Things That Go. 3 of 4
02 Wednesday Mar 2016
Posted Things That Go
in02 Wednesday Mar 2016
Posted Things That Go
in01 Tuesday Mar 2016
Posted Dear AJ, Things That Go, Uncategorized
inFinished the second picture in the series for AJ’s Big Boy Room. 2 more to go …
28 Sunday Feb 2016
Posted Dear AJ, Things That Go
inJust completed my first of 4 paintings that will go in AJ’s Big Boy room. The theme is “Things That Go.”
23 Monday Nov 2015
Posted Dear Baby Bun
inDear Baby Bun,
Your father and I are thrilled to find out we will be having another precious little boy. And I know AJ will be thrilled to have a little brother to love (and torment).
It was such a blessing to have your Mia here when we went to our gender reveal ultrasound. During that session, we had your heartbeat recorded into a little heart that is now sewn into a very special stuffed puppy dog. AJ cuddles and sleeps with this puppy every night. He loves you already, little guy, and so do we.
23 Sunday Aug 2015
Posted Dear AJ
in21 Friday Aug 2015
Posted Dear AJ, Dear Bundle
inDear AJ,
Your first birthday party was a hit! You got a lot of compliments on your outfit, and Mommy may have earned a few points for creativity.
The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse was full of fun and laughter, and all your little friends came out to be a part of it. We decked the yard with play things, adorned your guests with mouse ears, and enjoyed celebrating your first year of life on a beautiful summer day. Among the most popular of activities were the water table and the parachute, but by far the winner or this popularity contest was the ball pit!
Your birthday menu consisted of some fun Mickey-approved treats (The Mickey Mellons were worth the extra time put in at 2:00 a.m. the night before)!
You did a great job on your smash cake!
At the end of the day, we all had a wonderful time. It will definitely be a day that will live in my memory, even if you are too young for it to! A very special THANK YOU to my dear friend, Erin, for traveling all this way from Kansas City to help make this day possible!
We love you, Anthony Joseph. Happy 1st Year from your fan club!
05 Wednesday Aug 2015
Posted Dear AJ, Dear Bundle
inDear AJ,
One year ago today, I layed eyes on you for the very first time. I thought my heart would beat out of my chest. I had know idea how much you would change my world. And yet, today, it’s hard to even remember what my life was before you were in it.
This was a year full of firsts for both you and me. I’ve watched you grow. I’ve seen you learn. I’ve held onto every moment. And to think… it will only get better.
Anthony Joseph, you have brought me so much joy. And a sense of purpose. I fall more in love with you every day. Thank you for choosing me.
Happy First Birthday, my first born. I love you for always.
Mom
03 Monday Nov 2014
Posted Uncategorized
inTags
When we looked into our child’s eyes for the first time, we were in love. And ever since we brought our little Bundle home from the hospital, my husband has been in love with his little feet. I often watch them cuddle… Dad holding baby snugly against his chest, soft bare little feet in his hands.
Today is Tony’s 35th Birthday. And being that this is his first birthday as a father, I wanted to make him something special that would pay tribute to this precious time in his life, and memorialize these moments that he holds so dear with his baby son.
This poem, written by yours truly, and these small prints are what I came up with.
So for the first time, Sweetheart, here is a gift to you from “your family.” Happy Birthday.
All Our Love,
Leonie & AJ
22 Friday Aug 2014
Posted Dear Bundle
inTags
baby, baby bump, birth, birthday, born, bundle, expecting, journey, legacy, maternity, pregnancy, pregnant
Dear Bundle,
Welcome to the outside! Your due date was today, August 22nd, 2014. However, you were so excited to be here that you decided to be born early and came into this world on August 5th, 2014! Weighing in at 6.25 lbs and 19 inches in length, you are healthy, happy, and every ounce of joy that a little bundle like you was meant to be.
We decided to name you Anthony Joseph, after your father and mine. May you be blessed with their eternal love and devotion, and may you carry on their names in wisdom and in legacy of those who came before you.
Sweet Baby,
Your journey in this life has begun, already fleeting, ever so short. The world is full of things to do, to see, and to learn. Explore it with integrity, compassion, mindful observance, and a healthy sense of humor. Travel this road with a full heart and an open mind. There is no limit to how far you can travel or how high you can climb. I cannot tell you where all the roads will lead or even which ones to always take. But I promise to always be here for you, and I will do my best to help guide you along the way. You will forever be a part of me. Good luck on your journey, my Bundle, my Boy, my Anthony Joseph.
Love You Forever,
Mom
04 Monday Aug 2014
Posted Operation Nursery
inTags
baby bump, baby room, curtains, drapes, fabric, handmade, Home and Garden, home decor, interior design, nursery, pregnancy, sewing, sun fade, UV protectant, valence, window
I’ve been so looking forward to having my mom in town to help me put together the nursery, and especially excited for her mentorship in helping me learn how to use my new sewing machine! We spent weeks leading up to her visit planning out our project list and searching for fabrics, and finally the time has come to bring it all to life!
The first project on our sewing crusade was the valence. Once the room is complete, it will have a lot going on around the window. So for my valence, I didn’t want anything too dramatic or overly fancy. No swoops or ties and definitely no curtains or drapes. After sifting through several different styles online, I came across this one that I really liked. Box-style rod… just enough ruffle… simple and clean. Using this image as our inspiration, we mapped out our patterns and measurements. Below is the finished product measurements. Remember to allow extra fabric for seam allowance. Also, the top layer is doubled over as it will wrap around the rod. We found that 3 yards were necessary to span the length of the 2 yard window in order to give it the amount of gather we were looking for.
Sidebar on Sun Fade!
I feel compelled to mention that one of my major concerns going into this was how to protect my project from sun fade. There’s no doubt that the sun fades material over time, and my colors are already on the pastel side as it is. Being that the valence will be right up against that window all day long, the last thing I want is for my hard work to look completely washed out by this time next year (and I should mention that half the fabrics I chose are being discontinued… so no chance of reproducing my projects later!) .
After extensive research and multiple conversations with bloggers, quilting masters and upholstery experts, I realized that this was a problem that the market is yet to find any sure solution… Blasphemy! But what I did decide to employ anyway, despite its very mixed reviews, was this UV fabric protectant spray:
However gimmicky it may seem, I found that reputable fabric stores such as JoAnns and Hancocks stocked it, so I figured it was worth a shot. Needless to say, I took it home and sprayed the silly out of my valence. Stay tuned for my long term reviews on this product.
In addition to that, we took a more traditional route of sun-fade protection as well by simply adding a layer of white fabric to the back of the valence. The idea of course that this additional layer will help screen and deflect the direct light from my precious polka dots and stripes on the other side. If you do this, taking the time to piece the screen fabric to each seam individually will definitely make the end result nicer.
And just like that, my beautiful valence is complete! It was a little snug on the rod, so it took some extra careful shimmy and crimping to gather it all together (a lot like putting on pantyhose). Once mounted, it took just a a little adjustment and reworking of the bottom ruffle to get it to our liking.
I am SO pleased with the result!!
Next up, I will be cheering on my husband as he attempts the construction of the built-in bookcase bench that I designed to wrap around the window:
From there, the sewing crusade continues… fun pillows and cushions to accent the bench and compliment the valence!
See Operation Nursery for more details on the full plan and progress to date.