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Thursday, July 28, 2011

My Nemesis: The Backyard

This backyard, my first, my only that I have owned has been the most difficult part of the house makeover.

3 years.

yes.

3 years.

This is how long it has taken us to get to this point. It seemed so simple at first. But the cost was high, the work was hard.

We are so close to having a useable yard, I can't even believe it.

I might actually cry.

::insert classical music in background for tear-jerking happiness reaction::

(just kidding, I'll wait until I finish this post)

My yard, in photos, worth much more than a 1,000 words.



Backyard Part 1

The beginning, before we had the shed/garages torn down:



Backyard Part 2

(warning: scary image below):



Backyard Part 3

Possibly, slightly better?:



Backyard Part 4

After yesterday's Bobcat attack:

(BTW I'm standing in the middle on the side of the yard, there is a whole mess of space behind me too!)



ahhh, the sweet smell of progress :)

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

My Niece and the Vanishing Baby

My niece, M, is such a cutie, she is 3 1/2 and looks so much like me. When my sister and I have been out with her people have confused her as my daughter since she was born. I outwardly approve of this and am smug, my sister pouts then gives me shit all the time about it.

M is at that age where she is such a handful, but she always makes up for it with her cutie-isms, the sweet things she says, and how affectionate she is.

Last night was Monday night dinner at Mom's. M was sitting on my lap, being all snuggly and cute like she does. All of a sudden she looks down at my belly and starts a conversation about the baby.

M: "Is your baby still in there?" (points to my stomach)

Me: "no shoog, it's not there right now"

M: "why not?"

Me: "um...because it can take a long time to make a baby."

M: "I thought she was in there?" (I think she assumes it is a girl because she is a girl, not because she actually knew it was a girl)

Me: "not right now, but someday."

M: "I think I have a baby in me too! Right here..." (points to her belly)

Then, thank god I was able to distract her by explaining how she will soon give birth to a puppy, which she found very amusing.

That happened one other time a month or so ago, I was able to avoid the conversation.

Who would have thought I would have to try to find the words to explain my fertility situation to a 3 year old. Yikes.

Note to self: Tell sister not to mention anything to M next time I am pregnant.

Here we are a year or so ago:

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Me and My Infertile Avocado Tree

C wants to cut down our Avocado tree in the backyard.

It is fairly large, probably old, but it is also messy, has some dried branches, and isn't that pretty.

I keep arguing that I don't want to cut it down. I like it, I don't know why, I just do.

Over the weekend we decided to start building a fence between our house and one of the neighbors (there is a half-assed, pieced together, chest high fence currently that isn't cutting it).

The avocado conversation started again.

C: "I feel like you have an unhealthy attachment to the avocado tree." he pokes at me laughing.

Me: "I feel sorry for it, I don't want to cut it down, what if it is old?" (pouting)

C: "It doesn't even produce avocados." (side eye)

Me: "Maybe we just need to get a male tree to put next to it."

C: "hmmm............no."

Me: "ok fine, I'll just steal a branch from another tree and sprinkle avocado seed dust all over it."

C: "I think I know the problem." (smiles understandingly and pats my knee)

Me: "What is the problem...?"

C: "I think you sympathize with the tree."

***long pause, thinking, thinking, thinking...***

Me: (light bulb over head moment)

"Oh.my.god......the tree is like me, infertile. C, you are so insightful." (hangs head, feeling lame about being sad for my infertile tree)

C: "Don't feel bad. Lets buy some avocados and glue them all over the tree, it can adopt them."

(insert hysterical laughter)

So there it is. The tree and I have something in common.

I wonder if I'll start being jealous of the neighbor's, heavily fruiting, grapefruit tree now.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

School update part 2,000,000

My grade change went through!!!

I'm one HUGE step closer to finally finishing my degree! All that is left is submitting my application to graduate! Woo Hoo!



p.s. this is a great example of what I use Snagit for... :)

Monday, July 11, 2011

Something I really like, Snagit

SNAGIT!!! Yes, Snagit. First of all, how could you not LOVE saying the word Snagit. I seriously smile almost every time I say it, or think about it, or write about it.

I'm smiling like a fool right now!

If you don't know what Snagit ::smiles:: is let me just tell you.

It is an awesome program that allows you to take screenshots of anything, small, large, pink, purple, anything! You can manipulate the image. Add writing, circle things, point arrows at stuff. It is just the bee's knees.

example:



Anyway, I just thought I would share. I should get paid for this, as it is pretty much an advertisement.

You can download a free 30 day trial.

BEST. PROGRAM. EVER.

(or at least the best one that I know about)

Friday, July 8, 2011

Ok...this is getting a little ridiculous.

If anyone is curious why I haven't brought up any fertility related subjects for a while, it is because...I'm still waiting.

For my period to start, that is.

I'm 60 days post D&C.

I had painful cramps yesterday. Today I'm sore and bruised feeling which is awful.

I can't continue the testing process or get blood work done until something happens. RAR!


Dear Body,

Please start working.

That would be great.

Thanks.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

4th of July

I've been really getting into C's awesome camera. I LOVE it. My pictures used to look so crappy, now so many look professional, it's fantastic!

I got some great shots at my in-law's July 4th BBQ.

I impress myself.















Vacation Photos

Had such a great time, so relaxing, we totally needed that!

This was our view:





I caught my first fish ever! Then I caught 3 more!





Mmmmm....fried fish:



I look tired because we got up at the butt crack of dawn to head home:



Can't wait to have such a nice trip again soon :)