For Kerri Walsh and husband and fellow AVP pro, Casey Jennings, 2009 is already shaping up to be a great new year as the couple announced they are expecting their first child. The reigning two-time gold medalist shared the news with Access Hollywood host Billy Bush, "I'm chubby and I'm pregnant and it's awesome!"

Walsh will soon trade in her bikini and rigorous training schedule for a stroller and late-night feedings, a sacrifice that she describes as being the "very best cause in the whole world."

Throughout the 2008 Olympics, Kerri and partner Misty May-Treanor did not hide the fact that both of their post-Olympic plans included taking a break from the sand to start families of their own. With Kerri being 16 ½ weeks into her pregnancy, it seems that no time was wasted achieving this goal.

"We believe we conceived our last days in Beijing, so I think a day or two after we won the gold medal."

The question of whether mom and dad to-be will be welcoming a son or daughter is one that will have to wait to be answered on Kerri's mid-May due date.

"We're going to try and not find out what we are having -- we're going to do it the traditional way."

However, when guessing one way or the other, the parental instincts are already setting in, with both Kerri and Casey having a feeling they are going to have a boy.

One thing that's certain is that the newest member of the Walsh-Jennings family will have many people anxiously awaiting his or her arrival.

When asked if Misty would be the baby's godmother, Kerri replied, "I have too big of a blood family to do that, but she is my sister in so many ways and she is Auntie Misty for sure!"

As for any rumor of a May-Treanor baby on the way, Kerri kept her lips tightly sealed, "I know she is trying and that's all I can say."

Congratulations, Kerri and Casey!