I found out I am going to be a Dad for the first time 3 weeks ago. It was planned, and I feel ready for it, but mentally I am constantly swinging back-and-forth between "Man, 9 months is a REALLY long time, I am ready to be a Dad NOW." and "OMG THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TIME. I need to wrap up my DIY projects, figure out where to relocate the brew stuff so we can have a nursery. MAKE A NURSERY. Babyproof everything. Schedule appointments, plan vacations, figure out daycare, figure out how our work schedules are going to be feasible."
We haven't told anyone yet either, so maybe it will equalize once the cat is out of the bag and I don't have to pretend that everything is normal. But enough about my weirdness, we're here for beer.
I have started to reduce consumption already, but that is mostly because I was probably going overboard (probably was averaging 5 beers a day everyday). I am a big guy (6-2, 235lbs) so I can handle it without getting losing control, but I have been putting on weight and want to be a healthy example for our wee-one, so I figure I should start now. Since finding out, I now take 2 days a week and drink nothing on those days, and when I do drink I limit myself to 2, 22oz bombers (or 4 12 oz bottles) most nights.
I had 3 brews planned to be done and ready to drink by mid-July, but with the news of our baby, I am scaling it back to save some money, and will instead probably only brew one or two batches, and no longer need to have them done by mid July (was going to share them at a family gathering, but really I have enough already in stock). My plan after the baby is here is to essentially supply 100% of my own beer, and to try and stick to a few favorite recipes to keep costs in check. No more buying 8 different specialty grains to compare slight differences in porter recipes. No more IIPA's with a pound of hops...
Luckily, I do stovetop BIAB, so a lot of the safety issues of brewing with infants around are moot (knock on wood). I brew almost exclusively in the early morning on weekends now...so I am getting the impression that is unlikely to continue. Night brewing sounds fine too though, and I have always been the kind of person that needs some alone time, so this could be a good way to take care of 2 wants/needs at the same time
Well...I really just wanted to vent/share...since I can't tell my Mom until Saturday and I have been driving myself crazy thinking about being a Dad. I can't wait for the day to come (Jan. 5due date, better not be any snowstorms...) but at the same time I feel like I will never be prepared enough once the day arrives.
Thanks HBT Parents. Time to start building my Year-1 Stockpile.