It obviously has been a long time since I updated my website. So, a whole lot has occured since my last entry at the end of '03. I will list many of the important events since that time:
July 17, 2005 - My 30th Birthday! We went to MS for it; Suzanne went all out for my big bash.
January 15, 2005 - Jackson's 1st Birthday! He had a blue & white cake, which he got all over himself; quite funny.
September 16, 2004 - I took command of Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. This was a real opportunity as not only did I take command, I actually was 'starting up' the company, basically building it from nothing. We trained hard and then prepared for deployment to Iraq. This was a great job.
Late January '04 - We moved from FT Benning to freezing FT Drum, NY. What a trip, especially with a two week old and two dogs. A few weeks after arriving, we bought a house in downtown Watertown. We eventually sold it that Oct and moved onto post. I started work in the G3 (Operations) as a Plans Officer. It was an OK job.
January 15, 2004 - Jackson Mark Rieves was born at FT Benning, GA!!!! He weighed 9.82 lbs and was 22 1/2" long. Whoa, he is a big kid.
I don't even know how to say this, but my mother-in-law is gone. She was killed in a car wreck on November 13, 2003. She was a wonderful woman, mother, and mother-in-law. She was Suzanne's and Brian's last living parent. I need to do a tribute page to Jeannie.
Needless to say, Thanksgiving was not very good. We didn't have any fancy lunch or dinner; we just went out to eat at Cracker Barrell. I don't know how Christmas is going to go this year.
On Baby news, Suzanne is gaining about a pound a week. She is having real difficulty sleeping (of course that means that I am also).
More on the lighter side; on November 12th, my sister informed me that she was pregnant!! Wow, that was unexpected but good nonetheless.
In Army news, I am still working for Task Force Soldier, but we aren't doing very much at all. I will probably be here till the new year.
I have some good news. My big news is that on October 31, 2003 I was awarded the Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB). I had tested 27-29 Oct. I only had 3 days of training instead of the normal 2 weeks that everyone else had. I was a 'bladerunner' from day 1 (I had 2 no-go's; 3 no-go's is a failure).
Not much else to add. I am still working on Task Force Soldier. We should be through this week. I don't know what I wil be doing after this is over. I guess I will just 'Blackbird' for a while-not doing anything at all excpet signing in twice a day.
Suzanne is still feeling ill somewhat. She is still getting bigger. Jackson is moving alot lately. You can feel him kick. It is pretty neat to feel him-sometimes you can tell that it is his feet or even his head. On November 1st, Suzanne had her only baby shower. We got a ton of stuff.
Today was our 1st wedding anniversary. Unfortunately, we didn't get to do much because Suzanne was feeling rather ill.
Well, I am not going to Ranger School just yet. Instead, I am going to work for Task Force Soldier. I am working on the Warrior Ethos team. We are putting forth recommendations which will change the Army for the better(hopefully). I should be here for a few months.
Well, I am still at CAS3. I am almost out of here. I can hardly wait to get back to Benning. Of course, I will probably head to Ranger School at the end of the month. That should be interesting.
Suzanne is here at Leavenworth!! Unfortunately she is kinda sick. Still, she is here. She also talked me into updating my web page. Before this date, all I had was the main page.
August 5, 2003 - Found out that we are having a BOY!!!! His name will be Jackson Mark Rieves. Also, started CAS3 (Combined Arms Services & Staff School).
July 25, 2003 - Graduated ICCC.
May 5, 2003 - Found out that Suzanne is PREGNANT!!!
March 13, 2003 - Started ICCC (Infantry Captain's Career Course).
October 12, 2002 - Got MARRIED.
October 1, 2002 - Promoted to CAPTAIN.
August 24, 2002 - Created my web page.