Whoops, I somehow forgot I was a blogger! I have responsibilities, you know? I have readers to amuse, television to critique, impending public health disasters to warn about.... my work is never done. I've been distracted, dear readers. Distracted by the responsibilities associated with growing a fetus. That's right, a real human baby! At least, that's what the ultrasound technician tells me. While I could attribute my recent hiatus to long sessions getting acquainted with my toilet bowl, the reality is less dramatic (as it often is). A welcome absence of morning sickness has given me plenty of time to focus on the essentials of planning for the new arrival: 1. Figure out where the critter will sleep Unfortunately, plan A is out because the refrigerator crisper is already full of arugula. Must come up with plan B... 2. Figure out a better name than "critter" Excel spreadsheet pro/con list, check! Unfortunately, the spreadsheet features quite a few not-in-a-million-years names like Roger, Qubo and Neveah, so I'm not sure how much progress is being made. 3. Figure out where to get time to knit cute baby stuff Because critter is not coming into this world with only a half-finished hat to her name! (Yep, critter's a girl! And yep, that's why Roger would be a bad name) That's pretty much all the figuring there is to do. I'm very lucky to have a support system as strong as the prescription-strength anti edema socks I must wrestle on each morning so that I can wear normal shoes. I tell you, these are the most expensive socks I've ever worn, and they're horrific. Thank Jeebus it's winter, and long-pants season - and the alternative is this. Gee, I hope you swallowed your sandwich before clicking on that last link. Anyway, I'm only 19 weeks along so I can still dress myself, but before long I'll have to use one of these sexy compression sock donning aids. This baby had better be cute.