Deployment Blog

Wow - I read this and it sounds VERY VERY familiar: Mother, toddler await soldier's return from Iraq

Only Josh and I were married in July 2005 - today is actually our 2nd anniversary. It is also the 2nd one he's missed. (Last year, Josh sent me flowers with a note that said, "Next year will be better - I promise!" That was before the extension. Oops. He owes me one for that!)

I found out I was pregnant the day after he left for training down in Mississippi (although we had a hunch I was pregnant right before he left). He's only seen Amy for 2 weeks, back when she was 5 months old. She's changed a lot since then.

Now Amy is just over 13 months old. She can feed herself. She says UH OH and HI and WOOF WOOF (when she sees a dog) and VAROOM (when she sees a car - or NASCAR). Just this week, her very first tooth appeared! Dad missed out on all those firsts, but it seems like he may be back in time to catch her first steps. Amy can pull herself up and cruise pretty well while holding onto the coffee table or couch, but she can't quite get going on her own yet. Hopefully, she is saving that "first" for when Daddy comes home - which should be in the next few weeks.

Much like the family in the above article, we already have plans to vacation up north as a family (just Josh, Amy, and me). We didn't find a place that will let us stay for free, but at least they are willing to give us a military discount which is better than nothing.

It is an amazing feeling to know that he is probably on his way home somewhere in the world at this very moment. I don't know if he's left Iraq or if he's stuck in Kuwait or if he's actually in Wisconsin by now. I don't know where he'll have to stop on the way or how long it will take him to get from one place to the next. For security purposes, I'm not allowed to know the details. I just know that the end of this deployment is coming soon. And I am ready to have my husband - Amy's Daddy - home.