Wife's Birthday - Page 3

Onward · 05-20-2009, 20:59

I appreciate everyone's input -- thank you! So here's what I've decided on; a bag of some sort, woven from 550 cord. I've been working on a journal, with my terrible handwriting. I'm also going to pick her up a terabyte external hard drive, because I've always felt that gifts should be in some way useful. And, of course, I'll have the classic flowers sent to her -- she loves stargazer lilies.

Also, the book "What to Expect When You're Expecting", as she has just told me that she's pregnant. The next great adventure...and a future high-speed soldier.

Saoirse · 05-20-2009, 21:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Onward

I appreciate everyone's input -- thank you! So here's what I've decided on; a bag of some sort, woven from 550 cord. I've been working on a journal, with my terrible handwriting. I'm also going to pick her up a terabyte external hard drive, because I've always felt that gifts should be in some way useful. And, of course, I'll have the classic flowers sent to her -- she loves stargazer lilies.

Also, the book "What to Expect When You're Expecting", as she has just told me that she's pregnant. The next great adventure...and a future high-speed soldier.

Wow Onward! Those sounds like wonderful gifts...and something made of your hands as well? Awesome.
CONGRATS ON THE NEWS!!!!!!!! Wish her and the baby much luck and great health!!
Saoirse

05-21-2009, 01:30

The greatest asset you possess is time. It's extremely exspensive and you can never get lost time back. Having said that, I would suggest a gift that represents your desire to be near her while you are away, something to remind her of you. Obviously a child will do that, but now she will need your help while you are away.

What I did for my wife while I was a younger man traveling to beautilful and not so beautiful locations, was the journal. I spent many hours writing to her before I left, I pre-dated each entry. Each Sunday or once a week, she had a note from me. I also left letters in secluded locations, the pantry shelf, the garage near the furnance with instructions to re-light when out, how to shut-off the sprinkler system when it got cold, etc. After the "instruction", I closed with a note that said she was great, that I missed her and that I was proud of her. She became a Great Army wife, my "port" for all the right reasons. She also felt empowered by her independence in not asking for help from family or overly taxing friends. She knew that if I felt she had it under control at home, I would not worry about her and I could keep my mind on more important things like not getting shot, or graduating from another Army school.

But the last bit of advise, do not, under any circumstance buy something with a handle or that requires batteries, (i.e., electric meat cutter, or appliance).

I built a very cool hammock during the course of one deployment and finished it at home before another. It was made with over 1000' of soft nylon cord, slightly bigger that 550. It was tight and I was able to practice every conceivable knot to the known world. I braced the ends with hardwood, Brasil at one end and Thailand at the other. I put in under a shade tree and she rocked the little guy endlessly. Still got it.

swpa19 · 05-21-2009, 04:53

ALL of the above are terrific suggestions.
This June will mark my 45th Wedding Anniversary. I married the same woman three times. I wont go into detail on that. Point is, like Ive stated, all of the suggestions offered are good ones. I would like to add just one more. She's pregnant, so after the lil guy arrives, I would suggest a "Mothers Ring" or sometimes called a family ring. Its funny the effect that shiny rocks have on women.

Just my .02

Ret10Echo · 05-21-2009, 06:11

I've lined-up a couple of Spa-days for my wife over the years. Internet search for what is close to home...set it up by email etc.

She seemed to really enjoy it because it was "all about her" for that day....

Onward · 05-21-2009, 06:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by swpa19

Its funny the effect that shiny rocks have on women.

Just my .02

So Mr. Harsey's ideas are out for now...

Darn. Guess I need another excuse to ramp up the household arsenal.

Though I do believe there'll be the need for a new handgun in the house while I'm home on R&R. The Remington 870 is going to be a bit much for her soon, and she doesn't like Glock

05-21-2009, 07:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Onward

Also, the book "What to Expect When You're Expecting", as she has just told me that she's pregnant. The next great adventure...and a future high-speed soldier.

CONGRATULATIONS! That is simply great news! You sure its a boy-child? You guys seem to have a lot of girls for some odd reason.

In that journal, add an extra paragraph to your child. Tell them how you feel about them and thier impending arrival. Years now, your kid will read it and know how much they were wanted. It can mean all the world to a child. It will be words they will carry with them all thier life.. You can also reference back to that time when they try your patience...I wanted this brat why? oh yeah, I wrote this....

Can't offer advice on what to give her for the impending birth.. MY father gave my mom a 1942 45 harley for my brothers birth and a shotgun when they adopted me.. brother ended up with the gun, I got the scooter when I turned 16... I got a sailboat when my eldest was born and the other two were mine so I gave myself things like toolboxes and outboards...

Stargazer Lillies... lovely, quite lovely.. and as someone else said, we women mosdef like sparkly shiny objects.

Onward · 05-21-2009, 08:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by armymom1228

CONGRATULATIONS! That is simply great news! You sure its a boy-child? You guys seem to have a lot of girls for some odd reason.

Armymom; girls can be soldiers too! My wife is also enlisted, and quite the killer. At least, now that she has a key to the gun safe, I don't plan on doing anything to piss her off...

And I'm looking into the shiny objects now; not my forte!

Gypsy · 05-21-2009, 17:16

Good choices, and congrats on the baby news!

Dozer523 · 05-21-2009, 20:26

"My reason For Living" and I were married about 3 weeks before I deployed with 1/5th on a 6 week trip to a place in the Middle East. This was in the late 80's and our host didn't want it to get around to his neighbors we were invited for a sleep-over. So the training was all in very out of the way places which was GREAT. And we were not allowed to call (cell phones had not been invented!) E-mail was in the 'huh" stage. And we were told 'no mail". But my bride of 3 weeks? So I wrote 6 letters before we left. All sort of "Hi Babe, the weather is still hot, and I don't think it ever rains here. The training is GREAT and the guys are doing GRReat, and the folks from here are GREAT and I'm just having the GREATEST time . . . All except for missing you. . . Then I dished out a lot of mush. Each ran about three pages. Stuck them in envelopes, addressed them with stamps, and gave them to a friend's wife. She promised to mail one every monday. And did. What a GRRRRREAT plan!
What I forgot was the BN CO's wife was a GREAT Mom and took good care of her junior wives ESPECIALLY the brand new ones. At a coffee MRS was giving all the high lights of what the husbands were doing. MRFL pipes up with "Oh, Dozer is having a GREAT time. He loves it over there. The weather is Great the training is Great the guys are doing Great and the hosts are Great. . ." Not one of the experienced wives said a word to my Fresh Off The Boat Blushing Bride.
20 minutes after we hit the ground I was summoned to the BN Cdrs office. (And the mission had really, really gone GREAT for me). Report to the CO. "Dozer, my boy, talk to me about OPSEC."
Sez Me, something erudite like "huh?"
Sez BnCO, "Did you not know there was to be no communication home while we were gone and yet your new bride received a bright cheery newsy letter from you EVERY Tuesday like clockwork. I'm . . . listening. . . "
In the fastest voice I've ever used I laid it all out.
Sez BnCO, "Dozer you might manage to keep this one after all."
We celebrated our 20th this April!

Onward · 07-21-2009, 01:48

To everyone who helped me out with this; thank you! I got to take my R&R this month, and be home for her birthday. We had a great time (though I spent a good amount of it putting together baby furniture; a crib, and all kinds of other stuff I never knew existed...bassinett? Never heard of it!)

Needless to say, though, she was sufficiently impressed with what I put together from the advice I got here. I think she likes me...

Also, we went in for an ultrasound, and found out that itäs a girl; due date early December.

Again; thank you all!

Dozer523 · 07-21-2009, 10:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Onward

I spent a good amount of it putting together baby furniture; a crib, and all kinds of other stuff I never knew existed...bassinett? Never heard of it!) Never heard of it? And, with a little girl on the way? Get used to that.

Also, we went in for an ultrasound, and found out that itäs a girl; due date early December. Little girls are very sneaky

watch out! First sneaky trick is the manipulation of time. BCMU is 16YO; How did that happen?!!?. She was only born a little while ago.

Again; thank you all!

Congratulations "Daddy"
Remember, to take time to remember.