Turbulent Out There, Too Calm In Here

Yesterday I was all set to talk to you lovely Internet friends about how often I have to go to the bathroom these days, and I was trying to think of a way to make my whole pee-filled situation hilarious -- isn't it funny that I can't even make it through an hour of Grey's Anatomy without pausing the DVR, hoisting myself off the couch and shuffling off to the bathroom? Then the rug got ripped out from underneath the economy, and it seemed kind of trivial to continue on with my bladder talk. Although, OK, I'll go ahead and admit something: the economic crisis doesn't make ME any less interested in my bladder, I just assume it has made YOU less interested. I sort of find the same things fascinating today as I did yesterday and, yes, those things do still include donuts. I think that panicking and freaking out and shouting from the rooftops that the end of the world is officially upon us is neither effective nor charming, and so I prefer to go about living my life as I did Sunday. And Sunday I peed like 9,000 times.

Also, helping out this casual, go-with-the-flow attitude: Mike I don't own much. We rent, and we have paid-off, falling-apart vehicles, and if I'm being really honest with you that's because we're poor. But, if anyone else asks, WE TOTALLY PLANNED IT THIS WAY. Now is the best time to rent, you say? PSHAW! WE KNEW THAT! Can't get a loan/line of credit for a while? Welcome to the last five years of our lives! It's actually quite nice here, here in the land of only buying what you can afford and all you can afford is a sandwich.

I know I don't understand a lot of what's going on -- I just didn't pay much attention in the one and only Economics class I was forced to take -- but I do know that the constant cycle of ominous news headlines isn't helping, and we'd all fare better if we quit refreshing cnn.com and instead down a handle of tequila. (Down one for me, would ya?)

Hey, even my husband who works in -- how can I be vague about this? -- the financial investment field, isn't letting things really get him down. He's bluer about his 31st birthday (this Friday) and misplacing his keg tap than he is about our current economic state.

So, let's move on from all that and talk about me instead. And not more about my bladder --although, seriously, I thought I had dodged this particular pregnancy symptom, the never-ending bathroom breaks, but here I am at almost 20-weeks, and I have officially become the woman who may as well stop zipping up her pants because she'll just have to unzip them in 45 seconds -- but about the baby instead. The baby who is apparently resting nicely on my bladder. He/She just isn't kicking the way I'd like. I feel movements and bubbles and what I guess are very gentle kicks that feel more like someone is lightly thumping me from the inside, but actual forceful kicks? At the risk of sounding like an asshole, he/she is kind of a kicking like a pansy. Now, if each and every one of you felt serious Pele-type kicks at 19 weeks and 6 days then good for you! Just ... um ... don't tell me, OK? Lie and say this is all very normal and the side-grabbing kicks come later. Appease me, would you?

A part of me doesn't want to wish the time away. This could potentially be the only time I do this, I know, so I want to capture every moment of pregnancy, but another part of me can't wait until this kid is on the outside where I can see him/her run, kick, jump, play. Where I can physically know that for now, for this moment at least, he/she is OK.

Even if there's no way in hell we'll be able to afford for him/her to go to college. Hopefully you come out with some serious talents, kiddo, but, really, we'll adore you either way.

Comments

[Laurie]

Hey there, I just started reading your blog & never commented before..but I just happen to also be an expert potty-goer as I am 23 weeks prego. This is my first too & I still just feel the fluffy kicks as I call them. But I feel them a lot more now than I did a few weeks ago & my doctor said its not until 24 weeks that you'll start feeling them really regularly (to where you should be able to count so many times in an hour or whatev). But I just wanted to assure you that it's OK that you aren't having any side-splitting kicking yet....I think the best (or worst) is yet to come & you have a long way to go sista!

[rebecca]

honey child, i only have started feeling the strong kicks this week. and it could be that your placenta is in front, which makes it harder to feel. feeling ANYTHING is great, and if you need to increase, drink something acidic, or make mike play with your tummy while you are trying to sleep...that always seems to make them SUPER HYPER.
as for the economy...we started off poor, and though we are barely scraping into the middle class, we do it all without credit, only buying what we actualy have money for. we want to buy a house in a few years, but DEFINITLEY not right now. Huzzah for those of us with no credit cards!!!

[Elizabeth]

This is very normal. I NEVER got the side grabbing kicks, never to the point that Erik could really feel them, even. Granted, I had a shrimp, but breathe, this is VERY NORMAL. Also, how many days until we find out girl or boy? AM DYING TO KNOW OVER HERE.

[Camels & Chocolate]

OK, I, too, have the peeing issue--and I'm not even pregnant! For real, when I went to see Wall-E (80 minutes, tops), I had to get up and use the restaurant FOUR times! And it's not like it's just a little, but I go for 10 seconds at least! Too much information? Still it's annoying to have to plan your social outings around whether or not a bathroom is accessible (and it's made me stop hydrating in an attempt to counteract it!).

[Raven]

I didn't feel the force (haha) until much later in my pregnancy. You are fine! Promise. Soon enough you will be complaining about little feet stuck in your ribcage and how much that sucks ass.

[Dianna]

Hey, I've taken 2 econ classes previously and am taking 3 more right now (I'll have an econ concentration come May 9th...) and don't have a clue as to what's going on. Sad, I know. Just wanted to let you know you're not alone!

[Raychelle]

So I know that this post isn't supposed to reflect the most exciting part of being pregnant...it's more the not fun part...but gosh, I've got me some baby fever and having to go potty all the time doesn't sound that awful to yours truly. Ugh, I'm a dork.

Of course, the hubs and I have made the conscious decision to not have any bambinos for another couple years for tons of reasons... so.. keep the stories coming!!! I need to live vicariously through you and all the other with-child bloggers out there :)

Thanks for sharing!

[Rachel]

I am pretty sure you know this, but thought I would comment anyway. I did not feel "real" kicks until later. Definitely only light kicks and the same movement you are talking about at this point. And it does depend on where the placenta is. I think I felt the big kicking around 23 weeks or so.

[Kitty]

Nothing to really add, except to comment that in a bizarre twist of events, our husbands share the exact same birthday. Todd will turn 30 on Friday, and I'm trying very hard, with limited success, to plan some cool surprise events for him. =)

[Moose]

I've noticed that I'm much happier when I'm not rabidly following the DOOM IS UPON US news cycle. And I hear you on the "Buy only what I can afford and all I can afford is a sandwich" plan. As well as the peeing, which is both inconvenient and inexcusable, in my very non-pregnant case.

[Someone Being Me]

Don't worry. A&M is going to start picking up the tab on students whose families make less than $60,000 a year so maybe its good to be poor. The peeing thing sucks but its one of the first things to get better after giving birth unlike the extra ice cream pounds and the stretch marks. *Ahem* And I wouldn't expect much in the way of kicks this early. Just wait until your kid gets big enough to make you pay for the pansy remark.

[Julie]

I am 24 weeks and just now starting to feel substantial kicks and even those aren't all the time or what I would consider "kicks" per see-just finally something I was say is definite movement where before I wasn't so sure if it was or not--just bubbles and stuff. I thought I would feel them much much earlier, but not the case. I had an ultrasound today, and she was moving all around in there, and while I could see her moving, I still couldn't see a think--so weird, but also so normal according to the dr. I totally have the bladder thing too--so annoying! Take care!

[Connie]

Hi, I'm 19 weeks 5 days and I don't feel kicking just fluttering and teeny tiny movements, no kicks as such. I hear you about going to the toilet, I'm finding myself going, well, about 100 times a day.

[Kate]

oh Jennie, I thought this was funny! I'm sorry you have to pee so much, but if it makes you feel any better, I'm not pregnant and I pee a lot. I just have a bladder the size of a pea. What can you do?

And about the economy..I'm okay with being poor (for now anyway...) I'm glad I wasn't smart enough to put my money in the stock market. We are better off anyway.

[Heather]

Hi,

I have been reading your blog for quite awhile and I just love it. I haven't ever commented before (as far as I can remember) but I wanted to comment today to BEG BEG BEG you to keep posting about the normal stuff. If I have to hear anything else about the doom and gloom of the economy I am going to scream. I love reading funny posts to take my mind off of everything and your posts are funny. : )

[Jen L.]

Hi! New reader here, really enjoying your blog. I have a 9 month old little boy who was also a bit of a wuss in the kicking department for a while. They'll pick up once it starts getting more crammed in there. Look on the bright side--maybe it means you have a calm baby!

I also had "Tiny Bladder Syndrome" during most of my pregnancy. (hell, during most of my LIFE) In my 8th month, my husband asked if I'd just like to move into the bathroom to save time. It didn't help that the only clothes that fit me were these big old overalls, which take a ton of time to buckle, so by the time I got them back on, I already had to pee again. Once your bambino is here, you'll be amazed at how quickly you regain normal bladder activity. :)

[Beth Fish]

I don't think I had even felt kid #1 move at all by 20 weeks. Wait until you get a sharp jab to the ribs - now that hurts.

[Jess]

I really think that the media is making this worse. If there's a run on the banks that causes a collapse, it will totally be due to the scaremongering among the major news outlets. Ick.

[Jen]

The other day my boss asked me if I was ok. Yes. I go to the bathroom at least once an hour. It happens. I drink lots of water and I'm pregnant...

As for the kicks, I am so with you. I have movements that aren't like flutters more like gentle flicking, if you will, from the inside. And I wish they were more forceful and strong. Next pregnancy, I'll be super skinny so I can really feel em, right?

[Mom]

I honestly don't remember either you or Rachel being much of a kicker. You did a lot of somersaults, especially at night when I was trying to sleep. I remember feeling movements but not forceful kicks.

[Emily]

I COMMISERATE. I am carrying this baby WAY lower than I carried Asher, and last night I got up to pee SIX TIMES between 11pm and 2am. YES. SIX. And then three more times between 2 and 5. It sucks, dude.

[lindsay]

"Welcome to the last five years of our lives! It's actually quite nice here, here in the land of only buying what you can afford and all you can afford is a sandwich."

Amen sister. Me and the hubby got married when we were a couple of broke ass fools. He was unemployed and I was making $15/hr. And my god, I have never had so much fun in my life. And while we weren't rich we did get the whole don't spend more than you make thing so we don't have fin stress. Yay renting and sharing one vehicle and no honeymoon. Who knew that renters still had a roof over their heads, that you still get where you need to go with one vehicle, and that sex and good times can be found in your own apt, and not just on a tropical getaway?

The baby will certainly get all he needs and more from you and your man!

[nonsoccermom]

Don't worry, the take-your-breath-away kicks are soon to come. And some babies squirm more than they kick. My son was a major kicker, my daughter just squirmed and rolled. Probably because she had her feet rammed up in my ribcage for the last few months.

And for the record, I don't understand much of what is going on with the economy either. And if someone tries to explain it to me, I can feel my eyes start to glaze over.

[Nicole]

I think it's during the turbulent times that we need the laughter and the reminders of everyday life. Beautiful everyday life.

[Movie Maven]

At the risk of sounding like an asshole, he/she is kind of a kicking like a pansy.

Hahaha. The rest of this post was lovely, but that line made me laugh out loud.

[Jemima]

Well, isn't his foot about the size of a lima bean right now? (mmmm...delicious lima beans...with butter...moving on) So wouldn't a tiny little foot not be able to kick very hard yet? Doesn't that come later, like the last two months, when they're all buff and doing their Jane Fonda workout?