Sunday, fathers from all over the world will be receiving ties, shirts, electronic devices and probably jewelry as part of this country’s Father’s Day homage.

 

But one Becker father got the greatest gift imagined seven weeks early.

 

A daughter — just in time for his first Father’s Day.

 

Josh Ihrke and his wife, Camie, welcomed Hannah Jo into the world May 6 at 2:03 p.m. Hannah weighed in at eight pounds, 14 ounces and was 22 inches long.

Last weekend, she was baptized into the Christian faith in front of family and friends.

 

Camie went into the CentraCare Hospital in Monticello on that May day to be induced since she was about a week past her delivery date. The doctors got her water to break at 7:30 a.m., but it wasn’t until early afternoon did Hannah Jo finally enter this world.

 

“We had to use suction to get her out and that proved to be tough since the suction tube wouldn’t stay on her head very well because of all her hair on her head,” said Josh. “It kept falling off.”

 

For months leading up to the birth, Josh had been able to touch Camie’s belly and see the baby kick, but he couldn’t help but feel a little detached from the child birthing experience. That was until the day the nurses placed Hannah Jo into his arms for the first time.

 

“Until you hold your child, until you see with your own eyes the birth of your child, you just don’t feel the bond,” said Josh. “Camie had the baby with her for the entire nine months. It wasn’t until I held her for the first time did I feel that true connection.”

 

Josh says his priorities have changed since the birth of Hannah Jo and he is excited to watch her grow and become a toddler.

 

“Yeah, so instead of thinking a golf date for three hours is important, now all I’m thinking about is taking care of Camie and taking care of my baby girl.” he said. “It’s funny how priorities change after you have your first child.”

 

The name, Hannah Jo, is the reverse middle name of Camie’s Jo Hannah. Hannah is also the name of one of Camie’s great aunts.

 

Josh hopes to bring some of what his parents taught him as a child into his development as a father. He remembers his parents showing Josh trust as a youth and they bestowed strong morals and values in him early on. Those are exactly the kinds of things he plans to bestow on his little girl.

 

“My parents trusted me and that stuck with me growing up,” he said. “I have to remember to be more than just a friend to Hannah and I have to make smart decisions and be disciplined in my care for her, just like my parents were,” Josh said. “Trust is extremely important.”

 

Josh’s parents, Arnie and Nancy, live in Worthington and are just as excited as their son to have Hannah Jo in their lives —their first grandchild.

 

“It’s fun to see my parents interact with Hannah,” said Josh. “It’s gotta be a thrill to have your first grandchild.”

 

Josh and Camie are sure they don’t want Hannah Jo to be an only child, though they haven’t quite agreed on how many brothers or sisters Hannah should expect.

 

“I wouldn’t mind having three kids, though Camie just wants two,” said Josh. “Either way, we just hope whatever comes our way down the road the child is healthy and happy.”

 

Josh says he’s really excited to see Hannah Jo react to his and Camie’s touch and voices. He can’t wait to see her eventually grow up and join soccer or basketball and even when she receives her first communion.

 

“I’m looking forward to every day with her but I’m afraid of the day I’ll turn around and she’ll already be 18,” he said. “But it’ll be great to watch her develop and grow through the years.”

 

Josh, 31 and Camie, 29 have been married nearly four years and live in Becker. They met through 4H where they both were involved in camp leaderships and retreats.

 

Josh initially forged a friendship with Camie’s older sister Chelsie (32) and it wasn’t until Chelsie’s wedding day did Josh and Camie re-connect and start growing in their fondness for each other.

 

Trying to overcome long-distance relationship barriers due to school and work, Josh and Camie stayed together — apart — as a couple for nearly nine months — her in Wisconsin and Josh in North Dakota. Eventually they found a mutual home in Central Minnesota when Camie found a job in St. Cloud and Josh got hired at Becker schools to be a mathematics teacher. Josh also coaches the boys varsity basketball team and is an assistant for the high school track teams.

 

Josh has one sister while Camie has four brothers and sisters. The Ihrkes have lived in Becker since 2009.

 

Josh, Camie and Hannah Jo plan to celebrate Father’s Day by going out to eat somewhere and spending some of the day together — after Josh gets home from coaching a basketball tournament in St. Cloud.

 

“I didn’t realize the tournament would end up on Father’s Day but that’s just the way it goes,” Josh said. “It won’t be an all day thing so we should have plenty of time together to celebrate it.”

 

Josh will probably not be ripping open any presents on Sunday either. His gift has already been delivered.