Dear Baby H...

I know it's really warm and cozy in your mama's tummy and I'm sure you really like being fed whenever you want but I bet your getting kind of cramped in those small quarters. We really want to meet you and I promise we'll keep you warm and cozy and well fed when you decide to enter this world. Your mom's getting a little uncomfortable now and not to mention none of her shirts are fitting over her belly anymore. She is so excited to see you and your dad is really excited too! So whenever you want, we're ready for you! All of your grandparents, great grandparents, and aunties and uncles are getting anxious too and don't worry they're going to spoil you when you arrive!!! We can't wait to meet you!

Lucky we live Hawaii!

I know, I know, everyone always says that...but it's true! Here are some photos we took last week on our morning walk with Tyla. The sunrise was absolutely amazing. We used Ryan's iPhone to take the pictures so it doesn't do it justice but trust me it was beautiful.

The beach this weekend was really beautful. There hasn't been any tradewinds for the last few days which makes for spectacular ocean conditions (crystal clear and glassy) but not so good air conditions. For those of you not familiar with VOG it's what we get here when the trades disappear and sulphur gas from the Big Island (Halemaumau crater) decides to settle in on the island. It leads to spectacular sunrises and sunsets but it's not so good for the lungs I'm sure. Think LA on a smoggy day...yuck! Regardless we made it to the beach both days this weekend and enjoyed the gorgeous water. Still nothing new on Baby H, just getting bigger each day :-)

We took a walk out on the Marine Corp base on Saturday and here are some pictures.

Ryan got kind of creative and took a picture of our foot prints...it's kind of sad that mine looks like they could be for a child...we'll see if baby gets my dinky little feet or not :-)

39 Weeks

Holy Cow! I can't believe I'm 39 weeks. It feels like I've been pregnant FOREVER but at the same time it's crazy that I have made it to 39 weeks because of all the contractions. My uterus must be really strong. I guess one muscle will be strong at the end of this :-) I went in for my weekly check up and not too much has changed. I'm still barely dilated but now I'm 80% effaced....which means...nothing. I still could go into labor today or in another few weeks. Fun stuff. This is teaching me how to be patient and to let go of control BEFORE the baby arrives. Here's a lovely picture of the progress. I think baby is growing, because I sure am!!! I feel HUMONGOUS!

It's True

It looks like the rumors about Lance are true!!

Lance is Coming Back!

Armstrong that is. Rumor has it that Lance Armstrong will be coming out of retirement to compete in road racing again. I guess running marathons isn't cutting it for him anymore. We'll see if it actually transpires, but it will be pretty cool for the cycling community...maybe not for all of them though :-) It sounds like he's going to be publishing all of his blood tests for everyone to see to prove he's drug free. I guess we'll have to watch and see what happens.

According to Velonews.com

"Lance Armstrong will come out of retirement next year to compete in five road races with the Astana team, according to sources familiar with the developing situation. Armstrong, who turns 37 this month, will compete in the Amgen Tour of California, Paris-Nice, the Tour de Georgia, the Dauphine-Libere and the Tour de France — and will race for no salary or bonuses, the sources, who asked to remain anonymous, told VeloNews. Armstrong's manager, Mark Higgins, did not respond to questions. However sources close to the story have told VeloNews that an exclusive article on the matter will be published in an upcoming issue of Vanity Fair, expected later this month.

According to sources, the Texan will post all of his internally tested blood work online, in an attempt to establish complete transparency and prove that he is a clean athlete.

Other rumors are that Armstrong will continue to pursue mountain bike racing, and may try his hand at cyclocross as well.

Armstrong re-enrolled himself into the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s out-of-competition testing pool prior to August’s Leadville Trail 100 mountain bike race, where he finished second to Dave Wiens, said USA Cycling chief operating officer Sean Petty. USADA rules state that any athlete who wishes to come out of retirement must enroll in the USADA out-of-competition testing program for at least six months in advance of regaining eligible status. "

She Caught It!

We took Tyla to the beach this morning for our usual walk and low and behold she caught the shark!!

Du-nu...Du-nu

As in shark sounds! We went to Kailua Beach park tonight to walk Tyla and when we arrived there were fire trucks all over and no one was in the water. Of course the first thought was a shark sighting....and this time we were right!! I guess a Honolulu Fire Department helicopter was patrolling the area because there was a missing person report in the area (which may or may not be true apparently) and they saw an 8 foot shark showing "aggressive behavior" towards a turtle. Yikes!! Needless to say, they cleared the water and are now patrolling the water to keep an eye on the bugger. I guess it is their ocean and all, but still...that's freaky because we LOVE to swim and surf in the beautiful water...

Status Quo...

Went to the doctor for my weekly checkup today and not much has changed. My cervix has began to soften and I may be "1 cm" dilated...in other words I'm barely dilated so...I could have the baby today or in 3 weeks. So more of the same...hurry up and wait. I'm definitely having more contractions but seeing that I've been having them for 11 weeks now, I don't think that means much. I had three days of super energy where I felt like I could run a marathon (ok maybe not a real marathon) and then I came crashing down yesterday. I thought it might be time but have quickly come to realize that Baby H will come on his/her own time and we'll just have to wait and see :-)

As for Ryan, the south shore has actually had some surf so he got up at 4:30 yesterday and today so he could catch some waves before work and before the arrival of Baby H. He keeps me on pins and needles when he goes just in case Baby H decides to make it's appearance while Dad's surfing :-) Thank goodness it's Friday...for Ryan's sake...everyday is Friday for me!

Yoga Master

Ryan has taken up a new activity that he seems to have perfected quite well. It appears that he is going to be a new master of yoga on the ball...I'm pretty proud of his accomplishments!!

Who knows what was on the TV during this shot :-)

Boredom and Anxiousness...

I'm officially bored (and anxious)...but still trying to enjoy it (especially the peace and quiet)! It was really nice to have Ryan home for three days with Labor Day and all. Ryan was really set on me going into labor on "Labor Day" but that didn't happen...he thought it would be pretty cool. We didn't do too much over the weekend but managed to run a few errands and went to the beach every day. I feel so lucky to live in Hawaii especially when all else fails and we don't have anything to do, we can always head to the beach! Have I already mentioned how good the water feels on my belly and the fact that I feel like an incubator on the high heat setting :-)

Nothing too exciting to post but here's a recent picture of my ever expanding belly. I don't know how my stomach can physically stretch any further but I'm sure it can manage!