Visitors

Dear Baby Girl,

We’ve had several visitors to our humble home during the time you’ve spent in utero, particularly in the second trimester. In March, Grandma Tracy and Grandpa Steve came up for a weekend visit. In April, Great Aunt Judy popped in for the night on the way back from Hannah’s (I believe Hannah is your first cousin once removed—but these sorts of labels get very confusing, even when using Google). In May, Mariah stopped by as she was in town for work (I don’t believe I have yet properly introduced you to Mariah, but that will come momentarily).

Let’s begin with Grandma Tracy and Grandpa Steve. Whenever any of the Leavitts come to visit, Dad generally gets burdened with cooking. It is because we all adore a good Italian spread, and no one can put one together quite like your father (except maybe his mother). So we had a little pasta night. It was very enjoyable. Uncle Eli played Italian Pandora much to your father’s dismay and then did a little role playing exercise where he pretended to be you as a teenager. You see, Dad has declared that when you are born we will start a tradition of Sunday night “family meetings” where he can air his grievances to the family. Uncle Eli simply wanted to demonstrate how such a meeting might go when teenage attitude is thrown into the mix. I think it ended something like, [quoting Eli, as you] “I hate you; I’m going to live with Uncle Eli!” It was actually quite comical.

Above left: Uncle Eli pretending to be you as a teenager.
He rolled his Iphone into his sleeve and turned his hat backwards supposing this is how a teenager would be.
Above right: Uncle Eli playing the fanciest game of Monopoly ever.
You will become quite versed in the ins and outs of Monopoly as it is a popular (yet dangerously competitive) family past time.
Bottom: We are all waving to Uncle Ben, but it could also be waving to you, Little Girl.
Grandma Tracy insisted on wine glasses even though there is water in mine and beer in hers.

Great Aunt Judy stopped by in April on the way back to Maine after visiting Hannah in North Carolina. And guess what? We made Dad cook again! I swear I cook too, but this was pizza night, and again, that’s your father’s forte (however, I did make the crust the night before). Judy brought a friend of Hannah’s and we too had to resort to Pandora after failed attempts at getting our victrola record player to work. The victrola was your Great Great Grandma Hazel and Grandpa Ray’s, and apparently worked quite well in Grandpa Steve and Great Aunt Judy’s childhood. I hope to get an antique specialist to come fix it at some point because I think it would be very cool to put to use, but unfortunately it’s fairly low on my priority list with you on the way.

Dad, the master chef; Aunt Judy, the antique technician;
and the star of the evening, the pizza... one pesto, one traditional sauce.

Finally, in May, Mariah stopped by to have lunch with me. Mariah is your mother’s longtime childhood friend dating back to... second grade maybe? I’ve lost track. We spent much of our youth on the same “Odyssey of the Mind” team, among many other things. Her daughter Lacey is my fairy God-daughter (as I am not Catholic, I had to go with the fairy God-title rather than the traditional God-mother), so I suppose that would make Lacey your fairy God-sister. I hope that you and her brother Theo will be very close. Lacey has already named you Flower—a name I’m not totally sold on, but out of respect for Lacey will remain in the running.

My bump was not looking very bump-y here so i put both my hands on my belly to hold my shirt.
But really it just looks like Mariah has her hand in a somewhat inappropriate position.

And who will, might you ask, be our next house guest? None other than the dynamic duo known as “Stimmy,” expected to show up tomorrow. Their arrival will mark the beginning of a major overhaul to our house and hopefully by the time they depart we will have a gorgeous nursery ready and waiting for a new baby girl. Estimated arrival: 9/29/16

Love,

Mom