Seven weeks...

Let's discuss the numerous joys of being seven weeks pregnant. Very few people know that I am preggo, which can actually be frustrating when they make comments like, "You look a little green, you should go to the doctor" or "Maybe you should go to bed earlier if you're so tired." First off, it's not an "illness" that has me turning green; it's my pregnant nose and that fact that there are students dissecting frogs in our room (gag inducing under ANY circumstances). Second, let's talk about that sleep thing. I am going to bed between 8:30 and 9:00 every night because my darling child is wiping me out.

Sleeping is interesting lately. As I mentioned, I am going to bed wicked early and I conk out quickly once I'm there. However, staying asleep is an issue. My body temperature is fluctuating recently. I start most nights in the state of an icicle! Some nights, I spend the whole night in that state, and must therefore bury myself below3-5 blankets. I have even taken to wrapping a blanket around my head because our bed is against an outside wall and I swear that if the wind blows, it sends its icy fingers right down my spine. If I am still awake when Aaron comes in, the only part of my that is visible is usually my eyes and nose. If our cat jumps on my and I holler about it, he climbs around on top of my so he can see where the voice came from. It's actually quite humorous. During the night, I turn over more than in the summer when I'm searching for a cool spot on the sheets. I have to try to move the mound of blankets on top of me as well when I roll over. On occasion, I warm up enough to thrown off a blanket or two, and they usually get dumped on Aaron. Poor guy, and this is just the first trimester. I also have trouble just getting comfortable. Maybe our mattress is too hard or something, because sometimes, my hips fall asleep and I wasn't even aware that was possible.

So sleeping is an issue. Now let's talk cravings. I can't tell if I'm simply more aware of that fact that I have cravings or if they are legit. I am told the cravings can potentially indicate something that my body needs, like a vitamin that is missing. So let's see what Valerie is craving:

1. Homemade chocolate chip cookies (Aaron made these a few weeks ago, NOM!)
2. Chocolate shake from Culver's (just sounds yummy)
3. Hot fudge sundae from Dairy Queen (I'm noticing an ice cream theme here)
4. Fried chicken (from some sinful place like Popeye's)
5. Pecan pie (a student let me try a sample, my first bite ever, and it's AMAZING!)
6. Aaron's garlic bread (I think it caused some artery clogging in the five times he's made it since we've been together, but day-um, it's delicious)
7. My garlic bread (as in a cheap hamburger bun, buttered and sprinkled with garlic salt)
8. SODA SODA SODA (I'm trying to be good and not drink any because of all the artificial sweeteners, but I want BUBBLES!
9. Thai food (I may cut someone if I don't get this soon; I was craving it prior to becoming El Pregnante (that's not Spanish, it's just fun to say)).
10. Grilled cheese with spinach (I've learned that if you chop this leafy green very fine so I can't pick it out  and put it in something I love, I will eat the hell out of it)
11. Bright crawlers (you know those sour gummy worms...)

These cravings all occurred yesterday. Yup, that's one day of cravings. Right now, I want an orange. I'll go have one after I finish writing this because at least THAT craving is healthy enough to indulge.

This week, I think my stress level rose enough to convince me that it may be time to quit my second job. I'm still really torn over it though, because I do enjoy working at Barnes & Noble. It's a stimulating job, but not overly difficult. However, even though I only work there one day a week, that day is Sunday and that means that I never have a weekend. Recently, I've been inundated with homework for my online class, and I suddenly find myself slammed with obligations at school that all require time outside of the classroom to fulfill (meetings, meetings, meetings). On the positive side, I guess this is all good training for becoming an administrator. On the negative side, I've learned that some of the teams of which I am a part cannot function without me there. That's both a compliment AND a slap to the face because we all know what is important, so why can't we just move forward? Sometimes, people's lack of initiative drives me crazy, but then I have to reign myself in and remember that I may have too much initiative for some people to handle. I also volunteered to work over spring break and summer before I knew I was preggo, and when I mentioned to my boss that I may back out of that, she got that deer caught in the headlights look, so I guess I'm in it for the long haul. I have to go into work at the bookstore tomorrow and I haven't decided if I'm going to give my notice for sure, but I know that with the amount of sleep I seem to need lately, it's probably time to take advantage of weekends.

Let's talk happy news though. Seven weeks: what does that mean? Well, Baby Robinson is now the size of a blueberry (no wonder I have cravings, because they keep comparing my kid to foods). The blueberry still has a tail but now also has appendages that are forming arms and legs; they look like flippers though. This tail/flipper deal has me imagining a very small version of the following things:

Now I realize that most of this images are not to scale, nor are they 100% accurate. They are not round enough (to resemble a blueberry) and I don't think my baby has a shell like a sea turtle, dorsal fin like a dolphin, or extremely long neck like Loch Ness Monster. But, these photos do make me giggle. I think my kid needs a nickname for the time being. Any suggestions? Nessie? I don't know. Stay tuned to see if I dream up something interesting.