The summer I was pregnant with my only child, we decided to build a deck. All we had was a set of brick steps leading down to a grassy patio area, which is to say, a muddy area.

So there I was, six months pregnant, chipping away at the old brick steps. I couldn’t wield a sledge (even if I hadn’t been pregnant), so I used a hammer and chisel. Actually I destroyed two big screw drivers until my husband gave me the chisel. I took out a LOT of frustration on those screw drivers.

Once that was done and the deck completed, there were decisions to be made I hadn’t counted on: Should we use a deck sealer? What color deck stains would complement the red brick of the house? What kind of deck cleaner was compatible with the stain we chose?

The best part of having the deck, however, came a year later, being able to watch our daughter, by then 8 months old, playing in her kiddy pool while I barbequed.