rulehayl
I feel as if you've already made your mind up to be a JW and I personally, would never try and persuade anyone not to be one. It's your decision.
But please think carefully. This is a life long commitment and every bit of your life will be governed by it. Every single bit. These people of this forum? They've been there, they know what they re talking about. Please listen to them.
As for birthdays. When you have a child it's the most special day of your life and it's awful being told you cannot acknowledge that day. I knew JWs who secretly celebrated their children's birthdays because how can you not be happy and joyous on the day your child came into the world? And I know others who go along with it but don't understand why they can't remember their kids birthdays. Even my mother, a staunch JW if ever there was one, sent me a card on my birthday.