Shark survivor Bethany Hamilton and husband Adam Dirks are expecting the arrival of their newborn son any day now. The couple announced the pregnancy in a video released in February.
Following the announcement, the soon-to-be-mom and surfing champion, said she would spend her remaining time surfing before her baby arrives in early June. She said, "Well I have been surfing as much as I can before lil Jr. takes over my belly, so this month I surfed a lot of fun waves; loving surfing just as much as ever! Also Adam's parent visited and we had a great time with them. I am so grateful for awesome in-law parents who love us and support us dearly."
And true to her promise, the 25-year-old Hamilton took to social media, including Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to post pictures and explain her thoughts on motherhood, staying healthy, imagining what her baby is doing in her belly and asking advice from followers about baby products.
She posted a picture of her swimming on the ocean with her bulging belly on her Facebook page with the caption, "Swimming is my favorite exercise late in my pregnancy. It feels so good to get in the water and feel weightless and move my body with complete ease. I'll always aim to live healthy for me and for my family. #bhbodyandsoul"
Another picture shows her sitting on the beach with the caption, "We're starting to feel ready for this lil boy to enter the world! Ready or not parenthood here we come! #mybikini #maternity"
In an interview with FitBump360.com, Hamilton said she is trying to get in as much surfing as possible before the new member of the family arrives in June. She said, "I've kept very active, but have also taken more time to rest. It's crazy, but I feel like I've done some of my best surfing prego! But I'm fully enjoying the ocean."
Commenting on her surfing activities while pregnant, Hamilton told People in March, "It's such a weird feeling to be surfing in the ocean while my baby is moving around inside me. It's a cool feeling, but I noticed my balance is a little off and I fall more, so I'm having to focus." Hamilton was six months pregnant at the time of the interview.
"I'll probably keep riding until about eight months," she added then.
Hamilton, who lost her left arm in October 31, 2003 when she was only 13 from a 14-foot tiger shark along Tunnels Beach, Kauai, said that being one-armed does not really bother her but admitted having a baby could be a challenge.
"I often forget that I have one arm, but when I think about it, and a squirming baby and changing a diaper, that could be challenging," she said. "But I think that how I live life now, just adjusting and adapting to things that normally take two arms with one arm...I'll just find my own way to take care of the baby."
"Of course I'll have Adam to help," she continued, "But if he's out and about busy, I'll just to have to adjust to little things and figure it out and be creative."
Her husband also expressed excitement at the prospect of becoming a father: "I think it's a huge thing taking the father role on, especially during the early days of life...but as we start traveling more I'm gonna be there to support my wife and my family--even if it means being there to change my baby's diaper while Bethany is out there surfing some gnarly wave," he joked. "I'm all for that. I'm stoked to be a dad. We appreciate your prayers and support--we're jumping in this adventure together," he added.
You can check Bethany Hamilton's Twitter account @bethanyhamilton to see more pictures of her pregnancy.
Bethany Hamilton is a source of inspiration to millions through her story of determination, faith and hope. She lost her arm just below the shoulder from a tiger shark attack while surfing with best friend Alana Blanchard, Alana's father, Holt, and brother Byron. Just one month after the attack, Bethany returned to the water and over a year later won her first National title. In 2007, she realized her dream of surfing professionally and since then her story has been told in a New York Times best selling autobiography and in the 2011 film, SOUL SURFER. Bethany is involved in numerous charitable efforts, including her own foundation, Friends of Bethany, which reaches out to amputees and youth by offering hope to overcome difficulties in life through Jesus Christ.
