Lazy Sunday....

Not much to report, really. Just a lovely, quiet day. The sun's just starting to emerge, I have spent most of my day relaxing on the couch with Quidi Vidi sitting on or beside my lap, and it's just been so relaxing after a fairly hectic week.

Last Saturday began with a field trip led by a lovely, but almost zealously enthusiastic birder. It was fun, although I'm not a morning person and we started the day at 6:30 in order to get to the meeting place on time. After that? "Easter" dinner at the in-laws', complete with the niece and nephew (ages 8 and 7), as well as the brother-in-law's friends' two kids (4 and 2). Cute bunch, but I'm just not used to hanging around so many small people--even when they're perfectly well behaved, which they were 97% of the time (seriously great job, parents!), it ain't quiet.

Next day, we embarked on the 5-hour drive to Halifax, for my long-awaited visiting/shopping trip to Halifax. Sadly, because of the ill-timed Easter dinner, we didn't get to leave 'til Sunday. And because Allan apparently didn't understand my plans, he only booked Mon and Tues off, so we didn't get to stay as long as I'd hoped either. So, the 5-day trip I'd envisioned (and booked vacation time for) became a 3-day rush job, I didn't get to visit any of my university friends. Argh. However, I did get to spend some time with my favourite fellow biology geek (my cousin Beth), and got to see Allan's brother and his wife's new place, so that was nice.

Drove home Tuesday and arrived to find that my mother had landed at my place a day early. Thought we'd have Tuesday night to relax, show Allan some of my...um...more intimate clothing purchases, and finish tidying the house (seriously, I cannot stand the thought of my mom knowing how messy our house really is when she's not around), but *surprise*, there she was. Ah well, c'est la vie. So, mom was down from Tuesday 'til yesterday night, and I haven't had a chance to really relax all week. Don't get me wrong, it was a nice visit--we went out for pedicures, did some shopping--but it's impossible to relax when at any moment, you might be faced with the two hot-button issues: babies ("Are you ever going to have them?") or church ("Do you think you'll ever go back to the church?"). Not only that, Allan and my mother are such different people that whenever I'm in a room with them, I feel like I have to act as a sort of a social lubricant to keep things from getting awkward. I'm on edge the whole time.

*sigh* I guess I shouldn't let it stress me out so much--really, I'm not usually a "stressy" kind of person! Does every gal have such a weird relationship with their mom?

Stork City

Huh, wow. Two of my husband's long-time best friends have just announced they're expecting their first babies. How exciting for them! And yet...I...uh...I really hope this doesn't cause Allan to start thinking about babies.

Ah, I don't think it will; he's pretty adamant.

As for me, parenthood is a big, scary prospect and I don't think I'll ever be ready for it. My life is full and busy enough as it is, and I treasure my stolen moments of lazy time. I am seriously in awe of people who have kids and work outside the home (or not, even). How in the hell are there enough hours in the day for you people?!

*sigh* I know, being a parent is apparently tremendously rewarding, and I certainly see glimpses of why people do it, like when my co-workers bring their beautiful, funny, full-of-personality little kiddies into the office. But it's still not something I want--and having hit the big 3-1, with still no signs of biological clock tick-age, I don't think I ever will.

I know lots of people who've been married and happily childless for decades, and I'm pretty damned sure we'll be one of those couples. Don't get me wrong--if something unexpected happens, we'll deal with it--but there are no planned stork deliveries coming our way. Instead, we'll happily settle into the role of "the cool aunt and uncle," and enjoy the odd visit with our favourite kiddies (and after a while, when they're all wound up and cranky, we can just hand them back to mommy and daddy...) *evil laugh*