Basketball is my new Sport

Basketball is my new new sport in that I look like I am hiding the ball under my shirt.

My bump is getting bigger and bending to pick things up to starting to become challenging. I'm still trying to stay reasonably active with Swimming, Pilates, Yoga and Walking and I do feel better for the activity.

Swimming is now my favorite sport because of the way the water supports my additional weight. I still have issues with my troublesome shoulder, but I am extremely pleased because it seems to be getting better (less painful and less restrictive). I am putting this down to a combination of factors including more regular gentle swimming, regular stretching, massage and less stress. I am also thinking that the baby might like swimming as he already turns somersaults and kicks like mad. In my head I had planned to practice swimming drills during my pregnancy but this hasn't happened. For now I am just enjoying taking part in the activity again.

To encourage me to do Yoga I have bought the Tara Lee, Bump, birth and Beyond DVD. This is a fantastic DVD with lots of options if you don't want to do the full yoga practice. Sometimes I will do this before bed and I usually find that I sleep better on these nights.

I have never been able to get on with Pilates before, but I'd heard stories about how it can help with 'things' going back to the right place after birth (ahem). I found a local Pilates class and I love it! The instructor is excellent and gives lots of options to accommodate my extra size. I leave the class feeling uber relaxed. This is my new hobby (being relaxed that is).

Finally, I am starting to miss running and I can already imagine myself running with one of those buggies (if I can afford one). I think that the London marathon 2014 is probably not within my reach, but I must admit that it had crossed my mind! Seeing our friend John Gilbert run a 2 hr 17 time this year was no less than inspirational.

If I do run London 2014 it will be as a charity runner (no times to beat) and I will look to raise as much money as possible for cancer research. Sadly my lovely mum lost her battle with cancer last month far too young and for me things will never be the same again.