Category Archives: Dear Bundle

AJ’s First Birthday at the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

21 Friday Aug 2015

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Dear 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!

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Happy first birthday, Anthony Joseph

05 Wednesday Aug 2015

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Dear 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.

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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.

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Happy First Birthday, my first born. I love you for always.

Mom

 

 

Hello World!

22 Friday Aug 2014

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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.

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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.

Hello TJ

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

Rounding Out at Week 33

07 Monday Jul 2014

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Dear Bundle,

We’re rounding out at Week 33 and things are starting to get really busy around here. Our doctor appointments have been bumped up to every two weeks. And by week 35, they will increase to once a week. Weight gain up until this point has been slow and gradual, but starting about now that velocity will ramp up significantly as well. To put it into perspective, you are only about 4 pounds now, but from here until B-Day (about 7 weeks away) you will probably double in size.

Week 33 Bump

At this point in my pregnancy and with the nearing of the much anticipated event, I am preoccupied with a palpable feeling of excitement and joy (you’ll be here soon!), coupled strongly with an equally overwhelming feeling of trepidation and anxiety (you’ll be here soon!!).

I have also been spiked with some sort of inexplicable energy that has me buzzing frantically about with a mission to clean, organize and obsess over everything in the house in preparation for your arrival- some things more random than others. The other day, for example, I fulfilled this incredible unfounded need inside of me to scrub all the baseboards, door jams and light switches in the house (what??). I suppose this is what they mean by the “nesting phase?” Evidently so, I have decided I need to harness this energy (which is undoubtedly fleeting) toward some much more focused and meaningful applications….

So Operation Nursery, get ready! Over the next few weeks I am blessed to have some family and friends coming into town to help me with this. We will be intently working on things like painting the nursery, organizing closets and assembling, well, tons of stuff! We also have plans to take my creative abilities to uncharted territories involving a sewing machine (… Handmade curtains and pillows are the vision)! In addition to this, your dad will be starting on a unique project to build you a custom built-in bookcase bench that I designed just for your bedroom! I can’t wait to see how everything will come together. Stay tuned, as Operation Nursery is well underway!

xoxo,

Mom

Bundle’s Blanket

30 Monday Jun 2014

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Dear Bundle,

Upon my trip to Albuquerque, I was presented with a very special gift. Well, actually, YOU were.

Your Grandma Rael has been working on your quilt day and night. It’s one of a kind and absolutely gorgeous! Like with everything your Grandma does, she put her whole heart and soul into this blanket. And it was made specifically just for you to love and to cherish.

If you’re anything like me and my siblings with our childhood quilts, this blanket is sure to get its fair share of mileage. From picnics with our stuffed animals to being dragged down the stairs and wrapped around us during Saturday morning cartoons, there are few occasions where we did not have them around.

My favorite childhood blanket was hand made by my Grandma Rael (your Great Grandma). When she passed away 2 years ago, my mother (your Grandma) took up the project to restore it. She carefully went over every stitch, even leaving the mistakes your Great Grandma had made to keep it as original as possible. When she returned the blanket to me last year, the special surprise was that she had enhanced it with new embellishments. These came from patterns that your Great Grandma had left behind, unfinished. Now even more precious and special than before, this blanket will forever be one of my most cherished treasures. 

Now we are honored to add your new blanket to our collection of family quilts, and I know that you will love it just as much as all the love that when into its making.

Love Always,

Mom & Grandma!

29 Week Bump… New Mexico Here We Come!

10 Tuesday Jun 2014

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Dear Bundle,

They say I’m carrying high. According to the old wives tale, that’s a sign consistent to your gender. Although according to medical research, that’s a sign I have killer abs (…hey, I’ll pitch both theories)!.

Week 29 Bump

Well my doctor cleared me for travel and I’m getting ready for my trip to New Mexico tomorrow. This was home to your father and I for many years, but to you it will be known as the Land of Grandparents! Soon you will be able to meet your 4 amazing grandparents as well as your many aunts, uncles and cousins who are all very excited to meet you. But for now, they get to meet my belly!

We have a moderate flight ahead of us tomorrow and comfort may not be the most possible of things, but I’ll be packing the pillows like a mule in order to try. I really wish I could bring our Snoogle along for the ride, but that would probably require me to purchase a second seat… In any case, please pleeease try not to kick and roll all over my bladder too too much (I hate having to pee on planes!). I’m also packin plenty of Pepcid and Tums… a few for the plane, and a lot more for the New Mexican food, which I’m wagering will give us a run for our money throughout our stay (but it’s sooo worth it!). Table for one and a half, please. NM, here we come! 🙂

A Baby Shower to Remember

07 Saturday Jun 2014

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Baby Shower Banner

I was elated when my good friend, Tara, took the reigns on throwing us a very memorable Baby Shower here in Maryland. We decided on a co-ed party to be hosted at our place, but Tara insisted that neither Tony nor I be involved with the planning or preparation of any of it (you have no idea how difficult this was for me and my husband!). So for the last several weeks, between Tony, the Hopeless Control Freak, and Yours Truly, the DIY Crafter and Party Planning Freak, we did our best not to intrude.

Come the day of the shower, even as much as we wanted to stick around and help with setting things up, Tara unceremoniously kicked us both out of our house with strict orders not to return until party time. Obediently, Tony and I left. We spent a few hours wandering aimlessly around town, but were eager to get back and see just what she was up to (Well, at least I was… Tony was more eager to get back and monitor the mayhem that was surely ensuing in his kitchen).

When we returned, the house was alive with people. Colorful balloons, favors and decor made for a super fun entrance and as we walked around and greeted our guests, I took some time to notice all the adorable things Tara and her helpers put together. Everything from creative signage, food and beverages… the Pinterest world would be proud!

Plenty of games and activities kept us all laughing. Tony took home the prize (by a long shot) in “The Price is Right, Baby Items.” I was rather impressed that he somehow knew more about the price of formula, wipes and pacifiers than all the people present who already had babies of their own… but somehow, nobody was surprised! That’s my hubby!

Other fun games included a diaper modeling contest and, probably the party favorite, watching Tony and I race to change a dirty diaper.  P.S… If it looks like we have no idea what we are doing, it’s because we don’t!

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who made it out to celebrate this very special time in our lives. I know you all had a hand in helping to put this together. We love and appreciate each and every one of you! ♥

And a very extra special THANK YOU to Tara, who I know put a lot of time and effort into making this day extra special! We love you girl!!

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Love Always,

Leonie, Tony and Bundle

Hail to the SnOoGLe

29 Thursday May 2014

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Dear Bundle,

Getting into a comfy sleeping position at night is becoming more of a challenge, and for the last couple weeks I’ve been tossing and turning a lot more throughout the night. So a couple days ago, your dad came home with a surprise…

Snoogle in Box Hail to the Snoogle!! Every pregnant woman I’ve ever met swears by these giant wrap around body pillows, so I was eager to put it into use and see for myself what all the hype was about. My first impression as I opened it up and rolled it out onto the bed was this is going to pose a bit of a space challenge. Me + Bundle + Snoogle = not a lot of room for Daddy. I envisioned myself trying to flip sides with it in the middle of the night and consequently smothering him or battering him with it in the process.

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But as I lay there wrapped in my own personal life-size nest of soft feathery fluffies, I must attest that this thing is truly a dream invention. Although it’s longer than me, it can curl up into various shapes and sizes. It’s also surprisingly squishy and wraps snugly around my body in any position I want to lay in. Adjusting positions during the night can be done easily without a lot of effort or chaos because you can leave the Snoogle in place and just flip yourself to face the other side of it. But to be honest, I barely need nor want to move at all once I melt into it! I even find myself wanting to go to bed earlier than normal just to indulge in my new pillow.

All in all, my review of this notorious body pillow is well-favored, and I will join the testimony of people who recommend it as a certain survival kit staple for any woman with a bump.  Comfortable rest is possible once again!

Happy Snoogling!

3 Months to Go!

22 Thursday May 2014

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Dear Bundle,

Grow, Baby, Grow! We have 3 months to go!

Finishing up the second trimester and boy, are we growing. You have literally doubled in size over the last month. I use to feel you hanging out on one side of my belly or the other, now you are taking up that whole space. I’m having to eat smaller meals just to fit my food in there without feeling incapacitated.

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To date, it’s been a very textbook pregnancy. So far I’ve hit all the milestones and had all the typical (mild) symptoms.  I’m experiencing some discomfort here and there, and hormones are up and down. But all in all, I’ve been managing it well. I realize this may all change very soon! So here’s hoping for continued health and endurance. Grow, baby, grow!

Love,

Mom