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Live Love Craft

~ by Leonie Marie

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Category Archives: Dear Bundle

Mother’s Meadow

15 Thursday May 2014

Posted by Leonie Marie in Dear Bundle, Spring

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Tags

expecting, flowers, grace, leonie lueddeke, leonie marie, leonie real, maternal, meadow, mother nature, mother's day, mother-to-be, picnic, secret, surprise

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Dear Bundle,

We discovered the most amazing place!!

Sunday was a Mother’s Day to remember. Even though you are not yet born, your dad wanted to make sure I knew just how much he loved and appreciated me for carrying his little Bundle. So that afternoon, without even a hint about where we were going or what we were doing, he packed us up a lunch, grabbed a blanket and told me to put on my walking shoes and bring my camera.

A picnic, I thought. Such a sweet idea… simple, quaint, kinda romantic… and definitely out of our ordinary. As we loaded into the car, I figured we were probably going to a park or to a lake or somewhere appreciable. But trying not to spoil my own surprise, as my sometimes overly-inquisitive mind often does, I did as I was told and tried not to ask too many questions. After a moderate drive away from town, he suddenly pulled off to the side of the road at what seemed like no destination at all. Looking around me, we were in the middle nowhere. Surrounded by nothing but wooded area, there were no people, no parking lot, no trail, no signage, and no way of knowing just what I was about to encounter.

We grabbed our gear and began walking through the brush and trees. The grass was so high it was hard to walk through, and with no landmarks in sight, I began to wonder just what he was thinking trolling a pregnant lady through all this terrain. Hopefully we weren’t going far.

Just then, I saw a clearing appear up ahead. And I could make out what seemed like a patch of red flowers. But as we got closer and the trees parted, I could see it wasn’t a patch of red flowers at all… It was whole field of red flowers! Suddenly I was standing in the middle of a breathtaking hidden meadow… and it was full of these stunning wild flowers that stretched as far as the eye could see. And the butterflies… the butterflies were everywhere! I just stood there speechless, gazing in amazement at the sight before me.

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My adorable husband was clearing a spot for the blanket where the trees met the meadow, and started setting up his picnic. He said he had stumbled upon this place when scouting off the beaten path just a week before. The remarkable thing is it’s in a public region, but there’s no map identifying its existence, no path to trace its whereabouts and no name that stakes its claim. We decided right then that we will call this place, “Mother’s Meadow.”

It was one of the most beautiful earthly things to me, partly I think because of the mystery it beared. Here we are engrossed in today’s industrious country, entangled in a coveted society. Yet, in the middle of it all, somehow is this magnificent concealed piece of unadulterated, uncharted territory… and we had it all to ourselves. Incredible. It was as if it had been placed there just for us to experience.

Mother Nature reminded me that day of the beauty and sacredness that is all around us. And I am humbled and honored to be a part of her design. Next year when you are here, we will take you to see this special secret place. Until then, may you always know the maternal grace that surrounds and nurtures you day by day. Grow healthy and strong, little one. The meadow awaits you.

Love Always,

Mom

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A Poem From Baby Bundle to the Grandmothers-To-Be

09 Friday May 2014

Posted by Leonie Marie in Dear Bundle

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Tags

expecting, framing, grandma, grandma-to-be, grandmother, leonie lueddeke, leonie marie, leonie rael, mother's day, poem, unborn baby, unborn grandchild

Dear Bundle,

You have already given me the greatest Mother’s Day gift of all. I feel your love and presence every day, and that is a blessing I shall be able to know for the rest of my life. But there are also two other very special mothers who mean the world to me and who are eager to be apart of your world. So for Mother’s Day this year, I wanted to be sure to give you a voice, so you can let these two amazing women know just how excited you are to meet them as well.

To the beautiful Grandma’s-to-be, from the bottom of my heart, I hope you enjoy this poem from Baby Bundle to you.

Poem to Grandma From Baby Bundle

Happy Mother’s Day to my Moms! I wish I could be there to give these to you in person. I hope they reach you well. Thank you for all that you are, all that you do, and all the life you have created.

Grandma Poem Framing
2014-05-04 18.33.48
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2014-05-04 19.46.51

2014-05-04 20.54.50Love Always,

Leonie Marie & Baby Bundle

 

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You Are My Sunshine

27 Sunday Apr 2014

Posted by Leonie Marie in Dear Bundle

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belly, bump, expecting, generations, leonie lueddeke, leonie marie, leonie rael, love, lullaby, maternal, maternity, meditation, music, pregnancy, senses, song

Dear Bundle,

After experiencing maternity clothes, I can see how some women may never want to go back to non-waistband pants…  SO comfy!

Week 22 BumpMy weight gain is picking up steadily and rapidly now. You are the size of a papaya. About 11 inches from head to heel, and 12.25 grams. You are developing senses you will use in the outside world. Taste buds have started forming on the tip of your tongue, and your brain and nerve endings have developed enough so that you have the sense of touch. You can also hear what’s going on around you. I’ve started lullaby and meditation playlists, and I play them close to my belly for the both of us when I Iay down for bed at night. After you are born, I will play them as I put you down to sleep.

One of my favorite songs when I was young, “You Are My Sunshine,” has been a family favorite throughout the generations. My grandma Rael would hum this tune as she happily went about her daily routine, and this was also one of the songs her children sang to her as the good Lord called her up. I know that when I sing it to you, you will be surrounded by the love of all those who have loved me and gone before me.

You’ll never know, Dear, how much I love you.

Mom

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The Balance

18 Friday Apr 2014

Posted by Leonie Marie in Dear Bundle

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

anxiety, Art, baby, balance, bundle, create, creativity, expecting, faith, family, fortitude, grow, inspire, journey, learn, leonie lueddeke, leonie marie, leonie rael, love, mission, pregnancy, pregnant, self-purpose, spiritual, wellness

Dear Bundle,

Being so far away from my family has been increasingly hard on me throughout this pregnancy. And as my employment situation continues to take shape, it continues to pressurize and test the balance of good faith, hard work and financial capacity. As my pregnancy progresses, I have been challenged emotionally and spiritually as I continue to search for avenues of support, substance and self-purpose. It’s difficult trying to communicate how I can feel so happy and blessed and excited for your arrival and for my life right now, and yet feel so lonely and misplaced at the same time. balance 1 I think it’s important for me to recognize that these feelings exist and that it’s okay and normal to have emotional ups and downs. And for me, the best thing to do when I start to feel the onset of anxiety or doubt or depression, is to turn inward. My inward place focuses me toward my creativity… to my writing, to artwork, to crafting, to yoga, to music or simply to my meditative place.

When I decompress in this way, it does many things. It opens up my right brain, where I am my most productive and comfortable. It inspires insight and self-awareness. It re-energizes my level of vitality and confidence. It allows me to be more in tune with my holistic body and resets my physical battery. And probably most importantly, it allows me to be more receptive of my spiritual guides and to the wisdom that there are forces at work that are greater than me. And that these forces are working through me to create life, to create challenges, and to create opportunities for me and for others to learn, to grow and to love.

I am so grateful for this journey. And my pledge is to continue striving inward, and to remain in constant pursuit of my mission statement below so that I may be the best version of myself for you and for all who know me. My Mission Statement is as follows:                                                                                              

“I strive to live my life with integrity, compassion, mindful observance, and a healthy sense of humor. In both large and small matters, may I always be true to my deepest principles so that my integrity may be a gift to others. Living now in a constant state of questions, answers, and fortitude… ‘I know that if I continue to advance in the direction of my dreams, and endeavor to live a life in which I have imagined, I will meet with a success unexpected in common hours,’ (H. Thoreau)”  ~ Leonie Marie.

I am so looking forward to everything we have to learn from one another. Love Always, Mom

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Two Small Feet

07 Monday Apr 2014

Posted by Leonie Marie in Dear Bundle

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baby, boy, expecting, family, journey, leonie lueddeke, leonie marie, leonie rael, pregnancy, shoes

Dear Bundle,

Our family is about to grow by 2 small feet. And it’s official… these shoes belong to a baby boy!

family shoes

Snakes and snails and puppy dog tails. There’s a great big world out here waiting for you to explore. It’s full of so many things to see, to do and to learn. 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 can promise you this. Although our paths are all uncharted, this journey is worth the walk. And these shoes are yours to fill.

Love Always, Mom.

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Flutters

28 Friday Mar 2014

Posted by Leonie Marie in Dear Bundle

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baby, baby bump, expecting, flutters, leonie lueddeke, leonie marie, leonie rael, maternity, motherhood, pregnancy, pregnant

Dear Bundle,

Welcome to Week 18. Your presence is undeniable. I can feel your movements now. You feel like a little butterfly fluttering around in my tummy. You are about the size of a bell pepper and still have plenty of space to roll around and turn about (although I think you’ve found your favorite spot in my lower left abdomen). Your dad is convinced you gave him a high-five the other night and I’m convinced you gave me heartburn.

Bump

 

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The Stockpile

24 Monday Mar 2014

Posted by Leonie Marie in Dear Bundle

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

baby, Costco, coupons, diapers, discount, expecting, leonie lueddeke, leonie marie, leonie rael, planning, pregnancy

Dear Bundle,

Now it is a well-known fact far and wide across the contiguous land and sea that your father is a Costco addict… I am letting you know this now because just as routine as milk is in the morning, every Sunday after church, like it or not, we must test our inner-peace by making a family outing to the nearest Costco, where your dad will be blessed with the joy of toting us through each and every aisle to make sure nothing has dropped in price since the last time we stepped across their sacred threshold.

Now for a current household of only 2 and soon to be 3, it may seem that weekly visits to a large discount warehouse would be overkill. However the critical point of clarity here is that your dad is a willing victim and follower of Costco’s well-devised and diabolical coupon sales schedule. This means that even though we may be running on week 3 of no paper towels in the house, we may need to wait another 2 weeks before Costco will run their $2.00 off ad in the monthly mailer before we can purchase them again in good conscience.

But rest assured, each excursion to Costco proves to be exciting and worthwhile none-the-less. For example, yesterday we got to buy another year’s worth of 9-volt batteries and also exchange all of last year’s light bulbs for the new more efficient ones that have just come into stock! Score!

Diaper Stack 1

In addition to that, we have started your stockpile of diapers. Your dad has been busy carefully scoping out all the competitive rates, sales and rewards plans, and he has determined that if we can catch all of Costco’s diaper sale waves over the next 28 – 34 months, at $5 off each box, times the 2 box limit, subtract manufacturer’s discount, multiplied by 2 separate member transactions, on 3-4 occasions bi-monthly, credit annual rewards points, divided by the circumference of the moon and rounded to the nearest half penny to account for cosmic tilt…. we will be able to diaper the WORLD for just under $364.92!

I think we may need to build you a bigger closet…

 

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Your First Pictures

11 Tuesday Mar 2014

Posted by Leonie Marie in Dear Bundle

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

baby, doctor, expecting, leonie lueddeke, leonie marie, leonie rael, mom, mother-to-be, pregnancy, pregnant, sonogram, ultrasound

Dear Bundle,

Today we had our 16-Week Appointment. To date, we’ve been to 3 official prenatal doctor appointments, had 3 blood tests, and 2 ultrasounds. We count our blessings every time we get affirmation that you are healthy and progressing normally.

At the very first visit, you had been in my belly for 8 weeks. Your dad and I got to hear your heart beat for the very first time.  It was so cool! And this is the very first picture of you ever taken.  You were the size of a raspberry.

01.17.14 Ultrasound

A few weeks ago, we got to see even more pictures of you, and it’s amazing how much you’ve already grown and developed. This is you at 13 weeks, the size of a tangerine!

1.2.276.0.26.1.1.1.2.2014.81.58234.162763.46031872.57bfc6a6fc6.0000000000

 

Today the doctor let us listen to your heartbeat again. It kinda sounds like a galloping horse, rapid and strong. When we came home, your dad put his head on my belly and cuddled with you for a long time… He already loves holding you.

 

.

 

 

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15 Week Bump

06 Thursday Mar 2014

Posted by Leonie Marie in Dear Bundle

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baby, belly, birth, bump, bundle, infant, leonie lueddeke, leonie marie, leonie rael, maternity, mom, motherhood, pregnancy, pregnant

Dear Bundle,

I think it’s safe to say you and I are both growing. I definitely have a “bump” that was not there before. Here’s a picture of me today, about 15 weeks along.

03.06.14 Bump

It feels funny having a rounding belly. My normal clothes are starting to wear kinda tight, so I’ve been soliciting around for maternity clothes. So far my friends have been great and I’ve even acquired some used items from some local moms here in Poolesville.

Goodbye waistline… I hope to see you again…

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Dear Bundle

28 Friday Feb 2014

Posted by Leonie Marie in Dear Bundle

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Tags

announcement, baby, bundle, Christmas, dad, leonie lueddeke, leonie marie, leonie rael, maternity, mom, motherhood, pregnancy, pregnant

Dear Bundle,

The secret is out. Just a couple short weeks ago, your father and I shared this picture with friends and family to announce the most wonderful news.

Look what's cooking

You are due to come into our world August 20th 2014 and we are all so very excited to meet you. I am now in my second trimester, and I’ve decided to create this journal so I can write to you about all the things that are happening during this special time as we prepare for your arrival.

We have a little catching up to do.  This journey started for me exactly one week before Christmas, when I found out I was pregnant. But I kept it a secret from your dad until Christmas Day. Christmas this year wasn’t suppose to be anything particularly special or extraordinary. In fact, with our families back in Albuquerque, and no funds for travel this year, we had planned on a pretty lonely holiday. But you changed all that…

I spent that week making an ornament and camo baby booties (you know that whatever gender you end up being, your dad will have you in camo booties!). I also ordered a T-shirt that said it all.

Christmas Baby Presents
2013-12-23 18.56
2013-12-23 19.04

When your unsuspecting father opened his gift, he was immediately overcome with joy. I don’t think the tears or smiles ever really stopped that day. That was the happiest Christmas we’ve ever had.


We look forward to spending next Christmas with you, and so many more to follow.

Love Always,

Mom

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Leonie Marie

Leonie Marie

Leonie Marie

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