Life With Boys

Hello –

Happy Easter!

I know we’ve fallen off the face of the Earth lately, so I thought I’d drop a note to let you know we’re thinking of you.

As you can see from the subject line … Tyler is keeping us in stitches! (Story context: We were sitting on the couch and out of nowhere Tyler looks straight at Morgan and tells him “SHHHHH, Quiet Morgan you’ll wake the dinosaurs.” Still cannot figure out where it came from, TV was off, haven’t been reading books about dinosaurs – it’s just Tyler being Tyler.)

And while we’re on the subject of Tyler being Tyler … he’s in no hurry to be of the potty trained population. We bribe, we reward, we punish, we run away screaming … He just doesn’t care. I’ve been told “boys are harder.” That’s great and “no one wears diapers in kindergarten” another pearl of wisdom! We’ll just keep at it, what else can I do? J Matt’s reading “Toilet Training In One Day” and by the time he finishes it – we may be able to use some of the tips on Morgan. (Hey I read all the books about sleeping and well, not sleeping, to no avail – it’s his turn!)

Morgan started walking at 8.5 months – 3 days after Christmas. He’s a running fool and has the bruises to prove it. He’s a little dare devil who has already figured out how to turn things upside down to stand on them and push this or that closer to his goal object in order to make me more crazy than I already am. He’ll be 1 year on April 15. His hair is finally starting to come in and it’s a curly strawberry blonde. So most of the time he’s got major frizz head with a funny cabbage patch kid smile (gotta show off his 4 teeth). Healthwise — He’ll be getting ear tubes next week and I’m really hoping it does the trick – he’s been on and off antibiotics for ear infections so many times, I can’t even begin to count.

Matt recently returned from his March Madness get-together in Jupiter, Florida where he and the boys took in a few Cardinals Spring Training games and played a bit of golf. (I opted out this year – the thought of trying to contain both Morgan and Tyler in the ballpark was more than I was willing to deal with. – Besides — Grandma and Grandpa Oser kidnapped the two of them for Friday night and Saturday so I could get a bit of this and that done by myself – and get a glorious night of uninterrupted sleep.) (Morgan is in no rush to sleep through the night either.)

Matt and I will get away together in September after I serve as the Matron of Honor in one of my best friend’s wedding in Utah. (Grandma and Grandpa Oser – both of whom will be retired at that point – have graciously agreed to host the little ones so we can escape for a bit.)

I’m busy spring cleaning ~ Matt has helped me to paint and rework my office/craft room and I’m slowly making it through cupboards and random boxes to get ready for our garage sale next weekend (April 2). If you know anyone looking for baby gear, send them our way – we have it all! And if you’re in the area and want to unload some stuff yourself give me a call.

After the big sale I’m hoping to work on our master bedroom which still hosts the wallpaper that reminds me of an ancient undershirt. And soon enough it will be time to get out into the yard. As usual I’ve got plans for flower beds, retaining walls and more work than I can ever do myself. I guess it’s a good thing my birthday and Mother’s day are both in the spring and usually bring promises of “helpers” and coveted gift cards to Home Depot and Lowes.

In other news – I want to let you all know about an important cause that could really use your support. My above mentioned best friend and her fiancé are committing themselves to a 3-year walk across the country to help the families of cancer victims both in terms of financial assistance and awareness. (John, her fiancé, lost both of his parents to cancer and was presented a bill for more than $1 million dollars in medical expenses at the age of 12 ~ it’s a cause close to his heart.) How can you help? Visit www.thebigwalk.org to sponsor a cause ribbon, become an in-kind sponsor, lend financial support, pitch in however you can. (With that in mind – anyone who wants to lend some “on-the-ground” support i.e. media pitching, places to stay – would be more than welcome to contact Heather at HMBUONICONTI@aol.com).

Well, I should get back down to business. I hope you are all well and my thoughts are with you.

Love always –

Danielle