Gwenda's baby shower was this last weekend. It was fun to see all of the little girl stuff for her new little baby! She's going to be a great mom! We were posing for the above picture to show off her pregnancy belly while trying to hide my three week postpartum belly! :)
Grant is such a good baby. Truly. He seems to have a laid-back personality. He still often wakes up every two hours at night, which is a little rough, but we know that before we blink he will be sleeping 12 hours at night (wishful thinking for now)! He doesn't cry often, which is nice as well. I love the smell of his head, the way he holds my finger with his hand, and his little cooing noises. 
Muscle Man!
Our little lady bug and sweet Dorothy had a lot of fun on Halloween. 
Grant didn't have any candy, but he looks forward to next year.
Jillian Hayes and her parents joined us for the evening festivities. Ladybugs rule!
Showing off the carved pumpkin...
The loot! The girls only went to a few neighbor houses, but made out quite well with the candy for being one and three year olds.
Our sweet son, Grant Beckham Dowden, entered the world at 10:30 AM on October 22, 2009. He was 8 lbs. 1 oz and 20 inches long. I was scheduled for an induction that morning, as I was 40 weeks and 6 days pregnant. It was meant to be his birthday either way. My water broke while we were in the hospital, before I was induced. The morning went fast...thanks to my wonderful epidural!!!
Grant is perfect and healthy. We are so blessed. We have all been adjusting this last week to our new addition. Mallory, who is almost two, has been having a rough time, but we know in time it will balance out. Brynn loves to hold him and is sure to be constantly watching him and looking out for him in the years to come. Beau has been amazing, as always. He truly is an incredible husband. He chose not to deliver Grant, but was and continues to be a wonderful support person. He had this week off from work and I could not have done this week without him. We'll see how this next week goes as he goes back to work. Hmmmmm.... it could be interesting. We have been blessed by wonderful support from family and friends. Thanks to all of you who have celebrated with us and supported us. 
We have yet to get a decent picture of the three kids together... that's what happens with a 3 year old, 1 year old and a 1 week old... we'll keep trying. Of note, you can see part of a blue sticker on Grant's stomach. It actually says "Bravery Award" and Brynn stuck it on him. Brynn received the sticker after getting her H1N1 vaccine. I think it's fitting that he was wearing it while his sisters were holding him!
The above picture is Grant at 6 days old. Grant has the same initials (GBD) as his daddy, grandpa, and great-grandpa. We chose not to make Grant the fourth in line to carry on the family name, but we chose to keep the same initials. We had a really, really hard time choosing his name and finally decided on his name about two hours after he was born. 
OK, lets be honest here. I am furiously trying to catch up on my blog because I have been a slacker for some time. It is now getting late and I am going to turn in and go to bed. At some point I hope to finish blogging September and now the beginning of October... but who knows what that will look like or if that will ever happen. If you never see pictures, please know that we lived during that time and it was good :) I am now 39 weeks pregnant, due October 16th. We plan on this being our third and final child and they say its a boy. The hospital bag is packed, camera in the car, the girls clothes are lined up in the hallway for my amazing mom to take care of them whenever this little one decides to enter the world. We are incessantly doing laundry and picking up trying to make sure things are in order. I am scared out of my mind about doing labor... again. I am trying to remind myself that there is an end to it. I also know that I am SO ready to have my body back (knowing that it won't be pretty, but at least I can bend over easier to play with the kids, run around the yard easier, and sleep on my stomach). 
In August we had a fun day with Brandon and Marli, cousin Emerson, and Papou and Cici. They were kind to meet up with us in the Lansing area. We had a ton of fun playing and then had a nice lunch together before heading home. Here, Uncle Brandon and Emerson were checking out the mouth. 
Papou and Brynn examining dentition! Yeah!
Marli and Emerson playing...
Fun with bubbles!
Papou and Cici with their three grandchildren: Emerson, Mallory, and Brynn. We were again reminded that we need to take these pictures earlier in the day instead of later. It is not easy to get little ones to pose for pictures!!! 
OK, as I try to catch up on my blog, we can't forget our dear nephew's birthday. Camden turned 4 in July and his birthday party was at the park. We had a great time. The kids enjoyed watching the helicopter land and take-off from the hospital. 
Great Uncle George was enjoying his candy bar.
There was a 4th of July bike parade in the neighborhood of Aunt Diane and Uncle Jim, which is where we usually spend the 4th of July. The kids had fun decorating their bikes. 
And they're off!
The festive cousins...
Mallory wasn't too much into the photo session, but she was cute!
Brynn is such a good big sister :)
I love that we have wild turkeys that occasionally stroll our neighborhood. On the morning of my birthday, when I opened our front door, this was my view. I loved it! Very random!
After the June wedding in Hershey, Pennsylvania, we journeyed through Houghton, New York which is where Beau spent much of his childhood. He attended Houghton Academy and enjoyed touring the current school and seeing his former hometown. 
Beau with his Headmaster, Mr. Stockin. 
Brynn was posing on the campus of Houghton College.
Mallory enjoyed the free ride. 
This is the Houghton, New York Post Office. I loved it. It looks so artsy and not like any Post Office I have ever seen. I had heard so much about Houghton and it was fun to take the tour and see part of Beau's past that has contributed to the man he is today.
My cousin, Nathan Hauser, married an amazing woman, Heidi, this summer. We made the journey to Hershey, Pennsylvania. We were honored that Brynn was asked to be a flower girl for their special day. She loved it and did great... even with no nap! The wedding was perfect and couldn't have been more beautiful. It was wonderful being able to stay with our extended family that we love so much but don't get to see all that often. (Brynn is the little one on the left, next to her cousin, Casie, who was also a flower girl.)
Brynn, Heidi, and Casie... the ladies!
The kiss!
Our family, minus Mallory. She didn't attend the wedding. She was napping and playing instead.
A happy girl with her blankie and cup of milk! 
Daddy and Brynn... quite a pair!
Brynn LOVED the wedding reception. That girl danced the night away. She loved it! 
Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate!!!!
Mallory wasn't sure about the giant chocolate bar.
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.... Daddy's favorite!
Brynn really wanted cotton candy and we gave in and got her some. She chose pink and was so excited!
Everyone had fun riding the rides at Hershey Park.
We love cousin Sarah! She is amazing and so good to the kids. Here, Sarah and Casie strike a pose.
Aunt Amy and Uncle Nolan are great. We had so much fun staying with them and appreciate all they did to make our stay in Hershey incredible. They hosted a million of us in their house while being so busy with their son getting married. THANK YOU for the wonderful time and great memories!
Casie summed up our whole visit!
