Baby & Race Chatter

I got all the baby clothes washed and ready to wear. Isn't it just so darn cute!?! But I do have a feeling that some of it will be too small for "BIG TYKE!" We chose one outfit to bring Baby ____ Hawkins Pierson home in whether it's a boy or girl.

I was able to make it through two months without puking,,,,but now it's back. I was awake at my usual 4am the other morning when I had a "Braxton Hicks" contraction and then had to run to my throne to puke! Aaaaahhh,,,reminiscent of my first 6 months of pregnancy! Well, they say this means my labor day is getting close. Two and half weeks and counting!

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Just when I was about to be really pissed that no one covered the Olympic Mountain Bike Race, it aired on the very last day of the Olympics at 2:50am. No medals for the US but great fun to watch anyway. Looked like it was somewhat of a technical course which was really awesome for true mountain bikers to show off their speed, endurance and skills! Last thing they needed was a "road race on dirt!" Congrats to our US mountain bikers for a great showing. Georgia Gould has her race report up.

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Bern trekking on day 9 of 11.5 at the Patagonia Expedition Race in Chile

I've been giving Beginner Adventure Racer Clinics....basically talking to folks about how to get started with adventure racing. It's a little embarrassing when people find out that the immensely huge girl is the one who will be telling them how to race for 4 hours to 10 days! But thank goodness I'm able to show them a power point presentation with lots of photos of me racing. That makes me a little more credible so they will believe that I was somewhat fit before and have done plenty of racing.

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Did you know?
Lisa Leslie is a 36 year old MOMMY who still plays b-ball good enough to win her 4th Olympic Gold Medal!
Dara Torres is a 41 year old MOMMY who swam her way to Silver medals in Beijing.
Lynda Wallenfels is a thirty-something MOMMY who kicks booty in the endurance mountain bike scene.
Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh are thirty-somethings on their way to starting families but most likely gonna play volleyball at the same level upon their return.

***These ladies are inspiration for me to get back to adventure and mountain bike racing!****

Chubby Chatter; Week 36 of 40

The last few weeks I've been very lazy about blogging. Especially since I didn't think anyone was still reading this blog since it had very little to do with suicidal adventures in foreign lands and more to do with my ever expanding belly. But then I received an email from my aunt in Texas who asked why I hadn't updated it in a while. Well, at least my family still reads it so I guess I better post something!

For the last 36 weeks, I have been very busy building a baby. And for those who don't know the feeling, this sort of construction requires A LOT OF REST! So I thank God for my DVR and all the great sports that have been on television! The Tour of California got me through a really rough first trimester of morning sickness. The Tour de France got me through the peak racing time while all my friends were out competing and I was at home resting. And now the Beijing Olympics are getting me through the "home stretch!"

My friends are also entertaining me via the internet while I'm on hiatus. Dave & Lynda are racing fools and just finished strong at the Trans Rockies. Fuzzy lives to mountain bike race and currently races to live. It seems like Christian and Melissa are doing adventure races every weekend! Lou is my kind of adventurous woman! And I'm living vicariously through Caroline's 24 hour solos and Mario's 12 & 24 hour duo races.

But don't get me wrong, I've been reading a lot too. I've read so much about birthing that I could do it right here at home by myself if I had to (oh shoot, I hope I didn't just jinx myself!) Anyhow, during this period of my own physical inactivity, I've been entertained and motivated by exceptional athletes, all from the comfort and safety of my own couch.
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Little did I know when I named my blog "WHO NEEDS SLEEP?" that it would apply to my final couple of months of pregnancy. Everyone says, "sleep now while you can before the baby arrives because then you will be getting NO sleep!" Hell, I haven't slept well for the last 36 weeks and it's only getting worse.
~I can't sleep on my back or stomach because it's bad for Little Tyke.
~There isn't enough room for me and my 100 pillows on the bed.
~Even with 100 pillows, I can't get my extra 50 pounds in a comfortable position so that my back won't hurt.
~I'm too hot!
~I have to get up to pee a few times. And getting myself up is a major task that requires a lot of strategic positioning and grunting.
~Sometimes I need a 3am snack.
~I have MAJOR INSOMNIA! (If anyone else is up every morning from 3-5am PST, I'm available to chat.)
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Swimming is great! After watching hours and hours of Dara Torres, Natalie Coughlin, and Michael Phelps, I think my swim stroke has improved. Well, okay, maybe my doggie paddle is getting better but whatever. I've been spending lots of time in the pool because that's where I feel best and I think LT is really getting into it also. Maybe all this swimming is producing a little swimmer inside me? Sure feels like s/he's in there doing the breast stroke sometimes.
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I don't have my overnight bag for the hospital packed yet, but at least the car seat is in place. Of course we had to really read the instructions and figure the thing out, but it seems to be a really good one (according to Consumer Reports) and very easy to manage.
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My pregnancy progression in pictures...

Just found out! 3 weeks pregnant

17 weeks and already wearing maternity pants. (Probably because all my other jeans had absolutely no room to spare!)

Between 17 and 21 weeks I grew quite a bit.

22.5 weeks

28.5 weeks

29.5 weeks

30.5 weeks

36 weeks now but I went to the doc and she measured my belly as a 37.5 week belly! Yikes! I guess that means it's gonna be a big one! We're hoping that just means it's long. The ultrasound tech measured it's femur and said it has long legs.