Gettin' by with a little help from my friends

For a chap who has only graced the earth for just under four months, Noah has certainly made an idelible impression on the Dublin social scene. Quite the little groover, he mixes it up with his equally cool chums on a weekly basis.

The Crew

Noah's gang of buddies that play together on a weekly basis whilst their respective mummies set new records for tea drinking.

Ava

Cathal

Liam

Mannix

A splendid set of young 'uns if ever there was one, greatly encouraged and enthused by the below rabble whom I have assigned the rather grandeur title of "The Blogger Alliance".

More Windows XP than X-Wing Fighters but a formidable outfit nonetheless.

Ava's Dad

http://southdublindad.blogspot.com/

Awards should be showered on this blog for quite possibly the greatest passport photo in living memory, an excellent blog from a fellow dad.

Cathal's Mum
http://cathals-adventure.blogspot.com/

Putting The Muse to shame quite frankly with a wealth of information available on this, my favourite mummy blog.

Cathals Grandmère
http://nanp-journey.blogspot.com/

Un autre blog fantastique qui offre un regard différent à la vie d'une perspective d'une grand-mère. (excuse mon francais Nan P...)

Jacob's Dad

http://downsdad.wordpress.com/

The first daddy blog I came across when the news broke for us. The inspiring words of Nick and the excellent and amusing pictures of little Jacob provided great support in the early days. A great blog from an adoring dad, a thoroughly nice chap in real life too.

Noah is kept regularly entertained by his ever-growing set of toys, ever-growing in that we just cannot resist buying him a new fellow whenever we see one. Great for Noah, not-so great for my ever-straining bank balance. The core of this band of comrades are, what I like to term, The Rat[tle] Pack. Introduce yourself to them below:

(from the left)

Sammy the Snail

Percy the Penguin

Billy the Butterfly

Squeaky the Pig

Olly the Octopus

Conor the Crab

Honorary Shoutouts

To all the parents we met at St.Michaels House. Back in early 2008 when our lives were mapped out for us so, I could never have conceived of how such a seeming adversity would bring myself and Mrs T to meet some truly outstanding individuals. Through St. Michaels House, we were fortunate enough to meet a wondeful group of parents, who, like ourselves were raising babies who have Down Syndrome. I was particularly encouraged by the manner that each parent was beginning to come to terms with their life's new direction and it instilled a hope certainly in myself that everything was going to be ok. It sounds somewhat dramatic but the sheer unknown hand that we were suddenly dealt by life's croupier did leave us in an emotional wilderness for a while but, having spoken to all the new Mums and Dads as we did and seeing their determination to provide the best lives possible for their children, the said wilderness is now filled with laughter, hope and confidence. Thanks to all we met and see you at the Christmas do for a mince pie and a small port.