Where has the time gone?

I know.....I haven't been very timely with updating the blog.
My apologies. I am not sure where the time has gone. Andrew was home for R&R April 20th-May 4th. He got two days late thanks to the Volcano, but he made it home safe and sound eventually. We had a very busy two weeks! We were able to see family and most of our friends.

The first week we were in Washington D.C. and Maryland for Andrew's good friend, Brandon Kasen. We met so many people and had a wonderful time. We went sight seeing and did some relaxing as well.

Then, we came home for a day and then head north to see

the family for a few days. It was so nice for Andrew to see

everyone even though the visits were short. He is really

looking forward to coming home and spending more time and catching up with everyone.

Shortly after Andrew left, I took a pregnancy test and BAM, our lives have changed :) We are pregnant! We had hoped it would happen while he was home and I guess we hope enough. We took a test the night before he departed, but it was pretty vague. Then on Mother's Day I took another test and it was positive for sure! We are so very excited! Andrew was able to call into the first OB apt. and listen to the heartbeat. We were both very emotional and ecstatic! It is truly amazing.

So, for Father's Day, I was able to send him copies of the

ultrasound. The pictures are also on Facebook. As of today

we are 10wks/2days. We will keep everyone posted on

the developments.

Andrew will be home in Indiana in exactly 65 days. The replacements for his unit will be arriving in mid-July and then they will be leaving Afghanistan in roughly 55 days or so. We are counting down the days. Andrew is eager to get home, visit with family, get back to work and live our lives together :)

Attached to this posting are some pictures from Washington D.C. and an ultrasound picture. Enjoy and until next time, which will hopefully be sooner than later, take care and pray for our troops.

Love,

Erin, Andrew & Baby

Pictures......

Our handsomely hairy soldier, St. Sgt. McKalips


Andrew, some Air Force guys and Jack (the bomb sniffing dog)




Andrew and his teammate Joe



In Andrew's words, "The crew on a big ass truck."

MAY THE COUNT DOWN BEGIN.......

I can't believe Thanksgiving has passed, then Christmas, New Years, Valentines Day and soon to be St. Patrick's Day, wow how the time has passed! This means as of today, Andrew will be home for R&R in 59 days, but who is counting? :) We are so very excited. Andrew will be home April 18th/19th until May 4th. We are attending a good friends wedding in Maryland during his leave. We fly out of Indy on April 21st and will return April 26th. A couple of days prior to the wedding we are going to visit Washington D.C. as well. We are looking forward to actually traveling together for a change :) The rest of the days he is home we will be making the rounds to be sure and visit with family and friends. So, mark you calendars so we can visit.

As a report from Andrew.....he seems to have pretty good spirits now that his contract is figured out. We had a mess for a couple of weeks because he was inactive reserve status..blah...blah..blah, but everything is figured out now, thankfully. He had to "extend" his contract for 2yrs. but the overall his time will only be 1 extra month of total duty time. The plan for him is to be home sometime in Aug. 2010 and then a reserve commitment for the remainder of the year and then we will be finished with the Army! YEAH!


I have been begging Andrew to send some pictures, but he isn't patient enough because his Internet connection is pretty slow. He promises to put a photo album together when he gets home to show everyone. However, he loves to get pictures in his care packages. So, please do share with him.


Speaking of care packages. Everyone has been so supportive! Thank you to of coarse the McKalips family, The Lesiak's, Dana, Mitch & Jackson, Morin & Kebert Family, Jacky & Kevin Caudle, Courtney & Derek, IMPD family, Grandma & Papa Lesiak and I am sure I am forgetting others but THANK YOU SO MUCH for showing your support. Every package brings a smile to Andrew's face and a piece of home he knows is waiting for him to return home safely.


That's it for this update. Andrew thinks of all our family and friends often and appreciates all the support. Emailing him at ajm_elv717@hotmail.com or Facebook is the best way to contact him. He isn't very good at responding, but believe me he reads them and appreciates them.


Love to All from the Army Wife,


Erin Lynn