January 13, 2003 You named your new kitten "Kendall" in honor of her Uncle Ken because, like Uncle Ken, Kendall was "the 2nd born, but the first to open her eyes." I do so love the way you think!
Trey King's 7th Birthday Party
Saturday, January 18, 2003
You thanked me for being a great Mom – asked if you could stay in jammies all day and said you are so glad to have a Mom like me!!
We did lots of crafts including “Paperkins” and I found out what a “glue
globber” is and that Elinor at school is the glue police! Wow! The things you learn when you stay in jammies all day on a Saturday :)
Best friends on a Sarabande snow day
and then there is "snow cream". Inspired by Little Bear!
February 12, 2003 One of my favorite Meredith moments was when I caught a glimpse of you out of the corner of my eye during an English class. You raised your hand because you really wanted to answer the professor's question and simply could not understand why "the women all looked at each other and back at the teacher and said nothing. "Why?" you asked me later. "School would be so boring if I did that." The question was about "The Bog Queen" by Seamus Heaney. It begins "I lay waiting" and Sarah Boone asked: "For whom is she waiting?" and you said: "God, or Angels to take her to God"
Thursday, February 13, 2003
You found a quarter on the floor in the cafeteria was
“cleaning” it in – in her mouth – and accidentally swallow it. She eventually
coughed it up in the nurse’s office, but not until AFTER the school called 911
and me and both EMTs and I were on our where there. Pretty scary stuff!
Saturday, February 22, 2003
We snuggled and watched Reading Rainbow, Cyberchase (we both learned that the dangly thing in the back of you throat is called the "uvula") and Kim Possible whose parents gave her advice while they went out and left her to watch her younger brothers: "Candy is dandy, but fruit helps you poop."
We baked cookies, did some crafts and played dressup. Brittany Campbell babysat
1-4pm so I could go study Chaucer memory lines with Kimberly Williams.
Friday, February 28, 2003 changed my life yet again. We met
the poet Brod Bagert at a special event at Baucom. I volunteered to
assist with the book signing, we chatted, of course, and I was so impressed by how direct and real he was. I told him about school and that I was
still undecided about my major. When he had asked if my husband wrote or even
read poetry to me, he struck a sad, sour chord. By the end of the conversation,
I knew I would declare as an English major that afternoon when I returned to recite
memory lines for Mrs. Boone. The author asked if we could be the ones who drove him to the airport, so we did. God has in mind for me a poet...
March 4, 2003 Mr. Chapman’s Art Class – The Great Wave off
the coast of Kanagawa. Your description of “Bareback Rider” and the clown
from Jazz Henri Matisse. It was 2 circus performers on the back of a horse
woman on her knee horse had no saddle down right next to them and the horse was
galloping around in circles while they were on it.
The penguin picture has a purple
sky, light blue water and of course it needs some icebergs and the sun is
yellow with a red middle and the clouds are gray. We are using construction
paper. We tear them into shape we want and glue them. Only tear and gluing.
Mommy, may I demonstrate? I am going to demonstrate by making a picture of the
beach. Light blue for sky, dark blue for water, yellow for sand and I’ll tear
it anyway I want. It’s my choice.”
March 6, 2003 – Today as I was pulling out of our drive way
to bring you to school, I asked her what you wanted to listen to and you said: “Whan
Zephirus eek with his swete breeth” Chaucer!
Your joy was overflowing when she got back into our car after school with a daffodil
and said something along the lines of: “Look! I found it! A sure sign of Spring! But I can't remembering your exact word, which was stronger than “sure”. It was one that meant something more like an indisputable sign of Spring’s arrival. The moment was a powerful one for me for many
reasons, one of which was, I’d gotten there super early and was only the 3rd
car in line. That allowed both of us to relish the moment completely and be fully present. If I had been further back in the line and you had had to wait for your turn to be picked up, you might not have remained so enthusiastic. :)
Gifts of flower and pure Joy we celebrated with frozen cokes as a special treat
on this, “the first mild day of March”.
Monday, March 17, 2003 Spring Break - Unfortunately, you were sick nearly the entire break - right up until your 7
th Birthday. We ended up postponing your party to make sure you were well enough and could have Ginger there for pony rides.
Friday, March 28
th 2003 – The first of many photo opportunities at the Meredith fountain in front of Johnson Hall.
Sunday, March 30, 2003 Planted rye grass so it would be
ready for a living Easter Basket…
Another dream you had was to learn to play T-ball – so… of course I signed you up and you sort of played the Spring 2003 season. This picture was taken June 20, 2003. What a cutie
pie. As it turned out, you really just wanted the trophy, so instead of leaning how to play baseball, you mostly played in the dirt and
did lots of daydreaming. It drove the coach (and your father) nuts! but I am SO grateful for the dreamer in you!
March 31, 2003 I love listening to you breathe as you fall back to sleep in my arms. I love the sweet smell of your soft beautiful hair and the feel of your skin next to mine. This moment is soft and sweet and beautiful - even the noises Kendall makes as she breathes with us - soft, deep, connected breaths. It was so quiet I could actually hear the rare soft sound of your lips pop as air escaped between them. And when you woke, with Kendall snuggled in next to you, you pet her, she purrs - loudly - what sweet wonderful sounds, but especially your morning words "You're the best" I love it when you snuggle into bed with me "I'm cozy, wozy, dozy." :) Yes! you are!! In your kitty cat pjs, but most of all you are filled with, you are lovable and so very loved!!
Your post-poned 7th Birthday party was April 6th.
May 3, 2003 - THIS was the day you told me what you decided about the freckle marks on your wrist: "Mommy, I think I actually know what the 2 angel's kisses are - they are from the angel that made you and the angel that made Daddy. If you see 2 dots on your hand, hey are from the angel that made your father and the angel that made your mother." :) We had an 11 am appointment with Susan Fenimore for some healing energy work because you were experiencing what I would now call anxiety - particularly in regard to school. Susan said she felt some heat at your belly, but energy is flowing well through joints in legs and feet and everything is open and flowing.
My observations: You are open and exude joy even when you close your eyes - and are "trying" to relax and "do the right thing" - your words.
May 6, 2003
"Dear Mom, You have been a good Mom to me. But I will be grown up soon. But I will always write."
May 7, 2003 - I love my sweet child. I love how excited you are to show me how you were instructed to do library research - even though you had difficulty with the spelling of the word "Cheetahs" you still showed me exactly what Mrs. Godshall had taught about using Internet Explorer to go to the Baucom website and then to some other page to research cheetahs. Very cool!
Thursday, May 15, 2003 - We've shared early mornings with Gram before she goes to work - and today we stopped by Grandpa's work to say hello. He was right out front weeding the garden at the Stonington Police Station. He was really happy to see us. You helped him weed a little bit and then we went inside and said hello to the women in the front office. Later that same day you were simply elated when Joe invited you over to play and we even dug steamers with him and Aunt Karen.
May 19, 2003 - When we woke up snuggled together at Grammy and Grandpa's and I told you we would be flying home, you said: "I don't want to leave yet. I've grown used to this place." 6:45 am - later that day - "It feels like we were just flying here yesterday. But... never the less (yes! Your exact words) I had a fun time," 3:10 pm 5/19/03
June 3, 2003 journal entry: "One of the many reasons I think you are so cool, interesting, and creative: you said 'I wonder where the red one goes.' We were watching The Wizard of Oz and I'd never even noticed the red brick road. Everyone knows the ' Follow the yellow brick road' scene but you asked where does the red brick road go? So... I looked it up online and discovered that others have asked that same question 🤔
As near as I can tell now, Sunday, November 20, 2022, this could be the link I found then :
Post in thread 'Where does the Red Brick Road go?' https://forum.rpg.net/index.php?threads/where-does-the-red-brick-road-go.161426/post-3261480
But a Google search now reveals many more options. Have fun!!
Friday, June 6, 2003 We went to Jordan Lake and to see Finding Nemo and had pizza for dinner.
Tuesday June 10, 2003: woke up early, even after
going to bed late – so, of course, when it was time for Science Safari class, you were sleeping in the back seat.
We were talking about the word "stale". I thought it only described food that was no longer fresh, but the definition you had in mind was closer to the first one I found in the dictionary: "tasteless or unpalatable from age." :)
Monday, June 16, 2003 Changed the color of your room from a nice blue you liked when you were younger to a pink
called “Angel’s Kisses.” you wanted me to change it back. ugh! Why didn't I just leave well enough alone?!
Friday, June 20, 2003: Hula Hoops and Puddles with Katelynn then lunch, Spy Kids 2,
Between the Lions, Reading Rainbow
3:20 6/30/03 You said: “I wish fairies would come to my house” and I said “me
too!” so we set out our fairy boxes and you set out an extra white
box with the note” I believe in you”
Sunday, July 13, 2003 My 42nd Birthday. What shall I do? Enjoy!! Cake for breakfast yes !! J
Monday, July 14 thru Friday, July 18th Art Camp week with Mr. Chapman.
Friday, July 18, 2003 - NC Museum of Art with Baucom Art Camp
When I asked how it was you said: “It’s so amazing. It took my breath away” 10am
Many events inspired me to break free. Be me, come back to life, find
my joy and live it!! My classes at Meredith began again and I was inspired to begin writing again and to write through the pain to the other side of it. Nan Miller's American Lit class that included poems like “The Flesh and the Spirit.” by Anne Bradstreet: “In
secret place where once I stood / Close by the Banks of Lacrim flood…My thoughts do yield me more content/ Than can thy hours in pleasure
spent” (69-70). And "little" books like The Awakening by Kate Chopin that caused my entire life to start shifting and to be awakened.
July 23, 2003
This question was posed in an issue of
Real Simple magazine:
“Who was your
greatest teacher and what did you learn from him or her?”
My daughter is my greatest teacher. From her I have learned to play and enjoy life, and to follow
my dreams. I have learned that everything is possible. Try new things, make mistakes, explore new
places and be adventurous. I have learned about true intimacy, beginning with our experience of breast feeding. I hae also learned not to worry
because she says things to me like: “It’s
not your job to worry Mommy, it’s God’s job” and that I need not hurry because
“whatever time we get there it’s the perfect time when are suppose to get
there.”
Aug 4-8, 2003 Horseback Riding Camp
at Five Star Farm
and then...
We went to see Finding Nemo again. This time at
Raleighwood.
(Dave was in Florida on a trip for work. By Halloween he was in
Australia…
My favorite picture from Halloween 2003 was taken in the Media Center at A.V. Baucom Elementary:
First Christmas gifts came in the mail, from Grammy, of course!
Feb 7, 2004
April 9, 2004, Preparing for Easter
Stylin' :)
