I know, I know… I haven’t been posting as much here on Schmate. Honestly, I only have a few more days left of Maternity Leave, and I’m soaking up every minute, like the video above. I promise to be back around Memorial Day when the transition back to work has calmed a bit. I know you guys will understand!

Soon after we started trying to have kids, JD and I were babysitting for some friends’ children when we noted to each other how many books the kids had. How wonderful it was that they were surrounded by mounds and mounds of books! After our friends arrived home after we spent an evening reading and reading and reading to their kids, our friends talked about how the books were free, all by merely signing up through a program called Books from Birth.

Basically, in a partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library which started in 1996, the state of Tennessee sends any child who lives in Tennessee (and signs up through the site) a free book every month from birth until the child is five years old. Apparently, this program is set up nationwide (possible abroad as well), and counties can sign up to support the program if they can. (I’m not sure how to find out which counties are applicable, but I think you have to sign up before the site tells you if you’re eligible.)

Maggie’s first book arrived over the weekend, and in tight plastic wrap arrived “The Little Engine That Could” by Watty Piper. JD and I were both thrilled… it had begun! Maggie was getting her very first of many books. And what a classic with which to start!  I can’t wait to see what’s next.

I’m hoping to try this recipe very soon… crusty bread made with minimal effort. Keep an eye out for a future Friday Feast!

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Guest KateSchmate poster Emily finished her second half marathon, and I was enthralled reading about her experience. If you want to run the Nashville Country Music Marathon next April, here’s a good account of what to expect! Love this girl!

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I should have made these for my niece’s birthday party! How adorable!

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Other KateSchmate guest poster Jessica talks about her epic and awesome recycling solution. Talk about serious stuff. I’m impressed!

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I really enjoyed this article on “How to Avoid the Comparison Trap,” which I feel consistently lurks while I try to be creative myself. Becka shares some practical tips on how to minimize comparing yourself to those with seemingly better ideas.

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Just a pretty necklace for ya!

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I love this card from Sycamore Street Press! Perfect for Mother’s Day.

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Random thing going on in my head these days… what should I do with my hair? I’m trying to avoid the new-mom-haircut where I just chop all my pretty locks off out of convenience and ease. I love my hair, but it’s becoming increasingly annoying to keep up with when I’d rather, say, eat breakfast than do my hair! Lately, I’ve just been pulling it back every day (see pic below), but does anyone have any new-mom-hair tips? Wouldn’t it be fun to just have this dipped hair hue that Anna sports? Maybe I’d wear it down more if it had something fun done to it. Does it get better? Should I stick it out?

PS: I have waaaaay more gray hair now than from this post from 2009…

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Oh I love Amaretto Sours. Friend Graham sent along this great recipe… someone please make it for me!

That said, every once in a while, I run across something that I like, and I can’t really figure out where it is on my personal sweetness scale. This product by Baby Tags is one of them… how sweet is this fingerprint/thumbprint keepsake necklace?

Basically, you place an order, and the shop will send you a fingerprinting kit, so you can personalize the necklace. They then take your print to be etched into the necklace. It’s seriously one of a kind!

There’s also a “Wings of Love” necklace that puts the fingerprints on the back of the wings.

I don’t know… what do you think? I really like the creativity here, plus they score high on the uniqueness scale. If you like it, these necklaces would be great Mother’s Day gifts, for sure!

We’re heading over to some friends’ house tonight for a good spring grill-out, and I volunteered to bring some yummy, fresh corn on the cob. I love corn, and it’s versatility. I personally think it’s best made on the grill, but that can sometimes take an hour or more to cook completely over the coals.

In past Friday Feasts, I’ve used corn in…

• Corn Pudding
• On a cob with a fun sauce
• Cold Corn and Bean Salad
• Corn Chowder
• Succotash
• Corn and Crab Bisque
• And a 7 Layer Dip

Now that it’s in season (and on sale everywhere you go!), how do you use it in your kitchen?

But, had it not been for Maggie, I could not have crossed #29 on my Thirty before 30 list: “Straighten up! Improve my posture and stop being a sloucher.” Let me explain…

Throughout pregnancy, I spent a lot of time on a large blue exercise ball to “help” Maggie drop (LOL), alleviate back pain, and just generally get a little exercise that didn’t strain me too much. It was a great tool for me.

After Maggie was born and after we all got home from the hospital, my mom discovered that Maggie could be soothed by being held while someone “bounced” her on the ball. It was magic! It was an instant calming action that made her quiet and happy… and pass gas.

This ball came in handy quite a bit during the first few weeks when Maggie would wake up multiple times in the middle of the night. JD and I would take turns “bouncing” her to sleep, sometimes for 2o minutes at a time. It was a perfect fix when no other solution would work, and after many hours bouncing our sweet daughter to sleep, our backs would ache. It wasn’t until we realized that if we sat up straight on the ball, our backs wouldn’t ache… as quickly.

I realized recently while on a walk with the stroller in tow that all the bouncing had affected my posture positively. I was walking upright and comfortably. That stupid blue exercise ball (plus more errands in the sling) had transformed my upright-ness where I didn’t even think about correcting it anymore. I noticed it in the car, while rocking Maggie to sleep (a better, newer soothing technique I recently adopted), and just around the house. I’m not sure how long this will last but hopefully for the long-term, at least while we continue to use the exercise ball!

This print absolutely cracked me up. Especially since this year marks some type of anniversary for the movie “Titanic,” I find it timely to post this print and talk about its shop. (I never really loved “Titanic.” Did you? I think I just got super sick of the Celine Dion song, so I just associated the two too frequently.)

This “Lego” print is from the Etsy shop Doodling A Smile which is full of fun prints, like those below.

“To the Sea”

“The Classical Race”

“Star Track”

“Hugs Keep Us Alive”

But, I guess this was… only I had to make it a little different, of course.

Raise your hand if you’ve heard of Wickles. If your hand is raised, I bet you’re smarter, more attractive, and happier than the average person, am I right? Found at (at least) Tennessee and Florida Publix stores, Wickles are sweet pickles with a kick. There is also a Wickles relish that is really hot, and JD loves it. Anyway… here’s an unpaid product endorsement!

So anyway, I made my version of Martha Stewart’s open-faced grilled cheese sandwich, but with sourdough bread, mozzarella cheese, bacon and Wickles. And, it was pretty good.

This Friday Feast isn’t really a traditional one, but it is an endorsement to go ahead and make those recipes on Pinterest, to try Wickles, and that Martha Stewart is usually right about food.

Beach Slinging

Maggie is pretty cute, but the baby sling I hold her in is getting a ton of fanfare.

When I’m running errands out to the grocery store or meeting girlfriends out and about, Maggie comes right along in my sling. Especially when I was not allowed to lift more than Maggie for six weeks post C-section, the sling was super helpful when I couldn’t lift her in her car seat. My girlfriend Della gave it to me at one of my baby showers, and I probably use it daily. Maggie sits comfortably and warmly inside the sling while I have the freedom to use both of my hands to shop, cook, or walk on the beach, like in the above picture.

I’ve been stopped at almost six different stores by complete strangers wanting to know more about the sling. And, I have to admit… it’s pretty great. There are lots of sling variations out there, but mine is from Peanut Shell, which is sold at several stores and online retailers. The best part about the sling is that there is a bottom lining of cushioning where the sling hits from my stomach to my hip. There’s also a pocket in the front, and who doesn’t love pockets? Bellaroo is actually selling the style and pattern of my sling, and as I would know, it makes a great gift.

Here are a couple of other styles and patterns.

Adjustable Baby Sling

Vanilla Bean Adjustable

Quincy Peanut Shell

Beautiful Handcut Bird Notecards

Earth Day Napkins… I love the red color.

Raindrop Tea Towel

Fair Trade Organic Guatemalan Roasted Coffee

Screenprinted Flower Postcard

So, it’s been awhile since I’ve cooked… JD and I have been blessed with very kind family and friends who have fed us for the past 7 weeks since Maggie was born. But, this week was the first time I actually had to put something together myself, because I also felt healed enough from the c-section to do so. And what did I do? Heat up a casserole. (ha!) I also made some asparagus, which is sort of an adventure for me.

While in Whole Foods with Maggie in tow, I rushed around gathering what I needed, just hoping she wouldn’t get fussy. (She didn’t, but I was certain she would!) I sped through produce and noticed that asparagus was on sale and displayed beautifully (darn you, Whole Foods and your pretty displays!), so I picked up a bunch and proceeded to finish my shopping, completely unsure of how I’d prepare them later that night.

Once home, I consulted three recipes and decided to go with a combination of all three (Ina, Alton, and Pioneer Woman). The veggie turned out wonderfully, and JD and I devoured all of them. Here’s the abbreviated version of how I decided to approach the asparagus:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Cut off the hard parts of the asparagus ends, and don’t bother peeling. (Fatter asparagus works best for this recipe.)
• Lay out the asparagus on a nonstick pan.
• Liberally apply EVOO, kosher salt and fresh-cracked pepper to the pan full of veggies.
• Cook in oven for 10 minutes.

Yeah, yeah… not novel, but a very easy way to incorporate more greens into your meals. PS: The next day, they are a great snack cold.

We were at the beach for the Atlanta Braves Opening Day, so we had to dress Maggie appropriately. (Thanks, Nanny!)

My parents got some great quality time with Maggie… so fun.

I caught a few shots of my dad fishing, while he caught lots of fish!

Thanks to Soothing Sheep (thanks, Liz!), my parents, JD, Maggie and I all enjoyed a quiet, yummy meal at our favorite spot in Orange Beach, Villagio’s.

And… obligatory mommy and daughter shot!

I stumbled upon Yellow Bird Yellow Beard the other day, and I love this shop’s variation on garland. This is really fun and inspiring to try different ways to do pennants and garland. Check out some of her great work.

Mint Sorbet Paper Garland Circles

Paper Garland Stars

Elephant Paper Garland

Butterfly Garland in spring colors

Paper Garland in blues and greens

Love this Hotel Key Rack.

I really can’t get enough of chevrons lately.

Is this book speaking to me? “Lists”?

Well, this bottle opener looks awesome.

I want more trays in my life, don’t you?

A lot of friends have been asking how Lucy and Maggie are getting along. I don’t know if I’d say they are Best Friends yet, but it’s a cute relationship for sure.

Throughout the pregnancy, JD and I were very interested in how we would present Maggie to Lucy and if this would affect Lucy’s quality of life. We read on the Humane Society’s page different tips on how to introduce the two and what we needed to do pre-birth to prep Lu for this change. We first played YouTube clips of babies crying to get Lucy associated with the different sounds of infants. We then said the name “Maggie” in a happy, encouraging tone in sentences to and in front of Lucy. After Maggie was born, we sent home a blanket Maggie had been swaddled in, and my mom put it in Lucy’s crate so she could get used to the smell and be familiar with the baby.

We also planned for their first meeting the day we brought Maggie home from the hospital, and it worked out very well. JD pulled into the garage and shut the garage door. He went into the house and greeted Lucy, since it had been almost five days since we saw her. He loved on her and settled her down a little. Then, he brought her out into the garage and I got out of the car and loved on her and talked to her. JD grabbed Maggie in the carseat, and the four of us went into the house together and went straight into the bedroom where we put Maggie, in her carseat, on our bed. Lucy jumped up on the bed, and we let her smell Maggie and say hello. After that, it’s been all gravy.

From the new baby’s perspective, Maggie doesn’t really seem to notice Lucy too much. Yes, Lucy is a bold-colored, black and white dog that is fun to focus on. But, otherwise, Maggie doesn’t really notice Lucy. Lucy will occasionally kiss her on the face and feet, but Maggie doesn’t know what it is or mind the extra loving. It’s sweet.

As for Lucy, Maggie being in the picture took only a few days adjustment, but now, Maggie is just another member of the family unit. Since Lucy sleeps in our room with us along with Maggie who is sleeping in our room for these first few months, Lucy was quick to associate Maggie as equal importance levels to me and JD. So, when others are around — my mom or JD’s parents, for example — Lucy is a bit more protective and cautious of how these guests treat Maggie, which is really sweet.

Here are some notable cute things Lucy has done with Maggie:

• If JD, Maggie and I were out and come back into the house after being gone, Lucy searches the living room or wherever we are until she finds where Maggie is. Once she spots Maggie, Lucy continues with her usual relaxing/living life, but she has to check on her baby first.
• During Maggie’s bath time which is on the second floor of the house, Lucy comes up and sits in the doorway of the bathroom (picture below). She listens, waits and watches but is never involved in the process. It seems to me that Lucy (who hates baths) comes in to sympathize with Maggie and show support for Maggie having to go through this “horrible thing,” according to Lucy. But the dog is still super cautious… “They may put me in there,” it seems to look like she’s thinking.

• One night after we had been out running an errand and Maggie fell asleep in the carseat, JD placed Maggie on our chaise still in her carseat as to not disturb her while she finished sleeping. Lucy hopped up on the chaise to smell and sleep nearby. During a quiet moment, Maggie jolted in her sleep and threw her hand into the air. Lucy was instantly frightened, jumped off the chaise, and ran away.
• We do have a small swing for Maggie that sits low on the ground. Lucy uses this opportunity to try to kiss Maggie, but inevitably Lucy gets bumped by the swing and is startled.

Overall, I’m not sure if Lucy’s life has changed for the better, but the poor pup is a lot more tired, a bit more cautious, and a lot more protective. But, as usual, Lucy’s life is just so hard… !