off topic, but HILARIOUS!

So, this has nothing to do with our growing family, but David and I have laughed until we cried 2 nights in a row reading this blog. http://stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com/ It's particularly funny if you grew up in a large Southern Baptist church and were in the youth group. We're not finished reading all the entries, either, so there's more fun to come, I'm sure.

33.5 weeks belly pictures

Here we are! The news from the OB yesterday is that things are definitely progressing. I'm not dilating at all, but I'm 60-70% effaced (which means that my cervix is shortening, but not opening--yet). My OB doesn't think that necessarily means that we won't make our 36 week goal, though, so we keep plugging along...



bare belly...
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i211/ewalrus/IMG_4078.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i211/ewalrus/IMG_4079.jpg

No one showed Jono how to crawl and push a car. I've rolled his cars across the floor to him before, but until a few days ago, he showed no real interest in them. And then suddenly he started crawling around with a car in one hand, "driving" it. Is this just instinctive behavior for little boys? It sure is cute behavior--instinctive or not!

David models the outfit...

that he came home from the hospital in! Everybody say, "Awww!"



We'll have to subject Charlie and Hazel to some photos in Daddy's green crocheted digs.

Jordan!

I am so excited about this that I just have to share. I hired a college student who is home for the summer to be my "mother's helper" for the next few weeks until the twins are born. Jordan started today, and she's fabulous! She is from Houston, goes to A&M (we can forgive her!), and has summer school the 2nd summer session. She was looking for a short term summer job for 6ish weeks, and I was looking for someone for about the same time frame. Perfect! She's the oldest of 6, with (I believe she said) 27 cousins in the Houston area, many of whom have infants and toddlers, so she's a pro at the big sister/big cousin role. Jono loved her and I got to nap, put my feet up, and *enjoy* my boy today with her available to do the heavy work. We're so excited and so grateful!

Some nursery photos!

The twins' nursery is not finished, but it is coming together. Here are some pictures of the progress...

Here is the crib with crib skirt in place. I love the polka dots! Thanks to my friend Sarah for doing the sewing for me! Eventually we will have 2 cribs, but we're not setting up the 2nd one until we need it--we plan to co-bed them at first.

Here's the Hoosier cabinet/changing table. I have plans to line the baskets behind the changing pad with leftover polka dot fabric. We also have a changing station set up on top of the washer/dryer. With three babies in diapers, we'll need good access to diaper supplies at all times!

The window valance: http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i211/ewalrus/IMG_4064.jpg

And finally, names! Many of you know what names we have been considering, but we haven't made any official blog announcements. We reserve the right to change our minds, but we are planning on Charles William (Charlie) and either Hazel or Nora/Norah with the middle name Catherine. Letters for all of the options are ready to hang on the walls.

Jonathan update...

There is not much new to report, but I thought I'd fill you in on what has occurred with the Jonathan custody situation. We have hired an attorney (the same one the Yees are using) and she has filed with the court on our behalf, stating that we want to to adopt Jono regardless of what happens with his older half siblings. She is doing her research about the case and is gearing up to represent our interests (and Jonathan's) at the trial on July 10th. So far, she feels like there are some things in our favor, as well as some definite negatives. According to her, we are in a good district and have a good judge. She feels like he is favorable toward foster parents and truly works for the child's best interest. That is a major positive. The fact that Jonathan's bio mom has a therapist working with her testifying that she should get all of her kids back is a major negative. This whole situation is truly out of our hands at this point. Please join us in praying through this difficult trial.

32 week pregnancy update!

We made 32 weeks! Woo hoo! (32 weeks is a big lung development milestone, hence the excitement.) As of last Friday, the ultrasound weight estimate was right at 4lbs apiece (boy 4lbs, 2oz and girl 3lbs, 15oz). So I am officially packing around about 8 lbs of baby with 4-6 weeks to go. Yikes!

Here are some recent belly pics. Thanks to Carrie for being the photographer this week in David's absense!



Bare belly pics (sorry for the hands on the hips in the last one--I was trying to keep my pants up!)
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i211/ewalrus/IMG_4059.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i211/ewalrus/IMG_4061.jpg

more, please!

Jono is signing "more" with increasing consistency at meals. He is a big fan of rice, so he was happy to show off his signing skills for the camera tonight by asking for more.

We are minivan owners!

We are the proud new owners of a 2007 Toyota Sienna minivan. David and Jonathan made a deal on it this morning. It's silver (looks more pewter to me) with grey interior. We got the 8 passenger (meaning middle bench instead of 2 captains' chairs), which I think will be a good decision. I'm sad to see my trusty Protege go, but with three kiddos in car seats, there aren't many more options. Here are some pictures...

Jonathan has learned to remove

his velcro diaper covers. Bummer. I guess I can keep him in pull-on or snap covers, or I could just dress the kid!



Here's what he looked like a few minutes ago--crawling around the corner from the laundry room dragging his cover by one ankle. Silly baby!

the most disturbing pregnancy commentary I've gotten so far...

I was at a gas station today pumping gas, leaning against my car, and minding my own business when I heard a voice say, "Ma'am, I have to say that it looks like you're going to have your baby in the next few hours." Confused, I look around and realize that the voice belongs to the woman who works inside the gas station. She is talking to me through the speaker on the pump. Not thrilled with the direction I knew this was headed in, I replied, "I don't think so." Confused, she asked, "Then how many months are you?" This is not a number I keep in my head, so after some quick calculation I answered, "7.5." Downright astonished, she asked, "Is it twins, then?" My cheerful "Yep!" was met with "Well, good luck!" in a most sarcastic tone, and there was no more to be heard from Mrs. Gas Station.

For real. Abuse of gas pump speakers at it's finest, wouldn't you say?

Jono enjoyed the baby pool...

but he also enjoyed crawling right on out...

We had a court hearing today for Jonathan.

Well, here's an answer to that oft repeated question, "Any news on Jonathan?" Unfortunately, the news today isn't good. David went to the hearing, and so all of this is filtered through him to me, so he may have to come back and clarify later.

We got a new social worker at CPS recently (a month ago?) and it has become apparant as she has looked over the case that it had completely fallen through the cracks. Jonathan's biological mother has maintained for awhile that she was trying to do her "services" but that she wasn't getting much support from CPS. It now appears that may be true. Her lack of suitable housing for herself and her 4 children in foster care, plus the one she has on the way (Yes, that's right. She's due about the same time as I am.) appears to be the only thing standing in her way of getting her children back. There is a follow-up hearing in one month (June 3rd) to see if she has managed to find such housing, and then the final trial to determine whether or not her kids go home is scheduled for July 10th.

I can't really begin to explain how this has hit David and me. We are reeling. We are terrified. Yes, Jonathan is a foster placement, and we knew his going home was a possibility. If CPS really dropped the ball and mom should have had her children back months ago, I have sympathy for that. On the other hand, I have a child in my home who is perfectly attached, happy, and well adjusted, and knows no other family but us. I cannot fathom how it could be in Jonathan's best interest to go back to a single mother with 3 older and one younger sibling that he does not know. And after nearly 10 months as his mother, it is Jonathan's best interest, and not his biological mother's, that I care about. We think he needs to stay.

We plan to start discussions with both his CPS social worker and his court appointed attorney as soon as tomorrow explaining our position. We also plan to talk to 3rd party legal council. Some friends of ours (Kara and Peter Yee) have been through this same thing very recently and have recommended the attorney they are working with.

I don't know how quickly updates will come. This entire process has been trying, to say the least, with all of the waiting. We'll keep you posted as best we can, but for now please pray that CPS would do what is in the children's best interest. If you feel it is appropriate, we would also love for you to pray that we are able to adopt Jonathan.

reality check!

The 2nd car seat came via UPS yesterday (thank you, Aunt Carrie!) and when I got it all dressed up, David set it next to the other one in the living room floor. He then jumped back and said, "Whoa! That's a reality check!" Funny how two car seats can do that to you! We've both been walking past them and shaking our heads. I mean, we know we're having two babies, but it's still a bit surreal.



Check out their cute coordinating strap covers. This was my solution for how to tell their seats apart. I bought them on www.etsy.com, home of all cutesy things. I thought that Nana particularly would like the owl fabric.