Introducing. . .Mommy!!

Well I guess I should start off with telling you a little bit about who I am. . .

Me at 16 (I think) At a Halloween
Party That I made that dress for!

My name is Cyndi, I am 27 years old, I have three amazing (yet sometimes frustrating) children. I guess you could say am married to my "high school sweetheart" even though we did not meet in High school (who is as equally as amazing and frustrating as the kiddos). We have been together since we were 16 years old and had our first baby at 18 (barely). We had our second child at 20, got married at 23, and had baby number three at 26. So needless to say I gave up my twenties to motherhood. I didn't get to go out with my friends, I didn't get to go to college (not a traditional one anyway). I didn't get to travel the world, I didn't get to go to Vegas for my bachelorette party. I DID get to feel the unconditional love of my children, I DID get to marry my soul mate, and I am thankful every day for having them in my life. But in the almost ten years that I have been a mother I have lost myself in many ways.
When I was younger (yep I know just how bad that sounds!) I was a very free spirited, crazy girl who didn't care what anyone thought of me as long as I liked how I dressed, how I did my make up, as long as I was having fun and loving my life. I smoked, I drank and I'll admit I did drugs and this got me in trouble once or twice, but I was also a young kid and I think the one of the best ways to learn is to make mistakes!

I've grown up a lot in the last ten years, I stopped doing drugs when I found out I was pregnant with my son (I had a miscarriage before him and always thought it was because I didn't stop) I don't drink much, I'll tell you my 21st Birthday SUCKED!! It was awful none of my friends showed up, my husband (boyfriend at the time) and I went out had a couple drinks and went home to our kids! I quit smoking cigarettes in April of 2010 because it was literally killing my baby, she was born two weeks later at 4lbs 10oz 6 weeks early. Olivia spent 16 days in the NICU and I credit her for saving my life! Really I think all of my children saved me in some way or another, my son, Tucker, saved me because if it weren't for him I'd either be in Jail or so messed up on drugs I wouldn't have a life. My oldest daughter Lillian,(Lilli) was born with a congenital heart defect and had open heart surgery at three months old. She was 6lbs 7oz when they took her into surgery. Before her I think I took my life for granted, like I would always have everything I had, my son, my husband (boyfriend at the time), my life in general, and she brought me back down to earth. If you have never had to deal with handing your child over for a major surgery, knowing that you may never see her/him again, it's quite humbling! She had open heart surgery on April 20th of 2005 and is now a healthy, quirky almost seven year old. We still have to monitor her heart but she's doing very well! They have definitely made my life more interesting and I wouldn't give them up for anything!  

In the process of stepping into the role of Mommy I lost all the things I loved about MYSELF and if we can't love ourselves can we really love anyone else? So I have decided that it's about time to get ME back! This blog will chronicle that and many other things.


Me in not so many words:
Name: Cynthia {But my friends call me Cyn}
Age: 27
Residence: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Occupation: Photographer (Owner of Cynthia Anderson Imagery www.cynthiaandersonimagery.com)
Status: Married
Children: 3 kiddos 9yrs, almost 7yrs and almost 2yrs
Favorite color: Yellow
Cats or dogs? BOTH :) {Have two cats right now though}
Favorite Food: Chicken and Shrimp Carbonara
I love Olive Garden
I love Rasberry Iced Tea (Especially Arizona!)
I have purple hair (Well some of it)
I have tattoos
I have piercings
I would rather DIY than buy something
I'm pretty sure I have ADHD :)
I am a member of the PTA
I love high heels
I love all things Vintage
I want a Volkswagen Van and Beetle one day! (Yellow of course)
I love my Children
I love my husband
I want to love myself!

~Cyn