Status report

Just when you were starting to expect weekly posts from me, I take three weeks off. It's been a busy three weeks, though. Since my last post we've signed a contract to sell our house and passed the inspection process. We've also made an offer on a new house and had it inspected. If all goes according to plan, we'll sign the papers for both houses on March 12, and officially trade our Denver address for a new one in Golden. Suburbs, here we come. Then we'll have two months to move in and get ready for baby Beer.

As for the update on baby Beer, she has spent the three weeks growing--and so have I. The kid can now simultaneously kick me in lower gut and punch me in the ribs, which was exciting for all of one minute before simply becoming uncomfortable. You can now see visible movement on my stomach when she kicks and rolls around, which is also exciting if you can get over the alien creepiness.

Mostly, however, I'm starting to feel very squished on the inside. I had a moment of claustrophobic panic the other night when I felt my stomach rumble...right next to my heart. While I've still been pretty hungry, my appetite has backed off a bit from a month ago, and I think that's partly due to the fact that all my organs have been relocated to my upper chest. Tonight I ate all of six tortellini pieces and felt like I'd just eaten two Thanksgiving dinners. Joe had enjoyed telling people that I've been "eating like a linebacker" in the last month, but now I think it's more like a cow--constant grazing in small quantities. Followed by frequent heartburn.

Still no name for baby Beer. I think we've ruled out Ursula and Hephzibah, so we're making progress. We did get started on baby preparations by taking our first trip to Babys R Us. We went with the intention of getting a start on our baby registry, but quickly realized we were vastly unprepared for the task. I had no idea there were 250 different kinds of bottles, much less 50 kinds of diaper rash cream and butt paste. What's the difference between diaper rash cream and butt paste, other than the fact that you can't say the name of one without giggling? I don't know. If you figure it out, clue me in.

That's the latest in the Beer family news. Coming soon: how to pack up a house when you can't bend over. Stay tuned!