"Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self."

Monday, January 14, 2013

Duke with Ally

While my cousin Ally was in for a (great) visit last week, we made a quick trip to Duke to explore a bit.    We hit up Elmo's Diner for lunch and this completed our micro-mini Durham tour. (Gimme a break, a 3 year old who still naps was my fellow tour guide...)

See all these students? Yeah, I was the one with a dSLR hanging around her neck and a preschooler at her side.  I didn't stand out as a non-student AT ALL.  (Although Ally said I look young and could be a photography student... but she's a known liar. ;)  J/k)


View from a bridge on campus.  Can't you imagine living here?  Are there secret societies here, Merri?  Let's pretend there are because my imagination can go crazy in a place like this.


My cool cousin Ally graduates from UMass Amherst in May.  She was in love with Duke, though!  We were both mentally reviewing all the academic missteps which led to attending college anywhere other than Duke during our walk, though!


Can't help it.  The rooftops remind me of Mary Poppins.


Facing the front doors of Duke Chapel from the inside.  This is what the designer of the doorway must have envisioned...


Organ pipes in the rear of the chapel.  You can't imagine how the music sounds in this church.  We attended their Protestant/mainly Methodist services while I was pregnant with BigBoy.


Just outside the chapel.


She wears these pearls with EVERYTHING.
And I love it. :)


Looking up in the wings outside.


Does any style look more collegiate than neo-gothic architecture?


But the mixes with modern make it more relatable, I think.


Ally checking to see if the organ demonstration is on for the afternoon...
(Due to some interior renovations being done, it wasn't, unfortunately.)


The tower of Duke Chapel


Duke University Class of 2032! Who's with me?!


(I've blaaaaahgged about Duke before. Here's campus in the Spring. I have LOTS more you haven't even seen!  Duke's campus is gorgeous and you should check it out if you're ever in the Durham area.)

And what to my wandering iPhone should appear...


 iHugs


iCheese


iKisses


iPlay


and best of all...
iLove



Little June Turns 3

With BabyCakes' 3rd birthday right before Christmas, another Little June photo shoot was due.  
(Check out her 6 mo,  1 yr, 18 mo, and 2 yr pics.)

In addition to her wearing my pearl necklace, I plan to encourage her to wear something that reflects who she is at every birthday we are lucky enough to celebrate with our girl.  
Originally I wanted white or cream for her clothes every year but this blush-colored dress reminded me of her perfectly pink skin. With the layers of frills on the bottom, it's not what I would have picked, but it is very her, and that's what's important.  Her hair is untamed -- just the way she likes it these days.


BabyCakes, this is you at 3.


You are a fun and friendly child... when you want to be.

You're independent and fearless... when you want to be.

And you are loving and sweet... when you want to be.

Most of the time you are all of these wonderful qualities, but you always live your life on your terms.


You have a firm grasp of who you are and what you want, not one to be easily swayed.
This should serve you well in life.


But right now my wish for you is to be wild, be free, be three!


I love you, my beautiful child!