Ok…. after starting over five times I finally got the look I like. Will see how the process goes:)

4/17/14 Didn’t go that far. Made a few mistakes while picking up stitches once the body increase started. Plus edges of the first couple of leaves were too tight and would not block nicely. Started all over again:) Switched to US size 3 needles. So far so good

4/23/14 Finished 5 repeats (or 6 if to count from the body part beginning) with increases (43 body stitches for the body part) and 2 repeats without increases (10 leaves total).
Started decreasing. On my 12th leave.

4/25/14 Done! Love it!!!

Here are the final measurements
Length: 78.5 in (199.5 cm)
Body width: 6.26 in (16 cm)
Total width: 14 in (35.5 cm)
18 leaves on the top
32 leaves on the bottom

I have about 0.2 skein left.