cloud nine.

its been a rainy weekend here.

and i have loved every minute of it.

there is nothing sweeter than being stuck in this house 

with a snuggly three week old that demands to be cuddled all day long.

so while the clouds are sprinkling & the skies are grey outside our window.

this mommy is on cloud nine inside with her sweet little babe. 

rain. rain. please don't go away.

i could cuddle on the couch with this babe all day.

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lavender cream scones.

my sweet aunt nancy came to town last week.

i always love getting a visit from her.

but this particular visit was especially sweet.

as we were celebrating her daughters wedding!

part of the wedding festivities included an impossibly sweet bridal brunch.

an intimate tea party brunch with all of my cousins closest girlfriends.

it was just wonderful.

we drank coconut tea. and dined on spinach quiche. 

fruit parfaits. petit fours. & key lime tartlets filled our porcelain plates.

but by far the best treat of all were the lavender scones.

made from scratch by my sweet aunt nancy.

{she found the recipe in tea time magazine}

these lavender scones were the loveliest. 

the most delicate. the most delicious. the most amazing scones i have ever tasted.

and sweet aunt nancy was kind enough to share her recipe with all of us.

are they not the sweetest & most dainty little scones you have ever laid eyes on?

i just love how they are small. perfect. circular. treats. 

& the lavender sprinkled on top is just lovely.

these lavender sweeties are so pretty sitting on a silver platter.

the perfect treat for a shower. a brunch. a party. or just because.

they are just as delicious as they are beautiful.

& that makes for a definite keeper of a recipe.

so grab your recipe cards & pencils ladies. you will want this one.

for the scones:

2 cups self-rising flour

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup cold salted butter

2 teaspoons dried lavender

1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest

1/2 cup cold heavy whipping cream

1 large egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

& fresh lavender flowers to adorn the scones.

for the glaze:

1 cup confectioners sugar

4 teaspoons whole milk

preheat the over to 350 degrees.

combine flour & sugar.

whisk well.

using a pastry blender. cut butter into flour & sugar mixture.

this should become crumbly in texture.

add lavender & lemon zest.

stir well.

in a separate bowl.

combine cream. egg. vanilla.

whisk well.

add cream mixture to the flour mixture.

stir to combine.

use your hands to bring the dough together.

turn dough out onto a floured surface.

knead lightly. three or four times.

using a rolling pin. roll out dough to 1/2 inch thickness.

using a round cutter. cut 12 rounds out.

place rounds on baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

bake until edges are golden. about 15 minutes.

place scones on a wire rack to cool completely.

in a small bowl.

combine confectioners sugar & milk.

whisk until smooth.

spread sugar glaze over the scones.

garnish with lavender flowers.

voila! 

i hope you all enjoy these pretty little treats as much as i did.

let me know how they turn out for you!

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itty.bitty.

my adoration for baby patrick is larger than life.

i never could have imagined a love so big. 

so insanely. tremendously. big.

but it is true my friends. 

this mother's love is so big it could wrap around 
the great big world 1000 times over. 

that. certainly. is. big.

but its funny.

all the things i love the most about baby patrick are not so very big at all.

in fact. they are quite itty bitty.

like his itty bitty ears.

where i can whisper i love yous & prayers. 

and his itty bitty hands.

that i can hold onto.

and his itty bitty footies.

that have ten perfectly curled up toes.

and his itty bitty eyes.

that are so full of wonderment & curiosity. 

and his itty bitty lips.

that are oh so kissable. 

and his itty bitty shoulders.

that are covered in peach fuzz. 

and his itty bitty neck.

that is made of wrinkles and rolls.

but most of all.

i love his itty bitty soul.

that is held by our great big God.

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love, your mommy.

hi. baby.

i just love you so.

i love your sweet little noises. and your silly little cry.

i love the way you smell. and how you stretch real big. and your cute little nose.

i love when you open your eyes. when you furrow your brow. & when you pucker your lips.

but most of all.

i love that you will be my baby boy.

forever. and ever. and ever.

it is a beautiful blessing from our great Lord. 

and i am eternally grateful.

love,

your mommy.

p.s. 

forgive me for all the times i cannot immediately soothe you.

and the moments when my tears come from exhaustion.

and for the days that i forget to pack an extra diaper in the bag.

i am still learning. but i promise i will get better.

atleast. i will try.

xoxo.

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a fathers love.

sweet patrick. 

i hope you know how loved you are.

can i tell you a secret?!

i thought i loved your daddy more than ever possible.

and then i saw the way he loved you. 

and it makes me love him even more than before.

he loves you beyond words.

an unconditional. protective. affectionate. kind of love.

i can hardly wait to watch the two of you grow together over the years.

father & son. best buddies. two peas in a pod. forever & ever.

you will forever be loved by your daddy.

& i know you love him right back.

after all.

nobody gives such sweet kisses as your daddy.

and your daddy will always hold your hand.

your daddy will always protect you in the most gentle of ways.

and when you have a bad day. because somedays you will.

your daddy will be there to make it all better.

because thats what good daddy's do.

and your daddy...

well. he is just the best. 

i feel abundantly blessed knowing that my sweet baby boy 

will forever have such a tender. loving. & devoted father.

thank you lovie. you make my heart swell. 

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everyday love.

nowadays it is the everyday kind of love that makes my heart pitter-patter.

the small. seemingly insignificant. moments that sprinkle our days together at home.

quiet afternoons that resonate with the whimpers of a sleeping babe. 

the smell of a clean babe. the feel of him wrapped in swaddling clothes. 

the way he looks up at me as i feed him. his little fingers grabbing mine.

& the countless expressions that his precious little face makes. 

little moments that could easily go unnoticed.

those are the moments that completely & wonderfully fill my heart with joy.

i know these quiet & tender moments won't last long. 

so i am soaking up every. little. last. morsel. of everyday newborn baby love. 

my little everyday love.

it makes my everyday even sweeter than ever imaginable. 

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happy tuesday.

some days you just gotta let it out.

happy tuesday. little lovelies. 

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oh happy day.

it was a happy. happy. happy. day at the mills house.

celebrating our very first fathers day was sweeter than i could have imagined.

our day was filled with lots of snuggles. kisses. and dirty diapers.

it. was. perfect. 

oh happy day. indeed. 

little patrick is blessed with the sweetest daddy.

we can't wait to celebrate our love for him every. single. day.

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baby of mine.

baby mine. don't you cry. baby mine. dry your eyes.

rest your head close to my heart. never to part. 

baby of mine.

little one. when you play. don't you mind what they say.

let those eyes sparkle and shine. never a tear.

baby of mine. 

if they knew sweet little you. they'd end up loving you too.

all of those people who scold you. what they would give just for the right to hold you. 

from your head down to your toes. your not much. goodness knows.

but your so precious to me. 

sweet as can be. 

baby of mine. 

overwhelmed with love and adoration for this sweet little baby of mine. 

god's amazing grace & blessing are abundant in every way. 

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chippy cookies.

i have never met a cookie i didn't like.

scratch that.

i have never. ever. met a cookie that i didn't love.

i am practically a big ol' cookie monster. 

sprinkles. chocolate chip. peanut butter. oatmeal raisin. 

you name it. i love them. like really really love them. 

but there is one cookie that takes the cake.

one cookie that is my tried & true. go-to. always perfect cookie.

allow me to introduce you to . . .

the chippy cookie.

ta da!!!

don't you just want to eat 'em all up?!

and i pinky promise you. they are even better than they look.

so. because i love you all so much. 

and i just know how incredibly happy these cookies will make you. 

i am going to share this great recipe with you. 

oh. sugar. 

you will need your sugar & brown sugar.

to cream with your softened butter. eggs. & vanilla.

{one little secret. i always double the vanilla. such great flavor}

always allow your butter to soften for at least an hour or two.

it makes such a difference in the consistency of your dough. 

in a separate bowl. 

combine the flour. baking soda. baking powder. & salt. 

add it slowly to the creamed sugar.

then comes the fun part.

adding all the little surprises that make the chippy cookie

so amazingly yummy. and well. so very chippy.

add your chocolate chips. 

semi-sweet chips.

and the big secret... milk chocolate chips. 

the addition of the milk chocolate chips is glorious. 

then add some rolled oats. 

this gives amazing texture & flavor.

and i like to think it makes the cookies acceptable to eat for breakfast.

in fact. i highly recommend it. 

the next step it optional.

but totally worth it in my humble opinion.

add chopped walnuts. or chopped pecans. 

{if you are not a nutty person. it is completely fine to leave them out}

i always use a large ice cream scooper to make my cookie dough balls.

not only is it less messy than using your hands. 

but it also allows you to make certain that all of your cookies will be the same size. 

and in turn will all bake equally. no over baked or under baked this way.

scoop all your cookies out.

and bake them till they are golden & gooey.

mmm. mmm. mmmmmmm.

amazingly delicious with the best consistency. 

you will surely not be able to eat just one.

and the sweetie in your life will love you for the sweet treat.

my lovie just inhales these little cookies. 

so. here it is.

in your mixer cream the following:

1 cup softened butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup light brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla {i add more}

in a separate bowl mix:

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

slowly incorporate the dry ingredients into the creamed dough.

mix well. 

add 12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips

add 8 oz milk chocolate chips

add 2 and 1/2 cups rolled oats

add 1 and 1/2 cups chopped nuts {optional}

bake at 375 for 10-13 minutes. 

& then enjoy! 

let me know if you bake these treats. i would love to hear your thoughts.

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