our Baby, new baby boy, brownies, bake sale, blowout, Beth gave birth to another boy

CC has a peaceful afternoon nap while her brother and sister are away.

Mom and dad graciously took Robert and Esther for another overnight last Friday, leaving us with CC. How simple one baby seems now (it did NOT seem simple when I had my first)! Rob made a lovely coq au vin for dinner with Karla and John. The Kosars came over without their kids, we didn't have ours and man-the conversation flowed so easily with no interruptions! The one flaw of the evening: I didn't take any photos. On Saturday I communed with Click and Clack, then Peter Segel (sp?) on NPR in the a.m. CC and I had a fun music class (she bounces up and down on her bottom the WHOLE time :) and came home to hang with dad. In the afternoon we drove to Canton to have dinner and pick up Robert and Esther. We had a yummy dinner there and drove our exhausted progeny home. THANK YOU mom and dad for giving the kids such a fun Saturday! Sunday I found out that Courtney (friend of our from choir) had her baby. Congratulations Brian and Courtney on the birth of Charles Paschual. Major thumbs up on the name.

That evening the Frilingos joined us for an impromptu dinner with beef stew and homemade bread in tow.

Esther, Robert and Paul Frilingos Look at how Beth is glowing while holding two babies- Mine and hers (on the inside). Life keeps moving-Jack Frilingos arrived today at 3:45pm! Congratulations Beth and Tim! I guess it's okay that I couldn't find that winter maternity coat. . .

Just as Jack was being born, CC blessed our family with an amazing blowout that went everywhere sending me home with Robert to get her some clean clothes and a bath.

CC and Robert, post-bath

Oh yeah- I made some brownies for a bake sale at the Fall Fling at Esther's school. How amazingly dorky and mom-ish is that? I had to type it to believe it- plus it lended some fun alliteration to the title.

Bye.

Quoterama

Rob- "Esther, what story did you guys hear this morning at Sunday School?",
Esther- "Oh, the Bible, a-GAIN."
After dinner last night, "Dessert- hel-LO!"-Esther
During church yesterday, me- "Robert listen to her (Laurie Swann) singing, she has one of my favorite voices." Robert- "I still like yours better." Sigh.

Mom, how many days until Halloween?

Robert and Esther spent Friday night and Saturday (at the apple festival in Ellijay- send pictures please!) with mom and dad. Friday night Rob and I prepped the house for an open house the next day. Saturday Rob sang in Decatur all day at a Diocesan Choral Festival with Gerre Hancock, his choirmaster from St. Thomas days.

That left CC and me at home all day just the two of us-baby magic. In the afternoon we cuddled on the hammock. Ahhhhhhh.

I met up with Rob and Gerre and other choir members for dinner at Cafe Lily. Finally, I got to meet Brad and Amy Hughley's beautiful daughter, Catherine.

Sunday morning Robert sang the 9am prelude with the All Saints' Cherub choir. Mrs. Kimmell preps the kids before the service.Robert, we were very proud of how you sang with the choir. Great job! It is apparent that you enjoy choir- rehearsal AND performance. :)

Rob and me in the church courtyard on Sunday, holding hands.

Tonight I helped Robert with his homework - what a big kid!

Mama 101

Wake up. Get ready for work. Esther has a fever. Her cought is croupy. Call Meredith to sub. Get doctors appt. ASAP. Meet Lindsay (nanny) at work to hand off the baby, but not to work. Take Robert to school at Hirsch (Decatur). Back to Cleveland Ave. for Esther's appt. at 9:15. Leave office at 11- just allergies Thanks be to God. Explain allergies to Esther on the way to Old Navy (Camp Creek). Find jeans for me (not easy) and Esther (easy). Call Lindsay. Relieve her early by driving to her house, in the Highlands by 12:30. Get baby. Esther falls asleep in the car. Drive through Chick-fil-a in Decatur on the way to Hirsch. The smell of chicken awakens Esther. Robert has hiked with Learning on the Log all day in the rain. He is soaking, but not freaked out about it. Drive to REI at perimeter to meet with Granny. Granny takes older 2 kids for the night and Saturday. Back to EP with the babe for a well-deserved nap.

I realize that many many people have days crazier than my day yesterday. I describe the above to illustrate a skill that should be taught during pre-natal visits or in parenting 101 classes. Flexibility and agility are a requirement for parenthood- as agile as a boxer, as flexible as a yogi I wish I was! A great sense of direction and/or GPS wouldn't hurt either. Any thoughts?

Family and friends.

Esther in a sparkly bubble bath that she bought at the Burlington store on Saturday.

Robert in big kid heaven after buying a Leapster game and bubble gum at the Burlington store on Saturday.

Saturday dawned after a beautiful and memorable dinner with Gustavo and Werner on Friday night. Despite very little sleep, I awoke feeling positive and happy.

I let Rob sleep, sent the kids outside, fed them, had store time (the Burlington equivalent of Christmas morning!), got dressed and headed to Lowe's around 10:30am. Parents take note: Lowe's (and Home Depot too, I think) have FREE hands-on kids building projects every 2 weeks. The Lowe's version is called Build to Grow. Each child receives (remember- FREE) a building kit to put together with parental help, apron, safety goggles, certificate of completion and patch for their apron. Love it. Most of the projects involve hammers and nails- simple stuff. Then the family moved on to Glenwood Park- Robert and Rob hung out and played football at the playground while the girls and I went to Music Class.

We crashed at home for lunch and room time. That's what I call a great Saturday- especially because I heard parts of 'Car Talk' and 'Wait, wait, don't tell me' in the car.

The day was complete when Lucy Fry, Liv and Edie Butler graced our home for dinner. We made pizza.

Robert and EdieMajor yummy fun.

Esther and Liv.

Quotes:

"I know I am wearing the clothes I wore yesterday, but I want to look nice for Edie."-Robert

"Yeah mom: They had a wedding (very resonant with the kids these days) and Jesus put a spoon into the water and stirred it and it turned into wine!"- Esther

After I threw her shoe away from me (in one of my lowest moments) "Daddy wouldn't do that!"-Esther

"mamamamamama"-CC

"Mommy just wants to be alone."-me, yesterday

The Jessica Seinfeld cookbook trials continue:

Last week, buttered noodles- 3 thumbs up, including Robert!

This week, meat ball soup- Esther, instant thumbs up/ Robert- willing to eat 3 bites

meat ball soup.Tonight, chicken nuggets- Robert and Esther - major thumbs up

Mom and dad- delicious but wow, that recipe took a lot of time and mess to make.

Verdict: Jessica Seinfeld definitely has a nanny to keep the kids busy while she cooks.

Speaking of nanny, Lindsay Fritts has been our 'nanny' for the last month or so. She meets me at work, drives the kids to school and stays with the remaining kids at home. She rocks the universe! After an exhausting night with 2 kids up, I handed her the keys to the van at work this morning feeling totally confident that she could handle all 3, all morning, without losing her mind. She is so creative and receptive to my kids. THANK YOU LINDSAY!

Happy Anniversary you gorgeous Italian chef comedian daddy husband of mine.

At Stephie and Larry's wedding, October 3, 2008 York, Maine.

As the baby cries I am scrambling to find apt words for my partner of 8 years. Well, no words will suffice. I can accept that. Rob- thanks for a lovely dinner last night at Kyma, for many lovely dinners at home in 8 years and for the crummy dinners when the kids were driving us crazy. Looking across the table at your steady face helps me to perservere and calm down. I admire the integrity you maintain in your relationships, profession and family. You are incredibly handsome too. I love you. Laurie

sloppy joes

Galzinbrad first told me about Jessica Seinfeld's (wife of Jerry) new cookbook, Deceptively Delicious. You puree vegetables and sneak them into your children's food. Like my girlfriend Erin Miller, I have decided to try it out.
Experiment #1: Sloppy Joes made with ground turkey, sweet potato and red pepper purees. Esther: Instant thumb up- ate the entire thing on a hot dog bun. Robert: hesitant thumbs up. "mom, what is this going to taste like??" Dad: "Nice job honey." Me: Wow. it worked. My family ate vegetables. With edamame on the side no less.

Drumroll please- the wedding weekend.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Gloria and Scott Brown.


Mom hosted a gorgeous bridal party luncheon on Friday morning. Thanks mom!
Mrs. Brown, future Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Haynes, Mrs. Dunham (Scott's sister).God (and Gloria) is in the details.The royal couple at the rehearsal dinner- Einstein's in midtown.The old couple and June Kern at the rehearsal dinner.I had the pleasure of sharing a suite at the Four Seasons with Gloria on Friday night. Gloria- THANK YOU for a beautiful and plush night's sleep. The view from her window, of midtown on the night before the big day.Gloria- on the morning of the big day looking out on midtown.The final four, Haynes style, at breakfast on Saturday morning.Gloria, forever a sylist, adjusting June's dress. Note the bridal hair- amazing!Dad- in a tux!Robert, dressed and ready to go for Glo's wedding.Mom- looking very pleased and beautiful.The official sign at Druid Hills Golf Club.The men.Taking bridal photos at the gold course. The light could not have been more beautiful- or the bride! Gloria assists Esther with her floral crown.

In the ballroom, just before the reception.



The bridal party. The Brown/Dunham family.
Me, happy to look on after the big event.

A menu- again, the details.Cutting the cake.
Robert happily assists with the garter.