Dewberry Part II

TC and Ian relax on the hayride

One thing Thomas loves is anything with wheels, there were dozens of tiny tractor type trikes for him to play on and he rode as many as possible!

Santa was awesome, Ian had no problem hanging with him, but Thomas again was shy and stayed in the stroller, though he had no problem at all accepting candy canes from Santa. (This Santa is a Korean War/Vietnam Era Marine by the way, 1961-1983)

There was an area with jumping mounds, for lack of a better word, and it turned out to be the best three dollars we ever spent; Thomas has so much fun and was so worn out, he really stayed close and minded after an hour bouncing around on these!

Thomas showed off his dexterity and agility in not falling through the net!

Later we went on a hayride to the tree farm where some visitors were chopping down their Christmas tree. Thomas liked the ride and was pretty pooped, so we stayed on the tractor since we have a tree already. All in all a great day and some great memories to now share with family.

EVERY DAY IS A GIFT

Dewberry Fun

So this weekend was all about getting out in the chilly Fall weather and let the boys wear themselves out on a farm visit. It wasn't just any old farm we visited, though. Dewberry Farms is a seasonal attraction with corn mazes, rides and food, animals, pumpkins everywhere and during Christmas there is a tree farm for getting your tree....it is also a toddler's dream in the "off season" with all the events and features but not all the crowds!

Here we start the day riding a cow train(see video at bottom)

(Side fact- Our "cow train" driver is a legacy Marine: he was Vietnam Era, his father is a veteran of Guadalcanal, Grandfather a veteran on Belleau Wood-Semper Fi, Mac.)

Where else can you push a corn ball!

Thomas did awesome on this one, I was surprised he went all the way across without slipping through!..we took the slide down though! TC shot video of him going in a bit, look in Part II.

What next Daddy?
Find out and see us again in Dewberry Part II

I didn't realize how windy it really was until washing my hair that evening and then I saw this video and heard how windy it was-good fun though!

Xmas prep

The boys plan their mischief for the day

These last 2 weeks have been about getting the house ready for the Xmas season, a challenging thing to do when you have an extremely curious 2 1/2 yr old and a 3 month old competing for attention! We try to keep them occupied and involved in some way, however anyone with kids will know this is more about damage control, keeping them from breaking the important memorabilia mixed in/hidden amidst with the "throwaway" ornaments.

The calm before the storm-TC prepares to attack the totes and boxes as I bring them down from the attic. This is an ongoing process so we will record these moments in shorter posts with relevant images and video.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

Where does the time go. Baby Ian is now three months old, Thomas is in the throes of being a toddler, living up to the "terrible two's" legend. But even throughout we still find times of peace and calm. Ian is sleeping more closely to what pass for "through the night" and Thomas is as ornery as ever with jealousy over the divided attention. We really work on keeping him occupied and "entertained", and he works on teaching is ultimate patience!

Kiss the Frog

Thomas welcomes a new frog to the Croke Family. Bucky brought it home from a show one afternoon and it became such a distraction it quickly found an outdoors home on our back porch. Thomas is very thorough when he investigates new additions in his house, and we wanted to keep this heirloom intact.

Hit the train (park)

While Grandpa Warren and Grandma Jo visited, Tommy and Ian showed them their favorite park, the train park!

Tommy shows Grandpa how the gears work.

Ian shows Grandma how to use the swing

Tommy loves the gears!

SACK TIME YEAH FOR MOM AND DAD!!!!!!

Thomas and Ian took grandpa and Grndma Jo to their favorite park-The Train Park!

Ian christening

otter pops rock Aunt Nancy!

There is nothing like a mass of family members to take an event weekend to the next level. Thank you to all for your contributions to an awesome weekend for Ian's baptism. Thomas enjoyed the attention too...especially the food and new toy cars!

Crokes, Laufenbergs and Barnetts unite!

Daddy, Thomas, Aunt Nancy and Ian

We are so sad to see them go but glad we were able to share so much with so many in a short period of time.

Never forget the Every Day is a Gift

Moving right along

It is no surprise the 2 year old Thomas is not happy sharing mommy and Daddy with a very demanding newborn, we are being blessed with a host of unpleasant behaviors as Thomas has tantrums and Ian has yet to realize the benefits of a good night's sleep, for mom and dad as well as for himself!

I tried initially to include Thomas as a "helper", thus keeping him involved in a less competitive manner for our attention..however he has not fully embraced the concept of sharing parents; food and toys are okay, but parents are another story altogether.

Ian one day, hopefully soon, how underrated a good nite's sleep can be and we all will get respite from his nightly tirades between wet, hungry and "hold me" spells.

Certainly what we are going through is nothing unique from thousands of other couples with

boys born 2 years apart, so I will digress from further griping and get to the fun stuff.

It is 5 weeks into his new life and Ian is sharing new expressions beyond the grimace of a poop or gas and the yowl of hunger...we have actually caught him smiling at us a few times, though not often it enough to capture on camera and share,, so you will just have to trust me on this one.

Thomas is speaking full blown sentences, 30% of which are comprehensible. Interestingly enough the tone and inflection are present already, so all he is lacking really is pronunciation. But he does point when he talks so that sometimes boots comprehension up to 50%!

You know, we are beyond beat, totally exhausted and emotionally drained. Why would anyone do this to themselves?! I can honestly say there is a love there that is unlike any other, even for my wife, even when they are testing the boundaries of my sleep deprivation.

Every Day is a Gift!

I do all my own stunts

Thomas is preparing for a career in redecorating.

BEFORE

AFTER

I wasn't joking when I told co-workers my son was climbing the walls....

Available for parties and openings...

A big brother now

Nana introduces Thomas to Ian. Uncle Chris and Grandma Gigi are also in the rom, TC is obviously the one in bed wearing scrubs.

Thomas' new kix

Thank you Uncle Ken and Aunt LeAnn for my new slippers, the most happenin' kix on the block!

Once I figure out how to get them on!

A new beginning

For those of you familiar with This Dad's Life, welcome to the new edition/addition, hereafter to be named My 2 Sons. Thomas Liam is now a big brother.

August 20th 2010 brought a new edition/addition to the Croke household. Ian Timothy Eliott joined the family at 8:41 a.m., weighing in at a hefty 9lbs, 7oz and 0ver 20 inches long.

Delivery was not as dramatic this time around. Mom and son both did well. After a brief stay in the NICU for a minor infection son and mother returned home.

Unlike his big brother Thomas, little Ian Timothy does not see sleeping on a schedule as an overrated concept, much to the relief of his parents. Nevertheless the schedule of having 2 children under the age of three can be a bit taxing to one's own sleep cycles!

As the picture of a fatigued daddy shows, it's not always rainbows and sunflowers with the children...which is partially what the blog is for, to share trials, travails and tribulations of being a dad of two sons. Of course we are really doing this for all e Crokes/Barnetts and Laufenbergs to follow their nephews/uncles/grandsons progress. (Hopefully that covers everyone)

Thanks for being a part of this experience and sharing in our blessings.

EVERY DAY IS A GIFT