Well, I don't want to make a fuss, but if I were interacting with a community in any public forum other than on the Internet it would be blatantly obvious to everyone by now that I'm expecting a baby (I'm due August 10, so I'm just a little past five months). I'm determined not to be boring and talk about this (much) in my blog or elsewhere but every once in a while I'm finding that not mentioning it is like not mentioning the thousand-pound gorilla in the room! So I thought I'd get the announcement out there. I'm feeling great, having no complications other than being generally scatterbrained and distracted and mood-swingy and finding myself literally staring at my belly button (watching for those kicks and punches to poke out of my abdomen like the Alien) instead of working. Which is not meant to excuse my occasionally not being in top form, but which hopefully might explain it...

--Emily

Panic not people, I've already advised against a Planetary Society naming competition

I think I speak for everyone here in wishing you and D all the very best - you'll be missed, but I don't think anyone can feel anything but happy for you - we'll survive!

Now - does Cafe Press do baby wear

Doug

Congratulations! I hope it's just a baby, not a thousand-pound gorilla Seriously, we wish you all the best.

Are you going to keep working then, or take an extended time off? Doug's message kind of suggests the latter. Or do they just drum you out of the Planetary Society service if you have a baby?

Mike

Thanks guys! I will be taking a 12-week leave, though I will probably be unable to keep away from this board from time to time. We've been talking about what to do with the blog. We've decided that just stopping it for 12 weeks is bad, but also that picking one substitute would be risky. So instead we're looking at a string of guest bloggers for one-week stints. I'll post more about that on the blog when we get it more organized.

And here's a bit of trivia for you, in the last several years The Planetary Society has many times been awarded "most family friendly office" by the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce. There's always kids underfoot and I've gotten quite an education from the babies I've watched growing up here! So as soon as I feel like I can get my train of thought back on track I'll be back to work with the baby on my lap. Should be interesting

--Emily

I wish you much happiness, you and the baby, elakdawalla. Having babies and little children is a great thing.

Hope he will see a better world, and especially many discoveries in astronomy and space exploration.

As the old US Army ads used to say, having a raising a child will be
"The toughest job you'll ever love."

Congratulations and good luck, Emily.

Don't think about this too much, but do you realize by the time New Horizons
reaches Pluto he or she will be in the fourth grade!

Yes, it goes faster than it will seem especially at first. So make the
most of every moment.

Fantastic news, Emily! Best wishes for the rest of your ATLO, a smooth launch, and a healthy little package ready for exploration

Let me add my own congratulations. As has been said it's lots of work but time flies and its all very much worth it. I've just come back from a week in Paris with my two teenage girls which was loadsa fun that on it's own very much made up for the intermindable sleepless nights of their youth.

Congrats Emily. I remember the arrival of my first like it was yesterday. It was the highlight of my life. (In fact we delivered her just over the hill from you at Glendale-Verdugo). Take your time, take care of yourself and enjoy every minute. Write everything down, how you feel, what you think, the kid will love it when he/she is older. We've now been through it five times and each time it was amazing as the first.

Well while we're comparing notes, Helen and I had our first last summer - a bit nervous at first but you get used to things very quickly, gives you a new perspective on things and we've even thought about having another at some point.






We're talking about cat's right?

Emily,

Congratulations! You'll have to post some imaging products for us

Chris

We have five ourselves, seperated by about a year each except for the twins. One day I came home and there were two more that I didn't even know about. It's a nightmare, especially doing the vacuuming and cleaning the litter boxes... Oh wait, I guess I thought we were talking about cats too.

Emily:

You're having a sub-satellite! No, you're not, it's *you* that'll be in orbit around the new arrival, I think...

(end of astronomical jokes, none of which are *that* funny)

Remember to put all your best toys up high now, not later!

Bob Shaw

You joke but it's amazing what those ultrasound machines can do these days. I'd have a 3D picture to post already except at the first opportunity she was determinedly facing backwards with her hands in front of her face -- hopefully next time! I'll bet that not many expectant moms compare their ultrasound experiences to SAR imaging

--Emily

Congrats!!

See my son at www.gelsana.com

He is photographed and quoted here as well:
http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2006/0219sciencefun.shtml

Congratulations, wish you all the best.

I assume everyone here is familiar with SAR images of several solar system objects with Venus being the most familiar example but there are some very small asteroids as well .

Never fear, Emily, that was only the results from the F1 encounter. There are several more RADAR passes scheduled before the birth, right?



Congrats -- I wish you luck, patience, and foresight. In that order.

-the other Doug

Fantastic News! O Joy Unconfined! O Daipers To Be Changed!

Here's hoping for a smooth EDL...



Just when I think I have seen the funniest post on this board, this thread hits me with a double whammy - I literally did a spit take on this one!

Congratulation! Best wishes for a smooth, nominal trajectory.

Fission?

Budding?

Spores?

Oocyte?

Fruiting body?

{I am being informed the poster is most likely a human being}

Oh! My mistake!

Congratulations and please don't post any pics of the




um . . . . .




er . . . . .




ah . . . . .



you know, when it appears.

I'm sqeamish enough as it is.

woaw - missed this one yesterday..

Congratulations !!! You're in for one of the best things in life -not considering sleep though

But really, there's so much more to life with kids..one of my daughters likes to talk about colors, and why Mars has two moons and we only have one!

We wish you all the very best,

Marie-Hailie, Louise-Billie, Anne, Nico

Great news, congrats Emily!

Enjoy this time 'till the birth, and enjoy her (*) growing. It's a wonderful experience.

(*) If I understood correctly your previous post.

Emily,

I'm mostly a lurker around here, but thought I'd pop out of the shadows to wish you big congratulations and very best wishes.

The extra fun of having these little noisy offspring things far outweighs the hassle!

Prepare yourself for a wonderful time.
Geraint
(currently with three young daughters, including one Los Angelena! )

Best wishes Emily!!!

P.S.
Sleep whenever you can, because you will not have the chance to sleep more than few hours at the time for at least 100 sols...You will see for yourself...
This was actually advice from my wife...
And advice from my son would be:
Click to view attachment

Congradualtions Emily.

B)-->