Stay Classy San Franscisco.

Eric's parents headed home.  I continued packing.  I love to have a long stay in a city, but the longer you're there, the more you settle in and the more difficult it is to leave.  So worth it though.  Eric and I had seen a lot if San Fran  tourism when we were here in October 2009.  We came to support our friend Miguel doing the out-of-town try out of the new Green Day Broadway show, American Idiot.  We did Pier 39, Alcatraz , Miir Woods, partied like rockstars with Green Day, breakfast with sunglasses on.... But neither time have we had time to do food here the way we want.  We didn't make it to bring Soph to the sea lions or the pink ladies.  We'll have to come back, I guess.  San Fran is like NYC in the way that you just can't do it all in one trip...or even two trips.  We did make it to the famous Dottie's.  It was well worth the hour wait.  Truly good breakfast/brunch specialties and Sophie was welcome.  The stroller can't come to the table and there isn't really room for it at the front.  The tight space tells me to just bring the Bjorn next time.  And there WILL be a next time.  Yum!!

Blah!

Eric's parents came over during his first show and were able to help me with Sophie.  I sooo needed them for a few hours considering I was really sick, had to be getting ready to leave San Fran and taking care of a baby.  I was even able to take a little nap when Soph did.  We all went to the theatre to see Eric btwn shows.  We got in a taxi and dropped Grandma and Grandpa at their hotel and headed back uptown to our place.

Flu

Even with a flu shot.  Went to meet Erics fam at Cheesecake Factory and couldn't eat a thing.  My body was so sore and I was so nauseous.  Eric, Soph, and I came straight home and I had a fever of 99.6.  Slept.  Eric went to show.  Tracy brought me some medicine.  Temp climbed to 100 and now lots of diarrhea.  I hope Sophie doesn't get this!

Wine Tasting in Napa.

Eric had this Monday free and clear, so we all (Eric, Mom P, Dad P, Kyle, Sophie, and me) hopped in the van and headed to Sonoma and then over to Napa.  The drive was beautiful.  That alone was a trip.  As we went up and down and round and round the small mountain roads in Sonoma, I felt a little sick.  We stopped at Arrowhead Winery in Sonoma, which I wasn't too fond of.  We drove on to Napa and had lunch at the Rutherford Grille.  I had this Prime Rib Sandwich that was as rich and decadent as a lobster roll.  Just no nonsense deliciousness.  Yum!  Then we stopped at GrGich Hills Winery for a tasting, which was quite good.  Eric and I brought home a bottle of Chardonnay.  We headed back to the city and had Sophie home by bedtime.  She was a little angel the whole day.  She took her first nap on the way out there and her second nap while we ate.  Happy go lucky all day long, even with all that driving.

Baby's First Christmas!

Sophie woke at 8.  I fed her apples for breakfast while we waited for everyone to get here.  At about 9, everyone was here and we started with Sophie, so we could finish before her nap.  She really enjoyed the wrapping paper!  Eric's parents gave her a crocodile pulling wagon with blocks on it, a lion puppet, a sweet outfit, and a nativity book. Kyle got her a rolling monkey, Winnie the Pooh and Piglet. The Milahey's bought her a Lamaze purse with a plush compact, doggie, and cell phone in it and a baby Einstein bath book.  And Santa's bouncy seat activity center was a hit.  I waited for the fam to get there before I even let her turn around.    We put her right into the bounce seat. The verdict is.... She loves it!!!!!!!!  We iChatted with my parents and brother and sister-in-law so they could see Sophie's first Christmas morning too!

Christmas Eve

Eric's parents and his brother showed up during Eric's matinee.  After his show, we all went up to Tracy's.  She had a bunch of food and a lot of the people we love there.  They had a lot of company in SanFran so they sprung for the penthouse.  Now, That is a million dollar view.  You can see the entire Golden Gate Bridge and the bay.  Imagine the most picturesque view of San Fran and there you are.  We didn't stay long, because we had to get Sophie home for her bath and bed.  After she fell asleep, Santa's elves got to work.  Santa had dropped off Sophie's present earlier and asked us to help with his busy schedule by helping to put it together.  It looked amazing.  This tricked out entertainment saucer/ bouncer sat in the living room all night, just begging to be played with. I can't wait 'til she wakes up tomorrow!

The Abrahams and us on Christmas Eve

Secret Santa

Eric , Sophia, and I all made it in the Secret Santa list at Eric's work.  The only way we could possibly do it is to by a lot of silly gifts at once and dole them out, leading up to the reveal.  We ordered IPod shuffles for all three people and they were a huge hit!  People don't realize that they aren't all that expensive.  Instead of buying a bunch of little stuff and giftcards, we did the shuffle.  Don't get me wrong...Mamma loves gift cards!  They are the best!  I love to give 'em, I live to get 'em!  Eric's Secret Santa was Kenzie!  So cute!  Mine was Carrie.  And Sophie's was Alan.  We all got great stuff!  Eric got a bunch of Apple stuff.  I got lots of girlie stuff that was right on par.  And Sophie got a hot little leopard number with big red flowers on the butt and hat.

Dreamworks San Francisco Offices

We got a private tour of Dreamworks San Francisco offices, which was super cool.  The cast also gave interested animators a talk back about what it was like to turn there animation into a live stage musical!

Christmas celebration in Winter Garden Dec. 16

 On our way to FL, the view was beautiful.

 Mia gives Soph big hugs.

 Soph finds Papa Joe's nose!

 Uncle Trey helps out, in style, at the mall.

 Great Grandmom and Granddad giving Sophie a steering wheel.

 Headed back to daddy in San Francisco, we found Santa had a layover in Philly too.

 Vigin America Airlines Rocks!!!!

Sophia and I packed up again and headed to the airport.  This time we are just in for a quick weekend.  Everyone is so excited.  The plane trip seemed less daunting this time.  I've really got things into a routine with her as far as flying goes.  5.5 hrs to Philly. 1hr lay over. 2.2 hrs to Orlando. It's all in the timing.  We left at 11 Pacific time and get in at 11 Eastern time.  This flight worked the best for her schedule.  Even if you have to pay more,  you have to get a flight that times out with her eating on the decent and that doesn't interfere with bedtime.  She can nap out, but don't mess with bedtime.  You realize how sacred it is when you speak with parents who don't have a good sleeper. We want to do everything in our power to make it easy for her to go to bed.  The wknd in FL was awesome and way too quick.  Sophie totally recognized everyone this time.  She was a happy girl and was so ready for all her interactive Christmas toys.  Eric and I held off on new stuff since Christmas was coming!  She even enjoyed unwrapping.  She got the hang of Christmas way too easily.  Eric was able to watch her open gifts via iChat.   She loved all the buttons and talking and singing on her jungle, steering wheel, and Laugh and Play Kitchen!!! Eric had 4 shows over the wknd, so he was kept busy while we were gone.  He actually took off Thursday and Friday nights to rest his mind and body.  It gave him more rest for us not to be there.  We know he loves us, but sometimes even hearing me get up with Soph makes sleep not as sound.  Sophie and I iChatted with the Danly family Christmas gathering on Saturday night.  It was great to see everyone gathered together at Aunt Mary and Uncle Dave's this year.  Somehow, we didn't even know it was even happening, but thanks to iChat we were able to be there.  Trey and Ariana stayed the night on Saturday to get a full dose of Sophie.  She sure has a lot of love in FL.  It was a nice break for mommy's arms to have Mia, Papa Joe, Grandmom, Granddad, Trey and Ariana all eagerly waiting to hold and love on her if she's happy, sad or anything in between.  Got Eric's Christmas shopping done!  Yay!  We headed back on Sunday, so we could be there for Eric's day off.  It's the first day in weeks that he hasn't had press or rhsl or traveling or something.  We are planing to relax and go see the Full House house(the pink ladies.). It will be a nice, chill day.  P.S.  This Virgin America flight back to SF is awesome!  Soph and I feel like rock stars.  In flight TV, big seats, cool vibe, LED purple lights.  Love it!

 REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO GOO-OOD!!!!    Daddy met us at the airport in San Fran!

Company Christmas Party and Shrek BCEFA Benefit.

So, in planning for Eric and I to attend his company Christmas Party and then perform at a benefit the following night, we needed to find a sitter in SF. My mom said she'd be happy to do it, but that was a little expensive...since she lives in FL:). Plan B.  We went to this site called Sittercity.com and found someone.  This was super scary for me, because Soph had never been put to bed by someone else or left with a sitter for more than 2hrs about 4 times.  After perusing the site, I felt that the system was good.  Essentially, you post a job(Sunday and Monday, 4 month old, 5- midnight ). You get a bunch if responses and are then able to filter thru the applicants profiles.  We requested someone with CPR certification, First Aid Training, a clean background check, and looked for someone who was over the age of 20 and had experience with infants.  We ended up with Melissa.  She is a 44 yr old mother of 2.  I had her come one day while we were there so that we could get a read on her and see if she was good with Sophie...a sort of working interview.  She was great.  Thank God!  We went to the Christmas party and had an awesome time.  It was at E & O Trading Company.  The food was amazing and the company even better!  We came home to a sleeping baby, who proceeded to sleep til 8:30am.  The very next night was the Shrek Benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids and we had Melissa come again.  She worked her magic once more.   Eric and I performed a duet at the benefit and Eric sang "What Are You Doing New Years?". Everyone sounded great and lots of money was raised for a really great cause.  We had a lot of fun being out with all the adults, but couldn't wait to get home to Soph.  The only downside to Melissa is that she reorganized all the cabinets and I couldn't find my trash bags for 30 minutes, and I totally have no idea where the 409 is.  I really didn't mind and I can appreciate the intention.  Hey, and I guess a lot of people pay to have someone organize their stuff.  Two birds.  One stone.

Sophie's BFF: Kenzie

View of the TransAmerica Building

This is the view from our apartment in San Fran.

Right Idea, Wrong Direction: Mastering the Art of Scooting.

Sophie is now 4 and a half months old.  She is trying to figure out how to move and has learned that she can use her arms to push.  Too bad it is pushing her backwards.  She'll figure it out soon enough.

San Francisco Tourist.

 Golden Gate Park: Stow Lake

 

Grace Cathedral:  Where Soph and I got coffee, walked the labyrinths,  and admired the beauty inside most mornings.

 Union Square: San Francisco

Sophia and I found Shrek on a trolley!

Sophia and I took advantage of this cool city.  Eric was working to the bone in this city.  Press pick-ups almost everyday between 9-11am and then the show at night or 2 show days.  He missed a lot of the tourism, but Sophie and I still got out.  We stayed in Nob Hill. In all the magazines our address was described as elegant and with the view from our apartment building, we really didn't even have to leave to enjoy landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, the bay, and the TransAmerica building.   Pretty awesome.  Every morning I would walk down the block to the famous Grace Cathedral and get a latte from the Pete's Coffee shop that occupies their basement.  Then we walk around the cathedral, walk the labyrinths , and walk to the park across the street.  This gives Eric a little more sleep to recoup from the show.  It gives Soph and I some much needed fresh air and exercise.  One day I even got up the courage to walk to Union Square with Soph in the stroller, Christmas shop, and walk back up the hills home.  Now that's a work out.  Another day we went with Tracy and Kenzie to Golden Gate Park and walked around the Buffalo Reserve.  When Eric and I were here in October 2009, we did Alcatraz and Fisherman's Wharf/pier39.  We are going to take Sophie together to see the sea lions:)

Thanksgiving.

Eric and I have done a sort of orphan Thanksgiving for all of our friends wherever we have been the last 6 years.  We always do the Turkey, stuffing, gravy, and other staples.  Everyone just brings something that makes their Thanksgiving special or just comes as they are.  Either way it has always been a fun and special day for us.  Well, this year, the company had Thanksgiving off, so we offered to do a big one.  It turned out to be about 50 people, which was....a bit of an undertaking for a new mommy of a 4-month-old.  As long as I was uber organized, I knew it would be pretty easy.  Timing is everything for events like this.  It actually was great for me to have a project on which to focus my energies.  Of course there is Soph, but it keeps mommies a little bit sane to work on something else for a minute.  We were lucky enough to have the dining room at the Residence Inn in Downtown Denver and there entire serving area made available to us.  Three 20lb turkeys, 4 giant roasting pans of stuffing, 2 whole Honey Baked Hams, 3 giant roasting pans of Green Bean Casserole, 8 packages of cresent rolls, 8 pans of mashed potatoes from Honey Baked, and then a whole mess of delicious stuff that other people brought to share.  It was truly a feast.  I just went to Hobby Lobby and got some decorations and napkins,  used 3 kitchens, and Dreamworks got us real dishes to really make it feel like home.  Eric, as always, did an awesome job on the turkeys.  I think everyone had a great time and left feeling like stuffed turkeys.  Gobble Gobble!  I have to say what I was thankful for was walking into the kitchen to find Benjamin and Mara washing dishes.  They cranked through those babies like you wouldn't believe.  I would have been there all night if it wasn't for them.  There were a lot of really helpful people, but those two cracked me up...just sleeves rolled up and in it to win it.

The North Pole, Colorado

We went to The North Pole on the day off with The Milahey Family!   It was super fun, super cold, and totally got us in the Christmas spirit.  This place is awesome.  It's so worth the hour and a half drive from Denver.  We had a baby, a 7-yr-old, a 10-yr-old, and 3 grown adults who could all appreciate the magic of this place.  It was a quaint little village of shops and rides and lights and don't forget Santa's house.  Ho, ho, ho!  It also helped that we watched the movie Prancer on the way there:)  This is a great Christmas movie, though it is not the most popular.

Play Time

Just last week she was in her saucer and couldn't reach the toys without a pillow behind her.  Now she can pull her torso forward and reach all the toys.  She can really sit and play for 15 minutes or so in the seat.  

Solids!!

Sophie had her first solids tonight.  We introduced her to some rice cereal at her bedtime feeding.  Sophie, this is rice cereal. Rice cereal, meet Sophie.  The first bite was spit directly out, naturally.  (Could have had a bit to do with the fact that I taped with one hand and fed her with the other:)  However, interspersing it in with the bottle helped her to actually swallow some.  The doctor told us that a baby who had been previously sleeping through the night and began waking the past few days was ready for some solids at night.  Here we go!

Denver Doctor Visit

She was so happy before the shots.  She never even saw them coming:(

Denver Week 1

There are elephants living upstairs.  It has been so loud here.  Between trains at night, our upstairs neighbors up at 5  and the normal craziness that change every wk brings, Sophie hasn't been sleeping thru the night here. 

Road Trip. Oklahoma City to Denver.

One of us always rides in the back seat with Soph:)

Oklahoma City.

Sophie picks up Daddy at the theatre in Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City was pretty uneventful.  We stayed at the Sheraton Downtown. The people who worked there were super nice.  Room service is not exactly their forte, but they had an awesome gym.  The Sixers were staying here while we were.  There is a really nice area called Bricktown, just a few blocks away that was great for Sophie and I to walk around.  They had a nice little riverwalk and lots of restaurants.  The theatre is kind of far, so Soph and I would pick up Eric, Jorie , and Brandon/Jason each night.  I would say this is an overall safe downtown area though.  I felt completely at ease walking around with Sophie.

We're Outta Here, Austin

There may have been a situation or a time when I would have really enjoyed Austin, but this was not it.   Our hotel was really gross.  There was a used towel in the bathroom and an opened 40ounce ForLoco in the fridge.  This was a crash landing from the Four Seasons.  I was hitting another wall, so Soph and I split for the wknd and headed to my parents for a break.   Before we left we hit a famous brunch spot (Magnolia Cafe...yummy gingerbread pancakes!) and did some vintage shopping.  We met Eric, feeling very refreshed and rested, in Oklahoma City.

Happy Halloween Houston!

Post-Pregnancy Hair Loss

I read about this happening to women, but I guess I just thought it wouldn't happen to me.  What To Expect said it, Jenny McCarthy said it, my friends talked about it...losing a ton...I mean a ton of hair.  Apparently, you don;t lose any hair during your pregnancy and a few months after you give birth, all the hair you would have normally lost begins to fall out.  I guess that's why my hair looked so awesome for 9 months.  Oh well, back to normal.  The only thing I kept worrying about was that with all this hair fall out, a piece would get wrapped around Sophie's finger or something. 

Hand Clasping

Sophie is clasping her hands in front of her.  It's her newest accomplishment.  She's been doing it all day.  Good job Sophie!!!!

Wedding Anniversary

3 yr. Wedding anniversary .  Eric had press all day and the show at night, so we celebrated after the show.  Haven and Denny babysat Sophie for a few hours and we ordered room service and enjoyed the hotel.  

Sophia's First Song

Headed to Houston. Four Seasons.

Mia's Bday!  Sad we missed it.  Headed to Houston.  Excited to stay at The Four Seasons.  They spray you with Evian by the pool and bring you frozen fruit.  This is the life!

Rolling Over

She did it again!! It wasn't just a fluke.

Bottle Holding Baby

Sophie is now 3 months.  I've been gradually rocking her and singing to her less and less at night to get her to sleep.  I was so proud tonight because I did nothing except lay her in her crib and she went right to sleep.  Of course, I cried.  I loved that time with her.  And it begins....she's growing up right before our very eyes.

Green Day Day!!

 Eric's agents at BRS.

 Meegan love. (above). Michael love. (below).

Eric and I took a trip to NYC the second week if Dallas.  We left in Sunday morning and returned Tuesday morning.  We saw Miguel's Bway show, American idiot, on Sunday night.  He was playing a more featured role and Billy Jo Armstrong, the lead singer of Green Day was playing the part of St. Jimmy for this wk only.  It was an awesome show!   Yelli, Peter Hurley's wife, and their two daughters babysat Sophie for us.  I always tell Sophie to say hello to Yelli's picture when we go to CVS cause there is always a big poster of her raising her arms up at every CVS we go to:) The girls had a ball!  I'm breastfeeding, so we can't be long, but I am soo glad to have someone I totally trust to watch Soph.  It makes the show all the more enjoyable.  we had all our friends to the lounge at our apt. building for a pizza party with Soph.  It was fun to introduce her to all her NYC family.

There's A Piece Of Watermelon In The Pool!

We did a lot of swimming at the Residence Inn in Dallas.  This was a very good hotel for us.  It gave us our first taste of a separate area for Sophie to sleep.   It was super nice to watch a little TV after her bedtime.  We officially love the Residence Inn and will stay at every one of them that we come across.  The breakfast at this hotel is no joke.  They go all out!  Also, let's not forget that Sophie and I ate at the complimentary dinner that the hotel gives every Mon.-Thursday.  This place rocks!

Dallas Aquarium

So, this is the coolest aquarium I have ever been to.  The entire set up is staged as if you are in the rainforest.  You start on the 3rd floor with the birds and it's all open air.  Some of the birds are even flying around you.  You are very close to all the animals.  There is just net between you and the Toucan.  Sophie loved the colorful birds.  She really was examining them.  I loved her face with the turtles though. There were 3 turtles stacked on each others backs.  It was a very sweet picture and Sophie was leaned over curiously looking at them.  When we got to the fish, she was getting tired, but really was taking it all in. There was a gigantic manatee that was tight at the window when we came up and he did a back flip for us!  It was so cool! We tried to go the 6th Floor Museum, but Sophie informed us that it was naptime.  She was a real trooper.

That night, Sophie decided to show Grandma her new trick of rolling over.  Why is she so cool!?!

Texas State Fair

Today Sophie went to the Dallas State Fair.  We walked thru the petting zoo and saw the giraffe who glided by just a few feet away from us.  I held her while we fed the cow.  Sophie was less than pleased with that adventure.  We have her response to that one on tape. No rides for the baby yet.  3 months just isn't quite big enough to hit the roller coasters.

Grandma P comes to Dallas

Grandma P arrived tonight, Sunday, October 10th, in Dallas for a visit.  Mom, Sophie, and Grandma went to Mimi's for dinner.  It was great to see her and Sophie gave her some great smiles and showed off her new ab exercises.  Sophie has been amazing us with her will to sit up.  She lifts her head off the back of a seat and pulls her feet in the air.  If she's seated on your lap, facing out, she'll lean forward using her tummy muscles.  It's awesome!!  We brought home a 5 way grilled cheese for daddy. He loves those!!

Sophie's Debutant Ball

The first Friday in Dallas, some super wealthy patrons hosted a Dallas society party for the cast of Shrek.  It was in a beautiful home that came straight from the pages of a magazine.  Sophie wore a Cynthia Rowley sparkly silver pants suit, pink peep-toe sandals, and a bejeweled pink flower in her hair.  She was the belle of the ball!!!!  

St. Louis to Dallas

So after 3 wks in st. Louis, we headed off to Dallas TX.  We drove the 10 hr stretch, stopping in Joplin, MO for the night.    We stayed at the Residence Inn in Joplin and it could not have been nicer.  The people were so nice and the hotel was super clean.  For only a few dollars extra than the Holiday Inn or Fairfield, we had a separate area for Sophia to sleep.  We did the 4 hrs to Joplin in one stretch and she slept the whole way.  The next day we did the remaining 6 hrs, with 2 stops for feeding.  One of us road in the back seat with her the entire trip, which made it easier for her.  It would be pretty boring to just face the back of a car the whole ride.  She does have a mirror And toys, but she still got a little worried mommy and daddy weren't there.  We arrived in Dallas at about 3 and were picked up for the rangers game at 5.  Oh yeah.  I forgot to say that Eric sang the anthem at the Rangers game and we got to sit in the Presidents box in Dallas too!  It was the coolest box.   We were able to bring Sophie because it was behind glass and had a big bar with a waitress and nice seats and TVs.   They even had 3 rows of outside seating that the glass doors opened out to.  Wow!  They really know how to do things in TX.  The people from the Dallas Summer musicals could not have been nicer.  It was a real treat for us and the 10 other people from the cast that joined us.  Miguel, Sophie's godfather flew in from NY   . He's a huge Rangers fan, since he's from Dallas and a huge Sophie fan, since he's her godfather.  So he got to have the Rangers and the Sophie experience rolled into one.