Somewhere a place for us...

I don't really know how to say this, except just to say it: we're changing career paths and moving...again. I know, I know. You're probably thinking, "boy, the Smiths have become really flakey weirdos! Just pick a job and a location already!" We feel the same way ourselves. We know we are crazy for shifting gears and picking up and moving again and it's not like we really want to do it, but we feel good about the decision and know it is right for our family. So, what are we doing and where are we going? Steve is commissioning into the ARMY JAG and we've been assigned to Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. Translation: Steve is going back into the Army as a lawyer and we will be living back in Huntsville, AL about 10 minutes from my family. (Some of you may remember that Steve was in the Army before law school and was assigned to Redstone as an ordnance officer. That's how we met!) This was a really hard decision for us, but, thankfully, this was one time when Steve's pro/con list obsession actually helped.

Here are the highlights:
Cons:

• deployment (though low at Redstone)
• long training period
• 4 year commitment

Pros:

• steady, good income
• free housing/rent/house payment (whichever we choose)
• free, good health care
• more varied career opportunities
• lots of paid vacation
• perks: commissary, pools, vacation rentals, gym, discounts
• having the honor of serving our country
• generous student loan repayment program
• normal work hours
• can get good federal job when get out of Army
• Steve doesn't have to decide what to wear everyday (yes, he actually put this on the list!)

There are more to both lists, but that is the just of it. We feel relieved that going into the Army will let us catch our breath financially. Student loans and being unemployed for almost a year really set us back, so we're eager to be able to pay our debts and move forward.

You may have noticed on the con list was "long training period." Unfortunately, that hard task starts July 5th. Steve will be in Ft. Lee and then Charlotteville, Virginia for a total of 3 months. It's hard for me to even talk about how difficult it will be for me to have my husband and best friend gone and for the boys to not see their daddy everyday, but we are a close family and we'll make it somehow with Heavenly Father's help. We're hoping he can fly back on the weekends once in a while and we bought a webcam, so we can still see each other everyday.

I don't want to end on a sad note so I'll leave you with a couple pics to enjoy.

Steve in front of his law practice. Though his run as a private practice attorney was brief, he definitely does not regret it. It gave him an intense real-life course on the law and some really funny stories to tell.

This was one of the only cool things we found in Fayetteville, TN. Caleb keeps asking why there isn't a Caleb Smith Road, too.

My cute men!

Welcome, Sweet Peter

We welcomed our newest little boy, Peter Onil Smith, on June 1, 2009 at 2:18pm. He weighed 8 lbs 2 oz and was 20 in long. Apparently, he didn't want a May birthday because he made us wait a whole extra week to meet him. When I went to the doctor on Friday, I was at 5cm so we were sure he would come over the weekend. But no. I can't believe I was walking around at a 5 and my water still didn't break. I kept having daydreams that it would happen at church or the middle of Walmart. We tried everything we could to get labor started, but he would not be convinced. I finally was induced on Monday at 8am. When they checked me at noon I was progressing pretty slowly so it looked like he wouldn't be born until later that night. The nurse checked me again at 2pm, though, and freaked. I was completely dialated and effaced and ready to go! So my doctor came literally running from his office next door (he teased me that he pulled a hamstring for this baby) and got ready to deliver my baby. As he was dressing, he turned to Steve and asked him if he wanted to deliver the baby. Steve was completely shocked that he could do that and was so excited. So he suited up too. A couple pushes later, Steve caught Peter's head, delivered the rest of his body, and cut the cord. It was so neat that Steve could do that and it is a memory we will never forget. What an amazing experience it is to have a baby! I have done it by c-section and I cannot explain how different and breathtaking it is to be able to do it naturally. When Steve put our little baby on me just after he delievered him, I could not get over how beautiful and amazing life is and what an honor it is to be able to bear children. I am so grateful for the privilege to bring children into this world and, along with my righteous husband, teach them what they need to know to progress and be successful in this life.

Peter, thankfully, has proved to be a pretty laid-back, easy-going baby. He sleeps and eats much better than Caleb and Oliver ever did and he is so gosh-darn cute! He is adored by his brothers! Caleb always wants to hold him, tells me when he thinks Peter needs milk, and has already played cowboy with him. Oliver mostly runs around yelling "baby," but he likes to pat Peter on the head and try to sit in his infant swing. I'm feeling really good except for these two milk gallons I'm carrying on my chest! My body always thinks I delivered quadruplets and produces tons of milk. Sometimes breastfeeding is so lame...there I said it. No, really, though, we are all doing great and are enjoying being a family of 5.

Welcome Peter!