Rewind - Birthday Weekend

All sorts of things have been happening.  Is it the end of April already?  I'm extremely happy with my job situation. It took long enough, but I finally feel like I'm settling nicely into my career path. There's nothing much new going on at the home front. M and I are just enjoying each other. We celebrated his birthday last month by going away for the weekend. It was a ton of fun.

M wanted a low key birthday.  I promised I would not have a party.  I had no intentions whatsover of keeping that particular promise.  It was big birthday for him and he does so much for me so I wanted to make his birthday extra special.  But, he kept bringing it up and insisting he really did not want a party... to the point where I would feel bad if I did.  So instead, I planned a getaway to a bed and breakfast in Geneva to celebrate his birthday. 

We stayed at the Lakehouse Inn and it was fantastic.  They actually cooked breakfast for us every morning.  Geneva is known for their wineries and we went to as many as we could in three days.  It was so much fun and so relaxing.  Our room was very homey and I loved the coziness of staying at a bed and breakfast.  I would definitely go back.

I booked a massage for M on his actual birthday, and I opted to go with a pedicure.  The only thing that would have made the weekend even more perfect was if the weather was better, sunnier.  It was cold and cloudy, so we couldn't take advantage of sipping wine out on the patios, but hey... just an excuse to go back this summer, right?

I don't know why I didn't take very many pictures.  Too busy enjoying ourselves, I suppose.  We made it to Harpersfield, Ferrante, Laurello, The Winery at Spring Hill, Old Mill, Deer's Leap, Grand River Cellars, Debonne, Old Firehouse, Maple Ridge, and of course the Lakehouse Inn Winery.  We have been to Ferrante's on several occasions and love it.  Our new favorites are Harpersfield and Laurello.  Laurello had amazing wine... so did Harpersfield, and the atmosphere was incredible.  They had a huge fire place where we promptly got our bottle of wine and plopped down on the couch right in front of the fire.  Heaven.

We did see these little guys when we went to The Winery at Spring Hill.  I was very excited, probably because I already had several glasses of wine... don't judge. This also reminds me of one of my favorite Rob & Big episodes.  Yes, I love Rob & Big, but I digress.  Who doesn't love mini horses?

Sunday morning meant it was time to get going home, sad face.  We made a quick stop ad Dunkin Donuts (can't do without coffee) where there also happened to be Baskin Robbins.  M decided he wanted ice cream for breakfast.  After all, it was still his birthday weekend.

When Are You Having A Baby?

I have been getting this question a lot lately... family, friends, co-workers... everyone wants to know. Apparently once you hit the one year mark of being married, it’s go time.

The answer is simple: I'm not. The reason is also quite simple: we just don't want to raise a child. Yet people continue to ask. One of my co-workers has asked me a few times this year already if I am pregnant. (Is this a way of telling me I need to spend more time in the gym?) When I tell her emphatically, NO, she actually says, “Are you sure, you have a glow.” Really, I’m sure. Promise.

I will admit, growing up I always thought I would have kids. As a matter of fact, I wanted a big family. I have four siblings and I love it. As I got older and realized everything that went into raising a child, I didn't want any part of it. First of all, I could probably only handle one and I really, really do not want an only child. I think it would be incredibly lonely for said child. That, and I just don't want to deal with being sleep deprived, temper tantrums, cleaning up bodily fluids, or the attitude that comes with raising a teenager. I certainly have enough of my own. Patience is definitely not my virtue (the same is true for M). I like to do what I want to do when I want to do it. And then there is the financial part of it – having a kid is expensive. There are too many other things I want to do and spend my money on. Do you think I am an asshole yet? It’s okay, I already know this. Go ahead and call me selfish (it wouldn’t be the first time I have heard this in regards me not wanting a child), but what I think is selfish is having a child when I already know I wouldn’t be a great parent.

I have three absolutely gorgeous nieces and two very handsome nephews. I adore them and love spending time with them. But at the end of the day, I’m glad to give them back to their parents. In particular, my five year old niece can be quite the handful. I love her spunk – girlfriend cracks me up, but after spending the weekend with her I am exhausted. I don’t want to have to entertain someone 24/7.

Maybe it’s possible that some of this has to do with my own experience with my parents’ divorce when I was just three years old. You won’t ever hear me making excuses, but I certainly have issues because of it. On the other hand, I also believe that in some ways it made me a stronger, more realistic person. I suppose subconsciously it may be possible that I’m afraid of being a bad parent and screwing up my own child. Maybe, I don’t know.

Anyway, why do people feel the need to ask these questions? I typically respond with a sarcastic comment such as “When are YOU having a baby?” or “When are you going stop asking stupid questions?” For God sakes mind your own business. It’s rude, people.