Still growing!

I've reached 36.5 weeks and 40.5" around. I'm definitely starting to feel awkward and bending over to grab things off the floor has almost become comical.

I feel like I could pop at any point now and Tim must feel the same way because anytime I start to ask him something out of the blue he things I'm going into labor! I guess the big day could be any time now, which is a little scary considering we're still getting the baby room together. Although, we actually made lots of headway on the room today. Tim has been a big help in getting all the old furniture out in order to make room for the new stuff :) There may be a space for baby McNelson in our house after all!

Hanging up the gloves

After 8-1/2 years I'm finally hanging up the gloves - today marks the last day of my long kickboxing journey. Actually, I shouldn't say that I'm done forever...I'll likely be itching to get back to it (or at least something similar) a few months after the baby is born and I'm back into the swing of things :)

I have to admit that I'm proud of what I've manage to accomplish over the years.....a first degree black belt and 2 first place trophies :) I remember when I first started I told the academy that I would only be training for 4 months because university would be too hard to balance with kickboxing classes. I guess I showed them! Lol.

The photo above is of me and "Sensei" Steve, I've been training with him since the beginning and we've always been only a few belts apart along the way. He's been a good friend and mentor over the past 8 years. It was sad to say goodbye to everyone, but exciting times lay ahead!

34 Weeks & 39.5" around!!!

Well, I'm definitely starting to feel like I'm carrying around a whole-lotta-baby these days! Mix the "livin' large" feeling with the fact that our baby has picked up some kickboxing moves over the last few months and it makes for an uncomfortable day at the office! Some days I feel like the baby never stops kicking - I guess that's a good thing though.

Aside from the lack of comfort it is definitely an interesting time. I can feel the different parts (bum, elbows, feet, etc.) of the baby pushing around on my belly. I still find myself playing 'footsie' with the baby  - it's a great way to take a break at the office :) What's even more interesting is when the baby shifts into a position where I can put my hand around his/her entire butt! I'm guessing the baby is thinking the living quarters are getting a little cramped!

I'm starting to feel more nervous about the big day, which is only about a month away. I've even been having some weird dreams about what might happen - apparently this is normal :S  I just have to keep telling myself that millions of people have done this before me and that everything will be ok......fingers crossed!

 Here's an extreme belly close up just for laughs :)

Ever growing belly! 31 Weeks and counting.

It's finally happened. I've finally grown out of all my jackets! I had to go find a larger jacket (in the men's section) to keep me warm during this cold snap as well as during our Christmas visit to Elkford. I thought I'd be able to manage using Tim's jackets for the short period that I outgrew mine, but sadly the arms on his are about a foot longer than I need them!

The baby has been kicking up a storm these days as well. I think he/she has definitely picked up a little bit of kickboxing over the past few months. Some days I've even been able to play 'footsie' with the baby and chase it's little feet around the side of my belly :)

It's crazy to think that in about 2 months I'll be meeting our little baby McNelson for the first time. Even though I'm more than a little nervous now, I'm sure it'll turn to excitement as I get closer to January 23rd.

I've been lucky to be sleeping exceptionally well these days too! Thanks to Tracy I have a new body pillow that has changed painful, sleepless nights into nights where I pass out the moment I crawl into my "moat" as Tim calls it :)

Speaking of sleep....I think I hear my moat calling now!

Visiting the Twins

This past week I've been visiting my new baby nieces in Ottawa! It's been nice to be able to help out in the early stages as Rick and Tracy get into the swing of things and it's also been really great to get a taste of what to expect when my little bundle arrives in late January. Although, caring for one is probably going to be easier than caring for two :)

Rick and Tracy have been doing a great job so far and the girls are growing at twice the average rate. Then again, I guess they did have some catching up to do as they were pretty tiny when they were born!

As my week comes to an end here I'm sad to be leaving so soon, but I'm also really excited to get back to my own family (Tim and Loca) who weren't able to make the visit :)

Professional Mama!

After 5 years of toiling away at my job I've finally been given the thumbs up from my company to apply for my P.Eng.!

On Monday Oct. 18th I made a presentation to two of the partners at my company and they said that I "presented myself confidently and professionally". The following day I got the email confirmation saying that they would support my professional application! Woohoo!!

I have to admit it feels pretty good to finally reach this goal that I have had in mind for so many years :) Hopefully I can get all my work experience submitted and tests taken before the baby arrives in January!

24 weeks!

I've hit the 6 month mark and I'm still feeling pretty good :) It's funny that this photo seems to make my belly look smaller than it actually is....or feels rather. And, with renovations under full swing (more to come in future blogs) I've started to notice that turning sideways to get through tight spaces no longer works like it used to!

As for the little bun in the oven, he or she has become quite the little kicker. Perhaps all this kickboxing during pregnancy is rubbing off! We've got a ninja in training :) The baby also seems to respond quite happily to the sound of Daddy Tim's voice, it seems when he talks to my belly the movements come more frequently.

For now it seems that this is somewhat of a boring pregnancy, but I'm more than happy to be sailing through it thus far :) We'll continue to keep you posted as we go!