Introduction

Hello! Well it's about time that I write about me.

I'll start with how I started to blog.

I was about 16 years old, and I joined a website and wrote there for about 4 years. I wrote about my life, and everything that went along with it. I wrote and wrote.

I left the website when I entered college. I figured that I wasn't a teenager anymore, so I needed something more "grown up." I then found another place to blog.

I blogged there from about 2003-2007. I met some incredible people that changed my life forever. They may not even know it, but they have.

In 2003, I started college and majored in Psychology and Human Development. I graduated in 3.5 years with a Bachelors degree in December of 2006.

Back tracking a little bit, I met my fiance John, in 2004. I was 19 and he was just turning 21. We got engaged in October of 2006, and plan to get married May 30, 2009!! :)

Back tracking once again....

While blogging, and through my studies in human development cross culturally, I became very much aware with how the United States medicalizes the birthing process. I became aware of what big pharma companies do to scare parents into vaccinating their children, using scare tactics and emotive language, etc. I became aware of Attatchment parenting, babywearing, cloth diapering, anti-circing. I became aware of TRUSTING ones body, of trusting ones instincts, and that is exactly how John and I have decided to parent.

It started for me, with getting pregnant, and then getting a Doula. My doula was amazing. I would for sure have another one for my next pregnancies in a heartbeat. She was there for me, and I am amazed that women sometimes go through labor and delivery and birthing their baby without a women to support them through it.

My birth story post is for another day, however, I was able to have the perfect birth. I birthed my baby all naturally in a birthing center, and used no medications. I had my baby with me in my room and was able to breastfeed her, and bond with her the way I had only dreamed. It was amazing. Life changing. Earth altering. Amazing.

Having my daughter stirred something in me that I had never known to exist before. I found my voice.

One of my favorite quotes is, "[My daughter] from the moment she was born, drew from me reserves of tenderness, protectiveness and fight I never knew I possessed. I wanted to change the world overnight to make it a safer, easier better place..." --Michele Guinness

That quote is oh so true. I truly did want to change the world, and still do. I figure, I might as well start with parenting!

I believe in Attachment Parenting 100%. I do not believe in letting babies cry themselves to sleep....or letting babies cry it out period. I believe in creating strong healthy and secure attachments with babies, and that starts the moment they come into this world. I have never ever ever let my child cry herself into hysterics. She has ALWAYS known that her father and I are here for her 100% of the time, and will always always help soothe her in any way we possibly can. We co-sleep with Addison, as well as cloth diaper and babywear. I am a very big fan of Doctor Sears. (http://www.askdrsears.com/)

I know there will be struggles, and I can foresee discipline being one of them. I was raised for part of my life with spankings, and the rest of my life with inconsistencies. I believe in gentle discipline, however, I know it's going to be a struggle for John and I both to figure out how exactly we are going to do that.

Something else that I am very passionate about is informing oneself about childhood vaccinations before they are given. Addison has not had any vaccinations whatsoever. None. Zero. Zip. Am I proud of this? You betchya! I think that if more people questioned the status quo, they would be very shocked and surprised with what they find, especially when it comes to childhood vaccinations.

I suppose this is where I am at today. A young first time mama/couple, getting ready to plan a wedding, getting ready to buy our first home, and raising our daughter the best we possibly can.

I am uncensored.