Vegas Baby!

Not even 2 weeks ago, we were resigned to staying put,

and Jacob would just substitute teach in the local district.

We'd stay in this cramped apartment,

and he would work a full schedule with no chance of benefits.

But we we're okay with it, I was even happy, 
because that meant we weren't moving again.

Well, much to our surprise,

a school from Las Vegas called and a charter school in Mesa called

with in days of each other and he did phone interviews for both.

Well on Thursday, the day after his second phone interview with the principal in Vegas,

he was asked to come in to meet the principal at the charter school.

He was given a verbal offer on the spot for the charter school.

We we're ecstatic, and ready to call and accept it, 

when 2 hours later he got the call from Vegas offering him the job there!

WHAT?! Two seemingly amazing offers in one day,

and Vegas needed an answer by the following night!!!

We were floored, to say the least. 

We went back and forth over and over, and eventually decided to stay.

 But, of course 5 minutes later, Vegas called and dropped the deal maker.

The school is a Title 1 school, meaning it is in a poorer area.

Because of the Title 1 status, if we we're to stay with them for 5 years,

Jacob could qualify for student loan forgiveness.
Holy Moly! How nice would that be to not have to pay those off!
And then we read up on their retirement program and benefits package.
It felt like the dream job you expect to get in 10 years
was falling right into our laps.
But I couldn't bring myself to say "yes."

I don't how many people know this about me, but,

I don't like change!
I like my routine, I like the idea of things being the same a year from now.
Sameness soothes me.

I hate the idea of moving somewhere I've never lived before.
(I bawled my eyes out when we left Rexburg, and I kinda hated it there) 

The idea of moving to another town, another ward,

well that just makes me anxious.

So the thought of leaving my ward here in Mesa,
I just couldn't fathom it.
Jacob has made a lot of contacts with teachers in the area
we both have awesome callings with the youth,
we found a great playgroup,
I have made some AMAZING friends,
and we finally know our way around enough that we don't get lost anymore.
This place was really feeling like home.
I was ready to settle down here, and make our lives here.

But, after an evening out with some girl friends,
I was ready to do what needed to be done.
The entire 10 minute drive home,
I spoke out loud in prayer 
that I would have the strength to support my husband in this career move.
I prayed that I could be a refuge for him,
and to not be a source of worry for him,
because I knew up to that point that 
my feelings on moving were all was holding him back.

So as I walked in the door,
Jacob and I looked at each other
and we both said, more or less,

 "Vegas Baby!"

I really hope this is our last big move for a VERY long time.

Even if it isn't,

at least I'm not pregnant this time!

Samuel Thomas Bendixen

Little man joined our family exactly a month ago this evening.

I cannot believe how quickly this month has passed!

So, I'm just gonna put it out there,

I am having a much easier recovery period with this baby than the first!

Annie will one day read this and think that I hated her as a baby,

and that's not true.

I love my baby girl, and always have, but,

after giving birth the first time, 

I was completely unprepared for the lack of sleep

and the excess of hormones.

This video is in no way an exaggeration of how my hormones 

were for those first few weeks of motherhood.

Poor Jacob had no clue what he got himself into,

and this time around he was very shocked 

when I only had one break down in the 2 weeks postpartum,

(and really anyone would cry after they saw how much my traffic ticket cost!)

But, to get to the real point of this post,

this birth story is a lot different from my first.

As you may know,

I developed gestational diabetes this pregnancy, 

and due to fear of possible complications, 

I was set to be induced on May 10th, 7 days before my due date.

We were so lucky to have my parents come into town the night before

and they were taking care of Annie for us.

Now, I had been contracting off and on for over a week,

so when we finally got admitted at 10:30,

I was more than relieved to finally get the show on the road.

I was already dilated to 4 inches,

and once they started my pitocian, 

I consistently progressed a half inch every hour.

At about 3:30 pm, my doctor came in to check in,

and broke my water, which was what put it over the top for me.

Half hour later I had my epidural done and 

I was really excited for the prospect of a nap. 

However, I never got that nap. 

Little boy was now so low that 

the only way they could find him on the fetal monitor

was for me to lay with my legs at like 90 degrees apart,

with a big peanut shaped ball in between them.

After we finally got that figured out, 

I was ready to nap except for the overwhelming feeling 

that I needed to go to the bathroom. 

It was uncomfortable enough to keep me awake,

and when I eventually called the nurse in to see what we could do,

she checked and I was fully dilated.

By the time my OB came in 5 minutes later,

he was crowning and they started turning the room over for delivery.

As this all was happening, 

I just kept thinking out loud that I never got my nap!

After about 15 minutes of pushing,

our little man joined the world at 6:35 pm.

We are so in love with him,

and his big sister likes him more and more each day.

Samuel Thomas Bendixen

In just one month, this little man has changed our lives

so much for the better.

He has made his sister more loving and sharing.

Daddy and I may be exhausted,

but we are so in love with him! 

He is a calm, happy baby,

a great sleeper, an awesome eater, and a pro at this growing thing!

(He gained 3lbs already!)

So excited to see how much he changes in this next month!