The Beginning of The Beginning

Well, where to start?

I suppose we should start where every story starts, the very beginning.

I found out I was pregnant with Elliot in late June (very late, as I was already nearly 7 weeks at this point). At first, I was greeted with overwhelming disappointment in myself. Being in college, after being very active in high school, graduated in the top of your class, and scored very high on the ACT, you can only be greeted with disappointment. It throws a huge wrench in your 'plans'. My mother and I have never been super close, so I texted her to tell her, and I can tell you, she wasn't too terribly happy. At this point, I had just started working at a nearby McDonald's, about a month before I found out. Everything just looks so scary, like a huge mess (I promise you, it all works out). My pregnancy with Elliot was very rough. I had the worst heartburn ever (he was bald), had morning (hah!) sickness the ENTIRE pregnancy, and now have the worst stretch marks imaginable. But it was worth it. I kept that feeling of disappointment until now, honestly, but when he started kicking and rolling, I was definitely in love, despite any disappointment. I had to be induced with Elliot, and 19 hours after induction, the most handsome little guy came into the world. Then we started our wonderful journey. Let me now insert how absolutely BLESSED I was with Elliot. In the hospital, he would only sleep if he was on my chest, and when we got home, he would have nothing to do with the bassinet. What's a mother going to do on the third night of no sleep? She is going to put Bubs in bed with her, and we still sleep together. Say what you want. Anybody that says co-sleeping causes SIDS is retarded. Suffocation and SIDS are two separate animals, and with my very light sleep pattern, we are ok. Less children die co-sleeping than in their own cribs, and MOST cases of a child suffocating are because the mother went to sleep under the influence of some drug or alcohol, which I would never do. I'll get off of my soapbox now, but that is a hot button issue for me, and everyone should be entitled to make their own decision in that area. He was the best behaved baby, and super patient with momma, as she had to learn, too. Elliot still only cries if he is hungry, needs something, etc. Elliot is breastfed, which I believe to be a wonderful bonding experience between momma and baby. Elliot has hit all of his milestones, most of them very early, except he never crawled on his knees, but on his feet. He has currently learned how to climb up the stairs, and up on the couches. And that should bring you up to speed on us!

Introduction

My name is Marissa, and I have a wonderful son, named Elliot, who is almost, but not quite 10 months old. We are starting this blog so that others may see and understand the challenges and delights of motherhood. I originally wished to start this so that younger/teen mothers could understand that young parenthood is not quite the way the popular television show, Teen Mom, portrays it to be. However, a friend enlightened me...motherhood is not easy for anyone, there are always challenges, so this blog is really intended for everyone. This first page will be about myself and Elliot, and the following blogs will be about whatever Elliot and I feel for the day, and we will try to post at least once every day. If you have any questions or topics you would like us to answer, explore, or elaborate on, feel free to leave a comment with your question, or shoot us a message. We love new ideas! Now, about us:

Momma

• Age: I am 20 years old (almost 21). I conceived Elliot whenever I was 19 years old. 
• Location: We live in southern Illinois
• Favorite Color: Purple. And glitter.
• Favorite Food: Chicken Penne with Alfredo
• Favorite TV Show: I don't have time for much TV, but I like the new show Once Upon a Time, Teen Mom, Top Chef; I think Bravo in general is awesome.

Elliot

• Age: Almost 10 months!
• Favorite Color: Orange and Green
• Favorite Food: Spaghetti Noodles with Broccoli, Apples and Blueberries, or Macaroni
• Favorite TV: He likes Little Einsteins, Cars 2, and whatever Momma watches