We had about 300 people we knew go see Eric's show, Shrek:The Musical , while we were in Orlando. Just over 100 of that group where students and teachers from The First Academy, where I went to school. It made for a pretty busy, but super fun wk 1 in Orlando.
The wk of shows in Orlando was followed by a week layoff. No work, no pay, but the time off was soooo welcomed. These past 10 months, a day off, when we are not traveling to a new city on said day, has been few and far between. We felt a huge relief to have some time to breathe. My family totally helped out so that Eric and I could do our taxes and go thru all our stuff. Eric did have to fly to L.A. for a day to do some press and sweet Sophie talked to his picture on the phone.
Over the past 10 months, we have sent about 20 boxes of stuff to my parents house. Baby clothes that Soph grew out of, Shrek memorabilia, nursing clothes, and out-of-season clothes. It felt like a huge weight off our shoulders to get our life organized. And not having to do it when Soph was sleeping, gave us time to rest AND get stuff done. Phew. Eric and I even got a 2 day vacay at a nearby Hotel while my parents watched Soph. It was rejuvenating, but by the second morning, we were missing Soph and were so ready to get back to baby.
We spent a lot of time in the pool at my parents house. Soph learned to go under water all the way there, this time. She was startled at most, but was totally into it. We had heard a lot about people who just toss the babies in at this stage and they are good to go, as far as swimming goes. Not quite sure I could subscribe to that. Going under water with her at this point was more our speed. Once again, something that everyone gauges with their own family and decides what is right for them.
If you saw Sophie in action in Winter Garden, you would have thought she was running for mayor. This child is the biggest charmer I've ever seen. She just thrives being around people. She just waves and smiles at everyone she meets. She's "never met a stranger," as they say. Eventually, we'll have to have a convo about that. Don't want her just skipping off with anyone, although, right now, I'm really grateful for her super friendly demeanor. It makes close quarters and new people everyday as easy as can be.
Every day here, Soph is getting better at walking. She can stand for a few seconds on her own and walk comfortably holding only one adult hand. We are so excited and our cameras re always within arms reach. Don't want to miss those first steps.
And let's not forget that her top 4 front teeth cut during our two weeks here in FL. Thanks God for all the happy distractions. She was an angel thru it. Alright...I don't want to be one of THOSE people, so I will say that she let us know when her teeth hurt.
The final day of Orlando was the much anticipated Disney day! We were headed to the Magic Kingdom! After years of Eric and I having experienced this place as children, it was surreal to be playing the role of parent. I never imagined that it would be better than being the kid, but it was. Watching Sophie take in all this magic was one of the coolest things I've ever seen. You could see her brain
growing! She has always enjoyed being in parks and zoos and such, where there are other chldren to look at andintera t with. So we had that going for us from the top of the morning. As we walked down Main Street U.S.A. , we took pics in front of the castle just in time for the show to begin. Sophie watched and clapped along to the music as she perched on daddy's shoulders. Mia got us in to a Winnie the Pooh and Friends character lunch right as the castle show finished. Pooh and Piglet sleep with Soph every night, so she is super familiar with them, as they are her BFFs.
The first time around Soph was not sure how she felt about the giant versions of her friends, but by the second go around, she had warmed up to the idea and was her friendly ole self. It was the best way, hands down, to have a baby meet characters. No waiting in line, no 5 seconds if throw your child in a pic and get out, but an actual lunch where the babies can see them interacting and around the whole time. Soph was able to comfortable sit in her own space and have the characters come to her. The Crystal Palace at The Magic Kingdom by reservation. Do it.
While Sophie napped for a good 2 hrs, my parents watched her and Eric, Trey, Ariana, and me went to Big Thunder and Hall of Presidents. We were all too excited to join back up when Sophie woke up.
We headed straight to The Country Bear Jamboree, which she loved....almost as much as the ho down that Daddy and she got to participate in directly after with all the country bear characters out in the street. We couldn't have planned it better ourselves. Heading over to fantasy land, we hit Small World. I have never seen such wonder in a child's eyes, as with Soph's on Small World. I'm fairly confident we could have stayed on that all day and she would have been pleased as punch. We had to ride Dumbo and Peter Pan though. These are two of our faves, but you can't really rife Dumbo without a child, so Eric and I were glad to have an excuse to get back on the elephant. We ate dinner at Pinnochios and went back to Pirates of the Caribbean. I couldn't believe how much she actually liked the ride. I hid her eyes from the images of the skeletons cause I didn't want those images in her mind, but she didn't seem to mind as she smiled and laughed thru the whole thing. They arghhh pretty friendly pirates. As we herded out of the park, we stopped to watch the fireworks. It was so cool to see her eyes light up with the sky upon seeing her first fireworks show. By the time we walked out of the gates, she was out cold...Minnie Mouse ears still on her head.
And she lived happily ever after.
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