Happy birthday to me

Today is my first birthday as a mama. Since the baby was due, well, now, I've teased Werner more than once that he wouldn't have to take me out for expensive birthday dinners for, oh, at least 15 or 18 years.

{sigh}

Last year, he surprised me with supper at Villa del Lupo, two years before that we went to Seasons, and the year in between we were in Rome. I've been spoiled.

Had I still been pregnant now, I warned him ages ago that I'd want one last blow-out birthday supper. After all, I'd be huge and uncomfortable and completely deserving of one final treat. But I'm not pregnant now, rather I'm the mother of a beautiful boy of almost three weeks of age. And as for our opportunity to go to these sorts of restaurants? That window has closed.

So a few days ago, I proposed that, for my birthday, what I would most appreciate was childcare. Between Werner and my parents, I reasoned that Jakob could easily be cared for while I shopped for needed ingredients and prepared a special meal for us to share. My first choice would be seared tuna, something which I haven't cooked since last year as raw fish was out during pregnancy. A simple dish, really, but too expensive to be an everyday meal. In case I couldn't find good quality tuna, risotta alla funghi was my back-up plan.

Did I mention I have a newborn?

Last night was one of the most sleep-deprived yet. I'm so tired I really couldn't care less if supper is nothing more than a frozen pizza. In spirit, I would love to go out for a foodie's dinner, but by mid-afternoon I'll be knackered anyway.

Of course, we could still go to Denny's; after all, the local restaurants advertise that the birthday celebrant eats free.