For the Love of Cookies

It's no secret to many of you that I come from a long line of bakers.  My grandmother made the best cream pies you can imagine, my great grandmother's house was always filled with the sweet aroma of freshly baked goods - her trademark being molasses cookies (by the way, she was legally blind and still amazing in the kitchen), and my mother was nicknamed by my friend Rachel as "Martha Stewart" (minus the jail time).   Of course more than just their talent in the kitchen was the reason why they did it; it was done out of pure love for their children and grandchildren.  Sure, I can see that now, but I'm pretty sure back then all I really saw were the cakes, cookies and pies in front of me;)  Over the years I have attempted to follow in their shoes, falling short many times and making many phone calls with "kitchen emergencies" back home to my mother.  Baking was and is a source of comfort to me, and even now when I smell freshly baked breads or cookies I am instantly flooded with warm memories of my childhood and of all those amazing woman in my family.  Homemade goodness is certainly something I want to fill our home with as well.

As much as I enjoy baking, I enjoy eating said baked goods equally as much, so I have to limit just how much butter, eggs, flour and sugar I have on hand at any given time.  But, once in awhile I throw in the towel and go on a baking spree.  This months baking spree came in the form of chocolate chip cookies - basic you say?  I say not so much!  In all my past attempts I don't think I've ever made a really good chocolate chip cookie.  They come out either too buttery, flat, crispy or some sort of combination of the above and I find myself vowing never again to waste calories on something so subpar.  And people who swear by the Toll House Recipe, well it is not fool proof and it just doesn't work for me.  However, given the fact that I am married to a man who always asks "what are you going to bake, chocolate chip cookies?!?" (followed by a disappointed look when I sheepishly say no), and am now a mom to the son of said man, I figured it is about time I master this chocolate chip cookie thing!  Well, I searched around and found a cookie recipe that I thought looked good and boy I was right!  They were AMAZING and Neal said they were hands down the best cookies he has ever had!  Score!  I've made it to the big leagues, folks, and am ready to bake for Caleb's soccer team;)

So, after I make another batch of cookies to deliver to my friends at work, this months baking spree will come to a close and I will neatly file away the cookie recipe - excited for the day that I will be able to make them for Caleb.  When that day comes I can only hope that he will feel just as loved as I did walking through my kitchen as a little girl and seeing a warm plate of cookies baked just for me.  After all, that's what being a mom is all about - showering your little one with love - and if it's one thing I've learned, it's that love comes in all different forms - even in the form of cookies.  So, I'm going to keep on baking; eat your hearts out, little ones!

Until Next Time

xoxo

One of my favorite pictures of him:

Playing Ball:

One of my friends passed this activity center on to us:

He LOVES this thing!  And it helps him practice his standing!

He LOVES to stand!

Some new PJ's because his legs are too long for one piece sleepers...so these are size 6-12 months and his regular pants are now needing to be 9 months...oh my!

And Sadie, well she is just enjoying the "dog days of summer"...

Some of my flowers...