Reflections of a Spouse and a Thank you!

     I am sitting at my dining room table early this Tuesday morning, getting up sporadically to tend to the puppies and needing to finish my Bible Study. I am going to venture a little off of the pregnancy updating for this post and post about some things I have learned recently (meaning the last couple of years). Forgive me in the beginning for the randomness and such of this blog.
   I have been involved with my new Bible study going on about 4 weeks now and I am learning so much about what it means to be a wife and a spouse under God's guidelines. Therefore, I have also been thinking about the journey I have already taken along the way as a spouse, a military one at that.
  I have just been thinking of the women I have met along the way that define what a military wife is and what she is asked to do on a daily basis. I made a little list just for fun so I thought I would share some of the ones I have heard and witnessed first hand:
1. Plans will ALWAYS change.
2. Sleep is more of a suggestion than anything.
3. You need to know how to be a Mom and a Dad.
4. You need to have Poison Control on speed dial.
5. Pets are really there to keep the kids occupied so you can have a moment to yourself.
6. A piece of mail that has traveled thousands of miles can mean more than any diamond or ruby.
7. You have signs in your house that say where you have been, but you have NO idea where you could be going.
8. Your circle of friends spans the world, but when you need them they seem like they are right next to you.
9. It is so ok to cry, especially for no reason ;).
10. The expectant mother pass they give you gets thrown away bc EVERYONE is pregnant so your not getting a parking space any way!
11. Prayer can move mountains, rivers, oceans, volcanoes ext.
12. Things can always get worse before they get better.
13. It is ok to say NO to the bake sale, car wash or other things you are asked to do ;).
14. It's ok to be selfish sometimes.
15. Having a close knit family can make all the difference!
16. Remember everything can change in a moment...you can never say thank you or i love you too much.
17. It does pay to "pay" (tithe) God first!

    Well, that list was a little longer than I wanted it and it doesn't even scratch the surface. When Nate and I first got married learning how to be a spouse was crazy and new and I always felt like I was doing it wrong. Nate was always there to tell me that if you burn it there is always McDonald's ;), if you break it we can replace it, and if nothing seems to be going our way it is ALWAYS going God's way (this one of the reasons I love my hubby). I started to get the hang of this military life and built up a routine. I thought I had being a spouse completely figured out! Now, again I sit here at my dining room table and think how different being a spouse is to a deployed soldier. I don't have to get up and make him breakfast after PT, no uniforms or smelly clothes to wash, and no random phones calls during dinner that receive a look of 'you are home now NO work' ;). I have had to change the way I communicate and react. Nate's face on Skype is better than ANY television show on tv. Letters and cards overflow on my table. I have never been so excited to send someone else a package. Nate's handwriting has become the prettiest in the world, and if you've seen his writing then you know this is a big deal. I am looking forward to the first load of laundry that has his multi-cam in it ;).
    I have learned so much in these last 6 months that I feel will def. propel me into being a better spouse, friend and family member. One huge thing I have realized that has made all of this bearable, even on the worst of days, is our family! I know on Saturdays at 9am I will get a Skype call from our Grandparents. Sunday I will talk to Dad and Momma K. On any day of the week that I have a crazy question I will be found talking to my Mom. In the random hours of the night I will text with my sister and between our crazy schedules will find time to talk for hours. I know that the overloaded packages are from the Curtis clan. I know that every other weekend I can call and hear my Nana, aunt and uncle having fun in Orangeburg. How can I feel alone with so much love and support surrounding me. I find such joy in being able to say OUR family, we have become ONE. I send out a big thanks to all of you for your support for me and for Nate. We cannot even begin to explain how much it means to us to receive calls, text messages, letters, packages and skype calls from you all. You mean the world to us!
    There is so much more to say, but I will be late to Bible Study. Thank you, also to our friends who have been so great and supportive through all of this, there are so many to list (you know who you are). Even the smallest gestures have meant so much! We love you all and can't wait to introduce Ady into this amazing family and friends we have. We love you!

The Baloughs

Daddy on the Go in Afghanistan

What's up with Dad?
The weather here has become much more manageable, which means it is getting into the low 100s high 90s on a regular basis. Also, we have finished our Change of Command which means I now have a new boss. The inventories went well, and everything got taken care of. Next, is Reset. Reset is where the Army fixes the equipment we have in theater and gets it back to fully operational. Once Reset is complete it is tie to start sending containers and people home for good. Mixed in there somewhere will be NCR&R, which means I will be sitting in Hawaii enjoying the wifey, puppies, and a cute little newborn baby. This is pretty much it here in Afghanistan.

What's up with Mom?
Morgan has been prepping the house and getting ready for Ady to come into the world. Baxter and Oreo evidently had a great play date with the neighbor so we will see how they will do with Ady.

Well, I will let her update you guys more when she sends her bog next.

Mommy's Sept. Update

HelloAll,
It's my turn to update the blog so here it goes...

What's Up with Mom?
    Well, I have been trying to keep busy so time passes faster, although I do like 'days off'. I have joined the Spouses club here in HI so that means monthly luncheons and events to attend. I have also volunteered to help out at the Thrift Shop. The good thing about helping out at the Thrift Shop is I can pick when I volunteer and how often, which will be great when baby comes and then they also give free child care so I won't have to worry about finding someone to watch Ady. I am still continuing my FRG stuff. I am attending a Spouses Conference in October which is going to be fun. I will get to participate in a couple different classes about couponing, decorating (food and the home) and some other classes. At the end of September I am also going to take a cooking class which should be fun. My friends are also throwing me a shower in October so that will be something to look forward to. I still have a lot to do like finding someone to do Maternity photos and newborn photos. I am still working on packing bags for everyone and loading them in the car! I am also working on some Fall/Halloween projects, because it is my favorite season ;). That is about it for my schedule.

What's Up with Dad?
   Nate, like he said in his last post, has been very busy with inventory and the change of command. He has found some time to relax though and participate in the family Fantasy Football draft. He was also able to participate in the Pros vs. GI Joes video game night. He also won the Corn Hole tournament they had at his FOB. He is managing to have some normalcy while over there. He will hopefully be preparing to come home for RandR here soon for November.

What's Up with Ady?
    Well, Miss Ady is as busy as ever ;). She finds times between poking mommy in the stomach to kick my bladder, then she finds time for her beauty rest. She likes listening and dancing to music, especially in church. She has shown me multiple times that she doesn't like when mommy eats spicy foods. She is continuing to grow each day and we have our  32week apt. next Friday!!!! Only 9 more weeks (hopefully) til she makes her grand entrance.

Randomness:

Cravings: Seafood, Spicy Food

Clothing: Dresses are my best friend! They show off the bump but don't make me feel like a sack of potatoes. Most of my shirts are getting to the "too short" mark which means SHOPPING!

Activities: I try to walk about 3+ miles a week. I am finding it harder to bend over and get things. It might be time for YOGA!

Sleeping: My hips start hurting so flipping over has become more frequent. Naps are always a good thing ;)

Doggies: Oh those puppies make every day so much fun ;). Oreo likes to lay her head on my belly and "listen" to Ady and Baxter just likes to step on her and assert his "dominance" LOL.

Doctor's Visits: Next apt. is Sept. 16th for our 32 week check up. Still no word on the results of my glucose test.

Hobbies: Napping and trying out new recipes!

Well, that is about it from this Hawaii Balough. Aloha!
-Mommy Balough

Daddy to be On the Go in Afghanistan

Well, Afghanistan is really hot still, that much has not changed, but right now our Brigade HHC is going through a huge change as the Commander is transitioning. In the next few weeks we will complete $40 million worth of inventories ensuring the new commander has inspected all property items. This means I have PLENTY to do. Also, I turned 27 while in Afghanistan along with a few of my fellow Officers and NCOs in 3rd Brigade 25th ID. I put up a couple picture of the cakes that Morgan sent to me. They were AMAZING. I am so excited about Ady coming, and getting to go home in November.

Today we had thunderstorm in Afghanistan and the rain could not have been any more welcome. The place flooded in some sections, and I don't understand why? We have been in Afghanistan for ten years and why do we have problems with water flow and irrigation. We are almost done with the change of command inventories which means that I get to move on to my next phase of deployment. That also means I get a new boss, and it will work well.I had the weirdest smell recognition moment the other day. I walked out of my barracks room and smelled the grease from a fifth wheel of an eighteen wheeler. That sent me back to the days of my dad taking me to Kaplan Trucking.

Morgan is doing such a great job at home keeping the puppies and baby to be. I am so proud of her and everything she is doing. Ady has her bed, dresser, swing, and LOTS of clothes. I am so thankful for everyone sending the clothes to keep Ady clothed and prepared for the beginning of her life. Well, I am going to go and I will let Morgan caught you up from Hawai'i.