Welcome!

Hello Blog World! Well really.... hello to the few that will actually be reading my posts :) I have been wanting to start a blog for a while now, but never thought I'd have the time. Well now I am making myself have the time because I've gotten to the point in my short journey as a mother thus far that I need to do something that makes me think (mommy brain has gotten out of control). I decided to start a blog about my son for 2 reasons: have a place where all things Myles are recorded and captured (hopefully forever, pending some post-apocalypse world with no internet) and to share my thoughts/feelings about being a mother (because I can never get them out of my head without writing them down). 

The beginning of my blog will be a little different because I am getting a late start. I have a little lot of back tracking to do as Myles is 8 months old already! Because of this my perspective might be a bit skewed for the beginning months. However my goal is to be as honest and true to the time as possible. I truly see myself as an everyday mother; well everyday with maybe just a few... dozen or so quirks. As a quick introduction, I will let you in on a couple of randoms about me as a mother:

• I am cheap thrifty: I have only bought 2 brand new clothing items for Myles totaling $20. Everything else has come from my baby shower, other gifts, and garage sales/thrift shops. I have only bought one brand new toy for Myles and that was with a gift card. I will never understand buying brand new things for a baby when you can find things barely used for a fraction of the price. I guess I have some sort of "impending doom" syndrome that makes me afraid to spend money for fear that one day I won't have any left. When he gets older and stops growing as quickly (and wearing clothes longer than 3 months), I will definitely start buying new.  
• I am currently a SAHM. Because I am so thrifty, I was able to save enough money during the time I was pregnant to be able to take a year off of work (with the help of the BD and parents of course). I also have an awesome savings account started for Myles before he is even a year old!
• During my pregnancy I became obsessed with pregnancy/mom blogs... I don't even think the word obsessed does it justice. I could literally spend hours reading about pregnancy journeys, monthly favorites, and newborn insights. A few of my favorites are My Blossoming Bud, Little Baby Garvin, and From Mrs. to Mama. And a special shout out to this momma for talking about important things most don't: Papier Mache
• 75% of the time Myles is at home (and not sleeping) he is only in a diaper. I have a slight obsession with his little man body. It's so stinkin' cute. He is starting to grow way too fast so I try to cherish every moment of his littleness. 

  

  My little nakey babes!
• When I was younger I wanted to have 3 three kids: boy, girl, then boy. That was always my plan. Then when I was 11 my mother had another child. My step-dad came up with the brilliant idea to have myself and step-brother watch as my little brother was being born. Apparently he thought it would be a great method of birth control... Well played Dave.. well played I must say.... I was forever traumatized by that experience. I still kept my dream of having 3 children, but I felt like it would pretty much just stay that forever: a dream. However by my mid-20s, my biological clock had started ticking and I began longing for that indescribable love one shares with their little ones. Don't get me wrong, I was still terrified of the actual birthing process, but I figured that if God allowed me to become pregnant, he would give me the strength to get through the birth. Still, I no longer want three children; I am very happy and content with just ONE. I have no intentions on having any other children!!!!! 

  

  My little brother and I (1999; he was 3 and I was 14)

• I have developed quite a co-dependency on my little guy. As a SAHM, how do you not??! He does not take a bottle, so I can only be away from him for a couple of hours at a time. I guess sometimes it is nice to get a little 'me' time, but I usually only need that once a week for a few hours. I haven't been away from him for more than 3 hours since he was born and that has only happened a couple times. I will have to admit that part of this is also due to me being somewhat of a control freak. I'm the one that knows what he likes and doesn't like; what he needs and doesn't need; how to sooth him, etc. Therefore it is really hard for me to let go and give that control to someone else for fear that he will be damaged in some way (the only people that have watched him without me around are my parents and his one aunt).
• I am a firm believer in what I would call "family/community parenting." Obviously the mother and father should be the main caretakers of their child, but I really believe the old saying "it takes a village to raise a child." I want Myles to have several people in his life to guide, love, and brag on him; to feel safe and secure with; to look up to; and to be there for him. You always have to keep in mind your end goal for your child; what you want him to be like when he's grown and then get people who will mold him to be that person. I will have to say this is one of the things I am truly blessed with having. Myles has amazing family who absolutely adore him; it is a true blessing to watch his relationships with other people grow and know how much they will sow into him.

  

  Myles, dad, and cousins Ayson and Ryann at 7 months

  

  Myles with his grandma and grandpa at 6 weeks old

• Parenting style; huh... well I didn't think too much about this one before Myles was born. I really just went with the flow based on his character and disposition. Babies are smart; they know what they need and how to get it ;) I have just followed my instincts and let him show me what he needs (more on this one with monthly updates).

Well Myles and I have some more work to do...