At my doctor’s appointment during week 37, when the baby is considered full-term and could potentially come any day, I had apparently made a lot of progress since the prior week when there were no signs of impending labor. I wasn’t dilated at all, but I was 80 percent effaced and baby’s head was low, at the minus one spot.
My doctor said she didn’t think I’d go all the way to my due date and that she thought the baby was going to come next week. Already?!?! I was pretty shocked to hear that — I wasn’t ready yet!! Too much still left to do! Plus I had still been feeling pretty normal.
She tried to emphasize it was only a prediction, but still she thought it would be 50-50 chances it’d happen in the next week. Ahhh!!
I texted the news to Justin and could tell he was also freaking out. “Omg! As in like Monday? Or in a week?” he replied, wanting an exact date! I just passed along what the doctor told me and he said, “So as in any second?” When I saw him at home later, he said as soon as he saw that text his stomach tightened up and then never let go.
“So you’re having a contraction?!” I said. “Because I haven’t had any yet!”
If that was going to be my last week before becoming a mom, I sure had a fun one planned.
First up, I went with my family to see Hamilton — tickets that we got more than a year ago, before I was even pregnant! The show was, of course, amazing and I’m so glad the timing worked out so that I was able to still go. (One perk when you’re at the theater nine months pregnant: They let me use the handicap bathroom during intermission when the line for the women’s restroom was sooooo long!)
That Thursday, I took a day off work and met Amanda for breakfast to celebrate her 30th birthday. We had so much delicious food at Over Easy Cafe, which was packed even though it was a weekday, and then made a very good decision to stop for pie afterwards at Bang Bang Pie shop next door. Definitely need to go back to both places! Yum!!
That afternoon I had a prenatal message scheduled. Back in June I had tried out a prenatal yoga class — my first yoga class, period — and the instructor told us about a coupon code for Father’s Day that you could use for yoga classes or massages. I thought she said 15 percent off, but when I logged on the website later to try it, they only charged me for 15 percent — meaning it was 85 percent off! I bought a $100 massage for only $15. I then tried to see what else I could get and bought a 10-class yoga package and 1.5 hour massage, too. Score! Although I did feel like I was stealing…it was too good to be true!
Fast forward to the massage, it did end up being a little awkward because the lady was very confused as to how I got such a good deal. She also only did a 60-minute massage even though it was supposed to be 90 minutes, then said later I could get an extra 30 minutes on my next (full-price) one. (Even though I wasn’t ever planning on buying a full-price one!) So I guess you get what you pay for… but at least for the time I was in there, it was nice and relaxing!
I continued the pampering that night with a hair cut. My hair dresser, the same one who gave me all the baby registry ideas earlier this year, was trying to help me come up with ideas for what to pack in my hospital bag. (“You need to do that tonight!” she told me. She said when she arrived at the hospital in labor she was only 70 percent effaced, so she was convinced I’d be going to the hospital that evening. Spoiler alert: I didn’t. Nor did I pack my bag, haha.)
That Friday was Justin’s birthday and we went out that night to one of our favorite restaurants for tapas. It was sooooo good — we ordered quite the spread and I left totally stuffed! (But somehow got hungry like an hour later, of course. Good thing I made ice cream cake!)
We continued the celebration the next day by going to the race track for the Arlington Million, their biggest event of the year. I thought that meant we could potentially win a million dollars but apparently it’s the jockey that gets that prize. It was a gorgeous day out and my horses won on the first few races. Overall, we lost a little money, but they sure do make you feel like you won because you cash out all the winning tickets at the end. I get $12 back?! Yessss! Nevermind that I spent $20…
Then that night we picked up Emily and headed back to the city for none other than….THE BACKSTREET BOYS CONCERT!!!
They were playing a block away from our place at Wrigley Field, along with Nelly and Florida Georgia Line. I wasn’t sure how I’d be feeling, or if I would still be pregnant, so the original plan was to just sit outside the stadium and listen to the show. But I ended up getting last minute tickets that day — and so happy I did!
Baby D started kicking up a storm once BSB started playing. At first I was nervous with every movement, thinking I was going to go into labor! But he/she must have been just enjoying the music. The Backstreet Boys were awesome, as always, and played a lot of songs from their first album. The only downside was that it was too short!
Another fun surprise that evening was that my cousin Nicole was at the show, too. We were able to meet up with her and her boyfriend in between sets, so it was great getting to see them there!
The fun continued Sunday morning… my friend Lisa was in town from Minneapolis so I met up with her and Amanda to get our nails done. It was my first time getting a pedicure, too. And perfect timing since I could barely bend down to my toes to fix my own nail polish.
I tried to rally on Monday, as well. “Are you ever going to slow down?!” Justin said when I told him I was going to Concert in the Park after work. My mom and Emily were there, but it was the special Broadway night so it was so crowded that I couldn’t even get to the lawn to the join them.
I did, however, end up going to the one that Thursday instead. My friend Kristine and I first went to a new pizza place that just opened in the West Loop that also has a location in Rome. We enjoyed some authentic Italian pizza and then headed over to Millennium Park for some jazz. Finally, we ended the night at a Nutella cafe for some gelato con Nutella!
Luckily Baby D cooperated throughout it all so I could enjoy all the good times! :)
Kristine Harth
7 years ago
I made the blog :) That night was so fun!! Today is your due date, so your doctor’s initial thought was wrong. I have my quiz answers in and can’t wait to see how I did!
Sue Drews
7 years ago
“Are you ever going to slow down?” Tell Justin your dad is still asking me that. Actually though, I think I wasted that extra boost of energy near the end of my pregnancies by cleaning the house. I like your choices much better!! What a fun whirlwind.