My mother-in-law sent me an email asking if I thought I was going to “make it” until Smalltopus’s birth date. “I’m having this feeling we should have our bags packed and be ready to go sooner than that,” she wrote.

Not sure why she’s having a feeling on this, but she’s not the only one. JB is convinced the baby is about to drop out of me at any moment, and when I mentioned the other evening that I wished it were summer so I could go for a walk, he practically crapped his pants right there and then. “You are TOTALLY about to give birth,” he moaned. “I mean, you want to go for a walk?”

I guess the fact that it was such an anomaly for me to be craving exercise is a sad testament to just how much slothing around I’ve been doing over the last few months, but at this point being upright is vastly preferable to sitting. Once I sit down, the baby smashes up half my body and I start getting the Heartburn From Hell along with the Jimmy Leg; at least if I’m upwardly mobile the boy has some room to stretch out in. I spent almost every evening of my last days of pregnancy with Riley waddling around the neighborhood with JB, but that’s not much of a viable option this time around: it’s dark out at 4 PM, the rain is endless and cold, I’d have to go by myself because the video monitor only transmits so far, etc.

I don’t personally have any early-birth feelings, other than the increasing disbelief that I can go on like this without erupting like a Gallagher watermelon. My actual due date isn’t until February 14, and the C-section is scheduled for February 4. At 35 weeks I am large, uncomfortable, and ungainly, but all systems are reading normal—no blood pressure problems, no signs of early labor.

What do you think? Will I make it until Feb. 4? Do you have a feeling one way or the other?

In other news, JB returned from CES with two adorable Las Vegas-themed toddler shirts for Riley. “I couldn’t find any onesies for Smalltopus,” he explained. Then, carefully glancing at me, “Or, um, anything in . . . your size.”

Yeah, I guess shirt sizes probably do stop short of XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXL. No problem, I didn’t want anything anyway, just the scintillating stories of gambling into the wee hours and eating Kobe beef appetizers cooked on hot rocks at the awesome Japanese restaurant and enjoying the bright Vegas sunshine while I stayed back here in Rainville eating Riley’s leftover chicken nuggets for dinner, hey you know what comes in all kinds of sizes? DIAMONDS.

Comments

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

61 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Naomi
16 years ago

you’re hilarious. i hope you last until feb 4th. hey your new baby is gonna be an Aquarian like meeee! :) lucky you!

Jem
Jem
16 years ago

Oo, Feb 4th is my Dad’s birthday. Not that it matters to you, but it just struck me. Anyway, it feels like you’ve been pregnant hardly any time at all! I think you must be posting less pregnancy photos than usual, because I feel like you just announced it yesterday :)

Pete
Pete
16 years ago

I am putting my money on Jan 29th.
Walking the mall caused 3 of 4 of my kids to start labor. The 4th was a ‘C’.

tanya
tanya
16 years ago

February 4th is my birthday, so I’m hoping you make it till then. It’s a good day to be born. Hang in there. : )

Rachel
16 years ago

Second (and third) time around, pretty much every pregnant woman feels like the baby’s going to fall out at any second once she gets to eight months or so. The only thing is, occasionally she’s right. Since you’re asking random strangers for completely unsubstantiable FEELINGS, though, I’m going to guess that you’ll make it to the 4th. (Sorry.)

anna
anna
16 years ago

Yep, my ‘feeling’ is that you’ll make it to Feb.

You make me feel like being preggers again…seriously. I really miss having my baby so close to me, in my body where I could look after her and not worry about her etc….once they are out in the world, they are out of there for good.

thejunebug
16 years ago

I have a feeling that you’ll have the baby end of Jan, not early Feb. In fact, I was a little worried when I didn’t see a post from you here or on Parent Dish the last day or so!

Maybe you should start to nest, just to make JB freak out even more. I bet that’s fun to watch!

Kari
Kari
16 years ago

Did I miss why you were having a C-section? I probably did. I actually thought you would be a few days late. February 16, but if the C-date is already chosen, I predict you’ll go the distance.

sooboo
sooboo
16 years ago

Never having been pregnant, I have no idea. However, if you do erupt like a Gallagher watermelon, if you could post it on you tube, that would be awesome. Also, you totally deserve diamonds.

Deanna
Deanna
16 years ago

Is there a pool? a contest??
I say Feb 3 at 4 am.

And have you had Cat laying on your belly purring? Or curled up next to your belly if you are on your side? it’s like a vibrating heating pad. Nice!!

AndreAnna
16 years ago

I agree with one of the other commenters – I feel like your pregnancy flew by! I guess it’s a lot easier when you’re not the one living it day by day.

I’m just about done my first trimester with number two, and though I feel hugely ucky, I will go to the gym today just for you!

I went into labor almost 5 weeks early with my first – my water just broke in the middle of the night on a Tuesday. But that Sunday before, as early as it was, I had a mini-breakdown and made my husband put in the carseat and help me pack my hospital bag. Maybe, we know when we know and we don’t even know we know.

biodtl
16 years ago

I was expecting my second way early, since the first came three weeks early (thank god – he was already 8 lbs by then!) and really fast. Even the doctors expected it and were cinsidering inducing, since I live a distance from the hospital and I wasn’t birthin any babies in the car.

They didn’t make theor minds up until too late, though and I could only be scheduled for about 2 days before my due date. And since I was so sure she was coming way earlier than that, the last month or so felt like 6 and I was miserable.

Melanie
16 years ago

Gestating your second while the first is a toddler, working AND enduring a home renovation? Yep, I say BIG diamonds.

Heather B.
16 years ago

Holy shit, you’re funny. Or perhaps it’s that I just woke up and I’m all bleary eyed and easily amused at this hour. Either way, funny.

Also I bet some 1.5 carat princess cut studs would do the trick.

Kim
Kim
16 years ago

I think you should go for Superbowl Sunday. Not sure if JB even cares about it, but if he does, that would get him back for Vegas. Then the little guy’s birthday would always be on or around it too!

hello insomnia
16 years ago

I do not believe that JB couldn’t find a shirt that could fit your body, a great vessel of beauty! You’re telling me that the Consumer Electronics Show only appealed to slim, fit technology buffs and their waistlines were smaller than those found at other conventions like COMIC-CON?

Ellen
Ellen
16 years ago

Maybe next time you should just pre-order JB’s bribe. Silly husbands.

Eric's Mommy
Eric's Mommy
16 years ago

Hang in there Linda!

I remember towards the end of my pregnancy the only way I left comfortable was on all fours (I know that sounds really bad) it took all the weight off my spine and helped me breathe. I can still remember watching TV and my husband would be all comfy on the couch and I was on all fours on the floor like a freakin animal or something. Hey it helped though!

Lisa Ann
Lisa Ann
16 years ago

My only “feeling” is panic — how are we, the all-interested internets, going to be informed about the arrival? Surely you have a plan in place?

Ashlea
Ashlea
16 years ago

Week of the 21-26. I’ve had this feeling since the new year “Should Sundry have had her baby by now?”. When you sad February 4th was your due date in this entry, I thought “That far away?!”. Now I’ve got no experience with babies or pregnancies but I say.. Somewhere in Jan 21-26.

Joanne
16 years ago

My scheduled C is tomorrow and I’m still holding out hope that I go early. My experience with giving birth is that everyone thinks that you’re going to go early and it’s very rare that you do. Rarer than anyone wishes, anyway. I have felt WAY more gigantic this time than last time and ready to go since about 32 weeks. Here I am at almost 39, still wishing. Next week this time I’ll be wishing I was still pregnant because it will seem like I got a *lot* of sleep, comparatively. Ugh.

McCashew
16 years ago

Another Feb 4th birthday – my daughter – born just last year. BONUS for a boy – that date is likely to also be the Super Bowl in future years. It’s not such a bonus for a little girl with a football crazy father who thinks an NFL themed fiesta to celebrate her first year is the best idea EVER, complete with Super Bowl betting squares of course.

I walked and walked and WALKED because sitting was evil and I recall looking at Steve at 9pm nearly every night begging to just go and lay down so I could at least stretch out my midsection and bury myself under a pile of Tums crumbs, which didn’t nothing for that end of the pregnancy horrible heartburn. May god have mercy on your pregnant soul. I am thinking of you. Just a bit more to go…

Aunt Linda
16 years ago

I want to know if JB might have actually said “Baby needs a new pair of shoes” while in Las Vegas.

JennB
16 years ago

Go for Jan 30 – that’s my birthday. A good day overall.
At least you won’t be 10 days over, like I was for P!!! That was horrible.

Lisa
Lisa
16 years ago

When I was pregnant with my second son, my husband commented, ‘It’s amazing that your skin doesn’t just split wide open!’. He’s lucky all his parts are still intact!! I feel for you! Just a few more weeks.

McCashew
16 years ago

Another Feb 4th birthday in our house too. My daughter will be celebrating her first birthday. It’s a great date for a boy because as I have learned it is quite likely that the Super Bowl will be on or around that date in the future. This is a bonus for a boy, not so good for a little girl whose father is NFL obsessed and initially wanted to plan a football themed fiesta complete with betting squares.

I remember the walking. Before 9pm most nights at the end I begged Steve to just go to bed so I could stretch out my midsection and bury myself under a thick coating of Tums crumbs. May God have mercy on your pregnant soul. Almost there. I am thinking of you…

All Adither
16 years ago

I felt the same way with Kitty Cat. I thought for sure she’d pop out weeks and weeks early. Instead, she finally started coming 4 whopping days before her due date.

Someone Being Me
16 years ago

I’m thinking you may make it to the 4th because that is still 10 days until your due date. However I thought I would make it full term and I delivered at 32 weeks 5 days. If I make it to 35 weeks with my next pregnancy I will be estatic. My son went home from the hospital the day I would have been 35 weeks. I figure anything after that point is just freeloading. Just kidding, sort of. Just make sure you are ready. I was completely unprepared for preterm labor and had nothing done and nothing packed for the hospital. Nothing like having your husband pack your hospital bag to make you rethinking your planning for the next one.

kalisah
16 years ago

Photos! Of Riley’s shirts!

Shelly
16 years ago

“Hey, you know what comes in all kinds of sizes? DIAMONDS!” BWAHAHA!!!! That is the perfect diamond hint. Good luck to you, whenever you give birth. We were convinved both of ours would be early. The first one went almost exactly to her due date, the second one was two months early. So ya never know.

Amy M.
Amy M.
16 years ago

I think you’ll make it until the 4th as well. Plus, 2/4/08 is a cool number – keeps doubling!

My hubby jinxed humself when he said, just don’t go into labor during the Super Bowl. Guess when we went to the hospital with Niblet? Though he does get a lovely Elmo/Super Bowl 2nd birthday party this year…

Alyson
Alyson
16 years ago

Just remember that second babies drop earlier than firsts and can hang around there for a couple weeks, if they feel like it. Explains why you feel like you’re gonna blow…..but doesn’t make you feel any better. Once your doctor tells you the baby is big enough to be safe, it’s a crapshoot from there.

MRW
MRW
16 years ago

I really hope that the next few weeks go well for you. (I have decided today to comment on all the sites I read, but do not comment – as some people are doing a delurking day. Thank you for sharing!!)

Jummy
16 years ago

Hey, I wouldn’t have let JB off the hook that easily: he should have bought you a t-shirt in your pre-Smalltopus size!

stephanie brown
stephanie brown
16 years ago

Ooo Kobe is amazing! We just got 2 of those in our area in NC and we loove them.
I think you’ll hold out. Maybe not till the 4th, but I’ll say another 2 weeks :)

whoorl
16 years ago

January 28th!

(p.s. – you were in my dream last night. We were at some PD shindig, eating lobster.)

lifexhistory
16 years ago

My future sister in law is due the same day as you; but she’s already having contractions… so I think you won’t be the first to give birth with that due date.

E
E
16 years ago

You know what also comes in all sizes? CASH And maybe a week of full servitude would help make up for the slight.

And my guess is the 3rd of February. Because those babies sure do know how to throw you for a loop. Just when you think you’ll make it until you C section…bam, baby.

Karl
Karl
16 years ago

Diamonds are actually relatively common stones, it’s nearly all marketing. (Unless they are some weird color, like green.) Hold out for something really rare and expensive, such as a large, pigeons-blood ruby!

g~
g~
16 years ago

It has been my experience that when you are miserably large and everyone keeps saying that there is *no way* you’ll make it to your due date is when you’re inevitably lugging your *still preggo* butt into the hospital on your induction or scheduled C date. It’s those miniscule-y girthed ones who aren’t miserable who end up going early.
I remember wanting to walk just so I could try to do something. Just to get my mind off of being so large. Just in the hopes that something would magically happen (it didn’t).

Jennifer
Jennifer
16 years ago

I’d wish for sapphires (the deep blue ones) but that’s just me.

And I’m pulling for February 2: Ground-hog Day baby!

Sara L.
16 years ago

Yeah, with my second I was sure she was gonna fall out a month early. She went a week past her due. Prolly just that second pregnancy thing. You’ll make it to the fourth. Doesn’t that suck?

And I think that a maternity t-shirt from Vegas that says, “Baby needs a new pair of shoes” is brilliant. Somebody needs to get on that….

Mnerva
Mnerva
16 years ago

I think that you will make it to the 4th. And I agree with Amy M. that it is a cool date. Also my condolences on feeling so ungainly gargantuan. It has been forEVER since I was in that situation/state, but I remember the discomfort clearly. I felt like a house. Here’s to you making it until Smalltopus is ready to greet the world!!

wordygirl
16 years ago

A couple of doulas I know *swear* that when a woman is about to go into labour, her lips get puffy.

*shrug* For whatever that’s worth! Good luck!

Meagan
16 years ago

I’m not into jewelry at all and I find it a bad sign for you husband’s comfort that even I thought, “how bout some jewelry?” before the diamonds line… Rule number… oh… 7, of being a husband should be: ALWAYS get gifts for pregnant ladies (at least pregnant that you’re responsible for). Who wants a t-shirt that won’t fit in two months anyway?

ML
ML
16 years ago

January 29th. That’s my “feeling.” :) (No reason whatsoever.)

Melissa
Melissa
16 years ago

I bet you will make it to the 4th but who knows. My sister-in-law is due on 2/14 as well and I keep thinking she’s going to go earlier than that. This is such a brutally uncomfortable time in pregnancy so I really feel for you. I’m almost 23 weeks with my own Smalltopus and I’m not looking forward to experiencing that “in the home stretch” thing again. I know you aren’t so keen on going into labor (but who is?) so I hope you make it to the 4th with no blood pressure issues this time. Although, I’m really excited to hear what Smalltopus’ name will be!!! Okay, I’ll stop typing now….:)

Kari
Kari
16 years ago

I realize you are probably having a c-section, but I saw this on my internet travels and suddenly got the sense that January 31 was your date.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xath6kOf0NE&eurl=http://project.ioni.st/

Colleen
16 years ago

Because I’m about to ask my doctor this tomorrow…

If you’re scheduled for a c-section on Feb. 4th…. but you go into labor before that… what happens? I’m sure it’s a dumb question… but I’m wondering.

Sundry
Sundry
16 years ago

Colleen: in my case since a VBAC is not recommended I’d probably just get hustled into surgery. Which would kind of suck, I’d rather have it happen as scheduled w/out any surprises! : )