Special Announcement for Caradwen/Sabre & Cruz
Hi guys -
Some rumors may have been going round about us. This message is to make sure you all know exactly what is happening.
Caradwen/Sabre is 6 months pregnant and due on Feb 5th of next year.
As of this time we intend to keep all current commitments we have made to help with PantheaCon & BayCon, and other small things we may have committed to assist with (if we have promised to help you with something, please remind us, just in case it has slipped our minds). Yes we know babies have their own schedules/needs/plans/etc and this is why we say we INTEND to keep commitments as we have already started altering them in preparation for this.
At this time we do NOT intend to take on any more than we already have. And if we find that we cannot fulfill an existing commitment relating to you, we expect your understanding and will try to give you as much warning as possible.
Please try to remember that we are both adults and are very capable of making decisions for ourselves, and have already been working towards making this work. Please DO NOT step in & do something for our "own good" - we are perfectly capable people. If you have a concern, please feel free to come to us. But presuming to act on our behalf or in our "best interests" without talking to us and allowing us to make our own decisions will quite simply earn our scorn and enmity. We appreciate that our friends and colleagues care about us, but we expect that care to extend to respecting that we may actually be able to make a decision for ourselves. Consciously acting in a way that negates/removes/disrespects our ability to make a decision for ourselves is a very very good way to endanger whatever relationship you may have with us.
Let's get a few questions out of the way:
* When are you actually due?
* Feb 5th, 2011 (4 separate ultrasounds confirm this - but babies come when they are ready).
* Does this mean you were pregnant at BayCon 2010? And did you know?
* Yes we were and no we did not know. We were only a couple of weeks along at the time.
* Is it a boy or a girl? Do you have a name picked out?
* It is a boy. His name will be Cruz, like his Dad, Grandfather & Great-Grandfather (and even more farther back, but we think you get the picture).
* Why wait so long to tell people?
* Obviously the doctors and other medical people who have needed to know have known all along. This is a high risk pregnancy on multiple levels and there have been a LOT of tests we have had to go through - we wanted to get through all of those and know that everything is as ok as it can be before announcing this. Also, our medical insurance changed at 20 weeks (halfway through), and we had to redo some of the tests, which caused further delays. Also, we started telling family members last weekend - and if our closest family members can be understanding, so can you.
* Why are you telling people this way (email/blog posting/etc)?
* We know a LOT of people - seriously a LOT. We just don't have the time &/or energy to personally contact each and every one of you.
* Are you going to have a Baby Shower?
* We would like to have one & believe Kitty (Cara's mom) is going to plan one, but it could be tricky scheduling with the holidays and Cara being so far along. It is possible we could have more than one with one being after the birth (In the Jewish Tradition you generally don't have one before).
* Do you have a baby registry?
* While no one HAS to get or buy us anything, we realize that people like to get gifts for their friends and the new baby, so yes we are working on a baby registry. However we are very likely going to end up with many hand-me-downs and at this time we are not certain what all we are actually going to need. Also, we are SEVERELY limited on space where we live and do not have room for lots of stuff. For our wedding several of our friends all went in together and got us our China pattern - which was wonderful. We have already prepaid and ordered our stroller/car seat set and in the same spirit as our China, we would be happy to accept funds towards that as the set was not inexpensive and it would be an easy way to get us a gift AND at the same time avoid trying to shop for yet one more thing around the holidays (it's crazy enough already right?). And PLEASE keep the following in mind - if you see something you are CERTAIN we would love but is NOT on our registry please check with us BEFORE getting it for us - with our limited space in our house we are registering for items in specific quantities/sizes/styles/etc. We may not even have room for what we HAVE registered for, let alone something we did NOT register for. Also, if it really IS that cool? We might just already have it! :)
* What does this mean for social time & the holidays?
* As this is a high risk pregnancy, we are currently not planning on traveling more than an hour away from our Delivery hospital any time between now and the due date. Also, we will be limiting (if not eliminating) what social/holiday events we attend to minimize having to cope with people wanting to touch my belly or bumping into me. If you want to see us for the holidays, or any time between now and early February, we can see what we can work out. But please be aware that I very well may not have the spoons to cope with people. Which leads to the next point... which is actually far more important than you might think, and also seems stupid to have to cover...
* Can I touch/rub "the belly"?
* Please assume NO. Feel free to ask, and Cara MIGHT say yes. However, she is not a touchy/feely person so if she says no, trying to negotiate/wheedle/whine/etc will NOT go over well. Please keep in mind that it is Cara's body/belly and OUR pregnancy, not yours. If you persist, and even try to touch Cara's belly, we cannot guarantee that you will not lose a hand in the process. If you are not nice about it, we don't have to be either. And Cruz agrees with Cara 100% on this, so going to him will not help.
* Is there anything I can do to help?
* That is a good question. Sometimes you don't know you need something until someone comes up with something and offers it. If you think you can help with something, or want to help with something, please feel free to say so. We have had several people offer to help with some babysitting, which is wonderful. If we think of something else, we will try to let it be known. We are aware that we are busy people with commitments that eat up our time - and that we are facing a major life change. And yes, we realize that the assistance of friends, family & extended family will be critical.
* How is this going to impact PantheaCon 2011?
* Glenn and most of the Dept Heads are aware of this and Cara continues to hold the Operations Manager/Staff & Housing Coordinator position she has held for many years now. We will be at the the convention and working, though Cara will most likely be more supervisory than she has been in recent years as she will have a small baby in tow. Brad is her second, and will be working with her even more closely than in the past to keep ConOps moving smoothly. We have a great crew and will do everything we can to keep it great and serving the convention well.
* How is this going to impact BayCon 2011 and future?
* In general: Cara continues to serve on the Board of Directors, as part of the Chairman's Brain Trust & as the Ribbon Order Coordinator.
* For 2011: Our son will be almost 4 months old. Cruz is Operations Division Head (a position he has held for years and HAS done in his sleep) and Cara is the Controller.
* For 2012: Our son will be almost 16 months old. Cruz is the Chairman and already plans on carrying his little clone around with him. It is not yet known what Cara will be doing for 2012.
* For 2013: Our son will be almost 2.5 years old. Cara will be Chairman and Cruz will be 100% Daddy at this con.
We think that covers most things right now. We will update people as we can.
Thanks for reading this through.
Caradwen/Sabre & Cruz
Some rumors may have been going round about us. This message is to make sure you all know exactly what is happening.
Caradwen/Sabre is 6 months pregnant and due on Feb 5th of next year.
As of this time we intend to keep all current commitments we have made to help with PantheaCon & BayCon, and other small things we may have committed to assist with (if we have promised to help you with something, please remind us, just in case it has slipped our minds). Yes we know babies have their own schedules/needs/plans/etc and this is why we say we INTEND to keep commitments as we have already started altering them in preparation for this.
At this time we do NOT intend to take on any more than we already have. And if we find that we cannot fulfill an existing commitment relating to you, we expect your understanding and will try to give you as much warning as possible.
Please try to remember that we are both adults and are very capable of making decisions for ourselves, and have already been working towards making this work. Please DO NOT step in & do something for our "own good" - we are perfectly capable people. If you have a concern, please feel free to come to us. But presuming to act on our behalf or in our "best interests" without talking to us and allowing us to make our own decisions will quite simply earn our scorn and enmity. We appreciate that our friends and colleagues care about us, but we expect that care to extend to respecting that we may actually be able to make a decision for ourselves. Consciously acting in a way that negates/removes/disrespects our ability to make a decision for ourselves is a very very good way to endanger whatever relationship you may have with us.
Let's get a few questions out of the way:
* When are you actually due?
* Feb 5th, 2011 (4 separate ultrasounds confirm this - but babies come when they are ready).
* Does this mean you were pregnant at BayCon 2010? And did you know?
* Yes we were and no we did not know. We were only a couple of weeks along at the time.
* Is it a boy or a girl? Do you have a name picked out?
* It is a boy. His name will be Cruz, like his Dad, Grandfather & Great-Grandfather (and even more farther back, but we think you get the picture).
* Why wait so long to tell people?
* Obviously the doctors and other medical people who have needed to know have known all along. This is a high risk pregnancy on multiple levels and there have been a LOT of tests we have had to go through - we wanted to get through all of those and know that everything is as ok as it can be before announcing this. Also, our medical insurance changed at 20 weeks (halfway through), and we had to redo some of the tests, which caused further delays. Also, we started telling family members last weekend - and if our closest family members can be understanding, so can you.
* Why are you telling people this way (email/blog posting/etc)?
* We know a LOT of people - seriously a LOT. We just don't have the time &/or energy to personally contact each and every one of you.
* Are you going to have a Baby Shower?
* We would like to have one & believe Kitty (Cara's mom) is going to plan one, but it could be tricky scheduling with the holidays and Cara being so far along. It is possible we could have more than one with one being after the birth (In the Jewish Tradition you generally don't have one before).
* Do you have a baby registry?
* While no one HAS to get or buy us anything, we realize that people like to get gifts for their friends and the new baby, so yes we are working on a baby registry. However we are very likely going to end up with many hand-me-downs and at this time we are not certain what all we are actually going to need. Also, we are SEVERELY limited on space where we live and do not have room for lots of stuff. For our wedding several of our friends all went in together and got us our China pattern - which was wonderful. We have already prepaid and ordered our stroller/car seat set and in the same spirit as our China, we would be happy to accept funds towards that as the set was not inexpensive and it would be an easy way to get us a gift AND at the same time avoid trying to shop for yet one more thing around the holidays (it's crazy enough already right?). And PLEASE keep the following in mind - if you see something you are CERTAIN we would love but is NOT on our registry please check with us BEFORE getting it for us - with our limited space in our house we are registering for items in specific quantities/sizes/styles/etc. We may not even have room for what we HAVE registered for, let alone something we did NOT register for. Also, if it really IS that cool? We might just already have it! :)
* What does this mean for social time & the holidays?
* As this is a high risk pregnancy, we are currently not planning on traveling more than an hour away from our Delivery hospital any time between now and the due date. Also, we will be limiting (if not eliminating) what social/holiday events we attend to minimize having to cope with people wanting to touch my belly or bumping into me. If you want to see us for the holidays, or any time between now and early February, we can see what we can work out. But please be aware that I very well may not have the spoons to cope with people. Which leads to the next point... which is actually far more important than you might think, and also seems stupid to have to cover...
* Can I touch/rub "the belly"?
* Please assume NO. Feel free to ask, and Cara MIGHT say yes. However, she is not a touchy/feely person so if she says no, trying to negotiate/wheedle/whine/etc will NOT go over well. Please keep in mind that it is Cara's body/belly and OUR pregnancy, not yours. If you persist, and even try to touch Cara's belly, we cannot guarantee that you will not lose a hand in the process. If you are not nice about it, we don't have to be either. And Cruz agrees with Cara 100% on this, so going to him will not help.
* Is there anything I can do to help?
* That is a good question. Sometimes you don't know you need something until someone comes up with something and offers it. If you think you can help with something, or want to help with something, please feel free to say so. We have had several people offer to help with some babysitting, which is wonderful. If we think of something else, we will try to let it be known. We are aware that we are busy people with commitments that eat up our time - and that we are facing a major life change. And yes, we realize that the assistance of friends, family & extended family will be critical.
* How is this going to impact PantheaCon 2011?
* Glenn and most of the Dept Heads are aware of this and Cara continues to hold the Operations Manager/Staff & Housing Coordinator position she has held for many years now. We will be at the the convention and working, though Cara will most likely be more supervisory than she has been in recent years as she will have a small baby in tow. Brad is her second, and will be working with her even more closely than in the past to keep ConOps moving smoothly. We have a great crew and will do everything we can to keep it great and serving the convention well.
* How is this going to impact BayCon 2011 and future?
* In general: Cara continues to serve on the Board of Directors, as part of the Chairman's Brain Trust & as the Ribbon Order Coordinator.
* For 2011: Our son will be almost 4 months old. Cruz is Operations Division Head (a position he has held for years and HAS done in his sleep) and Cara is the Controller.
* For 2012: Our son will be almost 16 months old. Cruz is the Chairman and already plans on carrying his little clone around with him. It is not yet known what Cara will be doing for 2012.
* For 2013: Our son will be almost 2.5 years old. Cara will be Chairman and Cruz will be 100% Daddy at this con.
We think that covers most things right now. We will update people as we can.
Thanks for reading this through.
Caradwen/Sabre & Cruz