, duh. Gotta butter up before you put those muscles to work. I love to watch you flex,” Celeste said and wiggled her eyebrows, making a point of watching Tierney as she got their things together. “Your mom is such a babe,” She told Gabby as she kissed her cheeks. “Uh you and me both, are you kidding? I’m gonna end up calling you for no reason just to chit chat all day.” Celeste had really enjoyed their time home the past two months and though she knew she would also eventually have to go back to work at some point, she hadn’t wanted to think about it. She got Gabby settled in the seat, giggling along with her as she poked her stomach. “God, I love this child so much,” she said softly before moving around to the other side so she could sit in the back seat with her daughter. She was waiting for her to be a bit older before she felt comfy sitting back in the passenger seat. Her mother said she worried too much but she didn’t care. “I mean realistically, financially, how long can we get away with both staying home?”

“Oh for sure, one of the biggest things I realized early into this process is how thoroughly capitalism popped off when it comes to the baby industry and I’m being had because we’re getting our girl the best every time.” During the transfer, Tierney couldn’t help but give Gabby a big kiss on her cheek followed by Celeste as she was pretty much putty in both their hands. “Fuck, so you kiss me like that just to butter me up? I see how it is. Fine, Mama T has got this.” Cel grabbed the bags and unlocked the stroller and held the door open for her girls then headed outside, “My maternity leave is up in about a month. I’m not looking forward to being apart from the two of you for hours at a time. Maybe my calling is stay at home mom in a shocking twist.” They both knew that wasn’t exactly true, but the thought and slight anxiety at the prospect of not being with Cel and Gabby as much had crossed her mind more than once in the past week and she wanted Celeste’s thoughts on it.

[celeste-mayermendoza]

Celeste smiled as she watched Tierney pick up their daughter, pretty sure she’d never tire at the sight of them. “It’s empowering and also making me think that detergent companies make a buttload off of parents because how could they not? Yeah, yeah, maybe. Not my fault me and pasta are sworn enemies,” she teased back. “I think so? Phone, wallet, water, change of shirt for me too, sun hat, the weed pen that Phoenix brought me. I think we’re set,” she told her, leaning in to kiss Tierney before taking Gabby into her arms so she could get her settled in the car seat once they got outside. “You’re on packing stroller duty. I’m not fighting with that shit today. You’re the stroller whisperer, I’m convinced.”

“That sounds vaguely familiar but that sort of feels like a distant dream, I don’t know.” Tierney said while she swooped in and scooped up their daughter, blowing a raspberry into the little girl’s tummy, something that never failed to make their kid giggle. “How empowering is it to just accept that she is in fact going to stain it. She’s a messy eater. Gets that from you I guess.” Tierney teased with a wink, “Do you have everything you’re going to need? We’ll be gone for a few hours. It’s pretty nice out.”

[celeste-mayermendoza]

“Remember when you could just leave the house with a little cross body bag and call it a day?” Celeste laughed as she finished getting Gabby ready and Tierney packed the bags they would need for their time out of the house. They had come to learn that Gabby was a bit of a messy eater and always required an outfit change, loved a snack, always had to change her diaper and a list of other things that also helped Cel feel secure whenever they were out of the house. “Ugh, look at how cute this is. I’ll have to send your mom a picture before she stains it, she as excited about this onesie.” @clearlytierney​

[celeste-mayermendoza]

[celeste-mayermendoza]

jorge lopez shot by jesus leonardo

styled by franco giovanni