Opps - As it has been pointed out to me, this post was an update when I had been on a short visit. I am still in Iraq. Heading home late September.

For those of you who didn't know, Rebecca and I are expecting another child. The baby is due on the 29th of September. The plan was to find out what the sex of the baby was, have the doctor put the results in an envelope, and once I returned home we would open it up, both finding out at the same time.

I constantly was asking Bec to open it up and tell me if it was a girl or a boy. Bec stood fast the entire time, saying that we had agreed to wait. Well, when I arrived at the car at the airport and opened the trunk to put my bag away, this is what greeted me!!!!

We have since picked out a name for the baby boy... Brendan John Michael

August Update

Well, as you may have noticed I have fallen behind on the updates again! It has been rather busy, traveling all over Iraq. Since the last post, I have moved from Mortar Alley "The Green Zone" and have been able to relax in another location in Baghdad.

Currently I am at an old British Base in Habbaniyah, Iraq and was actually surprised to find out that the British had occupied the base from 1934 till May of 1955, when it was turned over to the Iraqi Army. If you are interested, go to Google and search "Habbaniyah, Iraq", the pictures from the 30's are unbelievable.

Habbaniyah is on the Euphrates river between Ramadi and Fallujah and serves as a operational base for U.S. Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces. The buildings here are very unique " British Design" and alot are being remodeled for use by the host nation.

I will be here for a week or so, then move on to Ramadi for a visit with Tony H. Poor guy has been living in less then adequate conditions, using a blue bucket for a shower and a trash bag for a toilet, but he loves it there! (Old Sergeant Majors...Crazy Bunch)

I will in the next couple of days be updating since the last post backwards just to bring everyone up to date.

Hi to all the friends and family out there!

Chris