More photos...and finally a belly pic

Our ham-bone dog loves our comforter. We won't let her on the bed but should any of the blanket fall on the floor she will undoubtedly be found amidst its fluff.
Bobby all cleaned up (such a rarity I thought I'd share) he looks so handsome!
The boys room, sneak peak. The before picture was taken during the day so the lighting is much better. Of course we had just pulled the mattress off the bed so we could sand it, but everything is generally where it was before. Even though the lighting is off of the last few you can get the idea. We are almost done with the room. It needs a rug and the pictures are still to be framed, so little touches here and there and my Mother's quilt for Oliver was on lone for the photo (it is almost done). I'm excited, it has turned out really fun.
Finally...35 weeks. I'm almost 38, so I'm a bit behind, but soon enough there will be baby photos and no one will care any more about the belly shots, lol.

Life and Times

Life has been a bit hazy lately. A lot has been going on, yet it all seems to be a continuous countdown to something in which we struggle to live in the moment and not just look forward to things to come.

I'm going to start on a sad note but I promise to end happily. For all of June and July we had established something close to a shared schedule with Julian's mother. Part of our reason for being down and out started July 22nd. We dropped Julian off with his Mother assuming our regular schedule would continue. She called as usual to say we wouldn't see him again (that was a weekly thing) you see once she got him home and he talked about our house she would respond very angry to his "second home" which she has ademently denied to him exists. Normally her threats go unfounded but this time she has kept him from us. We have waited with bated breathe thinking "this can't last" but with only a few phone calls since with Julian, we are seeing her fortitude. Hense we have started the custody process with the court--but these things take time and we are at the mercy of the Missouri (Jackson County) court system and their painfully slow moving process. Our lawyers says things look promising and really we see that only good will come from this. But in the meantime and with a baby on the way we only wish we had the time with Julian to reassure him of our love and prepare him for brotherhood. Cross your fingers, say your prayers, for whatever you do--it has to help. We want Julian to be able to meet his brother and Ashley has said she is not going to let him. We know they will meet eventually but we would rather it happen sooner than later.

I do not want to get into the nitty-gritty here, but just wanted to leave a little update of things! We are missing him terribly! Finally something to shout good things about. I had my 35 week check-up last wednesday and we were given a bit of a treat with 3-D ultrasound pics we weren't planning on getting. He looks just like Bobby--nose and lips but it was moving and surreal. These are the two pictures she printed for us.

Otherwise, he is estimated to weigh 6 lbs, 6 ozs and they moved my due-date up a week. That makes me 36 1/2 weeks. I have pictures at home on the camera and I will post them shortly...sometime this week. I'm as big as can be and plagued with achy hips and a head on my bladder. Oliver is squirmy and big and we are so anxious to meet him. It could be anytime really. We'll keep everyone posted.

MIA

Sorry I've been away so long. I've just been busy/tired/internet-less.

I thought I would post some friendly family photos for now and more later :)My two hammy cats. Runway is far to classy to cuddle up on top and look like a slug, but Hopper and Julian can often be found snoozin' in the sun. Hopper was cracking me up sleeping on her back like this. It makes me laugh to think that just seven months ago Julian (the cat) was so mad about us getting Hopper that he didn't come out of my bedroom for a month (except to stand in the door protesting loudly)
Sasha is getting big big big and only six months old.
Julian and his "sister" Hopper. Both so beautiful
Two things...Hopper is my little stalker and goes wherever I am...the bathroom, the kitchen, the shower (she stands between the curtain and the liner on the side) and her favorite spot is to be curled up on my very pregnant belly (32 weeks in this picture). The baby is going to seriously de-thrown her and we're anxiously anticipating how she'll deal with not being my center of attention. I guess Bobby will have to take over.
And finally...the collage I'm making for the boys room is almost done!