Deployment - El Paso,TX

Any letter, snacks, photos from any one is family, news papers, sports mag. go over big also any favorite music cd's have two in service my self.

I'm interested to see what ideas you get, as my brother is currently deployed.

Something a girlfriend of mine does for her husband, was to set up a bulletin board in the house. Whenever something special happens, of course they tell Daddy about it, but it also goes on the bulletin board. And nothing comes off the "Daddy Board" until Daddy takes it off. Their board might have anything - a picture mom took, a pretty leaf the youngest picked up, a letter from the tooth fairy for the oldest. This way, he gets a feel for what matters in the family's everyday life while he is gone.

My favorite thing that we did before daddy's last deployment was get daddy bears. My girls are older then yours but you might still enjoy it. We went to build a bear and my husband went in the back to record each child there own msg. Then they had there special daddy bear that told them I love you and goodnight each time they squeezed the bear. There are also several websites and forums that have great ideas. Try to google army wife deployment.
Good Luck!!!!

Many thanks to you and your husband for your service. I don't know if your husband will have access to computers during his deployment. Mine did and I made a little powerpoint project with a slide for every day he was going to be gone (some were notes from me, some pictures of our son, some funny things I thought might make him laugh) and I put it on a memory stick, that way it didn't take up any room and was easily portable. After all that work though, his favorite thing I sent with him was a little pouch of laminated wallet-sized photos.
Your family is in my prayers!

My son-in-law is being deployed soon, leaving behind his new wife and baby so I am ordering him a pillow case with pictures of my daughter and new grand daughter on it.

I saw them at Wal-mart. The pillow case can be used as a bag to carry stuff or as a pillow case. It can also be folded and hidden away. I can put their pictures on each side, too!

My husband travels a lot and I often send him little videos of the kids. He loves that. Foot prints as your little one grows will probably make him feel good, too, as he's not going to see so much of that.

I don't know how your husband feels about taking this along, but I'm a photographer and I do small books of boudoir photos for soldiers sometimes. Safe, but sexy picutres of their wives must mean a lot when you're apart for so long. Since the books are small, usually 5x5, they are easily hidden away.

I'm sorry you're going to be apart like this and I hope that there is peace in your hearts (and wherever he goes) to see you through it.

I was also going to recommend a photo book but photos of him and the baby - some footprints, etc. They make those photo books from your digital photos at most places that will develop film or print photos. You can get them at Walgreens, CVS, etc. But you can also get nicer ones at higher end photography places - it all depends on your budget.

Also, write him notes from your son to put in the book - Dear Daddy, on the day I arrived, you held me and I knew that you would keep me and Mommy safe. Now you are away making the world safer - thank you, etc.

Keeping you in prayer as you are apart again - my husband also left for "work" when my daughter was 6 weeks old - it is hard but I am glad that you are going to be with family.
blessings,
S.

Something you can do before he leaves is laminate a couple pics of you and your son, or all of you together so they will stand up to the beating over there. While he's gone you could make a photo diary to keep him up to date on the little one's progress. That's what I did when my (now ex) husband was deployed. The everday pics helped him feel part of what he was missing. Hope this helps!