just another thought here-

maybe on some level you and the kids and the baby coming are a big big wakeup call of the family continuing - having something happy to look forward to - not crumbling because of him- life continuing DESPITE him- and he wants in (or back in) or maybe he can see it's something going forward and upbeat and wants to attach himself somehow to that? i don't know- a half baked kind of notion about him and "his family" and what might be in his head based on comments?

just guessing- don't do or not do anything cause of me- i'm thinking out loud and throwin it out there for your consideration.