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Started By
Message
Meeting my daughter - Very Nervous ( * UPDATED * )
Posted on 5/15/14 at 6:57 am
Posted on 5/15/14 at 6:57 am
* * UPDATED * *
So, I met my daughter for the first time and it was awesome!
It's been a few weeks now and it's been an adjustment but I instantly fell in love with my daughter and can't stop smiling when I hold her.
She now says "dada", or a form of it, and smiles ear-to-ear when she looks at me. My wife is great also and she can't stop taking pics.
Thanks for all the advice and well wishes. That is what I love about the OB.
Hope y'all had as great of a 4th as I did.
* Original Post Below *
So I'm currently deployed (No, not to Afghanistan but still overseas) on my second rotation to the desert. I watched my baby girl as she was born in October and have watched my wife raise her as a single mom for over 7 months now.
I just got word I'll be rotated home earlier than I thought (
) and I am looking forward to nothing more than meeting my little girl and reuniting with my wife and actually making my family whole again.
Anybody else here experience this? If so, any advice?
I post this here because a lot of you OBer's have posted a lot of great stories about spending time with your kids and I look forward to raising my daughter and doing a lot of the same great things.
So, I met my daughter for the first time and it was awesome!
It's been a few weeks now and it's been an adjustment but I instantly fell in love with my daughter and can't stop smiling when I hold her.
She now says "dada", or a form of it, and smiles ear-to-ear when she looks at me. My wife is great also and she can't stop taking pics.
Thanks for all the advice and well wishes. That is what I love about the OB.
Hope y'all had as great of a 4th as I did.
* Original Post Below *
So I'm currently deployed (No, not to Afghanistan but still overseas) on my second rotation to the desert. I watched my baby girl as she was born in October and have watched my wife raise her as a single mom for over 7 months now.
I just got word I'll be rotated home earlier than I thought (
) and I am looking forward to nothing more than meeting my little girl and reuniting with my wife and actually making my family whole again. Anybody else here experience this? If so, any advice?
I post this here because a lot of you OBer's have posted a lot of great stories about spending time with your kids and I look forward to raising my daughter and doing a lot of the same great things.
This post was edited on 7/5/14 at 12:41 pm
37
Posted on 5/15/14 at 7:01 am to CajunSoldier225
I don't have kids, so no help there.
However, congrats on going home!
However, congrats on going home!
Posted on 5/15/14 at 7:02 am to CajunSoldier225
And thanks for your service!
Posted on 5/15/14 at 7:05 am to CajunSoldier225
Congrats on getting to come back home, I don't have any experience with something like this but don't over think it or over analyze it. She is your daughter and there will be a bond there. I am sure she knows who you are. Just enjoy it...my daughter is 15 and starts driving pretty soon. They grow up fast so spend as much time with them as you can because before you know it they will be out the house and on their own.
This post was edited on 5/15/14 at 7:13 am
Posted on 5/15/14 at 7:14 am to CajunSoldier225
26 years after I walked off active duty as a single man with no kids.....
I still don't know how married guys with kids handle deployment........
Anyone who has not been deployed cannot fathom that feeling......it ain't like working a Job you can quit and come home.....
However you slice it, it will likely be one of the best days of your life.
I still don't know how married guys with kids handle deployment........
Anyone who has not been deployed cannot fathom that feeling......it ain't like working a Job you can quit and come home.....
However you slice it, it will likely be one of the best days of your life.
Posted on 5/15/14 at 7:17 am to CajunSoldier225
Congratulations.
Posted on 5/15/14 at 7:23 am to CajunSoldier225
Best advice I can give is to just be there for them as much as possible. Give your wife as many breaks as you can. If your wife is not breast feeding, do some of the feedings for her during the night so she can finally get some much needed rest.
If she is breast feeding, ask her if she is willing to pump so you can do some of the night feedings for her. Not only will it give your wife a break, but it will help you bond with your daughter even faster.
It's the little things like this that will go a long way, and it's the little things like this that can be missed by the husband. Congrats!
If she is breast feeding, ask her if she is willing to pump so you can do some of the night feedings for her. Not only will it give your wife a break, but it will help you bond with your daughter even faster.
It's the little things like this that will go a long way, and it's the little things like this that can be missed by the husband. Congrats!
Posted on 5/15/14 at 7:27 am to CajunSoldier225
Man that's just awesome 
Posted on 5/15/14 at 7:31 am to CajunSoldier225
First off, thanks for your service.
Second, just love and be there for here.
Youll do fine.
Second, just love and be there for here.
Youll do fine.
Posted on 5/15/14 at 7:35 am to CajunSoldier225
Thank you for your service and the sacrifices you have made in the name of freedom...I can only imagine what it must feel like to have to pry yourself from your wife and child every time you are/will be deployed...Tis an honorable thing.
Hopefully Ya'll have been doing video chat with the baby being able to look at you on a PC monitor or television...your child should recognize you from that alone. You'll be surprised at the reaction(smiles) you will get when your child finally sees the man from the monitor...Good Luck
Hopefully Ya'll have been doing video chat with the baby being able to look at you on a PC monitor or television...your child should recognize you from that alone. You'll be surprised at the reaction(smiles) you will get when your child finally sees the man from the monitor...Good Luck
Posted on 5/15/14 at 7:38 am to CajunSoldier225
Congratulations on both the baby girl and coming home! Thank you.
I have 3 girls. My advice is to not worry too much. Girls love their dads. & months is still a little baby. Hold her, sing to her, love her. If you can give her a bottle and rock her to sleep, that's a great opportunity to just sit and look into each others eyes. If she is hesitant at first, don't force it and don't take it personally. Just stay close to her and your wife and she'll come around quickly.
Good luck, and welcome home (in advance).
I have 3 girls. My advice is to not worry too much. Girls love their dads. & months is still a little baby. Hold her, sing to her, love her. If you can give her a bottle and rock her to sleep, that's a great opportunity to just sit and look into each others eyes. If she is hesitant at first, don't force it and don't take it personally. Just stay close to her and your wife and she'll come around quickly.
Good luck, and welcome home (in advance).
Posted on 5/15/14 at 7:41 am to CajunSoldier225
quote:
7 months
Damn! That's a long time. Good luck.
Posted on 5/15/14 at 8:10 am to CajunSoldier225
Yep. Been there. Done that. Here's what I learned the hard way.
It's best to arrive home as an extended "guest". Mama has been running the show all this time, so respect her and let her continue to do so. You do not run the roost. Kids (even really little ones) sense when the leadership structure in the home is in flux or is unsteady.
Now for the baby. Rule #1. Every kid is different.
Kid #1: Folks (and myself) tried to force me upon the kiddo, and the kiddo upon me. I was ok with it, but the baby knew I was different and reacted adversely....he could simply smell the difference between me and Mama.
I learned to take it slowly...to just be a helping guest. Start out in the kid's vicinity (not even talking to him), then gradually make eye contact and progress to help with feeding and diapers. What I found to break ground was to lay on my back on the floor with the kiddo. Not even interacting, but just letting him check me out to ensure I was OK. Then increase to facial interaction, then eventually play and then to snuggling.
Kid #2:
She was an instant match. Just put her on my chest for nap within 30 minutes of getting home and she settled in like I had been there from day one. Zero introduction issues.
I was retired and at home when the other 3 were born. The big thing to remember is that each kid will be different...very different. it's imperative that you first be attuned to the baby's cues to see what kind of personality your wee one has and then adjust your approach from there.
Also, be prepared to get it "wrong" a few times before you figure out what works. That's just part of the process and it's normal.
It's best to arrive home as an extended "guest". Mama has been running the show all this time, so respect her and let her continue to do so. You do not run the roost. Kids (even really little ones) sense when the leadership structure in the home is in flux or is unsteady.
Now for the baby. Rule #1. Every kid is different.
Kid #1: Folks (and myself) tried to force me upon the kiddo, and the kiddo upon me. I was ok with it, but the baby knew I was different and reacted adversely....he could simply smell the difference between me and Mama.
I learned to take it slowly...to just be a helping guest. Start out in the kid's vicinity (not even talking to him), then gradually make eye contact and progress to help with feeding and diapers. What I found to break ground was to lay on my back on the floor with the kiddo. Not even interacting, but just letting him check me out to ensure I was OK. Then increase to facial interaction, then eventually play and then to snuggling.
Kid #2:
She was an instant match. Just put her on my chest for nap within 30 minutes of getting home and she settled in like I had been there from day one. Zero introduction issues.
I was retired and at home when the other 3 were born. The big thing to remember is that each kid will be different...very different. it's imperative that you first be attuned to the baby's cues to see what kind of personality your wee one has and then adjust your approach from there.
Also, be prepared to get it "wrong" a few times before you figure out what works. That's just part of the process and it's normal.
Posted on 5/15/14 at 8:36 am to CajunSoldier225
Thanks for your service and congrats on coming home!!!
Just spend time with her and love her, that's the best thing you can do for any child and all that they really want or need. Don't sweat the small stuff. When my son was younger he would want nothing but mommy for a week or so, then flop back to daddy, they go through phases. Just remember, it's only a phase.
My wife started working a few weeks ago and I have been getting my son ready in the mornings and getting him on the bus or taking him to school. It's been some great times! It's got me thinking about cutting back on my work some to spend more time at home, doing little things like getting him ready in the mornings.
It's the little things that count the most. Best of luck to you bud, I'm sure you'll do fine.
Just spend time with her and love her, that's the best thing you can do for any child and all that they really want or need. Don't sweat the small stuff. When my son was younger he would want nothing but mommy for a week or so, then flop back to daddy, they go through phases. Just remember, it's only a phase.
My wife started working a few weeks ago and I have been getting my son ready in the mornings and getting him on the bus or taking him to school. It's been some great times! It's got me thinking about cutting back on my work some to spend more time at home, doing little things like getting him ready in the mornings.
It's the little things that count the most. Best of luck to you bud, I'm sure you'll do fine.
Posted on 5/15/14 at 8:38 am to CajunSoldier225
No kids but Thanks for your Service!
Posted on 5/15/14 at 8:43 am to CajunSoldier225
Love that kid, hold your wife tight, come home safely. Thank you for your service to this nation.
Posted on 5/15/14 at 8:56 am to CajunSoldier225
quote:
CajunSoldier225
Thank you. quote:Good choice.
I post this here
I haven't experienced it myself but my sister/BIL have twice. The only big thing I heard come out of their dealing was to try and keep expectation out of the way. Just come home and float through it enjoying small things.
I'm sure you're jacked about seeing your little girl. I know I'd be.
Posted on 5/15/14 at 8:59 am to CajunSoldier225
This will probably be an experience you will never be able to prepare yourself for, it will be so great. I must give your wife as much credit as yourself, she has made an ultimate sacrafice also.
My dad was and has been gone overseas for more than 15 of my 27 years. He served military for 23, and has supported for 7 through USO in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He sets up skype sessions for the guys over there like yourself to see their babies being born, and still does not know how they (and the wives) keep strength to do something like that from 7-10,000 miles away.
You are a special breed, go home and love your wife and daughter. Dont try to make up for lost time, just enjoy the moment and look forward to the future.
Posted on 5/15/14 at 9:15 am to CajunSoldier225
Thanks for your service and congrats to getting to meet your baby girl.
Have someone video it, so can watch that precious moment over and over again.
Have someone video it, so can watch that precious moment over and over again.
Posted on 5/15/14 at 9:21 am to CajunSoldier225
Awesome man. Congrats.
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