Sophia Chuva was born while her Marine dad was in Afghanistan, and this week he finally got a chance to hold the giggling four-month-old girl in his arms for the first time.

The entire Chuva family gathered at the Tampa International Airport on Monday to greet U.S. Marine Fernando Chuva home.

Chuva has served four tours of duty overseas, and each time his wife would come and welcome him home at the airport. This time, however, the reunion was extra special because Chuva had a new member of his family to meet.  

On Monday, Dana Chuva and the couple’s relatives awaited for Fernando at the airport with a handmade sign that read: ‘I’ve waited my entire life to meet you.’