Active military personnel know that many things can change back home while they are on tour serving their nation. Military tours often last several months and can be extended as the need arises. Inevitably, this can often put a strain on the family unit back home, and especially on marriages. Still, US Navy Petty Officer Chris Daugherty was ecstatic to finally return to his family after a long and dangerous tour abroad. But when the sailor finally reached the shore, he discovered that his family had radically changed in his absence, and it was too late for him to do anything about it… How would he react?
Military Husband Returns Home To Find Wife Pregnant
Who Is He?
Chris Daugherty, a US Naval Officer, was deployed in January 2016. The tour was scheduled to be five months long, a relatively short tour of duty. Upon boarding the vessel, the seaman came to learn the tour would be extended. Surprises like this are not uncommon for active navy men. When you enlist, you must be prepared to handle and accept that your expectations will often shift radically. What other surprises lay ahead for our Naval officer?
Who Is He
The Family Home
Military Families are challenging environments for those involved. Being a military wife is particularly difficult as they single-handedly manage the home, the kids, and every other crisis which arises while their military husbands are away on active duty. Still, Chris’s family always saw him off with a brave smile. Petty Officer Chris Daugherty was stationed on the USS Vinson as a cryptologic technician, deciphering signals. Chris was oblivious to the signals from his wife, however. What signals did he miss?
The Family Home
The Long Tours…
Natasha, Chris’s wife, grew accustomed to the regular tours of duty and even the extended ones, but it would eventually all become incredibly challenging. Loneliness started setting in after a week. The feeling of abandonment brought on some behavioral changes. At first, the changes were subtle, but her attitude was changing too. Natasha had to be very careful, as her children were incredibly perceptive, and she couldn’t risk them figuring things out… What could Natasha be hiding?
The Long Tours
The Chatterbox
The three children in the Daugherty family presented some real challenges. The fact that Natasha was withholding something meant she had to be very careful. The Daugherty’s firstborn could possibly keep the secret, but their four-year-old toddler was a big problem – she was a little blabbermouth. The family Skype called Chris often, and Natasha was concerned the little one might mention something to her daddy. Would the little one end up spilling the beans?
The Chatterbox
Always In Touch
What could she do? The secret was huge and could have severely impacted the young family. Chris was out in the middle of the ocean, and was mostly oblivious to whatever subtle ongoings Natasha was trying to keep under wraps. Nevertheless, her anxiety was growing, but would it be wise to tell him and have him also worried? The man did not need that kind of added stress while on tour. With frequent Skype calls, the changes would become more apparent. The calls were becoming nerve-wracking!
Always In Touch
Trying To Decide
There was a good reason why Natasha could empathize with Chris. Both of them were enlisted in the navy when they met. Natasha and Chris were married in 2011. They had been married for five years at the time and they had 3 children. Keeping secrets at this stage was not easy, especially such crazy news from her partner. Natasha had, however, intended to tell Chris prior to him shipping out. Knowing the level of anxiety such news can cause, she decided against telling him. Why didn’t she tell him? Let’s find out!
Trying To Decide
A Good Reason
Natasha did not like keeping secrets from Chris and was finding it difficult to find the best way to break the news to her husband. It was killing her to be so deceptive, as it went against her otherwise frank and true nature. The changes were becoming obvious to people around her, she couldn’t hide it anymore. She emailed him to contact her as soon as possible, even if this was not the way she wanted to do this. What’s up with Chris?
A Good Reason
Near The North
Chris happened to be stationed in one of the most threatening political situations in the world. The USS Vinson and its crew were in volatile waters near North Korea. The North Koreans were doing a ballistic test in the region. Chris and his crew were in real danger as their duty was to figure out the North Koreans’ plans. Natasha was worried about her husband. This was a dangerous position this Naval vessel found itself in. Would her secret impact the mission?
Near The North
Tough Times At Home
Although Chris was potentially facing explosive measures on a daily basis, that did not mean that Natasha’s life was a walk in the park. Natasha was finding it tough to cope with her two jobs and managing the home and kids. There was tremendous pressure on Natasha, as she just about managed affairs and this added burden of a secret, which she must eventually share with her husband. Chris received surprising news a week prior to coming home. Definitely not good news. Oh, dear! What now?
Tough Times At Home
Tour Extension
Due to the sensitivity of Chris’s mission, the deployment was extended by another thirty days. All the relevant personnel were working around the clock to ensure that the sensitive situation did not escalate and to accomplish their ever-intensifying mission. It was becoming really taxing for Natasha to hold this secret, especially to such a degree, and she almost just blurted it out. She could not do that to Chris, though, but he had to know. Was this right? Let’s find out!
Tour Extension
Uncertainty And Confusion
Making the right decision is never easy, Natasha knew this. Her concern was, however, for Chris. In an interview with NBC Natasha said, “As soon as we started having trouble with North Korea, I became worried,” If anything happened to Chris and she didn’t tell him, she would never forgive herself, “He was telling me goodbye. At that point, I was extremely emotional. I wanted to tell him, I wanted to freak out,” said an emotional Natasha. “But I kept my calm and waited, just a little longer.” Let’s find out what occurred when Chris returned home.
Uncertainty And Confusion
Finally Coming Home
The operation finally came to a successful close, and the personnel were finally relieved of their duties. Chris was finally returning home after six months. The children missed their dad and were so excited. Natasha was filled with trepidation as Chris was still unaware. How would Chris react to the situation? It would be impossible to hide this secret any longer, it was impossible to undo. What is this great secret Chris was going to find out? The suspense is agonizing!
Finally Coming Home
The Big Welcome Home
On July 23, 2017, the USS Vinson pulled into port. The children with their matching sailor gear rushed to their dad, happy to see him again. Chris was visibly happy to be home and see his family. Chris was, however, confused by Natasha’s stance. She did not display even the slightest motion towards him to welcome him home. He would come to understand everything shortly. What was happening here? Did she reveal the long-awaited secret?
The Big Welcome Home
The Sign
“Welcome Home Baby Daddy!” This was the inscription on the poster held by Natasha as she moved towards Chris. Chris tried to embrace her tightly but Natasha pulled away. This was unlike Natasha, something was off. Natasha dropped the poster, revealing the secret that she had gone to such great lengths to hide. Chris was dumbstruck. He stood there silently for a moment in disbelief, then he asked her “Is this real? Are you serious?” Has the secret become apparent to you?
The Sign
Who’s Your Daddy?
Yes, indeed! Natasha was PREGNANT, and very pregnant at that. Dropping her placard, Natasha revealed another message printed on her T-shirt, “I am the present my daddy gave my mommy before he deployed”. Chris was overwhelmed as he finally embraced his heavily pregnant wife. He could not believe that such an incredible development had been kept from him! However, there is more news to share, very special news. How much more, though, and what could make this day more special?
Whos Your Daddy
The Shirt
Reading the message, and seeing it wrap the surprise did shock the seaman. Something special was unfolding. If you still didn’t figure out what stunned Chris when Natasha dropped the placard, have a look at the photo posted. It clearly shows the message for Chris, and the reason she could hide the surprise behind it so easily. What went through Chris’s mind at that moment? He was about to have his mind blown, but would it be in a joyous way?
The Shirt
He Couldn’t Believe His Eyes!
Chris was dumbstruck. Chris commented to ABC News, “There were a lot of thoughts going through my mind…The first was really a confusion, then I thought she was joking so I poked to make sure that was real. When it was real I was so confused so I asked, ‘Is this real?’ then hugged her because it was the one and only thing I could think to do.” Having kept the secret away from her husband, how was Natasha feeling and thinking? Did the anxiety dissipate?
He Couldnt Believe His Eyes
Natasha’s Thoughts
The moment had arrived, Natasha was filled with anxiety as she was about to reveal to Chris a great secret she had kept from him. “My heart was racing…I stood back and let the children run to him. I hung back for some seconds, and then he reached into me to give me a hug and then I dropped it. He just stood there in shock. He didn’t know what was going on at that moment.” Said Natasha in her interview with ABC News. The day was special for another reason!
Natashas Thoughts
Father’s Day
There would be an even more significant detail to this revelation. Father’s Day was the Sunday prior to Chris arriving home, which made it even more exciting for Chris to be heading home. “I have three (kids) already now so a fourth will just add on to the excitement and craziness!” Chris commented. Natasha had another secret to reveal, however. One which when revealed went viral. The family became instantly famous as Natasha revealed to Chris…
Fathers Day
Friends And Family
Natasha might have kept the secret from Chris, but she could not keep it from her friends and family, especially with a growing baby bump becoming so obvious. Everyone involved was entrusted to keep the secret from her husband. A friend of the couple was also at the homecoming and recorded the “reveal” of the newest family member. The video was posted online, receiving more than a million views on the social media platform, Facebook. How did this naval officer’s wife hide her baby bump for so long?
Friends And Family
Keeping The Secret
Chris might have been in the middle of the ocean but he remained in touch with his family via video calls. Natasha used various innovative ways to hide what would have been an obvious developing baby bump. In one instance, she even sat their 18-month-old on her lap to conceal the pregnancy. Natasha told the NBC News, “I would always use the kids to cover my belly. My best friend does Snapchats and she would put emojis in front of it just in case to throw him off.” What did these innovative and creative scenes look like?
Keeping The Secret
Fool Me…A Bunch Of Times…
If you look at the photo, it is easy to see how she could fool Chris, with the baby on her lap, in front of her belly… and some creative Photoshop. Pretty sneaky… Even this photo was photoshopped to ensure everything was perfect. Thanks to the joys of modern social media, anything is possible! Besides Chris, there was one more person that needed to be fooled. Who else needed to be kept in the dark?
Fool Me A Bunch Of Times
The Blabbermouth
“I had to tell my four-year-old I was getting fat. Otherwise, she would tell! Because she’s a blabbermouth,” Natasha expressed to NBC News. Natasha gathered her inner strength and executed her mission, which was turning into quite the demanding operation. Her eldest knew how to keep a secret, the baby couldn’t speak as yet, and little blabbermouth was fooled into believing mommy’s getting fat. What was Natasha’s thought on the lone pregnancy? It’s time to learn more about Natasha’s thoughts!
The Blabbermouth
The Fourth Child
It was difficult to hold the news from Chris since he was so far away. Natasha told ABC News, “I wanted to share the excitement and joy with him about getting a fourth baby. He definitely wasn’t expecting it…Being pregnant is such a great experience and not being able to share it with him it was so hard. I was working and taking care of the kids the whole time so I had to push through everything.” Why would you keep such and for so long?
The Fourth Child
A Near Slip
As well as the secret was guarded, Natasha reveals she had a moment of weakness. In an interview with Parent’s Magazine, Natasha says she accidentally sent an email that read: “I’m pregnant and hormonal and need a break”. Chris responded, “I got an email back saying ‘you’re pregnant?’ Natasha immediately reverted with some quick thinking “autocorrect, I meant I’m on my period and hormonal'”. What could be a good reason for wanting to be so secretive? Was there a good reason?
A Near Slip
A Good Reason To Keep A Big Secret
Natasha explained to ABC News, “I found out about a week after he left. I didn’t believe it. I took the pregnancy test for the second time and I was like, ‘Oh no way.'” Natasha was eight weeks pregnant and barely able to contain the news as she wanted to share it with her husband. Not wanting Chris to miss the special moments during her pregnancy, Natasha diarized all the moments she wanted to share with him. All the while not revealing this special secret. “I wrote him back and said, ‘I just miss your voice so much.’ That’s when I decided I’m going to document it with weekly belly pictures for him so he wouldn’t miss it.”
A Good Reason To Keep A Big Secret
Other Reasons
“Being a military family, we move a lot. And the past two pregnancies together, we haven’t been able to celebrate the news of our pregnancy with our friends or family as we were never near them. We have an older son (my husband is his step-dad) but with our children, we’ve had together we were not able to experience a baby shower or celebration. So this was my way to make our fourth and final baby celebrated and memorable.” revealed Natasha in a Parents Magazine interview. Were there more secrets looming? Let’s read on!
Other Reasons
Another Suprise
Natasha had successfully kept her secret from Chris. She was at this point 7.5 months pregnant and had another surprise for her Naval officer husband. Was she carrying a boy or girl baby? Natasha knew already and wanted to share the news in a memorable way with Chris. Knowing Natasha’s penchant for dramatic surprises, you can be sure that this would be an extravagant affair! Is it a boy or a girl? Read on for this revelation!
Another Suprise
Boy Or Girl?
Friends and family were invited to welcome Chris home and for a special gender reveal party. Everyone waited in anticipation as Natasha handed Chris a white balloon. Chris popped the balloon and pink confetti streamed out covering the father-to-be. Pink, another girl child on the way. The excited couple was expecting another little girl, arriving in the next 1.5 months. Everything was becoming incredibly real for the family. How did they manage this? Let’s find out!
Boy Or Girl
Time To Bond
While on tour Chris looked forward to the time he’d be spending with his family, and to his great delight now to welcome new addition to his family. There wouldn’t be much time before the new arrival. Natasha and Chris got few maternity photographs, they managed to stock up on diapers, baby wipes, finish the nursery and got in bonding time with new babies siblings too. With such a demanding schedule, one might wonder if Natasha and Chris were getting enough quality time. Did they manage to do anything together?
Time To Bond
Bonding
Although the couple struggled to find enough time to go on dates or just to put their feet up, the two were incredibly committed to their family. The couple were happy and had planned many family activities. The family unit once again was growing close. They were happy to spend this time with their children. There was an issue looming, an important issue, which had to be dealt with. What issue? Can it be resolved?
Bonding
His Next Tour
Everyone is hoping Chris will be home for the baby’s birth. The issue was hanging over the family like a dark cloud. Chris was a military man. He could be deployed at a moment’s notice. Naval deployment is not open to discussion, especially not now as events like North Korea could force deployment at any time. As afraid as Chris was, he was also a patriot, and his country needed him now more than ever. Could Chris be there to welcome his baby?
His Next Tour
On Dry Land
Let us now discuss Chris’s schedule. His next deployment was set for January 2018. This was excellent news as the baby was due in August 2017. Unless Chris was to be deployed earlier than scheduled, it seems the Officer will be home to welcome his new baby daughter. But he knew how quickly and frequently his deployment schedule could change, often without warning. Did things go as planned? Let’s read on and see the photos!
On Dry Land
The Stork Finally Comes
The couple’s gorgeous daughter, Anara Rose Daugherty was born September 2, 2017 slightly later than expected. Chris commented on Facebook, “We love you so much! You have completed our family of six! Can’t wait to bring you home.” The newest edition of the family has arrived, and everyone could now return to some sort of normalcy. How was the couple feeling now that all is well and revealed? Read on as we find out next!
The Stork Finally Comes
A Happy Couple
Natasha was ecstatic as she could surprise her husband with such a wonderful gift, and that he could be with her to experience the birth of their daughter. He told ABC News, “It was an awesome surprise to find out that way. Finding out in an email or over the phone, that’s easy, but since she saved it, it was special.” Few couples get to experience this kind of astonishingly heartwarming news in this way. Did Natasha have anything to say in this regard?
A Happy Couple
Natasha’s Thoughts
Natasha shared her thoughts, stating that she was happy with how everything came together. She told NBC, “It was difficult but totally worth it in the end,” The parents of little Anara Rose, were fortunate to spend four months together before Chris was to be deployed. Natasha was asked if she had any further surprises for Chris, to which she responded in an interview with CBS, “No. Nothing!” There’s not too much more which could top this!
Natashas Thoughts
Another One?
Chris said, “I was so happy with the news because we both wanted another child and since it is our last I was extremely happy she did something fun and memorable ,” Natasha said, “It was everything I hoped for. His reaction was the best!” The Daugherty’s family planning went well, and any further similar surprises are likely at the end. Knowing this family’s luck, anything could happen! But would the joy continue to flow? What’s next?
Another One
Going Viral
This is one of the best “feel-good’ stories. This secret turned out good for this family. The family is still very happy. Chris has since done more tours and remains a military man.
This is where the story ends today. What are your thoughts? Would you be able to withhold such an important secret from your partner? It is always a pleasure bringing such heartwarming stories to you. Share it with your friends if you enjoyed it. Thank you for reading.
Going Viral