Making sites can be fun. I suggest you read some HTML tutorials at w3schools. They have lots of nice tutorials there to help you understand website stuff like HTML and Xhtml.
http://www.w3schools.com/Also here is a good free host I found and used for a short time before I went over to a paid host. I think its best to work on a free server until you get your site the way you like it. This way its free to take your time and learn at you own pace.
If you were to get a paid host and then not have a site built then you would be wasting the months you have of hosting away while you build it.
http://www.100webspace.comYou will need a good site template to make your site work. There are many free here:
http://freesitetemplates.com/Hope this helps you out some and goodluck with your site!