Assuming everything is status quo with you 2, let me share with you what will most likely happen.
Hubby comes home. Moves where ever ( although it would be in his best interests to stay close to you and the baby)
You go through all the divorce mumbo jumbo.
You get the child, child support, and the Custodial parent status.
He gets NCP status, supervised visitation at first, eventually working to non supervised every other weekend visits, with maybe a night during the week.
Or, he could actually get 50/50 custody assuming he lives pretty close, has a steady job.(but that's far less likely as the baby won't even know who he is)
But you will be the primary caregiver either way. Unless you do something REALLY stoopid, you really don't have anything to worry about.
1 thing you say does worry me though...
being able to have the child for longer periods of time vs. seeing the child every week if he lived closer
He has just as much right to that child as you. You created a life with him, so don't get all up in arms if he gets to be ith that child 182.5 days a year.