Modern, Original, Christian Artwork

I'm finally taking the time to do the blog. We've been so busy lately, I haven't had time for it.

We still have the stray kitten/cat that we picked up on Christmas morning... He started answering to 'Kitty', so we decided we needed to give him a name even though we were hoping to have found his owners before needing to do that. Naming an animal makes it more likely it will be permanent. Tyson is still missing. I won't even go into what runs through my head about that. I think he's alive, which actually makes it harder ... for now, because no one has come forward to claim Taco, that's what we've named the stray cat - don't ask me where it came from - Dustin liked it and it actually seems fitting somehow - he is here and it's looking more and more like he'll be staying here. Evander doesn't cry to go outside b/c he has Taco keeping him company, they play and sleep together and I think it's made Tyson being gone easier for Evander ...

This one won't load on here - have to click on the link to watch Taco playing with an iPhone App: http://youtu.be/31Sh1mrUUSE

My little brother and his wife found out that they are expecting their 3rd child sometime around August this year! My mother is in heaven - she loves her grand babies! They already have 1 boy and 1 girl, but we are secretly hoping this one is a boy b/c it will be the closest in age to Asher ...We are praying for a safe and healthy pregnancy for Rachel and baby!

Proverbs 17:6: Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

My mom is throwing Dustin and I a baby shower on January 28th. She's very excited and doing all kinds of art projects - all top secret - for the shower ... I'm excited. I wonder if I'll have to be wheeled in in a barrel by then, but it will be fun to see everyone, see what my mom has been working on so diligently and open presents and EAT CAKE!!!

She's also working on murals in her daycare toy room ... she's so talented ... it's where I get my artistic abilities from ... her and God ... God, first, but you know what I mean ...

Our puppies ... I read online somewhere that dogs can tell when a woman is pregnant ... NOT MINE! At the top of the list of my wonders/worries is how the dogs will handle having a baby in the house and how we are going to divide our time and attention. I don't want the dogs to feel neglected or replaced, but I have a feeling I won't care once Asher is here ...I think they'll do fine with him - I'm more worried about them feeling neglected by us.

This 1 won't load - have to click on the link to watch: http://youtu.be/AgZOxfi8pvw

We watched a documentary last weekend called 'The Business of Being Born'. It was not wise to watch it so close to delivery and having resolved ourselves to a hospital birth pretty early on. We had been thinking natural birth with a midwife when we first found out I was pregnant, but decided we would go the hospital route b/c we are uninsured and friends and family told me I would want the option for an epidural. After watching the documentary and talking about it, we found ourselves frantically trying to see if we could get a Certified NURSE Midwife to do a home birth with us in less than 2 months. All the CNM's around here that have ample experience - like 20+ years - were booked for February. We found a couple that said we could birth in their birthing centers, but that was not what we wanted to do. Long story short, it was a long, stressful week that ended with us, once again, realizing we would have to go the hospital route. Of course, now I am even more apprehensive about it ... I simply don't trust the medical industry in this country and probably never will. It is a well oiled machine that is more focused on turning a profit than on what is actually best for the individual... I'm trying not to think about it too much b/c we only have 4 weeks and 5 days left until I'm due at this point and I will drive myself crazy if I sit around thinking about all the reasons I do not want to deliver in a hospital, since that's where Asher will be welcomed into this world...

This is from last week - 34 weeks and a few days .. I need to take a more up to date picture b/c I am getting bigger by the day!

This weekend was only semi-productive. I feel like every free minute we have needs to be spent doing something productive b/c we have so little time to get things in order now ... My cousin, Whitney, and my uncle Mark were in town all week and we got to spend some time with them which was nice ... yesterday we FINALLY cleaned Ruby and Tuesday's cage - and by 'we' I mean 'Dustin cleaned and I watched him' ... then we introduced Stewie and the rats ... and we replaced the lights that were out on the patio with pretty white twinkly lights - they remind my of a fairy forest .. I LOVE THEM!

Dustin has been SUPER HUSBAND lately in the cooking department. He's a really good, creative cook ... and it works out well for me b/c I like to EAT! (and I don't like to cook and I'm not very good at it anyway!)

Hmmm ... it seems like I should have to much more to report, having not blogged in so long ... I swear we have been too busy to think lately and every day could have an extra 10 hours in it and we probably still wouldn't get done all that needs doing ... Anyway ... this is the home stretch ... I feel Asher move all the time, I'm pretty thoroughly uncomfortable, but I also feel sad when I think about him not being inside my anymore - like he'll be out here with the rest of us, unprotected and vulnerable ... we are excited though ... this is a whole new ball game for us!

HAPPY SUNDAY!!!