These Pictures Don't Go With This Post

Our week has been hard- normal life stuff- but still, it took some extra effort for us to stay lifted.  Bills were paid, our car was broken into, and we got some news that our cute Tally may need surgery on his eyes.  Tally has intermittent exotropia (basically a fancy word for a lazy eye).  The biggest concern with this is the effect it has on depth perception.  It can effect things like Tally's ability to sit up, stand, walk, etc.  So far, he's right where he should be!  After patching his good eye every day at home I noticed they were getting worse, not better like the ophthalmologist said it would.  I made an appointment to see him again and he said we had three options (sort of).

1. Eye exercises

2. Glasses

3. Surgery

You can't exactly do eye exercises with a 6 month old haha (following directions is a little difficult haha) so we opted for glasses!  After calling over 15 stores I finally found A) a store that actually carries glasses for a 6 month old and B) a store that would price match for me!  I felt so adult.  I got a great deal on some glasses and we are praying that it'll help and that we won't have to do the surgery! The though of putting my baby under general anesthesia at this age is honestly terrifying to me.  I realize we are so blessed to have a healthy baby and I so look up to all of the parents taking care of children with health issues that are far more serious.  More posts on Tally's eyes to come! 

Today was simple, today was regular, and that's why today was perfect.  Tally hasn't been sleeping well the past two nights- he's been much more needy than usual- I'm thinking teeth??  Who know's though right?  One of my favorite pieces of advice I got when I became a new mom was that "once you've got it all figured out, they change again".  Tally was sleeping through the night (finally) for the past week or so and then BAM! Friday night he was up THE WHOLE NIGHT.  He has never done that to me before!  We seriously got like an hour or two of sleep.  He wasn't crying or acting like he was in pain but he just sat there with his eyes wide open and wanted to be cuddled all night.  I usually work Saturday's so it made for a long day at work- and needless to say Braedon and I were both spent by this morning!  He was up most of the night last night and church felt almost pointless today.  We were in and out of sacrament (mostly out) and didn't feel super prepared for our Sunday school lesson.  

However- the young women and their leaders sung, "A Child's Prayer", during sacrament and Tally quited down for the whole song.  My spirit was lifted.  

Our Sunday school students (age 15) played with Tally and talked about Homecoming the majority of the lesson, but near the end I got to listen to one of our students talk about her experience in the temple, and then Braedon bore his testimony.  I could tell each of the students were listening, and again, my spirit was lifted.  

Like I mentioned, earlier this week my car was broken into and along with it my stroller was stolen, a bag of clothes for Tally that my sister had passed down to me, our essential oils diffuser, and basically anything they could find besides our carseat base.  Today my cute mother and father in law showed up with bags of clothes in the exact size that had been stolen, and I got to watch them play with Tally while I went through the clothes (to say we were spoiled is an understatement).  My spirit was lifted!  

Honestly, I started this post with no idea what I wanted to write.  I didn't even think I was going to talk about Tally's eyes, but it feels good to talk about it, and maybe even ask for your prayers.  

I'm so grateful for Sunday's, and for the opportunity they give me to feel "lifted" when I need some lifting!  (Cause don't we all sometimes?)

I love my boys, and I love where we're at in life right now. 

Oh, and did you notice? I decorated for Halloween (whoops).  

Happy Sunday! 

Sweet Treats with a Sweeter Experience

Today I have a fabulous fall dessert recipe to share, one word: pumpkin. But, more importantly, I'd like to share  a sweet testimony we heard today in church that just really put things into perspective.  

A new mom had just witnessed the blessing of her precious baby girl. (I sure do love baby blessings!)  She got up to the stand, a little teary eyed, and shared a beautiful testimony.  I'll have to paraphrase her story:

"It was prescribed by our doctor to give our little girl tummy time each day.  The purpose of tummy time is to help our baby girl get stronger- she will gain better control of her head and neck muscles.  That way, when she starts rolling, she will be able to lift her head up and be able to breathe if she gets stuck on her tummy. If she can't do this on her own, there is a possibility she could suffocate. Every day I try to remember to give my daughter tummy time.  As I sit and watch her this is what I observe; at first, she's a champion.  She struggles a little but keeps fighting.  Then, her confidence slowly turns into a whimper, she cries out and I can tell that as each second passes she's getting more and more tired.  Finally, she can't take it anymore, she's in tears and has to put her head down.  This part is hard for me, as her mother, I just want to swoop in and save the day.  I can tell that as I sit by and observe, she can't see me, and she has forgotten that I've been by her side the whole time.  But, as much as I want to pick her up and soothe her cries, I know that this tummy time is important- to make her stronger.  So it is with our Heavenly Father.  When we are faced with times of adversity and trial, and we find ourselves thinking, "Why me?", "Why haven't you saved me?", "Why can't you make this easier?", we must remember two things. One, He is always there.  Two, He know's what we can handle, He has a plan, He is only making us stronger, molding us to be the greatest we can achieve."  

This perfect analogy struck me hard today. I realized that I know that our Heavenly Father loves us. I'm certain of His love for me individually.  He gives us small doses of "tummy time", only to prepare us for what is to come, so that when faced with harder trials we won't suffocate.  

On a lighter note, the long awaited for recipe! (jk).  These soft but chewy cookies will convert even the most stubborn pumpkin haters!  I found the recipe on Pinterest (of course) and made my own adjustments.  Instead of a glaze, I chose to make some homemade cream cheese frosting.  *I added to the recipe: brown sugar (can't live without it), a little more pumpkin puree, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves.  

I didn't do step by step pictures for this one.  But the final product is pictured above!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup softened butter

1/2 cup vegetable oil

*3/4 cup pumpkin puree (original recipe calls for 1/2 cup)

1/2 cup powdered sugar

*1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

2 large eggs

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

*1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

*1/4 teaspoon ginger

*1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

*pinch of cloves

Frosting:

1/2 cup butter at room temp

1 8oz. pkcg cream cheese at room temp

powdered sugar (I do this by ear, explanation below)

optional:

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

cinnamon-to sprinkle on top after cookies are frosted 

Directions:

Preheat oven to bake at 350 degrees. Cream sugars, butter and vegetable oil (*tip: my mom always taught me that the longer you cream, the better the cookie-set your mixer on a high setting for this). Beat in eggs, pumpkin puree, and vanilla.  Mix in dry ingredients leaving flour for last. Slowly stir in flour one cup at a time (*tip: another mom trick, try not to mix the dough too much after the flour and dry ingredients have been added).  Scoop (heaping) 1 tablespoon drops of the dough onto a baking sheet.  Press each cookie down with a glass cup- about 1/2 inch thick.  Bake for 9-11 minutes.  While your cookies are baking beat together butter and cream cheese (for frosting) with a hand mixer.  Slowly mix in powdered sugar, I probably used almost a whole package.  You want your frosting to be light and hold it's shape, if you scoop it up and it droops easily you need more powdered sugar- don't be afraid to keep adding!  Once your cookies are cooled, frost them, ]sprinkle with cinnamon and serve!  I took these cookies to a Vivint (work) party and I'm pretty sure they were a hit- the plate was bare by the time we left.  I even got this compliment, "Stef, I hate pumpkin, but you're cookies were soooooo good!!"  Hope you'll give them a try!