Just Five More Minutes, Mom

ZZZZZzzz I like to multi-task. I can't even sit in front of the TV without folding socks, balancing my finances, highlighting tips from magazines--something. The thing is, lately I've been sleepy. In the middle of the day, after dinner, and sometimes after I've only been awake for an hour in the morning, I feel sleepy. I want to hold Mr. Snoogle (see last month's Mr. Snoogle, Give Me a Dream) and cuddle on the couch. The first time I succumbed to this fantasy, I slept for two hours. I woke up, startled. "What's going on? What time is it? Where are the unpaired socks?!?" After that slip, I was determined to suppress the z's and be productive.

The next day went something like this:

Me (passing by the couch): "No, Mr. Sofa, I can't spend any time with you today. I appreciate the offer, but I've got work to do. Thanks, anyway."
Mr. Sofa: *says nothing* (I said I've been sleepy, not crazy.)
Me: "Who left that pillow on you, Mr. Sofa? That's supposed to go in the bedroom. Here, let me get that--oooohhhh, yes, what a soft, fluffy pillow for someone to leave behind ..."
Mr. Sofa: *stares blankly*
Me: "I'll just take this pillow ... and ... grab it, hold it, caress it with both arms, so gentle ... bury my face in its polyester bosom ..."

An hour later I finally came to when the UPS guy banged on the front door. This happened every other day for weeks. The guilt of sleeping in the middle of the day when honest people were hard at work surfing the Internet began to chew at my bones. No matter how many times Tim encouraged me to get my sleep, I still felt like a slacker.

Here I am, beginning my 19th week, and the need to nap happens sporadically, some days not at all. As I write, all I can think is, "If I get to bed in the next 30 minutes, that gives me plenty of time to start dinner before anyone knows the wiser. I can fall asleep on a pile of laundry in case anyone catches me. I'll show 'em!"

I don't know what I'm trying to prove to who, but I feel like I have to be productive 100% of the time. But the baby is wearing me down, and I know there will be a day (in my 7th month, I'm sure) when someone says, "Taking a nap again? Didn't you just get up an hour ago?" to which I will answer, "I'm over here making hair on a baby's head, what are you doing?"