the main reason i haven't been posting much lately

So I'm looking at my blogging status on the left hand side of the blog roll & it looks like in March (when I started back working about full time) I completely fell of the board with the blog posts.  Its a good thing that I got some work & can consequently pay some bills, feed my child (and myself & husband) & buy some much deserved beer.  BUT, it is disappointing that I haven't been keeping track of all the amazing firsts & goings on in our lives these past few months.  

I feel like I hardly have time to LIVE my life, much less the time it takes to blog about it later.  

Lets see....in the past few months:

I completed 40 hours of study/education & passed the National Mortgage Licensing exam (along with not to mention hours & hours of trying to navigate the horrendously cumbersome licensing website so you can be sure you are "legal).  I closed two loan transactions which are anything but easy these days with all the regulations now, I also got a Silver promotion in the chocolate business & lost 20 pounds on my "healthy chocolate" diet challenge!  I replaced one meal a day (not every day) with a protein bar & piece of fruit & didn't change anything else & I'm two full sizes smaller!  YIPPEE!  Topher slaves on the building project most days.  He works at the DEQ & then he comes home & works on the building.....see below.

We went to Tennessee for my sister Holly's wedding.

Stella is talking, practically walking, swimming & diving, EATING...still not really sleeping much....oh did I say EATING?  She loves to eat.  Good for her!....but we do go through a lot of diapers.

One of the main reasons that I have zero to less than zero extra time in the day is that we have this "little" project that has been going on in our backyard since, oh about two weeks after Stella was born.  

Topher took some time off work last summer when she was born, & instead of just relaxing & taking it all in he decided to yup, tear down the garage.  Its a good thing, it was going to fall down anyway of its own accord sooner rather than later, so why not be in charge of its demise.

The trouble with deconstruction is that it is so easy.  It lures you in with the charms of destruction.  It is oh so simple to demolish a building in 1 or 2 days.  However the act of Creation, well we all know how much longer it takes to create than it does to destroy.  Plenty of myths & stories & songs about all that.  You don't need me to go into it here.

So here is the shack before it had any sugar in it.  About a week after Topher went spider-monkey on it.....and then a couple weeks later....

.....and then a month later....

.....and then a few months ago....If you are keeping track, this pic with the trench across the yard is about 10 months gestation period.  So a little longer than it takes to grow a human being.  More along the lines of an Elephants gestation period I would say.

This was easily the most horrific of all the phases.  Not only is our basement full of crap & dug up, but the entire back yard was too.  Dirt, sawdust, debris, stuff & more stuff....EVERYWHERE>  It seemed like it would never be done at this point.  I had almost lost all hope.   I think this was during mercury retrograde too, so the slowdown was in the stars.....And then, POOF!  We had to bust some serious booty cuz everyone was coming here for the bday spectacular weekend for Stella & I.  So we got the whole yard cleaned up & the sheetrocker came & the mud & taper came & somehow it all came together.    

Mind you, it isn't "finished" by any means.  BUT it is down to the classic 90/10.  Where the last 10% of the work takes 90% of the time.....hmmm.....so I guess it FEELS like it is getting so close.  But maybe it is like summer in Portland.  You feel like it is really just around the corner & then it doesn't get here until the middle of July.  All I have to say is, I sure am glad I can see the light at the end of the tunnel at this point.  Floors are going in today, colors are picked out for the kitchen nook, painting this weekend, will get ikea cabinets & accessories this weekend & should be done with the most of it by the middle of next week!

YIPPEE!

When it is done, we are going to be turning it into a vacation rental.  Short term, 3 night minimum stays, month maximum (maybe 2).  So, if you know anyone looking for a quintessential portland experience & they don't want to stay in a hotel when they visit, let us know.  We'll be happy to put them up in the "Sugah Shack" aka "Casita Stellita" aka "Piedmont Cottage Bungalow".

One more thing, though.  There is a moritorium on building ANYTHING for at least a year after this is completed!!!  Topher never reads these blogs though, so he will probably ignore that.  But it totally takes over & I'd rather chase a rattlesnake into a corner at this point than build another "but its just a" project.  

STELLA's FIRST BDAY!!!!....oh & mine too....but not my first. Duh.

I'm the worst mother EVER.  Posting this 3 days after her actual birthday.   What can I say.  Things have been a little crazy for me & thereby us.

Well we did have a great party for Stella & sort of for me the weekend before & all my family was in town so I kind of shot my wad then.  Topher wound up having to go out of town on your birthday so that wasn't very fun.  I had a TON of work (which is a good thing) but have been swamped & playing catchup so here we are.

Topher & I did get to stay in a condo for my birthday night (our first night away from Stella for a whole year! her whole life really!) & it was VERY nice to get away.  My parents stayed with Stella & she did great!  See, she really doesn't need us after all, we just THINK she does.

The year of the Tiger has a way of sweeping us along whether we can keep up or not.  SO bear with us as we have not been the best bloggers as of late.

Thanks to everyone for coming & making Stella's bday super fun!

posting from the past....

video of stella's first M4 concert...

I know this is from a while back but at about 1:40 there's some cute video of Stella enjoying her first M4 experience.  Her friend Miette is in the video too.  They take swimming together.

Happy Birthday Davey!!!!

Its your 27th Birthday Davey!!!!  You know what that means?  It means you are still my little brother & you always will be....

I hope you like this cake Stella & I made.  I baked & took pictures while she crawled around the house & babbled & cooed.  She did pick out the flowers though.  She loves you.  You are the best uncle ever!!!  We sure are glad you & your lovely wifey Xtina are around so Stella has some family to grow up with.  You & Xtina have been such a tremendous support to us as we are transitioning into parenthood & we just want you to know how much we love & appreciate you!  I hope you can feel the love in the cake!!!Not sure what Ron is doing in this photo, but he's probably preparing some kind of argumentative statment or rebuttle of some kind.  I hope you had a nice birthday.  We had wonderful steak & artichokes & then, SURPRISE!!!! the most beautiful cake i ever made, or at least remember making....MMMMMMRed Velvet cake....it sure was ummy too! Everyone deserves cake on their birthday.  Glad I got to celebrate another one with you!  XO your big sistah, H

M4MB 7th Anniversary BDay Show!!!

The early show, packed out! View from the Crystal Ballroom balcony.  Courtesy Dad's iphone.  nice work pops!

Mom said Stella danced around & had a great time until about two songs from the end of the set when she grabbed a blue-green balloon, latched onto it like it was a giant boob & passed out.  She was completely out for the rest of the show.  Tee Hee!

Guncle Kevin backstage.  thanks for all the yummy food!Tallboy, lookin'g so punkalicious!Stella, passed out the next day.  Mi preciosa...

Bath Time is FUN!

Her favorite time is definitely bath time!  So awesome now she can sit up & hang out in the tub on her own.  Awww.....she's getting all growed up!

On the outside as long as you were in!

Your 9 month birthday was 5 days ago & I can't believe you have been in the outer universe now as long as you were in the inner universe!  Its amazing to me to look back at pics of when you were born & see how TINY you were....wow.

It seems like just yesterday you couldn't even hold your head up. Gradually, we marked the days with you and your little funny personality started coming out right away.  This pic is the first morning I really got a good smile & reaction out of you.  Not even two months old & already hamming it up for the camera & for mama. Now, a mere 7 months later, you are eating O's with your own hands, candidly engaging the camera every time I pick it up, saying DaDa, Hi & something that sounds like "who's that" (hoozzat).  You are waving hello & goodbye, crawling, sitting, dancing while you sit to your favorite songs, Manamanah, El Paso & swimming up a storm.  

I have definitely been challenged beyond anything I have ever known in this life & have had to dig deep into some unknown reserve of grace & will to get through some days.  But I also know I have never loved like this before & am destined to be wrapped around your finger......look at those teeth.  Who could resist????