I really like the progress you are making. It does seem slow at times - I'm finishing up a corner of my layout as well to get the upper level finished before I solder wires to the track and it seems like it's taking me forever but I do notice progress so hang in there. I'm determined to take the lessons learned from my last layout to heart to avoid those headaches. You're going about things the right way - take your time, figure things out and then get to building. I'm in the same boat in that I'm a lousy artist and have trouble visualizing finished scene from a blank spot - I need lots of pictures and input from my artistic wife.
-Greg