Almost There!

I am now in the final countdown for Baby. Less than 3 weeks to go (though really it could be 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5). Here's what's been happening:

• For the past couple months I've had terrible acne on my face and chest. 
• I've already leaked colostrum (pre-milk) a couple times, much to Justin's amusement and my embarrassment, though thankfully we were at home both times it happened. 
• My belly button is sticking out more. It looks like a volcano, not a true outie.
• My feet and ankles have been incredibly swollen ever since Sunday, July 25. None of my shoes fit anymore, so I have to wear flip flops everywhere, which doesn't help the swelling. 
• I'm mostly all baby, but my thighs have chubbed up a lot. 
• Baby dropped Sunday, August 1.
• For the past month I took yoga classes and did a couple step aerobics classes and gym and swim workouts. 
• The past week or so has been terrible for sleeping. I toss and turn all night.  
• I was handling the heat well until July hit, and it was a record-high month of crazy temperatures, as reflected in our latest electric bill.

I never thought I'd be the type to feel like I was done being pregnant, but I feel that way now! In fact, yesterday I had three meltdowns. For the most part, during my pregnancy my emotions weren't any crazier than normal until the last month. Then yesterday it hit hard: I didn't like the lunch I ordered and cried; I felt negatively about my body and cried; I was hungry and didn't know what I wanted and cried. All of this within four hours. Poor Justin was a complete sweetheart.

Baby moves around a ton. It almost feels like he's trying to kick and stretch his way out. Poor thing is probably cramped in there. One night I threatened to spank him if he didn't move away from his favorite spot by my bruised ribs, and he promptly responded with a hard kick! It made me and Justin laugh.

Our childbirth classes have been going great. We only have two left--one lecture day and one party day. As for my birthing method, I've been doing Hypnobabies, a type of hypnobirthing (self-hypnosis). It's about positive thinking, visualization, relaxation, and deep, slow breathing. No negativity, fear, or pain allowed. I really love it and recommend it to all mothers who fear giving birth, whether because it's their first time or they've had previous traumatic births. It's all about empowerment!