Baby shower pictures!

My office threw us a baby shower and it was super fun!! I'll post pictures of FL's soon!

Thursday Thirteen

There's an escalating conflict between Russia and Georgia and I'm copying tomatoe salad recipe's from The Washington Post. Yes, this is pretty much where I'm at in the pregnancy…The office is buzzing - Cold War, ships deploying, military involvement, media phone calls, but quick! -someone fix the copy machine cause I need my tomatoe's!!! I can safely safe, I'm a pretty important asset to the Navy. :) And I've got "take care of me, take care of baby, MUST EAT FOOD" on the brain!

This morning has been filled with compliments and funny conversations about my pregnancy, the latest of which I realized Holy Crap I'm 8 MONTHS ON SATURDAY!!!!! The time has been flying by! So far, pregnancy has been really fun and fairly easy so I thought I'd make my Thursday Thirteen one I can write in my journal to remember.

13 Really Fun and Great Things About My Pregnancy So Far!

1. Feeling or seeing her kick. She’s only gotten me good twice, which actually brought me to tears, but every other time it’s the best feeling I’ve ever had. I really can’t believe I’ve got a little girl in there!

2. Decorating the nursery. This is going down in one of the most fun things EVER! The room is gorgeous! It’s exactly what I pictured and filled with beautiful pictures and antiques and books. I can’t wait to see her dressed up in cute little dresses with white tights and bloomers running around playing with her toys!!

3. Talking to strangers about her. I can’t take two steps around the building without someone asking all about the pregnancy and how I’m feeling. It’s really fun talking about her all day and it’s always nice to be paid compliments every now and then.

4. Picking out names. We’ve agreed on Maddison Grace. Maddison means daughter of a mighty warrior and Anna (after my mother) means Grace. I love that name! We’ve even picked out the next few! J I’m pushing for Nancy after my grandma. I love the name Nancy. And if we have a boy, he’ll probably be Benjamin Riley. Zach’s family name is Riley – his grandpa, dad and brother. It’s a naming after combo platter.

5. Celebrating her soon-to-happen birth with our families. We have had such wonderful, wonderful support from our families. From phone calls, to emails, to things passed down in the family, to super thoughtful gifts, we are so blessed!!

6. Telling my kindergarten Catholic religious education class about being pregnant. It was the cutest thing ever I swear. They all were completely amazed and ran over to touch my belly!

7. Being pregnant with a friend. It’s really great that a good friend of mine is only a month more pregnant than I am. We can share our crazy feelings and aches and emotions with each other without feeling silly.

8. Daydreaming about what she’ll look like. So far, it looks like she’s got the Old Man’s nose and cheeks and my Dr. Seuss ‘who’-like chin. I picture her to have blue eyes, cute dark hair and long eyelashes like the Old Man. So pretty!!

9. Spending time with my sister, my mom and my grandma in Florida. My favorite women in the world! I wish I could share every second of my pregnancy with them!

10. Buying a mini-van. Yes, we’re in our mid-20s and we’ve crossed the line, but the van is so great! I was near tears in trading in my favorite car ever, and I still get that way sometimes, but the van is really nice and roomy and drives like a champ. I still laugh at my reflection in window’s though!

11. The fact that I have dodged the nausea. That was my biggest fear ever. I did get horrible migraines for a long time, but I’ll take those over hugging the bowl anytime.

12. That I’m 8 months and still up and moving. I’m incredibly fortunate to still have the energy and ability to do a bunch of stuff still. Including my 12 hour work days after my commute is done. Although lately, that’s slowly fading…

13. Hearing my husband’s jokes. He’s been really funny lately and that’s really refreshing – especially when I have not so good days. We’ve got only a few weeks left and I can’t wait to become parents!!!

Happy Anniversary to Us!

I fell in love again!

Just when I thought I can't love someone I've never met so much, I see this little punam! Head on, she has all of the Old Man's facial features and my tiny chin! haha She's going to be gorgeous!

She's shmooshed up a little close to my walls ...






This is the thinker ... She has the longest fingers ever! (Oh, and I once fooled my sister in the game Balderdash by saying a movie plot was about a kid who took over the world with his seven inch fingernail. This is exactly what I pictured. Tiny body. Big finger.)



This is Maddie whistling like a coach ...



This is the Old Man all the way. Complete with his nose and cheek bones!

A few things from nurse, I mean pirate Anna ...

First off, when boss requests a volunteer to research and write a press release about our hospital ship's latest humanitarian mission, and you are wearing a white cotton-blend maternity blouse, do not accept. Unless you are aware of the "nurse Hancock" jokes that will ensue ...

It's official. I'm as big as a house. I can't get over my reflection in the window when I walk by or in the mirror every morning! I know it's for a wonderful, wonderful reason, but man, am I wrong for disliking the clothes that resemble puffy shirts from Seinfeld or Brittney Spears at her worst? Luckily, my sister made it through this emotionally trying time and managed to find - and pass on ThankYouVeryMuch!- a bunch of really cute things. But in general, all that's left within reasonable prices are paisley-printed blends and polyester house coats making us all look like the same, pregnant woman.

So anywho, here I am in my puffy shirt resisting the urge to roll my R's when I talk or squint my left eye, and I realize, I'm well over six months pregnant! Yay!!! We decided to get a 3D/4D sonogram and on Friday, we’ve made progress on the baby registry and are making plans to visit FL for a shower and how to paint the nursery!!!!!!!!!!!!

So far, so good!

I wanted to tell everyone that we’ve pretty much decided on a name for her ...

Maddison Grace. What do you think? (leave a comment!) Others that I'm still pushing for even though the Old Man pretty much has his mind made up are Lilly, Ava, Julia, Rachel or my favorite - Nancy Grace. After my grandmother. The most amazing, almost 93-year old woman who is the Wii bowling champ in her nursing home! And if it turns out that the little girl was hiding her privates, Benjamin Riley.

So back to Maddi, we love that name! The only hang up I have is that every third child is named Madison so I had to make it different and add a D in there. And get this, after we decided we like that name, we looked into what it meant – daughter of a mighty warrior! Not to mention that it’s a former president’s name and we met in Washington, D.C. Hopefully, when we go into labor in a few months, we can make it to Bethesda which is the President’s hospital which would be cute too!

I hope everyone is doing well! We love and miss you!

On another note ...

If you haven't yet read my weekly update on my sidebar, the little one is the size of a spaghetti squash! A SPAGHETTI SQUASH!!!! Can you believe it??? She can hear and blink and has hair and is almost a pound!

These five months are flying by so fast that I'm trying not to panic! It was only about two weeks ago that I started to feel super pregnant. I'm big, I'm uncomfortable, I'm getting massive headaches, my feet hurt, my head's big, I can't sit, I can't stand, I can't lay down! Ughh! But isn't it amazing how every little kick just makes it all worthwhile?

As for the house - the Old Man and I are now settled into our new place and it's fantastic! The house is beautiful. We have tons of space and a cute little backyard. Humphrey and Sophie are even excited to have some more room!

As for the old place - we close on it today then hop over to a prenatal check-up. Everything has fallen into place so wonderfully that I get all vaclempt thinking about how things really do follow God's plan.

I'll get better at writing, I swear. It's been a bit hectic around the Hancock household, but things are coming along quite nicely!

All you have to do is pray! :)

We miss everyone and hope to see you soon!

Now THIS is exciting!

OK, so I'm not doing so good at keeping up on the blog, but it's because I've been working really, really hard at work and I'm really loving it!

So I'm busting right now!!!!!! I checked out my latest story about how Military Sealift Command accepted a fifth ship to the Navy's newest, most advanced ship class, (again, not the most exciting article, but hey, I'm still new!) and it got picked up on Military.com!!! WEEEEE!!

My most exciting goal before went on maternity leave was to get at least one story published on Military.com and they took one already!! (If you aren't familiar, in the military world, Military.com is probably the biggest news source.) And now it's almost midnight, everyone's asleep and I have no one to tell!!! Again, one of the many reasons why I love blogging so much!

To see it online, click here!

The drumroll please!

We're having a baby girl!!!!!

Dr. said she looks perfect!

We'll have to start a name poll next!

You can see her little hand!

She's got daddy's cheek balls!

This is the cutest picture!!!

My nephew

My sister took this at the Tampa Bay Rays stadium when they were doing the Lupus walk. He's getting so big!!

Walkin' for Lupus!

Oh how I love the HO'S - in case you forgot - the Hancock, Hill, O'Sullivan's! This weekend they were out supporting my mother and the millions of other Americans with Lupus at the Lupus Walk at Tropicana Field.

My mom's spirit and determination in battling this disease everyday is so incredibly inspiring. She's the most amazing woman I know.

I wish we could have been there, mom, I love you!

PS. The Old Man and I will be waiting for our XL tee-shirts!

We have kicks!!

I feel little tiny baby kicks!! He's so active; I love it!! I can feel them the strongest in the morning and before I go to bed, and it's wonderful!!

8 more days until we find out if the baby is a boy or a girl!!!!!!

Happy Military Spouse Appreciation Day!

A PROCLAMATION

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Military spouses embody the courage, nobility of duty, and love of country that inspire every American. On Military Spouse Day, we pay tribute to the husbands and wives who support their spouses in America's Armed Forces during times of war and peace.

The legacy of military spouses began when colonial Americans were fighting for independence. Martha Washington boosted the morale of her husband's troops by visiting battlefields and tending to the wounded. Since then, members of our Armed Forces have served our Nation accompanied by the steadfast love and support of their spouses and families.

While our men and women in uniform are protecting our country's founding ideals of liberty, democracy, and justice, their spouses live with uncommon challenges, endure sleepless nights, and spend long periods raising children alone. Many military spouses are also committed volunteers, serving other military families and local communities. Our Nation benefits from the sacrifices of our military families, and we are inspired by their courage, strength, and leadership.

On Military Spouse Day and throughout the year, we honor the commitment spouses have made to freedom's cause. To learn about ways to support our troops and their spouses and families, I encourage all Americans to visit America Supports You.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 9, 2008, as Military Spouse Day. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities and by expressing their gratitude to the husbands and wives of those serving in the United States Armed Forces.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.

GEORGE W. BUSH

I met the President!!!!

Me and the baby!

The President!!! And I talked to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and we had breakfast at the White House, and a concert by the Marine Corps Band, and a concert by the country singing group Vassar, and a personal tour of the White House (picture me yelling all this out of excitement - cause I am)!!!!!! I have napkins with the White House seal, and pictures, and cups, and the Military Spouse Appreciation Proclamation - I have WHITE HOUSE NAPKINS!!!!!!! I'm BUSTING!!!

I can't believe that I had that opportunity! It was INCREDIBLE!!!!!!

I was able to introduce myself to Robert Gates and talk to him about the Old Man and the new bill that transfers unused military GI education benefits to spouses!!! And the President and I shook hands and exchanged small talk that he concluded with, "God bless you and thank you for your service!!!" I can't believe it!

Here are some really great pictures! I have to go pinch myself now! :)

This is a pic someone else took of him chatting with me!

The President shaking hands with everyone
The President with the Military Spouse Volunteers of the Year

Our presidential breakfast!!!

The Vassar Band

The President making his remarks (see speech below)
Secretary of Defense, Secretary Robert Gates and I

The President's Own, Marine Corps Band

The White House State Room dining room

The President's speech honoring military spouses

May 6, 2008

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, Phil. I appreciate -- appreciate you and your band members being here today. Thanks for entertaining us here on the South Lawn of the White House.

We are so glad you have come. We're honoring six recipients of the President's Volunteer Service Awards. And as we do so, we celebrate the contributions and achievements of our military spouses all across the country.

Laura sends her very best. She's heading down to Texas for -- (She left behind a DVD -- with Steve Martin, said, you might want to watch this before you head down there yourself. But she sends her love. And I'm very fortunate to have married such a kind and decent, compassionate woman.

I appreciate the Secretary. Secretary of Defense, Secretary Bob Gates is with us. I'm proud you're here, Mr. Secretary. Secretary Pete Geren of the United States Army is with us. Secretary Don Winter, U.S. Navy, and his wife, Linda, have joined us. Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Hoss Cartwright -- General Hoss Cartwright and his wife, Sandee, have joined us. General Dick Cody, Vice Chairman of the -- Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, and his wife, Vicki, is with us. Thanks for coming, General Cody. Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, Skip Bowen. Members of the United States Congress John Carter, Susan Davis, Dutch Ruppersberger. We're so honored you all have come to pay tribute to the military spouses. I'm really pleased that Mary Jo Myers, who is a member of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, is with us -- the wife of General Richard Myers, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Appreciate the winners' families joining us here today. But thank -- most of all, thank you all for coming.

So here's why this event is happening. Twenty-four years ago, President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation recognizing Military Spouses Day. And my own judgment is, is that we need to recognize military spouses every day. But this is the time of year that we honor the wives and husbands who support our men and women in uniform. And today, it's my honor to welcome you here to the White House. I can't think of a better place in which to say thanks. Whether you're signed up for military life at the recruiting station or at the altar rail, each person, each person is a volunteer. And when you married your soldier, sailor, airman, Marine, or Coast Guardsman, you became more than just part of a family -- you became part of our nation's military family.

It's not an easy life being in the military, particularly when we're at war, and I understand that. For many of you it means packing up your belongings and moving on short notice. I suspect a lot of you have been on the move much more than you thought you'd be on the move. For others it means living in a foreign land, which can be exciting, but it also means you're far away from your extended family, and that's hard. And for many of you, it means missing a spouse as he or she serves on the front lines in this battle to secure our country and to spread freedom for the sake of peace.

Being left behind when a loved one goes to war has got to be one of the hardest jobs in the United States military. Talked to a lot of folks who have been in the theater, as well as spouses, and it is clear to me the harder job in many ways is to be the person at home taking care of the kids and having sleepless nights as you pray for safe return.

You're carrying out the burdens -- you're serving our country. And it's noble service. And it's necessary service. And the United States [of] America owes you a huge debt of gratitude. And so, on behalf of our people, thank you for what you're doing.

One of the things I have learned in seven and a half years as the President is, as you've served our country, you also serve each other. I've spent a lot of time visiting our military bases here in America and across the world. And it's been a great experience. What I've found is that there's always a close-knit community, people who are sharing a special bond, and people who take time to look out after people. It's a -- it's been an amazing experience to see the fabric of our military communities firsthand, and today we're going to honor six military spouses who have done a little extra to serve your communities and serve the nation.

Our country appreciates the service and devotion. Our country owes you something else in return. One way we can repay the service of our spouses is by making the burdens of military life a little easier. So this year I signed into law a change in the Family and Medical Leave Act, which allows a spouse, parent, child, or next of kin to take up to 26 work-weeks of leave to care for a service member with a serious injury or illness who is undergoing therapy or treatment. I hope that helps. When we find substandard housing, we'll take care of it. We want to make sure that the sacrifice you're making is one that at least you understand that the government appreciates what you're doing.

I sent up some legislation -- I certainly hope Congress moves on it quickly -- that will make it easier to expand access to child care, create new authorities to appoint qualified spouses into civil service jobs, provide educational opportunities and job training for our military spouses, and finally, allow our troops to transfer their unused education benefits to spouses or children. This legislation is moving. I hope to be able to sign it as quickly as possible. It is the absolute right thing to do. It should send a clear message that we care for you, we respect you, and we love you.

Thanks for coming to the White House. May God bless you, your families, your loved ones, and the United States of America.

Grooming the baby early!

Took the husband and the baby bump to a Washington Nationals game!

My first published stories! Yay!

My first press release and news story were both published!

To see the Navy newspaper story, Click here! Then click on either the PDF file in the corner of the page or the sixth story down titled, "IA returns from Iraq: Experience improves leadership."

To see the press release on Navy.mil Click here! or on MarineLink.com Click here!

The HO'S went walkin' for preemies!

The HO'S (Hancock, Hill, O'Sullivans), once again, came to the rescue! You may recall the HO'S team showing up to my rescue by saving me from drowning in my moving FIASCO when we bought the condo last Feb while the Old Man was in Iraq. (Whew! Even that sentence took a pretty big breath to read!) All peanuts in comparison to the cause this time!

Well, they were at it again! In honor of my nephew, formerly known as Captain Poopy, Christie rounded up the troops, and they walked in the March of Dimes this past weekend. (The Hancock's were there in spirit!)

To read her post, Click here!

I've crossed over ...

I've officially made it into pregnancy-hood. I'm in maternity pants!

My parents sympathized with my open and unbuttoned, redneck pants (see post below) and purchased a few for me. Who would have thought that Target has a great selection!

Now I just have to get a pair or ten more! :)

Oh how I wish everyone could benefit from the joys that pants with an expandable waist brings!

Whoa mama-cita!

It's coming up on a year that Old Man Hancock has been home. Can you believe it?? Nearly a year??? Sometimes I look at him in awe; only having a vague idea of what he's been through. Others ... Well, who says your "first" year of marriage is easy? (Why do all the married couples hide that?) :) Just teasing! So in a nutshell, God continued to bless us this year with tons of experiences, life lessons, family visits, pet fiasco's and probably every other thing you can think of. I thought I'd catch you up on a few things before the blog continues (because yes, I've been BUSTING to start blogging again). Consider this a Hancock Year in Review - of sorts …

The Old Man came home on Memorial Day weekend and boy was that one to remember. We vacationed a little on the beaches of North Carolina; came home to our brand new house; had a news story broadcasted on local and national television about us; had an amazing welcome home party complete with a parade, our closest family, and little, cami, party-hats; and an amazing time together in Aruba. It took a while to get adjusted to things, both him and I, and to this day I still cry thinking about the deployment, but we got along OK. The summer passed by with those interesting first marriage gettings used to's (who knew sponges became more gross when left in the sink or that the brand of toothpaste mattered???). We had tons of fun times (we make a mean softball team and really good holiday dinners) and of course, mistakes ... I'm one with new cars, I'm one with new cars, I'm one with new cars.

Then I started school again in the fall. I've been going to the best college ever, Liberty University, and I'm pretty much done with my coursework portion towards my master's in teaching now. Old Man Hancock started too. He's working quickly through his degree at Central Texas and is doing really well so far! I started teaching Kindergarten Sunday School at St. Mary's and it's the best thing ever - definite motivation to finish up school!! Plus, they always say really funny things like, "I gave up ham for lent!" and really smart things like "Peter the Apostle was the cornerstone of the church on Earth and the first Pope." They ALWAYS amaze me.

While I'm still finishing my degree, I applied to be a Public Affairs Officer/News Writer for the Navy, doing the second best thing I love and who'd have thought - I got it! (Don't hold me to any of that on here though!) As for the Old Man, he finally settled in his position teaching Lt.'s at The Basic School in Quantico, while finding time in between to hunt, golf and play baseball. Or wait, is it the other way around! ;) Oh yes, somewhere in between we found out we're pregnant! I threw that in to see if you were paying attention! :)

So now onto the good stuff. Baby, baby names, baby cravings, baby news, baby ideas, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby. (This is what it looks like inside the mind of "Pregnant Anna" formerly known as Annaland- read more below.) Only, I don't entirely feel pregnant, which can be good and bad. No morning sickness, no daily vomiting, no extreme fatigue, not too much of anything really. I get the occasional brief burst of nausea, migraine, heartburn, tiredness and my pants feel like they're airbrushed on, but other than that - ship shape! (I'm sure I'm on my way of being as big as a ship!)

I'm so excited about the baby and starting our family that it all seems so surreal. And even though it may not be all that interesting, that's what I'm gonna share with you on here! Especially since I miss all of you so dearly and I just really like to talk unnecessary amounts about anything, but most importantly, at least it'll make me feel like you're with me! (hint, hint - leave me comments! Or better yet, VISIT!)

So, CHEERS! To a new blog and a baby! (Picture me raising my pink water-filled sippie cup that, yes - I actually have and I'm drinking with as we speak!)

Pregnant Anna

Since I've become pregnant, the Old Man thinks things have shifted from Annaland to "Pregnant Anna". Really, it's just Annaland much more particular and extravagant (who'd have thought).

So far, the Old Man and I have discovered a few things that Pregnant Anna either likes/hates/or is obsessed with that I really just felt the need to write about ... The first being how I think I sound just like Jordin Sparks when I sing along her new super fabulous song "No Air" at the top of my lungs even though I completely don't. OK, really that has nothing to do with pregnancy, but can I blame that on Pregnant Anna?

A few others to date -

I crave milk, Taco Bell, Oreo's, chocolate milk shakes, carrots, garlic everything, and cereal like there is about to be this giant shortage of all of it so if I don't get heapings and heapings RIGHT AWAY I am going to die! That's normal, right?

Actually, any food, every two hours is absolutely necessary or I'm seriously likely to eat my own arm!

I hate chicken. All of it. Funny thing is, my sister did when she was pregnant too.

I find it perfectly OK to bring in a loaf of cinnamon raisin bread and cream cheese to make sandwiches at my desk.

Starburst, marinara sauce and spaghetti equal horrible bloating and heartburn that is unlike any pain I've ever felt in my life. I suppose I won't be able to say that for long.

Yes, I have "pregnant brain."

(This is turning into a Thursday Thirteen list! Oh how I missed blogging!)

I don't fit anything! Most of my pants are on redneck style, unbuttoned and airing me out! I'm going to have to invest in more work pants STAT.

I get frazzled much less easy. In fact, I actually get a little more irritated than I should when others sweat the small stuff knowing I'm about to become a mother - the best, most happy, rewarding, loving and stressful thing in the world!

I don't leave the house without my bright pink, huge sippie cup with a straw. You'd think that working in a military environment would make this unacceptable, but I've been told my cup is quite impressive!

I have been a baking and cooking machine! The coolest thing so far is an amazing Boston Creme Pie. All from scratch!

I hate, hate, hate the word prego and I have nightmares about being one of those half-shirt wearing pregnant women with my hair all frazzled and no shoes. Or wait, am I dreaming that I'm Brittney Spears?

And I look at my husband a little differently now. I LOVE how excited he is and how he has always wanted kids so it's like a new light shines on him!

Yay baby!!!!!

An update on the 1/6 Marines with the 24th MEU

Keep these boys in your prayers. The Old Man's old unit, 1/6, went back overseas soon after they returned from Iraq. They are now serving in Afghanistan.

Marines battle insurgents during major operation in Taliban territory in Afghanistan
Fox News
April 29, 2008

Several hundred U.S. Marines engaged in a dramatic firefight Tuesday with an army of rebels in a Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan.

The battle against insurgents came during the first large-scale American operation in the area in years.

Hundreds of Marines charged into the Taliban-held town of Garmser before dawn Tuesday, reported FOX News' Dana Lewis — who is embedded with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit that led the mission.


Many of the 2,300-member unit who conducted the operation are Iraq war veterans. Their goal: to drive out militants and expand NATO's reach to cover a region that's been classified as Taliban territory and is blanketed with opium poppy fields.

U.S. commanders said Taliban fighters were expecting an assault and planted homemade bombs in response.

The British have a small base on the town's edge but Garmser's main marketplace is closed because of the Taliban threat.

Marines moved into town by helicopter and Humvee for Tuesday's assault in the southern province of Helmand, the first major task undertaken by the 2,300 Marines in the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

The unit arrived last month from Camp Lejeune, N.C., for a seven-month deployment. Another 1,200 Marines also came to train Afghan police.

Maj. Tom Clinton, the American commander at Forward Operating Base Dwyer, a British outpost 10 miles west of Garmser, said militants and Marines exchanged fire in two parts of Garmser on Tuesday. There was no immediate word on casualties.

"We haven't seen anybody who isn't carrying a gun," Clinton said of the mostly deserted town. "They're trying to figure out what we're doing. They're shooting at us, letting us know they're there."

Clinton, 36, of Swampscott, Mass., said Marines had also found bomb-making material and rockets in town. He said he was worried about the possibility of attacks using homemade bombs.

The Marines' mission is the first carried out by U.S. forces this far south in Helmand province in years. An operation late last year to take back the Taliban-held town of Musa Qala on the north end of Helmand involved U.S., British and Afghan forces.

Helmand province is the world's largest opium poppy growing region and has been a flash point of the increasingly violent insurgency in the last two years. British troops — who are responsible for Helmand — have faced fierce battles on the north end of Helmand.

Most U.S. troops operate in the east, along the border with Pakistan, but Britain, with 7,500 troops, and Canada, with 2,500 troops in neighboring Kandahar province, have not had enough manpower to tame the south.

More than 8,000 people died in insurgency-related violence last year. Militants set off more than 140 homicide bombs. Taliban fighters have been increasingly relying on roadside bombs and homicide attacks after being routed in force-to-force battles in the past.

The Marines had prepared on Monday by cleaning weapons and handing out grenades. The leader of one of the three companies involved — Charlie Company commander Capt. John Moder — said his men were ready.

"The feeling in general is optimistic, excited," said Moder, 34, of North Kingstown, Rhode Island. "They've been training for this deployment the last nine months. We've got veteran leaders."
Many of the men in the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit served in 2006 and 2007 in Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province in western Iraq. The vast region was once the stronghold of Al Qaeda in Iraq before the militants were pushed out in early 2007.

Moder said that experience would affect how his men fight in Afghanistan. "These guys saw a lot of progress in Ramadi, so they understand it's not just kinetic (fighting) but it's reconstruction and economic development."

But on the initial assault, Moder said his men were prepared to face mines and homemade bombs and "anybody that wants to fight us."

One Marine in Charlie Company, Cpl. Matt Gregorio, 26, from Boston, alluded to the fact the Marines had been in Afghanistan for six weeks without carrying out any missions. He said the mood was "anxious, excited."

"We've been waiting a while to get this going," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

To read this story online, Click here!