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Monday, November 11, 2013

.sixteen.

|| 16 weeks ||

 Some form of "weekly bump pics" will be coming soon.  I haven't felt like there's much to show but several people have told me how fun it is to look back on and notice the slight difference week to week. And it's boarder line killing Travis that I'm not doing it already. As soon as I locate an empty wall and invest in a tripod, it will be happening. 

How far along: 16 weeks! I definitely see a bump there but I think now I'm ready for a noticeable "it's a baby in there" bump. I have a feeling it may be a while though. I keep getting told that since I'm tall I probably won't hardly be showing until 6-7 months. Really??

Gender: we will officially find out November 25th!

Maternity clothes: I wore the skinniest/tightest jeans I own on Friday night and I finally had to unbutton them. Not so much because they were feeling too tight but because by back was absolutely killing me! I've also worn a pair of maternity leggings a couple times this week and they are SO comfortable but they really need a bump to support them. I kept yanking them up. I have, on the other hand, busted out of two button downs. My favorite, favorite denim shirt will have to be retired until further notice. :'(

Sleep: Much better now AND without the aide of meds! But it could have something to do with the fact that I'm attempting to do 101 different things every day. My mind and my body are exhausted by 8pm!

Best moments this week: 
- Hearing Ace's heartbeat at our appointment on Tuesday! He was so busy in there our doc said all the other commotion we heard was him flipping and kicking the doppler! Love our busy bean so much even though I'm absolutely certain we will have our hands full in several short months. 
- Also, our cousin and her husband, who have been trying for a baby for about a year texted me the most wonderful first picture their little angel! I am so incredibly excited for them! 
- I also finished almost all of our Christmas shopping at the San Marcos outlet malls on Thursday and...purchased Ace's diaper bag! 
- In town for church two Sundays in a row??! That has never happened! It was so fun being greeted with a "so happy to see y'all again" and invited to lunch by members we met the week before! 
- AND Turbo got the biggest buck he's ever killed this week! So happy for him! It's fun to think that over the next probably 40+ years Turbo and his kiddos will spend weekends bonding over things like that. I'm not huge on dead animals around the house but I love the idea of a room full of all those memories they've made together! 

Worst moment this week: Turbo being gone (which to be completely honest wasn't all that terrible. I got a lot done and I'm finally getting less and less nervous of my empty house!) 

Miss anything: If I got to choose between drinking a bottle of champagne and a new pair of riding boots, I'd choose the champ....is that so terrible?

Cravings: None. However, my empty pickle jar collection is growing. And that's not a pregnant girl joke. 

Queasy or sick: Nope. Just hoping the back pain I was having on Friday never shows its ugly face again. 

Looking forward to: Getting everything ready (done/finished/out of sight forever) for the craft show I'm doing next weekend. Slowly pulling out Christmas decorations! Finding out if our little is an Ace or Acie and feeling him move! 
               ________________________________________________________________

We could not ask for better weather around here! It's been gorgeous! Sunday afternoon we took the pups to the river for the first time in ages! It was pretty chilly but the views and happy tails were totally worth it! 


While Turbo was getting his big buck, I got my diaper bag! The best kind of trade off if you ask me!



I know. My husband looks like a giant leprechaun with that beard....

And here's the bag I will be toting along with little Ace!


I was thinking I would just get a black and leather Jon Hart bag instead of an actual diaper bag, but I just couldn't pass this one up!

 I wore it strapped across me for a good 45 minutes while shopping and everyone agreed it suited me well! Can't wait to have a babe on the other hip!

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

15 and flying

.15.

How far along: 15 weeks 

Gender: still guessing boy!

Maternity clothes: none yet but I have GOT to get black maternity leggings immediately. Mostly because all my others are practically shear from wear.

Sleep: like a rock (with the aide of Benedryl) but of course waking up 1-3 times to stumble around the bed to the bathroom. 

Best moment this week: Halloween was majorly fun! I can't wait to have a child to experience the holidays with! My house is finally clean, my to-do list is slowly getting shorter, we kept our doors open for about 3 straight days to bring the beautiful days inside, I started "Jesus Calling" making my favorite part my day even better, we stayed in town all weekend and got to go to church, Travis cooked nearly all our meals, this girl can not complain about a thing! 

Worst moment this week: no true "worsts" to speak of. Tech lost. Again. My phone wouldn't send or receive messages which is just a tad annoying. But in the grand scheme of things are pretty wonderful!

Miss anything: I opened a bottle of wine for a friend Halloween night and I wanted to chug the entire thing!  And I could have certainly benefited from a Miller Lite (or a Xanax) during our game.

Cravings:  This week we ate like we never do! More carbs and red meat that I usually consume. Travis is hilarious doing a rendering of the dance he thinks Ace does every time I feed him "meeeeeeaaatt!!!" I must say though, I made baked potatoes topped with meat Trav had frozen the last time he made ribs and incredible is really the only way to describe it. 

Queasy or sick: not really, but I have been a little stuffy. Not sure if Ace is to blame though. 

Looking forward to: Feeling him, so I know he's ok in there! And my appointment on Tuesday although there's not an ultrasound. It will be nice to check in with the doc. Plus, it's always fun to spend a day in San Antonio with Turbo. We decided after our first appointment we would always do some type of random act of kindness after each good doctors visit. I look forward to it and it's really the least we can do to share our endless blessings with others. I hope it's a tradition we will continue with Ace each time we go to SA, and teach him to spread the love every day! 

____________________________________________________

Turbo ran to the beer barn by our house for ice and brought back a Dr Pepper (he's a saint) and 4 lottery tickets for Ace. He said our winnings would go in his college fund. Well, we were winners!! With this $10 we will be able to buy Ace his first two beers when he turns 21! You're welcome in advance, bud. Hold us to it! 


We also read that Ace can now hear! Unfortunately the first words he probably heard his dad speak yell were several choice curse words directed to a certain coaching staff and defense on Saturday. We hope Kliff can pull this together before Ace commits with Tech in 2033 and can offer them a legitimate defense. 

At least our steak has same spirit... 

I spent last week working on things for Urban Sky. I've been working on new designs that I hope to make in to prints available for purchase. I am really excited about that little addition. I also worked on several burp clothe orders. I like these boy designs but I'm in love with my girl designs! I'm working on some different "cool" ideas for boys. Burp clothes your husband would be proud to sport! Excited to get these listed soon as well.  In the mean time you can order in my etsy shop (shopping cart above!)





Monday, November 4, 2013

Ace in the Hole

The story behind the name!




How many times in school did you have to write a paper about "how you were named"? I can think of at least 4 different times I did. There's not a true "story" behind my unique name but it was nice having something to write besides, "my parents just liked it". So here is the story behind the origin of Ace's name. I'm pretty much in love with how it goes...

When I was teaching I regularly referred to my kindergarten boys as Ace. "Awesome job, Ace!" "Wow, look at that handwriting, Ace!" I used this so often in fact, they would ask why I called all the boys the same name. My explanation: Ace is like a term of endearment. No different than saying "sweetheart" or "champ". When I think of the word ace, I think "number one" "the best".


Webster agrees: 

ace [eys]
noun. a very skilled person; expert; adept: an ace at tap dancing.
or, hopefully in our case, throwing or tackling. 




That continued when Turbo and I first started dating. I would call him "Ace" like a pet name. "Good morning, Ace" etc.

For at least a year Travis and I have referred to our future child as Ace. As a silly pet name to begin with, we used this more as joke than anything.  A word that inferred that our lives would surely change. "When Ace comes you know you can't drink a bottle of wine every night." "When Ace is here we've got to stop going out of town so much!" "On Friday nights we'll go to Ace's football games." "Can't wait for there to be an Ace in the hole?!" (Which coincidentally also happens to be the name of George Strait's band...)

Well, this nick-name definitely stuck among our family and friends. We don't say "it" or "baby" we say "Ace".

I get regular messages asking how Ace and I am doing. If I have a request for Turbo, approaching it by saying "Ace wants BBQ" has nearly a 100% chance of working.


He will without a doubt, be Coach Kliff Kingsbury for Halloween in 2017, Brynn!
Apparently all of my texting takes place around 11 am and my phone is always about to die.




My favorite are the hand written ones! Love seeing his name in print, especially lipstick-on-the-shower-wall-print, courtesy of the doting baby-daddy! Oh my heart! 
I just assumed this would remain a nickname and originally I was thinking we'd go with Travis Layne (Trav's name) and just call him Ace, and that's what we had told people, but Turbo wasn't the biggest fan of going the Junior route, I wasn't a huge fan of "wasting" Layne - a name I love for a girl- as a middle name, and the more we thought about it (for all of like, 3 minutes) the more we decided that if we're going to call someone something his whole life, we may as well just name him that! As a former teacher, I know that's appreciated!

We had every single intention on keeping the names a secret until they were born. I am semi-obsessed with baby names but after my sister-in-laws started having babies I vowed to not ever, ever, let the names I truly loved slip. So these names have been kept under tight wraps for a very long time. 
(Except from my mom, she of course knew! We've shared a list of baby names together for ages.)

Like I mentioned, I imagined the name would be a big surprise on the day (s)he was worn but we use it so frequently we couldn't keep it sealed. 

So, long story short...should baby U be a boy his name will be:



Ace Edward Urbanovsky. LOVE. 

Edward, who is possibly the sweetest man I've ever met, is Travis' grandfather. He's also extremely musically inclined and we're desperately hoping that will be passed on to our children!

I mean, come on! Just say "Ace Urbanovsky with the tackle" in your best high school football announcer, loud speaker voice and TELL me that's not the name of a total badass!

Ace shouldn't have any problem learning his vowels either. Just missing I and O (and sometimes Y)

And should baby U be a girl?

Her name will be...

A surprise! But her sweet monogram will be aUa. 


Both inspired by family names. I can guarantee you, you don't know any little girls with the name. And don't ask, I won't tell! 

...though it's very likely we will call her Acie, because honestly we just can't undo Ace! It's stuck!

and truthfully, if the "A" changes from the original name we have planned to "Acie", I wouldn't at all be surprised... 
Choosing the names was the easiest decision we have made! It helped that we've been mentioning baby names for ages but in about 3 minutes we had it settled! I am so thankful for our like-mindedness on what can easily become a major stress factor before a baby comes!

Friday, November 1, 2013

Halloween pre-babe


Our last Halloween without a sweet little babe to dress up! I couldn't even express to you how excited the thought of having a baby for all the holidays makes me. Can.not.wait to see them through the eyes of a child! 


We, as usual, played it low key. Chili on the porch and passing out candy to all the little disney princesses and supermans that came by! We had well over 200 trick-or-treaters from about 5:15-9:30pm and went through about $60 worth of candy! We were all exhausted by the nights end. Totally worth it though, I love any excuse to be neighborly! 

I was a "hippie" and wore an outfit I have worn before a regular non-Halloween day if that tells you anything about the contents of my closet...  Even the pups got costumes! My sweet little fairy princesses! They were a HIT! 



We were excited Leah and her dog horse, Waylon could join! 

who wants to come repaint our porch?!

Turbo? He was sans costume but he got a great start on no shave November and is currently rockin' a killer beard! I don't even hate it! It helps that it's all for a good cause as well. Not exactly sure what that cause is but it's something for pancreatic cancer..? I think?

Anyway, all FIVE of us had a great time! Ace experienced the perfect start to Halloween if you ask me! 

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Week by week

I went back and forth on whether or not I would do these little weekly updates. But in the grand scheme of things, I think it's worth the 5 minutes it takes to jot them down. I have already loved looking back at the past weeks so I know it will be fun for both me and Ace to look back on in years to come. So here's week 12, 13, and 14 lumped together.

And can I also just mention that becoming pregnant instantly made me content with every.single.thing in my life. Everything. Not that I was discontented before hand but within 8 tiny weeks, life, even the suckier aspects, have no room. It's pretty amazing the power something the size of an orange has over your heart. 


11weeks2days
I'm pretty sure I'm the only one, but I think sonogram pictures is a little weird. 
BUT, can we just talk about how cute those little legs are?! I mean. 

12 weeks
How far along: 12 weeks
Gender: We're guessing boy! But I've assumed I'd have a big bunch of boys my entire life. Our doctor has also guessed boy. We will hopefully get a better idea when I go in for generic testing next week.
Maternity clothes: I've purchased a few things but haven't needed them yet. However, I brought a pair of Gap maternity jeans with me to Alaska and Holy Cow! Why on Earth do we all not regularly wear those?! So amazingly comfortable!
Sleep: Not so wonderful. The last couple weeks I haven't been able to fall back asleep after I wake up between 2-3:30am. It's really frustrating but I've started taking Benedryl or Tylenol PM a few nights a week to help with that.
Best moment this week: Seeing Ace flip all kinds of directions in our second ultrasound. I think that was the first moment of "true love" for both of us. Getting to stop progesterone! Also (un-baby related) I joined the Garden Club and fell even more in love with the sweet town we live in.
Worst moment this week: Exhaustion. Sleepless nights. And headaches that sneak up on me. Oh and that damn flu shot they wouldn't let me avoid.
Miss anything: Nothing. Except (BIG except)...copious amounts of Miller Lite on Saturdays. My energy. And being on top of my to-do lists.
Movement: Nothing yet. But pretty excited about it!
Cravings:  Chicken and water. Sliced tomatoes with salt. If asked what I want I will almost always say Subway. Nothing really ever sounds good but I'll pretty much eat anything. However, my parents delivered CFA chicken minis (in a lunch kit, from 2 hours away - they're the best) Saturday. I saved them for dinner and it was pretty much the most incredible thing that's ever hit my taste buds!
Queasy or sick: Just shear exhaustion which at times feels like I'm sick. And if I don't eat something within about 15 minutes of hunger striking I feel absolutely terrible and nauseous.
Looking forward to: Celebrating Casey and Baby Pollard this weekend! Travis is looking forward to a baby bump! He asks me almost daily to show him so I suppose I'm looking forward to the day I have something to show! And mostly, having and "all clear" at our genetic testing. Happy thoughts y'all!

Also worth noting: at 12 weeks on the nose I could no longer suck my stomach in past my hipbones. At 12w1d I had what looks like an ate-too-much-belly, but that is certainly the work of Ace. A firm, teeny tiny bump. And while I think I would have preferred for that to hold out as long as possible I'm kind of majorly in love. I swear I will not be "that mom" constantly rubbing her belly but really, it's like a magnet! Who knew?!


Are you dying over this girl? I am! Not only do I hope that Acie, should she be a girl, looks just like her (as she should since she's basically my mini me!) She also makes the idea of having a girl so, SO much more exciting!


13 weeks
How far along: 13 weeks
Gender: Still assuming boy, which honestly if I could choose is what I'd pick for my first for various reasons but mainly so my daughter will have a big brother and because I feel like I'm much more cut out to be a boy mom. However, my niece (the.cutest.kid.ever.for.real - as shown above) and purchasing the cutest.swimsuit.ever from Gap got me really excited for either.
Maternity clothes: not wearing any yet. However, my skinniest skinny jeans were quite snug in the tum this weekend....oy!
Sleep: Getting better thanks to the aide of Benedryl at the beginning of the week and shear exhaustion towards the end of the week.
Best moment this week: Coming home for a few days to celebrate baby Pollard on Saturday. Telling all my old school friends I am "expecting a mini!" (With a delicious CFA chicken mini tray) Doing a fun little photo shoot to share the news that news of Ace to the -social media- world AND I bought a new vacuum! #housewifevictories
Worst moment this week: the stretching and minor cramping I've been feeling. Just makes me a little too anxious and nervous.  Not getting a break from Thursday to Saturday and driving to Sug and back to Uvalde by myself. Normally Turbo chauffeurs, and I prefer it like that!  
Miss anything: Relaxing weekends. But Ace can not be to blame for that, that's one hundred percent our own over scheduled faults.
Movement: Nothing yet.
Cravings: A giant, freezing cold mimosa on a patio in the perfect weather. During our big (7-0) Tech victory!
Queasy or sick: Felt pretty "blah" this week but exhaustion is lifting little by little. I have to sit down less and less, which is a giant win in my book.
Looking forward to: Seeing sweet Ace on Monday for our genetic screening, possibly determining gender, but mostly, having an "all clear" from the doc. Having full access to my energy and appetite. Using my new vacuum AND.....(drum roll please) A WEEKEND AT HOME! The first in over 2 months! Turbo will be hunting and I cant wait to do NOTHING (and catch up on house chores)

Taken at like 13 weeks-ish, and hasn't changed. 
Take a good look at this folks, because it is very likely the first and last bare baby bump picture you will ever see from me. Again, it's just very weird to me people do this. But it was the only way to see that there is in fact a bump there, even though it looks as though cheeseburgers are to blame. 



14 weeks
How far along: 14 weeks
Gender: Guessing boy!
Maternity clothes: Not yet, although it's probably worth mentioning that about 90% of my tops could be considered maternity. New leggings are on my to-buy list though!
Sleep: Eh, so-so. Some nights it's fine others it's less than par.
Best moment this week: Seeing Ace and getting word that his measurements all look great! And this incredible fall weather we've been having is just icing on the cake!
Worst moment this week: Waiting all week for the blood test results from the genetic screening. Still haven't heard back! Tech losing. Ace didn't take his first loss well.
Miss anything: Miller Lite would have certainly made our loss on Saturday a little more bearable. Also miss my house being perfectly clean, I am determined that by Thursday I will be caught up on all chores (or hire a maid!)
Cravings: Chicken, water, tomatoes/fruit. All week I've been wanting to eat a do-nut, and by the time breakfast comes around the thought makes me queasy.
Looking forward to: Ace's results from the genetic screening. And a weekend at home with Turbo! Can't wait for a relaxing weekend, beautiful weather, and church on Sunday!
   *BIG update: we fiiiinally got the results back and Ace is good as gold! We are so blessed and excited! 

Monday, October 28, 2013

Party of Three

It's true, we're soon becoming a party of three and we couldn't be more excited!


Ace is set to arrive April 27th! (Ace is the affectionate name given to my kindergarten babes years ago and passed on to future baby U long before we were even talkin' babes because I just can't handle "it" - more on names later! - ) 
I am certainly no expert at this but if I was a betting woman, and I am, I would bet that Ace is a smidge early and weighs in a smidge giant. My mama managed to birth a nearly 11 pounder! I can't even bowl a 10 pound bowling ball! Oy! I would also guess that there's a 75% chance of him being a ginger. And when I say "he" I mean he or she.  But a again, I'd bet my last dollar on boy. 95% sure. Just wild guessing here! 
And to be completely honest, I just don't know if God would trust me with a girl first. I mean, just what on earth would I do with a girl besides make hair bows and play dress up all day?! But He has a funny way of teaching things...we will determine what His plan of action is for me the first week of December. Either way we will be SO thrilled! 
But should Ace be a girl, my heart goes out to her future boyfriends. Turbo is big...and he has guns.
In the mean time I'm just waiting (im)patiently for some movement in there so the nerves of "is he ok?" turn into to full blown, "holy cow, I'm having a baby" excitement!
Look, he even experienced his first snow during his first trip to Alaska! A big milestone for this Texas babe!
My goal, is to attempt to document all these happenings. Maybe I'll actually stick to it this time, for Ace's sake! 

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Waiting on Walker

A few weeks ago (by a few I mean like, 8) we celebrated my brother and sweet SIL, Taylor and Katie, as they prepare for Mr. Walker Taylor, my favorite nephew.
I had in mind a few different theme-y ideas, but was pretty set on a subtle "western-ish" theme in unexpected colors. Both Katie and Taylor went to the University of Texas so I couldn't pass on using one of my favorite colors! When I lucked into finding burnt orange bandannas, the theme was officially set and everything easily fell into place from there!
Here are a few details of the day.  I love a casual couples shower, don't you?


You can purchase this A-board in my shop, here. Convo me and I'll even ship for FREE! 
Good through the end of August. 

Using fabric for bows is a great way to keep the same pattern going and usually winds up being cheaper than  a spool of big, beautiful ribbon! 






I'm not a huge fan of games, but this was something everyone, especially the boys, enjoyed! And how hilarious it must be to pull some of these out in the wee hours of an exhausting night?!


See, definitely the product of a boy.


Bandanna print and chevron? Totally works. I love a good mess of mismatched patterns...


Look familiar? Landin/Urbo wedding decor gets used frequently around here!


I know poofs are a little aged but I will never grow tired of them. Such a fun impact!


Right?! I mean.


You know what else you should totally do? Order a custom Urban Sky Design to match your theme or color scheme then give it to the mama to be! 


Really, this sweet, soft little elephant couldn't be any cuter for a future Republican. 


Love any excuse to actually utilize wedding gifts, my PB wine caddy was perfect for 1 liter drinks!


But don't you worry, there was plenty of beer as well...




Covered all our Texas bases: galvanized buckets, corn hole, and FANS. A must.


If there's one thing I repeatedly overhear people oo-ing and aw-ing over at parties it's custom water bottle labels. Love them. These labels are semi DIY. I purchased cupcake toppers to coordinate with the invites, but forgot to ask about water bottle labels. I found scrapbook paper that matched the color scheme perfectly, taped on the cupcake toppers and had Office Depot run several color copies. Cut, tape, and done! My kind of DIY.


And as usual, the cupcakes are from my favorite little bakery. Walmart, of course! Wait for it...SIX dollars a dozen! Y'all, I'm not making this up, they are SO good.  Wally is the master of classic white, chocolate, and red velvet! I fessed up to at least 3 guests who asked but let the rest assume they were indulging in pricey, cupcakery treats.


Just about everything my mom makes is "the best", but these? These sugar cookies truly are THE.BEST. Gone in 60 seconds. Or less. I probably ate 15, but who's counting? Recipe coming soon (by soon I mean I'll email it if you want it, just ask!) 


Utilized the cupcake toppers once again on a little parting gift for our guests. My mom's toffee. You guessed it, it's the best! Really.


And unsurprisingly, I didn't get a single picture of the hosts and guests of honor. 
seriously.must.get.better.

Walker is scheduled to arrive in mid August and I couldn't be more excited to meet him! 
There's just something about those baby boys...