First post!

Wow, my very first blog post! I created this blog because I am a young mother who doesn't want to just go with the flow, and I am swimming against the current to find my ideal way in life. I aspire to learn and grow along with my children and make the best decisions I possibly can for them and myself. In our culture we are so surrounded by dangers that we are blissfully unaware of. Many of us blindly follow the advice and recommendations of others who have good intentions, but may not be up to date with current information. I make it my daily goal to learn something new so that I can better protect my family's health and well being.

A little introduction on myself: I am 19 years old and happily married to Zach, my very best friend and companion. Together we have two toddlers and another bundle of joy on the way. Malakai is 28 months old (that's almost two and a half years, if you don't want to do the math) and he is a very spirited little ball of fire. This kid has more energy than I can believe. He takes after his dad, always wanting to run faster, climb higher, and play harder. Sleep is for the weak, right? Leila is 13 months old and full of attitude. She can be really sweet and cuddly when she wants to be, but she has a mean side. She practically came out of the womb giving dirty looks. Watch out, she's good with that eyebrow. She just started walking a few weeks ago and is already catching up to big brother. Pretty soon they'll both be doing all the crazy things Daddy does and I will never be able to relax again. Our third and last baby will be arriving sometime around January 30th 2013, and the gender will be a surprise. I am planning on having a natural, peaceful birth in the water at home. I am fascinated by pregnancy and birth, and I hope to be a midwife one day so that I can help other women achieve their own ideal births.

I started this blog so that as I grow I can also be a light to other young parents, as well as anyone else who might be searching for something more, and trying to make sense of all the information that is out there. I am learning about safe and inexpensive alternatives for common household items, healthier eating to avoid many of the common additives and pesticides that are responsible for a lot of the health issues that are running rampant in America, ways to better relate to my children with a gentle parenting style, and I am trying to be more eco-friendly as well as save money by using cloth diapers and reducing waste in our house. I will be sharing what I find on this blog, along with stories of my failures and triumphs, and of course all the amazing and hilarious things my kids do. Thanks for reading!