Elephants have the longest gestation period of any land animal - 22 months according to wikipedia. I only mention this fact because that's about the same amount of time I have been on the PSoC Creator project and, finally, our baby is ready to be born.

During the beta program we've shown a few close friends the ultrasound pictures and dutifully listened to their advice on parenting (note to beta testers - hopefully, we'll buck the trend on that and actually take notice of what you've been telling us).

Like all mothers I've gained a bit of weight. Sadly, my "bump" is not going away any time soon. It turns out that the gain is more a result of the business travel, late-night pizzas and a failure to give up alcohol than a side-effect of pregnancy. I've learned that when you eat for two, but you're really only one, you end up looking like two.

So, just like the expectant elephant, I'm tired, stressed, and fat. I'm also rather proud. The whole family (aka the development team) is. They're all proud, that is, not fat. Say hello to the world, PSoC Creator, we think you're going to be one of the popular kids!

While I'm labouring on clumsily with this parenthood metaphor it might be more appropriate to say that, rather than being born, Creator is getting "weaned". It's been alive and kicking for a while now so it's time to cut the apron strings and let it go play with the big kids. We think it will fare pretty well.