The Perils of Social Networking

Sometimes I think blogs and facebook do me more harm than good. I like staying updated on what everyone's up to, but sometimes it's all too easy to start thinking that everyone's life is as breezy as it seems through status updates and photo-filled blogs. (BTW, if anyone knows what episodes of Friends I'm referencing with the word "breezy," I'll send you a prize!)

Exhibit A
A friend's status update on facebook: "So-and-so is making more cookies than she and the hubby could possibly consume."

You know what? I made cookies that day too. But it was with an 11-month-old clinging to my legs (whining), making it surprisingly hard to get around my tiny kitchen. (I've been having one of those weeks where I want to scream at anyone who doesn't have a child yet to ENJOY EVERY MOMENT because you have no idea how free you are. Not that I don't absolutely love my boy, because I do.)

I would provide more exhibits, but I don't want you to think I'm a total downer. I know I have so, so much to be thankful for. But please also know that just because my blog is filled with a lot of smiley photos doesn't mean we're any different than you in real life.

With that said, I'm going to go clean something.



PS. I'd love to know if anybody else ever thinks this way too.

Summer Lovin'

We're having way too much fun here in California. I'm about to watch a movie with the family, but I wanted to quickly toss a couple of photos up—I can't resist because they're so cute! You'll probably be seeing many, many more...

You know you're a mom when...

You find yourself saying "Vrooooom" as you turn a corner with the shopping cart and then look down and remember there is no baby in your cart today.

The Nuzzler

Our current favorite thing that Trenton does is nuzzle his blanket. If there's a soft blanket on the floor and he's just slightly tired, he'll nuzzle it with his head, rest for a few seconds, and then toss and turn, tugging the blanket with him as he goes. He did it for 10 minutes today, and Ryan and I watched the whole time, trying to laugh silently so as not to distract him. Man, he is so much fun right now!

That Ensign didn't stand a chance.

I am so ridiculously excited...

About this!
Trenton's room finally has something hanging on the walls. I think you're supposed to do that when you're expecting and filled with anticipation for your child's birth. I'm about 11 months behind. But I absolutely love these classic white frames and gorgeous photographs. (Sorry my photo of them didn't turn out so well, though!)

I'm a minimalist when it comes to two things: decorating and collecting stuff. I LOVE the feeling of giving things away. Having extra things to clean and store just weighs you down. One of my great loves in life is watching organization expert Peter Walsh de-clutter people's homes. Go go go!

And when it comes to decorating, I say less is more. If I'm not in love with something, it is not going on my walls. I'd rather have blank walls than walls filled with the wrong stuff! And if I do say so myself, our beautiful boy is the perfect image to fill our walls!


PS. This is Trenton's scowl. It cracks us up.

Our Small Life

Life here in our neighborhood is small. As all of you know, Ryan and I have shared a car since we've been married, which means that after we had Trenton, our life became wherever the stroller could take us. (Or wherever my friend Amber was going. :)

We walk over to the local grocery store a couple times a week. Trenton is buds with all the produce guys, and I chat with my friend Chaza in her checkout line.

Then there's the little Asian man who patrols the shopping plaza almost as much as Trenton and I do. He always tells Trenton that he will grow up to be like Obama, the president of the United States. "Either that or a doctor," he adds, "And I will be your patient!" Then he cracks up at himself and keeps on walking.

Then there's our neighbor, 90-year-old Mr. Elliot, who always says good morning, no matter what time of day it is. In each conversation, without fail, he tells me that I'm sacred now that I'm a mother.

Our other neighbor, Mo, always tells Trenton, "So many H's! Happy, healthy, and handsome!"

We know our mail carrier and UPS guy well.

We visit frequently with our sweet and spunky, 90-year-old nextdoor neighbor, Gladys, whom Ryan calls "Trenton's girlfriend." (Trenton is pretty much obsessed with her walker.)

One of our favorite things about being resident manager is that it gives us the excuse to know all our neighbors—all 52 of them. Sure, sometimes we know them because they're asking us for things, but a lot of the time, they're just seeing how we're doing. Managing this complex is the perfect job for us. (And I'm saying that even after a whole weekend of monitoring the sump pump to make sure sewage doesn't overflow. So that's saying something!)

Thanks for reading, and we love you all!

Sippy Cups

Did anyone have more luck with a certain brand of sippy cup than others? What brands worked for your kiddos?

Trenton and I could use some recommendations! Thank you!