Four Months Down, At Least Three to Go

That's right folks. If all goes well, we will start TTC again in three months. Three. Months. I can't believe it. That means in about four months I could be posting another blurry BFP for all to see. It seems so far off, yet so close. Much like the fact that four months ago I was sobbing over my loss. It seems like it was yesterday and ages ago as well.

Speaking of Wally and Liz ('cause when don't I talk about them?), last week I finally got their pictures from the hospital. To look at the pictures was bittersweet, to say the least. It brought back the intense sadness of losing them, though it only lasted a couple days like that. It made me miss them even more, which I never thought possible, but once that wore off - or more accurately, I acclimated to it - I really got to look at them and study their features.

I know all parents say this, but wow they are beautiful. They are just so cute and I see so much of Bryan and me in them. In one picture you can actually see little personalities - at least, I can. Wally was the one always spinning around inside me and kicking like crazy. Liz was much calmer and would occasionally kick back to tell Wally to cool it. With this one picture I can just imagine Wally saying "Hey Liz! Sis! Hey! Hey! Hey Liz!" and Liz lovingly turning to him with a sigh as she was interrupted once again, but didn't really mind since it was her brother. Wally was definitely a playful little boy and Liz seemed so loving and caring and calm. They were a perfect pair and balanced each other out completely! They still do, just not here on Earth.

Anyway, since I started telling you all about my non-familial goals a few posts ago, I guess I should give you an update. My past posts have been slightly convoluted so I will give them some headings this time. Perhaps I'll even put the list in a sidebar later on. If that's something you'd like to see, just leave a comment and let me know. Now, on to those non-familial updates...

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General Goals

Weight
Stalled. Still down a good bit, but the birthday week and last week took their toll. I'm back on track this week though and hoping for a modest loss when I step back on that scale on Monday.

Series 7/Stockbroker's License
Also stalled, somewhat. I have been taking practice tests every few evenings, but I need to push ahead and master more than the first three chapters.

Savings for TTC
Progress! We are almost 1/6th of the way to our goal!

Former ManCave
I don't like to be reminded of this looming project. It's so huge - in importance to get done and in sheer effort. I plan on taking a picture for a before/after post once it's finished. I wish I had taken a picture before I ever started in there so you could get the full effect; however, I refuse to relitter the room with empty Coke cans and Panera cups for the sake of a picture - really for any sake! If you can't tell, there has been no progress on this one.

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30th Year Goals

Reading
If you recall, I set a goal of reading 10 books in my 30th year. Last night I finished one, and started another! I finished The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky. I enjoyed it, but I think deserves another read eventually - perhaps as soon as I have finished my goal. I'm a nerd for Russian literature, but the names start to trip me up at times. I think a second reading will give me a better understanding of the real story Dostoevsky was telling. Once I finished that, I picked up a birthday present - Julie and Julia by Julie Powell. I'm almost a third of the way through and loving it! It reads quickly, is funny and let's face it, the girl has PCOS and I just have to read about her experiences in the wake of it. I have a good PCOS quote for you all, but I don't have the book next to me right now as I'm at work slacking off, so once I've finished the book and post again I will share it.

Movies
I took last Tuesday evening to relax and watch a movie. Bryan was out at a friend's place dorking out (i.e. gaming), so I had the house to myself. I curled up on the couch with a hot cup of tea, snuggled into the quilt I had finished over the summer and was dying to use and popped in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. It was enjoyable; however, I ran out of time and had to watch the last 45 mintues of it Wednesday night. Bryan was home and saw the end. If you have recently lost a baby DO NOT watch this movie; however, if you must, please skip the last 2 minutes. It's obvious what happens, but it unexpectedly tore Bryan to bits. On the list for this week: Sense and Sensibility.

Sewing
No progress whatsoever, though I plan on cutting the fabric for my friend's Christmas tree skirt over the weekend. I know cutting some fabric doesn't sound like a big deal, but it kills my back so I can only do little bits at a time. Also, I've got to finish a fellow PCOSer's baby gift. (Congrats again on your two little beauties, Maggy!).

And finally, one thing from a category not previously mentioned in my last post: Relationships, or more specifically:

Correspondence
Shortly after Wally and Liz flew away to Heaven, I felt the urge to strengthen relationships, but not in any way that I ever really did previously. I normally send an email, a text or chat online with my friends (I don't often talk to friends on the phone because I'm usually on the phone with my mom). I decided I wanted to "revive the art of letter writing." Yup, you got it - letters. Snail mail. You have to admit, this seemingly antiquated form of correspondence holds so much excitement - especially in today's world. Will anyone write back? If so, who? When will my next letter come? What cute stationary will I open my mailbox to find amidst a stack of junk and bills? I admit that as a child, my cousin and I would write letters to each other. Really, she would write one to me, I would respond, then she would respond and then I would promptly forget to write back, always meaning to, but never quite getting around to it. This time, I LOVE writing back. I get so excited about what to put in my next letter. I only have one friend that is writing back, but she's fabulous at it. We even planned a dinner date through snail mail - how cool is that!?!? (Ok, maybe I'm a nerd for more things than just Russian literature!)

And with those updates, I'm heading out of work a tad early today in hopes of getting a flu shot and getting back to Julie and Julia. Ciao!