QOTW: Birthdays! May 5th

[Vanquisher]

Since it's my birthday, and I make the questions…

1. Do you like your birthdate? Why or why not?

2. Do you care about your birthday? Birthdays in general?

3. Are there any occasions that seem to steal the spotlight from or overshadow your birthday or from those in your family?

4. Birthday cake. Pick a flavor?

5. How many candles are on it for your next birthday?

6. Any birthday traditions?

7. Pick a three material gifts for yourself. One must be less than $25. One must be between $50-$100. One must be over $1000.

8. Did you have birthday parties as a kid? Do you have them as an adult? Do you like them?

9. Do you know your birth story? Anything interesting or fun you want to share?

[Vanquisher]

1. Do you like your birthdate? Why or why not?

Yeah, I do. The weather is usually nice.

2. Do you care about your birthday? Birthdays in general?

Kind of. I care about my kids birthdays more.

3. Are there any occasions that seem to steal the spotlight from or overshadow your birthday or from those in your family?

Chad's birthday is in two days. We seem to share a birthday. The Kentucky Derby is often near or on my birthday. Cinco de Mayo parties can take away the limelight. Mother's Day can be quite close and take away the luster.

Ryan's birthday is near Martin Luther King Day. Alexia was born on the same day as Chad's grandmother and his cousin. Since then, another one of his cousins (same side of family) had a baby on that day too. She's also sometimes close to Easter and Spring Break.

4. Birthday cake. Pick a flavor?

Ooh! Tough! Italian Cream Cake or Red Velvet or vanilla with strawberries and Danish dessert.

5. How many candles are on it for your next birthday?

37 today.

6. Any birthday traditions?

Picking what's for dinner and type of cake.

7. Pick a three gifts for yourself. One must be less than $25. One must be between $50-$100. One must be over $1000.

Hmmm. Maybe a funny t-shirt like

$25- http://www.piecesbypolly.com/2013/09...per-shirt.html

$50-$100- I don't know. Maybe an art piece?

Over $1000 - a European vacation.


8. Did you have birthday parties as a kid? Do you have them as an adult? Do you like them?

I had 3. We were allowed a party at 5 years old, 12 years old, and 16. All were very small. I had one as an adult when Chad and I turned 30. They're okay.

9. Do you know your birth story? Anything interesting or fun you want to share?

I was born just after midnight. My dad avoided the hospital staff and doing paperwork as long as he could so they didn't have to pay for two hospital days. I was a natural birth.

[Ladybug]

1. Do you like your birthdate? Why or why not?

I'm a winter baby so the weather isn't ideal, but every couple of years I get a 3 day weekend for my birthday (MLK weekend). I have the same birth date as MLK.

2. Do you care about your birthday? Birthdays in general?

I'm not that into celebrating my birthday. No negative feelings, but life is already busy enough. I'm overwhelmed by the birthday party circuit in general these days. I think there's too many birthday parties and pressure on parents. We were invited to four different birthday parties this past weekend. We only went to two. I'd like to see people go back to family birthday parties except for milestone years.

3. Are there any occasions that seem to steal the spotlight from or overshadow your birthday or from those in your family?

My oldest daughter was born the day after my birthday. She's kinda taken over the celebrations for now.

4. Birthday cake. Pick a flavor?

anything with butter cream icing!

5. How many candles are on it for your next birthday?

I'm turning 40 this January!

6. Any birthday traditions?

Picking dinner and cake

7. Pick a three material gifts for yourself. One must be less than $25. One must be between $50-$100. One must be over $1000.

<25 = TCBY with the family or hardback book
50-100 = hand-thrown plant pots ( http://benwolffpottery.com/store.html )
>1000 = L glass camera lens or the new Mark III camera body

8. Did you have birthday parties as a kid? Do you have them as an adult? Do you like them?

I had a 10th birthday party at pizza hut, but my favorite was a surprise slumber party for my 13th.

9. Do you know your birth story? Anything interesting or fun you want to share?

I think was fairly traumatic. My mom was only 17 and hysterical. They gassed her and she woke up and I was out. She said it was very disconcerting.

[spotty_dog]

Happy Birthday!!! I may come back and answer too.

[alotofyarn]

1. Do you like your birthdate? Why or why not? I have no complaints. It was during the school year and easy to celebrate with friends, not super close to major holidays, and usually warm enough outside for pool parties or whatever we wanted to do.

2. Do you care about your birthday? Birthdays in general? I enjoy it, but I don't generally make a huge deal out of it.

3. Are there any occasions that seem to steal the spotlight from or overshadow your birthday or from those in your family? Well I do share the birthday with my twin sister... And my dad and paternal grandma have theirs the day after (if only we had held on one more day...)

4. Birthday cake. Pick a flavor? Seriously, I love all cake. Yellow cake with chocolate frosting is always a good choice.

5. How many candles are on it for your next birthday? 31... just celebrated the big 3-0 last week!

6. Any birthday traditions? Not really.

7. Pick a three material gifts for yourself. One must be less than $25. One must be between $50-$100. One must be over $1000. Something handmade by hubby and E, a date night, and a cruise.

8. Did you have birthday parties as a kid? Do you have them as an adult? Do you like them? Always as a kid, occasionally as an adult. I could go either way, but generally I don't like being the center of attention.

9. Do you know your birth story? Anything interesting or fun you want to share? I know bits and pieces. I'm a twin, and my mom had been on hospital bedrest for 11 weeks (she saw my dad more that time than ever, since he was a surgical resident), but I think she was allowed to go home at some point. We showed up at 35 weeks. I think her water broke, but I'm not sure. She delivered us vaginally, pretty sure without an epidural, and it went pretty quickly. I came first, then they reached in and pulled my sister out.

[WolfpackWife]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HEIDI!!

1. Do you like your birthdate? Why or why not?

I like my birth date. Much more so now than when I was a kid. Summer birthday, two days before July 4th = many of my friends out of town for any potential birthday parties. But now, it's always right before a holiday and 4th of July is like our Christmas so we make a big deal and live it up around that time - usually at the beach. DH proposed to me the day before my 25th birthday so the whole July 4th/my birthday week brings good feelings and memories now.

2. Do you care about your birthday? Birthdays in general?

I'm weird about my birthday. I don't care about it much, but like to celebrate it. I don't know, there are some weird complexes about my birthday that have been cultivated by stuff with my mom. It's okay for now. I love other people's birthdays. Seriously, I even take Cooper to the Three Dog Bakery on his birthday so he can get some special treats and a bully stick. DH thinks its so weird.

3. Are there any occasions that seem to steal the spotlight from or overshadow your birthday or from those in your family?

Yup, 4th of July. Sucked as a kid, but now it's awesome. My dad's birthday is 4 days later, so that's fun too.

4. Birthday cake. Pick a flavor?

Ohh...when choosing I'd always hands-down pick my mom's chocolate chess pie. For cake, it's gotta be yellow butter cake with chocolate icing.

5. How many candles are on it for your next birthday?

28.

6. Any birthday traditions?

When younger (or when at the beach with my parents) - a birthday breakfast. Then picking where we go to dinner. Since it's usually during a vacation week, I get to pick what we do during the day, but there are few objections since it's usually going to the beach or pool

7. Pick a three material gifts for yourself. One must be less than $25. One must be between $50-$100. One must be over $1000.

>$25 - book(s)
$50 - $100 - an outfit or massage certificate or pair of shoes. I really don't know. I'm bad at telling people what I'd want.
$1,000+ - vacation to the USVI or (depending how on far over $1k I can go in this hypothetical situation) somewhere else tropical and relaxing like Croatia or somewhere secluded in Mexico or Bora Bora.

8. Did you have birthday parties as a kid? Do you have them as an adult? Do you like them?

My mom did joint bdays and 4th of July celebrations, many of which were attended by only my family/cousins and neighborhood friends. All of my school friends were on vacation with their families usually. We had fireworks, my dad made homemade ice cream, and my mom always made a cake that said "Happy Birthday (my name) and USA!" Those lasted until I got to middle school, and when I was young-young, like Kindergarten I had some bday parties that usually waited until the school year started. I never got to bring cupcakes or other bday snacks to school because I was always on summer vacation!

9. Do you know your birth story? Anything interesting or fun you want to share?

I know I was born just before 9:30pm, was almost a week late, and it was pretty benign. I know they (the nurses) put red, white, and blue bows in my hair (I'm half Italian so there was a lot of it) and my dad still gets teary eyed when he thinks of that.

Nothing interesting or fun, but I remember SO vividly the day my brother was born. I was approaching 4 y/o and vaguely remember it being very, very early in the morning when my grandparents came and picked me up from our house so my parents could go to the hospital. I remember my grandparents were having their kitchen cabinets painted later that morning, and when my brother was born in the early afternoon, I was at the kitchen table, watching a team of mean in coveralls paint cabinets. The phone rang, Nonnie answered it, started to cry and told me, "You have a BROTHER! Oh my god you have a brother!" and I was so distraught I burst into tears, ran upstairs and flung myself on their bed. It didn't hit me until I found out that he was a boy that I had badly wanted a sister. Turned out for the best though - my bro is awesome and honestly, I don't think I would have done well with a sister

[Curegirl]

Happy birthday Heidi!


1. Do you like your birthdate? Why or why not? Yes. I'm not sure why but yes.

2. Do you care about your birthday? Birthdays in general? I care to spend the day the way I want if that makes sense?

3. Are there any occasions that seem to steal the spotlight from or overshadow your birthday or from those in your family? Nope, no one's birthday or anniversary is near mine.

4. Birthday cake. Pick a flavor? Sugar. Anything with sugar. Gimme.

5. How many candles are on it for your next birthday? Cough cough.

6. Any birthday traditions? Pjs all day and movies.

7. Pick a three material gifts for yourself. One must be less than $25. One must be between $50-$100. One must be over $1000. 1) A kite. I always ask for one and no one ever takes me seriously 2) A massage and Sephora trip 3) A trip somewhere not sure where

8. Did you have birthday parties as a kid? Do you have them as an adult? Do you like them? Yes and I always hated being the center of attention and still do, so no more parties.

9. Do you know your birth story? Anything interesting or fun you want to share? I almost died so they asked my mom do you want to save yourself or your child? She responded my child! Then they asked, if anything goes wrong, do you want to save your wife or your child? He said my wife! Thank you father.

[MsSassyBaskets]

1. Do you like your birthdate? Why or why not? Sure, I guess. DH loves giving and getting presents and gets very excited about the very idea of something that needs to be unwrapped, so his enthusiasm is infectious.

2. Do you care about your birthday? Birthdays in general? Not that much, but I try to make them fun days.

3. Are there any occasions that seem to steal the spotlight from or overshadow your birthday or from those in your family? No, nothing in my family or seasonal that happens around the same time. Growing up it was sometimes the same as the first day of school, which was sometimes fun, sometimes not.

4. Birthday cake. Pick a flavor? Devil's food cake with fluffy strawberry frosting.

5. How many candles are on it for your next birthday? 31.

6. Any birthday traditions? Nada.

7. Pick a three material gifts for yourself. One must be less than $25. One must be between $50-$100. One must be over $1000. 1) A book - lit fic or mystery in particular; 2) a massage; 3) a getaway to somewhere peaceful and beautiful.

8. Did you have birthday parties as a kid? Do you have them as an adult? Do you like them? Used to, don't any more, don't really care.

9. Do you know your birth story? Anything interesting or fun you want to share? No, to tell me my birth story would require my prudish mother to talk about something that implies the existence of sex and vaginas.

[DrBandMe]

1. Do you like your birthdate? Why or why not?

I do! I love having a Fall birthday! The leaves are still pretty, the weather isn't horrible yet, the holidays are coming... it's my favorite time of the year!

2. Do you care about your birthday? Birthdays in general?

Yes! I celebrate my birthday all month. DrBtobe sings me happy birthday every day of my birthday month because I love it so much. I love ALL birthdays, in fact! I never let them pass without making it a big deal.

3. Are there any occasions that seem to steal the spotlight from or overshadow your birthday or from those in your family?

Nope! I won't let that happen!

4. Birthday cake. Pick a flavor?

White almond.

5. How many candles are on it for your next birthday?

3. Health, wealth, and happiness.

6. Any birthday traditions?

Not really other than singing to me everyday.

7. Pick a three material gifts for yourself. One must be less than $25. One must be between $50-$100. One must be over $1000.

An adorable cat ring I found on etsy. Tieks (okay, a bit over $100 but not by *that* much). New (to me) car.

8. Did you have birthday parties as a kid? Do you have them as an adult? Do you like them?

Of course! I had them as a child and I still have them today! I LOVE BIRTHDAYS!!!

9. Do you know your birth story? Anything interesting or fun you want to share?

My parents were 17 when I was born. My mom was in labor for 36 hours and when she delivered there were 12 medical students in the room observing. My dad almost missed it because he was outside having a smoke and no one knew where he was. He made it though, no worries. A med student said "awww, a boy!" and then the OB said, "nope, It's a girl!" My dad asked what he did with the good parts! I love that part of the story.

[GreyhoundsRUs]

Since it's my birthday, and I make the questions…

1. Do you like your birthdate? Why or why not?

Sure? I'm probably a NYE baby...

2. Do you care about your birthday? Birthdays in general?

I think you should make the important people in your life feel special because you care about them, not because of some arbitrary day. That being said, I also think you should be made to feel special on your birthday.

3. Are there any occasions that seem to steal the spotlight from or overshadow your birthday or from those in your family?

Not really. My mom made a BFD out of every holiday. My dad is a 12/22 baby, and he always had a birthday "thing" that wasn't Christmas.

4. Birthday cake. Pick a flavor?
Almond. Hands down.

5. How many candles are on it for your next birthday?
32

6. Any birthday traditions?
We try to let the bday person pick a meal. Cake is usually shopper's (me) choice.

7. Pick a three material gifts for yourself. One must be less than $25. One must be between $50-$100. One must be over $1000.

One of those very dainty cross necklaces. A massage. Huge WDW vaca.

8. Did you have birthday parties as a kid? Do you have them as an adult? Do you like them?

Almost every year as a kid (until 21). As an adult, I have thrown DH a couple, and I've had a couple. I just like (sometimes) being with my friends

9. Do you know your birth story? Anything interesting or fun you want to share?

All I know is that labor was under 4 hours. Which explains a lot about my precipitous deliveries. I was adopted when I was 22 days old.

[Auspicious]

1. Do you like your birthdate? Why or why not?

Aug 1. I like that it's the first of the month. When I was a kid I was sometimes wanted it to be during the school year.

2. Do you care about your birthday? Birthdays in general?

Eh. I don't want to totally ignore the day, but it's not a huge deal. I confess I do like kids' parties. So far.

3. Are there any occasions that seem to steal the spotlight from or overshadow your birthday or from those in your family?

My brother's birthday is two days later, and as a kid we often celebrated both on the day in between. I was fine with that, though.
I confess that I hate that my daughter's birthday is in December, however.

4. Birthday cake. Pick a flavor?

I love most cakes. (Except for German chocolate and Texas Sheet cake, which are favorites, unfortunately, of other members of my family.) Angel food was my most requested as a kid.

5. How many candles are on it for your next birthday?

39

7. Pick a three material gifts for yourself. One must be less than $25. One must be between $50-$100. One must be over $1000.

Hanging plant for the mailbox, new desk chair, and a dining room set.

8. Did you have birthday parties as a kid? Do you have them as an adult? Do you like them?

Had small family parties as a kid, often on my grandparents' screen porch. Also often, but not every year, a family outing of the birthday kid's choosing. Waterslides or trip to a museum in the city were two popular ones.

9. Do you know your birth story? Anything interesting or fun you want to share?

My mom was at work, as a hairdresser. She left a client under the hood dryer and drove herself to the hospital (which she says her doctor told her to do when she called him??) She still remembers the client's name--I'll have to ask her. She wasn't sure she was going to make it.
I was almost ten pounds (like everybody in my family), but had to go to the NICU due to some kind of infection. I was twice as big as all the other babies in the NICU. I was then transferred to Evanston Hospital, where by huge coincidence both my own kids were later born.

[spotty_dog]

1. The number 27 is special to my family, and it puts me just past the cusp of my astrological sun sign, so yeah, I like my birthdate pretty well.

2. I think I'm pretty neutral about birthdays. I don't like having expectations that don't get met for my birthday, so my expectations are bottom of the barrel and I am really just happy if my loved ones wish me a nice day. For others I like making the birthday person feel warmly loved but not like the most important person in the world, if that makes sense?

3. My birthday was always just at the start of school which could be awkward. DH and DS are a couple weeks apart and one kind of steals the thunder from the other. DD's birthday is during Hawaii vacation season! It's fun but it also means we don't do much other than jump on a plane, LOL. She's never had a party.

4. I like homemade cake but I'm the only person I know who bakes cake from scratch and I've only done it like 4 times in my life. Yellow or chocolate would be fun though.

5. I'mma be 35. It's an interesting transitional age. Not yet sure how I feel about it.

6. No traditions. I'm kind of jealous of my dad who ALWAYS knows he will have fried chicken, mashed potatoes, peas, and chocolate cake with white icing. The medical lifestyle really killed any chance of tradition-making...DH is probably working, we may or may no go out for dinner in the month preceding or following, you know, whatever.

7. I'm just awful about gifts. Awful. I guess in the <$25 range there is probably a book about how to teach writing skills to kids on my Amazon wishlist. In the <$100 range, I am basically out of shoes. I could use shoes.

8. I had a couple of parties as a kid, I think one of my co-ed sleepovers in high school was in celebration of a birthday. That was fun. But as an adult, no way. I am way too much of an introvert, hosting people is exactly the opposite of my idea of a good time on my special day!

9. My mother was a busy RN when she was expecting me, and dutifully she stopped going in to work when she hit 38 weeks. And she waited. And she waited. Finally she got so bored that she went back to work at 40 weeks. She finally went into labor right at 42 weeks. Everything was going well until her water broke and there was serious meconium staining and they started noticing major decels in my heart rate. They went for a crash emergency c-section that proceeded so quickly that the anesthesia didn't even kick in -- my mom still remembers feeling the scalpel. Once out I was showing some definite symptoms of the oxygen deprivation. I was in NICU for a good while, all my first pictures of myself are in an old-fashioned incubator and I think my mom might still have the "heartbeat" bear that kept me company. I am glad my own kids' birth stories are not *quite* so exciting.

[Meenah]

Happy Birthday!!!!

[scrub-jay]

Happy birthday!!

[ides]

Happy Birthday Heidi!

1. Do you like your birthdate? Why or why not?
Sort of. It's around a holiday - memorial day - so it can be a good or bad date depending.

2. Do you care about your birthday? Birthdays in general?
Yes- I like birthdays. I don't make a huge deal out of them but I like to celebrate them. I like it being remembered.

3. Are there any occasions that seem to steal the spotlight from or overshadow your birthday or from those in your family?
Yes- my sister got married the same weekend as my birthday. I wasn't too thrilled about her choice of dates.
Last year there was a monster tornado on my b-day and we spent the evening hiding in my neighbors basement.

4. Birthday cake. Pick a flavor?
I usually make Chocolate but last year I bought a cake from a local place and it was amazing. It was called a ribbon cake - half chocolate, half vanilla with whipped cream frosting and strawberry creamy stuff in the middle. I'll be getting it again this year. I've been looking forward to it for for the last month.

5. How many candles are on it for your next birthday?
40

6. Any birthday traditions?
Cake and a dinner out.

7. Pick a three material gifts for yourself. One must be less than $25. One must be between $50-$100. One must be over $1000.
Less than $25- fabric to make a new skirt
Btwn 50 - 100: Fancy nightgown
Over $1000 - serger

8. Did you have birthday parties as a kid? Do you have them as an adult? Do you like them?
Yes. I had them as a kid. They were ok. I don't have them as an adult. I don't like going to them much either.

9. Do you know your birth story? Anything interesting or fun you want to share?
I don't know that much. Nothing of interest to share.