Rainy Day

A day for boots in the backyard...
I had to take a picture :)

Quick pic

Here is a quick pic of the kids taken after church recently.  With spring's arrival, the kids are playing a lot outside and enjoying the sunshine.  Natalie asks me everyday, "Can I wear short sleeves today?"  She is definitely a warm weather girl. 

Tomorrow is Amanda's birthday so we'll do something fun this weekend-

Our princess

Hard to believe she will be 5 in a few months!

Handsome men

Here are some more pictures of Grant and Benjamin.

Family Pictures

Here are some family pictures taken this summer.

Bed time

Here is a recent picture of all three getting ready for bed--

Natalie's 4th Birthday

So, with three kids, we often take about 10 pictures of an event with the hopes that one or two will come out well.  Presenting Natalie with a birthday cake tonight will give you an idea of how this all works.  We had to relight the candles twice before she was able to blow them out.  Apparently there was an east wind from a 2 year old boy who was equally excited about blowing out candles.  Here is the progression below...

PS.  Benjamin was taking a nap in bed, so we'll have to load more of him soon-

Trying on her cool new shades

Awaiting his big sister's cake...

Natalie's cake is delivered! (and the little brother quickly blows them out)

Daddy relighting the candles for the first time; Natalie voicing her displeasure

Daddy blocking the east wind (aka Grant)

Daddy trying to relight the candles quickly

Daddy covering Grant's mouth so Natalie can blow out the candles

Grant stealing a few M&M's

Grant enjoying the M&M's

New pictures of Benjamin

Here are some pictures that Amanda had taken in Benjamin's first few weeks-

Benjamin's First Day

Natalie and Grant got the chance to meet their little brother today. I wasn't sure if Grant was so happy because of his new little sibling or because of the Tootsie Pop he was given at the hospital. Either way, it was a fun day for new beginnings. Here are a couple of pictures-

First picture

Here is a picture taken shortly after the delivery: Mom and the little guy are doing great!

Planning to have more pictures tomorrow-

Benjamin Andrew Creason

...was born around 6pm.

9 pounds 6 oz.

20 1/2 inches long

Mom and baby are well. Planning to have pictures later tonight or tomorrow morning.

Now it's starting to happen...

Contractions are closer. Things are getting more intense.

Might be a little while before I can blog again.

No news...

The contractions are getting a little closer together but we are settling in for the evening.We could be here for a while :)

A quiet afternoon in room 8

Around 1pm the decision was made to give Amanda pitocin to move the labor along. Things are not moving very quickly so they are going to give Amanda a small amount of pitocin to manage the contractions.

Walking the hallways

You know, from a guy's perspective, about 80% of the labor process is somewhat low intensity. We're all ready to go, but all we can do is walk the hallways and talk. We do get the chance to walk past the rooms where Natalie and Grant were born, which serves to create good memories. I suppose this delivery affords us a walk down memory lane.

They broke Amanda's water a little before 10, so now we walk and wait for the process to follow its course.

The little guy is coming...

Off to the hospital around 8am this morning. Today is the day that Amanda will be induced-

As I type this she is in the process of getting checked in and settled in the hospital room.

Here are two pictures as we left the house this morning--