A year has passed...

This time last year, we had moved across the country. Our things in Oklahoma were entrusted into the hands of strange (and I mean STRANGE, not strangers) people.

We were anxiously trying to find a place to call home in Virginia.

I had to have a house with an address before I could transfer my insurance. And the insurance had to be approved before I could make an appointment for our Meredith. It was a stressful time -- one that took our minds off the soon-to-be departure in the coming months.

That departure finally came...

And time didn't stop. Our babies have grown so much in these past months. So fast, that it is hard for me to imagine them before now. They are so full of love and joy, which is everything that I ever hoped to give them.

I did fear the job of raising my children alone. But after having my husband here for a few weeks in the middle, I had proof that I was doing the best that I knew how.

Lucky for me, my husband is an amazing man and I was able to learn a few tips from him as well. Being that he hasn't been around the babies, he knew different tactics as an outsider.

Looking back, I am saddened that come July, my children will have only been with their Daddy for maybe 3.5 months in the past year and a half. But, I am relieved to know that they will only remember this time through stories, photos, or newspaper articles. I am relieved to know that despite the complexity of our separation, everything remains very simple.

In celebration of a year in our home, the bank sent us our escrow statement - and I made a red velvet cake. Yum! But I do need to get a new rectangle cake pan -- it was a little burned on the bottom....

It is safe to say that Meredith is officially walking - and she hasn't even been around a whole year yet! She spends most of her day on her feet and I don't see only a few steps a day -- they come all day...She has FIVE teeth trying to pop in right now. She is full of herself for sure.

A year in our two-story house - and Lucas can successfully count to 10 - with assistance of course. I guess my counting the stairs all the time has finally paid off. He is also full of himself.
When he is in trouble, he trips me out, and I have to try so hard not to laugh at him. I begin "ONE!" He yells "No! Momma! Stop! Stop! Stop Now!"

Photos....

My husband asked today why I hadn't been taking that many pictures. Well, even though I told him I just haven't been - I really just haven't been posting them. I didn't realize the numerous photos I haven't shared with you guys!

A few days ago now, a squirrel made its way onto our front door step.

Stop in the name of love!
She walks! She got up to 17 freaking steps without falling. Before long, she will be chasing after Lucas!

Dixie Dix

Today, I discovered that our Dixie Dog is sick. She needed to go in for her yearly check-up and vaccinations.
In Oklahoma, we always just took her to the Vet Clinic on post. Now, I knew that we didn't get wonderful care there...as they just adminitered the vaccines and collected money - but I figured that was the nature most vets, since that is how we were treated the two times I took Dixie to a civilian vet.
I am so sorry for believing such a thing...

I had asked a few neighbors where they took their animals, and made a decision based on how much I trusted their opinion....And what a great decision I made! I was so impressed with how incredibly warm and friendly the staff was. I liken it to the upgrade in care my children receive at the University of Virginia....fabulous.

As for the diagnosis, Dixie looks wonderful, is a well-behaved child - er, dog - and is a healthy weight. She does have bradycardia, which is a slowed heart rate. I wasn't extremely worried about that, because she does run with Richard, and athletic people/animals have a tendancy to require less beats for minute.

But Dixie also has a heart murmur. The bradycardia could be related to the heart murmur, or could be a separate condition due to her murmur. In order to find more information, further tests would be necessary.

Richard and I decided that we will allow the vet to monitor her heart while we are here. Because the murmur was still light, it doesn't indicate a severe heart condition - and she is not exhibiting any symptoms to indicate poor health either.

It is kind of alarming to me that she could possibly just have a heart attack one day - you don't really think of things happening to doggies like that.

Love from Iraq

I have never been more joyous to begin a new week.

I was pretty miserable last week...Between snot, vomit, diarreah, sleep issues and fussiness, I didn't know which way was up. My outlets have been away, visiting family members who were going through major surgery - or prepping for big moves....

Needless to say, I am very happy that we have finally said goodbye to the old, in hopes of experiencing new things.

Perhaps even, my children will realize that we do not need to rise at 5 am. Daddy is not here, and if he were, no PT would occur that early, so we might as well sleep....

Speaking of Daddy, he sent a wonderful package to us. Backwards, I know - who sends stuff from Iraq? Well, I have you know, he brought back very wonderful things when he came home on leave. Lucas has watched Bolt (a Disney Movie that comes out on DVD Tuesday) so many times, that I know lines from the movie. I have already gone through the mass amount of baby wipes that he brought me. And I have completely exhuasted the Sugarland CD he brought me.

Anyways, I digress...

He packaged up a bunch of love and sent it to us. He mailed freaking Girl Scout Cookies! Some stranger mailed a load of them, and he sent me some. How hilariously thoughtful. We have already devoured one box. Lucas insisted I give him one, and Meredith took it upon herself to grab two!

He also sent a few things that he chose during a layover back to Iraq. His plane stopped off in Ireland - a place we have always said we want to visit one day...

For places we visit, we always pick up a magnet and a postcard - one that is descriptive of the area as we know it. He sent a postcard with several photos of the gorgeous lands there.

But because we hadn't gone TOGETHER, he felt it would not be appropriate to find a "typical" Irish magnet. Instead he chose one with the Irish symbol of love and friendship.

He also picked out a small statue entitled "Forever". The statue shows a couple embracing. The woman has one hand around the man's neck, and another holding the man's hand. The man has one hand resting on the woman's buttocks. The man's head is resting on the side of the woman's forehead. It is different from the Willowtree wooden carvings you can buy here in America, as it is very moving. You can feel the "forever" and the love in it. Or maybe I am just personaifying my husband into it....but isn't that what REAL art is all about?

The Day after the Ides of March...

Such an important day (the Ides of March) in the history of my college days, yet I was too busy to reminise because of the rain. Meredith wasn't feeling well. Such a crummy day to be so, since it was the celebration of her 11th month of life!

She is such a big girl, and it is hard to imagine her toddling around so soon. When Rich was home, we saw her take SIX steps! She often gets so excited that she topples over after two or three, so we were very impressed.

This past weekend, she stood up on her own, in the middle of a room, and then took three steps. I was amazed, because she didn't use anything to stabalize her balance before taking off! I can't wait to see the progress she makes over the next month.

She says "Dixie" ,"Dada" , "Momma", "ByeBye" and waves and smiles at everyone she sees. If she sees a little person, she will squeal soo big. She understands so much language. She will follow commands, and she even does a few signs (besides waving!) - like more and drink. She gives kisses and initiates peek-a-boo. My favorite is to see her respond to Richard on the webcam. She adores him.

Lucas, his new thing is asking "What's that sound?"

He was on a "What color is that?" kick for a while, but I think we have moved beyond it. Maybe not.

As for me, I am also trying to find a free minute so I can try a few new bread recipes. I know, I know, making bread doesn't take that long. I am intimidated by the clean up, truthfully. I always make such a mess with bread.

In other news, I am reading the most interesting book right now. I have a stack of books by my bed waiting to expose me to a whole new world. Unfortunately, you have to be in the right mood to venture to Germany, or Afghanistan, or...well you get the picture. So I have picked up a different book every night and felt so uninspired. Until a few nights ago, I picked up a book called Eat, Pray, Love.

My favorite friend in Arizona sent it to me for my birthday, because she was reading and enjoying. I actually look forward to going to bed each night so I can read. I haven't watched TV at night in ages. Hours pass without me realizing, and I find myself staying up til 1 am, reading and thinking, and rereading. Thanks a lot Sarah-Anne!

The book is quite intellectual and reflective. I am very much enjoying its intimacy. Perhaps I will share my thoughts once I have completed the book. I am not sure though....doing so makes me open and vulnerable to people that don't necessarily deserve to see that part of who I am.

But I am still in the eating part, so there is a little ways to go. If you are interested in what that means, you should check it out at your local library....

#6 and #7 of 25 Things

These two are along the same lines, and are one after another, so I decided to include them in one post!

The smell of oriental food makes me nauseous. I refuse to eat it....ever.
I tried Chinese food for the first time when I was 16 years old. We never ate it as a family, so my first try was during a takeout lunch at the bank. Oh, my first job was a bank teller - at the main branch....so the courier would bring us lunch, on our dollar though. We ordered out every Friday. That is a total side note. Anyways. I was teased for never eating it before and said "Okay, start me out easy!" I have no idea what they ordered for me, but the pure sight of it made me puke. Even after seeing that, my co-workers encouraged me to eat an egg roll. They just don't quit.

Don't think this is exclusive to Chinese food. I removed myself from being around it for years. Then, the first time I went out with my husband (before we were married) and his family - they took me to some Indian restaurant. OMG. I ordered something pretty tame according to Richard's step dad - his favorite dish. I don't remember what it was, but it was yellow and white and looked exactly like what I spent the next ten minutes doing. I never even got a bite.

Something similar happened when our neighbors INSISTED that we go to a Japanese Steak House in Oklahoma, assuring me that it was sooo different. I don't know what it is, but really, the smell does me in. I prefer to stick to my guns from now on.

Whenever I was working nights in Oklahoma, Richard would go out with Scarlett for Chinese food! I am so glad they could keep one another company over that nasty crap.


I believe that a meal is not complete without the proper kind of bread - i.e. garlic bread with spaghetti, cornbread with chili, etc. I will never give up carbs.
Bread. I have such fond memories of bread. I won't give you time to judge me by telling you what those memories are.

Bread is so simple, yet so delicious. And absolutely necessary to complete a meal. Without bread, your tummy only longs for more.

Now Richard wanted me to list how you know what bread is appropriate, but really, that is up to you to decide. But obviously you aren't going to serve biscuits with spaghetti. (My friend, Rasheedah - she is from New Jersey and thought it was the most ridiculous thing to have biscuits and gravy....but she tried it and she will never go back.)

Bread is comforting, nourishing and is typically something that is served with love. I know I always serve it with love.

I support Non-profit Organizations

I just opened my second tin of popcorn that I bought from the adorable little boyscout many months ago. If you lived closer, I would invite you over to try it. Soooo delicious, and exactly what I was needing.

So, there are those 3 dollar boxes of crunch n munch (well they were 3 dollars back in the day, who knows how much they cost now)....this is like 10 times better than that. I guess you get what you pay for. And screw you for saying I ended a sentence with a preposition. I am too busy enjoying my popcorn to care.

Speaking of fundraisers, I would LOVE some freaking Samoas or Caramel Delights, as they are now called. I would give anything for a little brownie or girlscout to knock on my door. Why do they not allow girlscouts to solicit people door to door? It is crappy. And if you didn't know, you can look up the selling schedule in your area. And if you want to know, I did. And we seriously thought of making a special trip out while Rich was here to buy some girlscout cookies. I decided it was pretty pathetic to do that.

But no worries. The girl scouts - they are pretty awesome. They donate cookies to the USO - there has only been one year that I had to buy cookies because we didn't go through an airport.
The USO is a place in most large airports which are available to military families. You can hang out, eat, check email, watch movies, read books. Sometimes they have little areas for kids. It is a great place. Soldiers can go there waiting for flights that don't take off for days. If you ever want to donate money, the USO is quite a large non-profit organization that provides more than a resting place in airports. I won't bore you, check it out at your leisure.

Anywho, I realized that "Life and Thoughts of the Connaroes" has become more life, and less thoughts. I totally dropped the ball on explaining the list of 25 things about myself. I will be better. Forgive me?

For now, I will continue to enjoy my popcorn. And patiently wait until July when my husband can nab some girlscout cookies.

Goodnight Moon

Our nightly routine includes allowing - no, making - Dixie go potty before bed. There is nothing worse than a dog that tells you she has to go out after you have gotten comfy in bed....

Anywho, I was already perplexed by the 40 degree temperature drop today, but to look out and see the moon...I was blown away.

Please see below for the moon in it's true form as I saw it.

I really hated geometry, but I did walk away with some knowledge. A freaking hexagon? I don't get it. The only hexagon I know to occur in nature is that of a bee hive. And I have no reason to believe that bees have inhabited the moon and changed its true circular shape in order to better produce honey.

In other news, I would really love to have honey. We are all out. For some reason, I can't bring myself to buy grocery store honey....we were spoiled with the real "made in Virginia" and placed in a mason jar honey. All I have found is wildflower honey not clover, as I want... I will be on the lookout....

Perhaps the moon was just a reminder that I need to add honey to my grocery list.

I'll keep you posted if it should turn into a gallon of milk (We aren't out just yet).

Goodbye yummy dinners...

We said goodbye to our time with Richard on Saturday. The days with him were such a joy. The babies loved every minute of their time with him. And I loved having my dishwasher back!
I am very sad to see that end...

So after sharing yummy dinners, it is back to my diet of chicken nuggets and fish sticks. And I hate to say it, but I really did miss them. Okay, not really....

17 nights were filled with such yummy foods. We had a list of Rich's favorite's and when we exhausted the list and any leftovers, I tried to empty the freezer of things that had lingered for the past six months.

Here, let's share recipes because I have nothing better to do right now. I know some of you readers have these recipes, so I will be specific... (I ate leftovers for dinner, so no kitchen duty....we played outside all day, so no toys to pick up)....

Okay, so his number one request was a Cheeseburger Meatloaf (not to be confused with a Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf - which has happened before (ie Melanie! haha). We ate that his second night back.

The first night back, we had frozen pizza, at his request (ie we are cheap and considered ordering from Papa Johns, but decided it was WAY cheaper to just pick one up and cook it ourselves). We ate homemade pizza later on - but I totally just bought premade pizza crust. We had his and her pizzas that night....

We had other Italian nights -- Lasagna, featuring Italian Sausage. Then Spaghetti, with Turkey Meatballs (not homemade ones Morg).

A few nights of down home comfort foods - Chicken Pot Pie (my favorite! It turned out soooo well, I wish we hadn't eaten it all on the first night!), Roast with carrots and potatoes.

Catfish - with Italian breadcrumbs, not the cheese kind - (Lindsay's fav!).
We had Salmon his last night here -- that was fantabulous too.

We had Tacos one night. Pork loins - just Shake and Bake because it was in the cabinet. Steak from the grill master (yes, that is me).

Italian Chicken.
Ham and Wild Rice Soup (Seriously, if I had been able to find barley, I wouldn't have modified this makeshift recipe so much, but what's done is done - and now it is in my freezer! Oh, and Broccoli in it is really yummy Linds!)

Oh, and Chili.

He also had homemade Mac and Cheese, oh and Mashed Red Potatoes more times than I can remember. I guess they deprive him of good starch with all that white rice.

As I begin the transition back to eating quick dinners with minimal clean up - I have to bid you ado. Goodnight!

Global Warming....

Only pellets of salt remind me that last weekend was cold enough for snow. Warmer temperatures have moved into the area...and when I say warm, I mean 80 degrees.

I was forced to pull out short sleeves for the babies!

A few months ago, I picked up this shirt (and one other) on clearance for Meredith for 99 cents....Oh, how I love a good deal!

Lucas is sporting a shirt last summer shirt...I guess he hasn't grown very much either!

Leap Frog! (Okay not really, Lucas was just harrassing Meredith)

This cup is a rare antique fellow Randy Mac-ers. Hail to our extinct Alma Mater.

(I was going to post a link to the lyrics of our song, but it being sung instead! How fun!)

http://www.ourrmwcvoices.com/index.php/site/home/

Bathtime smiles...

Richard kept insisting on giving the babies a bath in "the big bathtub" in our bathroom.
He finally got around to it the last night he was here.

In lieu of posting photos of my husband (and Lucas), I will post these supercute ones of Meredith...

Luc's New Do!

Richard and I pondered over why we let our child run around like a ragamuffin. His clothes full of wrinkles and faded. His hair unkept. I decided that I should probably start ironing since Richard won't buy me one of those cool dryers with a steamer wrinkle releaser cycle thing.

Then, we decided since Richard needed a haircut before flying back to Iraq that we should let Lucas in on the fun.

We were there for over an hour - initially trying to distract Lucas with Hershey Kisses. Who would have thought that wouldn't last very long?

So then we tried books....Lucas loves books....

No luck. He wanted down. Eventually, the hairlady just cut Richard's hair. Then we dragged their toys over and let her work from there.

Now, why we thought a "professional" would do a better job than I could is beyond me. But what's done is done - next time, I am getting the $$$ that we paid this freaking lady....

Here is the finished product.

Meredith's almost 11 months!

Today, we trecked to UVA to have a weight check for Meredith.

At her 9-month well baby exam, the doctors were concerned with her (lack of) weight gain, and wanted to check her at the beginning of March to monitor her progress.

She now has tipped the scale and jumped up from the 14 pound range! She is 15 pounds and 7 ounces. They were very impressed with her, and wondered what we have been doing to fatten her up.

Well, we did let her have a cupcake or two....

Snow Day!

A huge winter storm moved through our area. The snow began to fall Sunday afternoon and finally stopped around 10 am on Monday morning. We have somewhere between 7 and 10 inches of snow, depending on where you measure. They have closed the roads, so we are literally snowed in! This is what we woke up to see!

Cardinals flocked our yard like crazy. I caught a few photo of the male stealing some seeds.




Lucas waited patiently while we got everyone else dressed. No, we didn't let him go out in his pj's!

We bundled up and went out for a little while. Lucas HATED the snow and only wanted to be held - but he has been pretty cranky these past few days.

Dixie had a hayday, running around like a crazy dog and eating it. She even jumped in the freezing cold lake. She had icicles hanging from her fur!

We borrowed a sled from the Wilson's to see if we could force Lucas to have some mandatory fun (I guess the Army has enstilled something in us finally).

We were able to get Lucas to slide in our backyard for a few tries. He HATED when Meredith was on there too, and screamed the whole way "NO! Mere OFF!"

He finally became happier when we told him we were going inside! He touched the snow for a few minutes, and then asked to swing in the snow covered porch swing!

All in all, it was a fun day!

Feed the Birds....

As it began to snow yesterday, Richard took Lucas outside to make sure the birds didn't go hungry.


Meredith patiently watched from indoors!

Here they are fixing the bird feeder!

Success!

Family Fun Day!

This week, we ventured out to the Virginia Discovery Museum in downtown Charlottesville.

We had never been, in fear that Lucas wasn't old enough to enjoy it - especially since we had no idea what to expect.

What a surprise! The whole museum is geared toward children under the age of 5. Of course, older kids can go and appreciate too, but I think 7-10 year old would be the cut off for enjoying it.

They had a train table and a room to build tracks, play dolls, and read. There was a pirate ship with a slide, and games.

Mommy and Meredith Playing on the Pirate ship!

Blocks. A log cabin, with dress up clothes, pretend food, and wild stuffed animals. A magnetic gear wall. A ball maze. A dress up stage for "plays". An art room for crafts. And a grocery store!

Meredith going shopping! Then taking a break....

They had 2 special exhibits as well: the Human Heart and Lung and Bees.

They had simulated the heart and lungs....had a large operation game, and gave information about exercise and eating healthy.

There was also an indoor bee hive, filled with bees. An old hornet's nest. And all sorts of information about how bees live, collect honey, and assist in pollination.

The indoor bee hive.

Daddy and Meredith looking at all the bees.

Lucas looking for the Queen bee with the magnifying glass.

We stayed for a few hours and then had a yummy lunch at the best burger joint in Charlottesville - 5 Guys Burgers and Fries. It is close to a Braum's burger (in Oklahoma), but I am not sure who is the winner on the best in my book....