How did I get here?

     I haven't always been this way. Like the majority of us, I was bottlefed as an infant, raised on the Standard American (SAD) Diet, attended daycare and public school, and had never truly left the United States (aside from sporadic visits to border towns in Mexico) until I was 20 years old. I don't believe my childhood was tragic, or even bad, but I believe that it could have been more enriching. I don't blame my parents for any of the above, they had a child young, and they did the best that they  knew to do. Someone once told me "Once you know better, you do better," and that is exactly what I plan to do.

The Past

          I suppose this journey towards a more "natural" lifestyle began about 6 years ago;  I was 17 years old, and my boyfriend (who is now my husband) of one year and I decided that we wanted to be "healthier."
     For the life of me, I cannot remember what triggered the switch, but nevertheless, we decided that we wanted to start making our food from scratch, instead of continuing to consume the packaged, chemical preparations we were used to. For a month or more, we were buying whole, raw chickens to bake, organic cow's milk, frozen broccoli, and ground turkey for homemade, grilled turkey burgers. I distinctly remember feeling such pride that we had followed through, and I really believed that what we were doing was "healthy;" and in a conventional way, it was.
     I began to devour books about human nutrition and cooking; at the time, I couldn't get enough. My hunger ultimately led me to the internet where I found articles about factory farming, pesticides, food-borne illness, animal welfare, food additives, and the like. The research I was doing was overwhelming, to say the least. Everything that I knew to be true about food was turned on its head.
    One day, I came across a video called Meet Your Meat. I was reduced to tears and inspired to action; From that day forward I was a vegetarian. My boyfriend was reluctant to join me, and I never once pushed the matter. I never expected him, a self-proclaimed bacon lover, to make the significant lifestyle change that is vegetarianism. After a month or so, he told me that he wanted to try a one week trial vegetarianism; he did, and we never looked back.
     For the next three years, we were vegan. We didn't consume any animal products or by-products, and we even sold our leather belts and shoes, and our wool sweaters and coats.
    In 2008, we took our first European trip to England and France. Needless to say, there is no paucity of delectable chocolates and cakes, or rich cheeses in Europe, and upon our return home, we were vegetarian again.
     Since then, we have taken a few more trips across the pond (on a particularly special trip to Greece and Italy, my boyfriend became my husband), and another to Central America. In an attempt to further my knowledge and enhance our already "alternative" lifestyle, I have worked in many health food establishments and even majored in dietetics and human nutirition in college. Our seemingly simple journey to a healthier lifestyle has become a whole lot more complex, in a good way; think carbohydrates.

The Present
     Last year, we moved ourselves and our belongings halfway across the country, from FL to TX, in search of a more challenging, and more affordable education. When we arrived, poised to begin school, we were surprised to find out that I was expecting our first child.
     Thankfully, our perfect plan changed and now my husband is in school and I am managing, with our 5 month old son in tow, a sports nutrition establishment not five minutes from home.
     This year has been all about Dylan. On April 4th, I delievered him 100% drug free, with my husband and my amazing doula by my side. As far as hospital births are concerned, I had a best case scenario. I did my research, and carefully chose a modern, but experienced doctor who favors natural childbirth, respects a woman's right to give birth like the animal she is, and welcomes the company of a birth doula. I formed  a very specific birth plan, and it was followed to the 'T' thanks to all of the above supportive people. I was not confined to a monitor or a bed, and in fact, labored mostly at home. I was 8 1/2 cm when we arrived at the hospital and walked the halls and the delivery room until about 9 1/2 cm, when my water broke, on its own. After 40 minutes of effort on my behalf, Dylan was born. He was placed in my arms and breastfed immediately after he was born, even before being wiped clean of the protective vernix. He was not vaccinated and didn't even receive a vitamin K injection, his umbilical cord was allowed to stop pulsating before being clamped and cut, and he was and still is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

     I don't regret delivering in a hospital, but if ever I am pregnant again, I will plan a home, water birth.

The Future
     My husband will transfer from his current college to Texas A&M University in January 2012, and hopefully will make it out in just over two years a Wildlife Biologist. The current plan is to become ex-pats as soon as possible after his graduation. If only for a few months, and only for a post-grad research project, we will leave this country. As Dylan grows, we feel it is important that he, as an unschooled child, have a wholly enriching environment to explore, enjoy, and to learn. Besides, all we have is this world, right now, and we want him to enjoy every minute of this one life.