Tick tock. Tick tock. Still technically more than a week to go, but I don't care. With Ben leaving for Interbike on the 18th, I'm motivated. Started acupuncture last night, going back tonight. Herbs, visualizations, exercises, trying it all. I'm being very careful not to get stressed about it or feel desperate- baby's going to come when it's good and ready- but just really do all I can to contribute to a speedy delivery.

Still walking. It's, erm, a little boring. It's also easy. I feel like I could walk forever, but the problem is, it takes forever. So slow.

The women's cx clinic is this weekend. I should be really looking forward to it, but in reality I'm hoping I won't be there. It's odd helping to plan something with this odd situation attached.

Heading out Friday night I thought for sure the mesa would be wet. I half-heartedly headed out on the paved path. When I came up to the steel bridge I noticed how dry the singletrack was. It meant one thing, the mesa is dry. I'll admit to being very surprised at how great conditions were. Not one wet spot. Perfect actually.
On my way back home from my ride my phone rang. It was Ben Popper. He and a few others wanted to give the mesa a shot Saturday morning if I was up for being a tour guide.
HELL YES.
When I got home I called my mom up right away and asked if she wouldn't mind watching the girls. Being the good sport she is, she agreed.
Mike, Ben, Brandon, Dave, Al, Paolo, John and I headed out around 8am. It's been a long time since I've been chilled on a bike ride. Once we got into the woods, it ended up being perfect. Well until Dave had a chainring mishap on the first hill... John ended up towing him back to our house and gave him th3ocon's bike.
It was a good ride. I don't think I've ever ridden Sublime that fast the second time around. I'm sure John's challenge had a bit to do with it...
Sunday we headed up to the Klugs. John and Kevin headed out to the Kettles while Holly and I gossiped while hiking and hanging out with the girls. When John and Kevin came back, Holly and I headed out to Emma. We rode Emma and the connector. It was my first time on Emma since they re-did the trails, I approve big time. I think it may actually be one of my favorite sections. However I think the connector on the way out from Emma still rates pretty darn high. Another good ride. When we were done it was brats and frog hunting.
Monday I headed out to Palos to participate in the women's only Half Acre ride. There were about 14 of us, I think. We ended up in groups. It turned out to be another great day on the bike. Fabulous weather, good company, fun trails, we saw a dude endo spectacularly on dynamite road and then a dude puking on three ravines. Nice.
My weekend ended with a beautiful breeze coming through the doors while I sat on the couch drinking a beer watching Phineas and Ferb. Awesome.
This coming weekend has a lot to live up to. It's at a disadvantage already seeing as it'll be a day short. I am however looking forward to seeing some WORS peeps. Last time was Eau Claire, I think.

Nope, no baby yet.

Spent the weekend lazing about. They say walking helps get the baby out, so it was 4 3-mile walks, which made Molly pretty happy. Joined in the ladies' trail ride on Monday morning for a couple super-slow hours on trail followed by a great brunch. In all, though, the 1st trimester exhaustion is back and by 7 or 8pm all I want is to be laying down. No fun. The weekly schedule is now shaking out to be midwife on Tue, chiropractor/acupuncture on Wed, and massage on Thu. Trying to get a baby out is time consuming.

I'm also pretty done with running. I just keep injuring myself in new and more serious ways. This body was not meant to carry this much weight. So, walking it is, with some riding and yoga and strength workouts thrown in. Still getting in 5-7 workouts a week. Still logged 15 mi last week. Counts.

Anyway, nothing exciting. Sorry.

aka Rachael's log. It was named after me because the first time I went over it I almost broke my neck. I crashed off it and knocked myself unconscious. 4 years later I rode it again, successfully, many times.





I am never riding this again as most of you know, because I crashed going the other way a couple weeks ago. Fucker.
I'm bitter about it.

No, I didn't try it again, but clearly you can see I'm not over it.

It's weird looking at it, you may not think much of it. It's a veritable beast, however.
You may ride it once and be like this isn't hard at all, and then 10 times after, but one day... it will get you. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Monday night, Audrey and Ben finished the baby room. It looks like this. While they did that I sewed a ring sling using leftover curtain fabric and rings from slingring.com because OF COURSE there's bound to be a website devoted entirely to selling rings for slings. Duh.

Anyway, you'll note the chaotic stack of fabric on the table there. That would be my cloth diaper stash, or just a small part of it, because the rest is shamefully hidden behind the cabinet doors below. I've somehow taken my bike component OCD brain and temporarily converted it to be about cloth diapers. Right now it's about 48 newborn-sized prefolds, 12 covers, 6 Snappis, and about 50 cloth wipes. Also, a sprayer of diaper potion for the wipes, a hanging wet bag to serve as a diaper pail, plus a large (for daycare) and small (for out and about) wet bag. This should last us till about 6 weeks, when baby outgrows the newborn size and we'll be switching to simpler all-in-one diapers that we'll buy used from my sister. Actually, just about all of these are used.

It's funny, getting OCD about cloth diapers is just like collecting components for a bike build. There are a bagillion options and three times that many ways to make it work-- new or used, high tech or old standby. It's a simple thing to obsess over but it's really quite satisfying to have it all come together like this. It makes me feel... prepared.

And on that note, at our midwife visit last night, we were handed instructions on what to do when I go into labor. It makes this all so real. Any day now. 80% of women birth between 38 and 42 weeks, and 66% birth within 10 days of their due date. Only 5% birth on their due date. Since we have several due dates, this doesn't mean all that much to me, except that I shouldn't be getting too excited, it could be a long wait.

I coulda gotten 13th if I raced Alterra. Only because there were only 12 ladies racing. I still would have been like an hour back.

I really want to race Treadfest, but I’m not really sure that’s a good idea. I LOVED that race last year, and it was my first race that I felt super dialed in and it was MY race from start to finish. If I go back and race it without doing any riding, I’m afraid it’ll just ruin it for me. This season’s already been a wash for me, so I’m not really sure why I give a shit. But to more or less ride my bike and be demoralized doing it just isn’t that appealing.

My lab job neglected to put in a request for a permanent position before my student classification ran out, so it looks like I’ll be out of a job until the department finally posts it, or my special student application get processed so I can keep my job (and be paid as a student) until they do. Basically, it’s FUCKED UP. I’m trying not let it get to me, but it’s hard not to be pissed about it. I spend so much energy at work trying to just do my job and not let it affect my performance/morale that by the time I get home I am just so pissed off at the world I have no motivation to do anything else except fester in my anger. I’d go to CamRock or something to ride my mtb, but my car started making a new weird noise, which is probably a prelude to the self-destruct sequence. So, basically I need a new car with the money that I won’t be making and can’t apply for a loan because I don’t have the salaried position that I should have had months ago. Looks like I’m in the market for another 0 car.

At least the weather’s nice enough for me to commute in on my bike…

ugh. GDMF

This weekend, Ben, Molly, and I ventured to Eau Claire, WI for my grandmother's 90th birthday party. Knowing this meant Ben was missing riding his bike this weekend and was sitting in a car for 11 hours r/t for my family gathering, I made efforts to include our favorite things in the weekend. Sure, it was a long time in the car. But we also made a stop to see a train tunnel, had a nice hike in the woods, rode the Lowes Creek trails, and ate at Culver's. What's not to love?

Riding is frustrating though. Two reasons-- first, my lungs are smooshed and can't keep up with my legs. Hills? Yeah.... not so much. Second, my front/back balance is all screwy from this bowling ball, so I don't trust myself to stand and climb much and I sort of wimp out at some technical stuff. But I guess it's all to be expected. Don't take this as complaining, it just is what it is. I'm super thankful that this whole pregnancy thing has been easy enough that I can still ride trail at nearly-full-term, and I'm SO happy to have had that time in Lowes Creek- I love those trails!

So, we're at the "any day now" point. Sure, it's supposed to be about 3 more weeks, but statistically, we're inside the window. Hoping for sooner rather than later. Tonight Ben's going to finish up the baby room and I'm going to sew our ring sling. Things are pretty much ready.