We're just a week into the great Ashlee Simpson Womb Watch of 2008 and already her alleged bundle of joy has pretty much jumped the shark.

As the remodeled starlet plays it coy over whether or not she and Fall Out Boy fiancé Pete Wentz are procreating, rumors have begun bubbling that her string-pulling dad, Joe Simpson, may be attempting to parlay the stork speculation into a big payday.

"Joe is contacting all the weeklies and asking them to pony up $1 million to put Ashlee on the cover," a magazine insider tells the New York Post. "The deal would include photos of Ashlee -- taken by Joe, of course, so he can make more money -- an interview and photos of the baby when she has it."

And while there have apparently been some nibbles for the exclusive, the moolah probably wouldn't be enough to cover a single shopping spree at a swanky baby boutique.

A magazine editor tells the paper the snaps would bring in "$60,000 maybe, but definitely not a million ... Joe has an unrealistic expectation of what Ashlee can command."

The editor also points out that "the timing is a little suspicious," what with the release of Simpson's album and clothing line next week, and snipes, "There was little to no interest until now. Ashlee's lucky she got pregnant, frankly."

Brrr, that's cold.

Anyhoo, Simpson, 23, and Wentz, 28, spent the week in New York, and in between a double dinner date with new parents Nicole Richie and Joel Madden (per Us), they squeezed in a lovey-dovey photo op.

The two cuddled up on Wednesday for a series of schmoopy shots that conveniently put Ashlee's Pete-designed, postage stamp-sized diamond engagement ring front and center.

"It's definitely a big diamond!" she marveled on Ryan Seacrest's radio show Thursday morning. "I stare at it. I go, 'Oh, my God, I can't believe this is on [my] hand!'"

Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson, wearing her engagement ring, sighted in New York on April 16,2008

She also can't believe she's about to be a bride (People reports the smooth-haired pair is planning to get hitched next month at a pal's place in La Jolla, Calif.).

"I didn't know I'd be getting married right now, but I'm so happy to be!" Simpson gushed. "I'm a lucky girl."

And while the warbler once again reiterated her desire to keep the "sacred" details of the question-popping private, she offered, "I will tell you that it was very thoughtful, and he did a great job," before adding, "Of course it was thoughtful. He's like that."

Seacrest sidestepped the pregnancy question, but did ask Ashlee if she planned to sip some booze later on.

"Who knows," she responded. "Maybe."

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