Tag Archives: maternity

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.

B-Day Bump

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

Painting the Hills & Sky

31 Thursday Jul 2014

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My vision for the nursery walls included soft colors, rolling hills and a neutral sky with clouds. I planned out the landscape first, sketching the hills onto the wall with a pencil, several erasers and a lot of patience. The challenging part was in knowing how my lines were materializing on a 12 foot wall when I’m only inches away from it at any given time. To make this easier, I purchased a cheap art projector like the one below:

projector

Thanks to this little gadget, I was able to sketch my hills out onto paper first and then project them onto the walls and trace them. I definitely recommend this method for painting murals or other projects involving larger-than-life canvas sizes!

With this complete, I tackled the paint. I did the sky first and then the hills to ensure the illusion that the hills were on top of the sky rather than the other way around (trust me, it makes a difference). Two coats were necessary all the way around to ensure coverage of the original yucky mustard-yellow wall color. After rolling on the larger surface areas, I found it helpful to switch to a smaller-bristle art brush for the details.

 

Phase 1 of Painting Complete:

Special thanks to my good friend, Vanessa, who traveled all the way from Chicago to help me complete Phase 1 of the Painting Plan! I love you girl, and your fellow-perfectionist capabilities! ♥ ♥ ♥

Vanessa & Leonie

 

 

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

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.

SnoogleB copy

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.

26 Week Bump

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

 

 

Operation Nursery is Underway!

20 Tuesday May 2014

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Operation Nursery is Underway… Here we go!

When Tony and I first moved into this place almost two years ago, we had family on the mind. We fell in love with the town, the house and the idea of nesting up in this very suburbanite family-oriented community.

Since that time, we’ve been busy making this house our home. But for the most part, much of this beautiful house has remained closed-off and unoccupied, waiting for the right time to be integrated into our lives. I knew that one day the time would come to transform one of these rooms into a nursery…  and I’ve had my eye on this one.

Big beautiful front facing window, spacious closet and full attached bathroom. This room has some serious potential. But let’s face it… it screams MAJOR interior-design overhaul!

First thing’s first. Get rid of the sinfully outdated wall-length Star and Moon valence and drapes (along with any wall banners, hardware or otherwise matching adornment that came straight from this highly-popular and over-done “Starry Night” decor craze of 1995). Cool at one time, perhaps (?), but SO over this theme!

Thank you, Tony, for getting these things off the wall and out of my sight so that the REAL vision may ensue.

Stay tuned!

You Are My Sunshine

27 Sunday Apr 2014

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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

Flutters

28 Friday Mar 2014

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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

 

15 Week Bump

06 Thursday Mar 2014

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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…

Dear Bundle

28 Friday Feb 2014

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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.

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