The time has come...I'm preparing for my husbands deployment and I'm looking for some good gift ideas for him. He'll be away for my daughters first year of life and I know its just killing him inside. I've already started making him a scrap book with many pictures of the two of them together, also going to have a calendar made for him. I was just wondering if anyone had any good gift from the heart ideas for me. I really want to do something with my daughters hand and foot prints too, but can't think of anything. I'm not exactly the crafty type, but I'm trying! Any ideas would be fabulous! Thanks mommees!!!
I would go to www.onceuponafamily.com. They have really unique ideas for family traditions and things to do with your kids. You get some neat ideas from them, also sign up for their montly newsletter.
Good Luck!
D.,
Have you thought about screen printing, on like a handkerchief, with some of their photos, that way he always has it on him, and it's light weight, or maybe plastic sheet covers for little favorite photos that he can slip into his hat (helmet). I had a friend that was deployed and he mentioned you had to carry everything on you at all times, so you prob. don't want anything heavy to weigh him down. I know they have stuff you can print to make candy bar wrappers yourself with your photos on it that you can hide in his stuff and he'll be surprise whenever he comes across it. Just some thoughts.
I would try Make a Wish Pottery. They have all kinds of things that you and your daughter can make for him that he will treasure. You will also have a great time making it. For Father's Day we made a charger with my sons hand a foot prints -- it turned out great.
Good luck!
Steph
Hi D. - for starters, you are truly blessed, thank you for sharing your soldier to preserve my freedom. Not sure how long he'll be gone, as this inexpensive idea takes time. Place your daughter in a recliner, rocker, or center of couch. Somewhere that she won't roll/fall off. Snap a photo of her. Every 4 weeks, put her in the same spot and take that photo again. The key is to be consistent with your 4 weeks and the placement of your daughter. It sounds goofy, but for him to actually see "before his eyes" how much she is growing, by how much more room she takes up on the furniture, etc. My prayers are with you and your family.
I would check out wee piggies (www.weepiggies.com) for the feet idea. Lorraine from there did my sons feet, and they are SOOOO cute!!!!
I know this sounds a little wierd, but we were at golfland for my daughter's 4th birthday a few weeks ago, and saw one of those photo booths - except it took the pictures and etched them onto a metal tag. The booth is just to the left after you walk in the door. This would be something very light, and he can keep the picture of his girls with him at all times.
Good luck - and tell your husband Thank You for his service.
They sell little sticker kits which when my friend got shipped out his wife bought those and made stickers of him and his two boys, him and her, each boy and a picture of her and the boys standing in front of their home and she made these stickers into labels and stuck them on everyday items for him like deoderant, boxes of soap, food, shaving cream and ect... then she mailed it to him 4 days before deployment and she said that he called crying and thanking her for reminding him of the reasons he fought for our country and how everytime he did anything it was a lot better because he knew her and the boys were their with him! I thought it was cute
Hi D.,
One place I love that has some neat gifts is stickyjewelry.com. I got a personalized necklace for my husband there as a gift for when our daughter was born. Since you say he is being deployed - they have some stainless steel dog tags you can get personalized - maybe a message from her, or just "I love you Daddy" or somehting like that - he could then wear it with his regular dog tags. Just a thought! They are pretty reasonably priced and their customer service is top notch.
Here's a link to a lot of the men's pendants/dog tags they have:
http://stickyjewelry.com/pendants-pendants-for-him.html
