JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A local member of the Air Force returned home Tuesday evening after seven months in Iraq. She not only got to see her loved ones again, but she met one new member of the family for the first time.

It was a moment for which Staff Sgt. Natalie Whitten and her loved one had been waiting.

"Words can't explain it. Every mother looks forward to seeing their child come back home after being deployed for such a long time, and I can't wait to just sit down and hold her and catch up on some things," said Whitten's mother, Katrell Hughes.

Whitten, a Jacksonville graduate, is home on a 30-day leave from Iraq. Whitten worked with the Iraqi military conducting English language testing. While she was there she earned a distinguished meritorious service medal for her outstanding work ethic.

Upon her arrival, she met her twin sister's son. Whitten said although they were thousands of miles apart during her sister's pregnancy she never once felt as if she was out of the loop.

"We're kind of weird. I had all her pregnancy symptoms. When she had the baby I was having pains in my stomach the whole time. I actually didn't know she was giving birth until I called home and I was having pain in my stomach when I was en route to Iraq," Whitten said.

Not only was Whitten's family welcoming her home at the airport. One after another, complete strangers stopped her at the airport to shake her hand and say thank you.

"Women like her deserve a big praise, and God bless the United States of America. Ms. Natalie, welcome home," said Cindy Baker, a well wisher.

Whitten said she's looking forward to simply relaxing at home with her family.