Check it off the list!

I recently accomplished something I've always wanted to do! I made the perfect chocolate chip cookies! I've had the recipe for a year now, and I've used it several times, but I'd never been able to get my cookies to look or feel just right.

Until now.

My cookie scoop broke, so I had to roll these cookies by hand. And that was the trick!

See the difference?  The cookie dough on the right is straight out of the scoop.  I use to just plop those on the tray and cook them.  But I found out that hand rolling the dough until it is smooth makes a much prettier, smoother cookie!

The recipe is adapted from the good old Tollhouse recipe. It just contains extra flour to make the cookies thick and soft.

This is the perfect time of year for making cookies, no?!

Yum!

This counts as breakfast, right?!

 

Perfectly Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

3 1/4 cup flour

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter

1 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

1 package chocolate chips

 

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking soda.

 

Cream together butter, sugars, and vanilla. Add eggs and beat until combined.  Gradually add dry ingredients.  Add chocolate chips!

 

Place hand rolled dough on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake 8-12 minutes--until just beginning to brown.

 

Thoughts from long ago

I found a couple of blog posts I had written around the time of Emerson's first birthday.  As my blogging fell to the wayside, I never published them!  The following words perfectly summed up my feelings of her first year...

March, 2013
Emerson woke up with a fever yesterday, and congestion hit shortly thereafter. She has been a fussy, sleepy crankypants for the last 24 hours. Her sweet eyes are red-rimmed and watery, and she was up almost every hour last night wanting to nurse...probably to ease a sore throat, if my symptoms are an indicator of hers. So today we are both exhausted and a bit out of sorts. Poor baby girl screamed and screamed when I put her down for a nap...long enough that I went to get her. But the minute she was in my arms, the screaming stopped, her eyes closed, and her breathing became deep and even. And even though I probably could have put her back in bed, I'm sitting in the rocker with my little girl against my chest, prepared to let her sleep as long as she needs. These moments are almost nonexistent these days...a little girl has too much learning and exploring to do to stop and snuggle with mommy...and is old enough to take a nap without being rocked to sleep.

Everyone warns you that time with your baby goes too quickly, but--my goodness--I was unprepared for how rapidly this year flew by. I'm so grateful for every single moment I've had holding, rocking, nursing, and snuggling this (not so) tiny bundle I've wanted for so long. This past year has been absolutely the best year of my life. God has given me the most beautiful gift allowing me to be a mother to this baby girl.

Blogging?

What's that?!? It's been well over a year since I last blogged! Life happens so fast, and as things change, priorities change as well! I've been thinking a bit about blogging again...it's nice to spend a bit of time reflecting on my life and the blessings I've been given. :)

My baby has been growing like a weed!  She's adorable and hilarious and the very best thing that has every happened to me.  As far as I'm concerned, being a mama is the best thing in the world.

Pouting because I wanted to take her picture...and made her wear a cute headband for it.  Poor girl;)

Pumpkins!  She carefully chose each of those pumpkins this fall.  Soon she'll be helping pick out a Christmas tree!

 

So what do you think, friends?  Should I start this thing back up?

Maybe I will!