I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends

This past week, Mom and Dad P brought me food a few times, which was super helpful.  Mom P even came one day to watch Sophie, so that I could get some paperwork, bills, and laundry done and then watched Soph so that I could go with Eric to a press thing he had at the Museum and Millenium Park.  What a relief.  Then, when my Aunt Cheryl and Marian came, they watched Sophie for an afternoon, so that Eric and I could go see a movie.  We saw "The Other Guys," with Will Ferrell.  It was freakin' hilarious!  I'm not sure if I thought it was so funny because it really was or just because I hadn't had seen a movie in a while and I just really wanted to laugh.  At any rate, it was awesome and we had a great little date.  We can't be gone long since I'm breast feeding and we just love being with her, but a few hours every few weeks are welcome.

Da Bears: Opening Game Day!

Eric sang for 60,000 people today at Soldier Field.  He realized a dream of his when he sang the National Anthem for a team he has loved his entire life.  Very cool! We had pre-game field access and everything.  We got to watch the players run on and I was standing right next to Urlacher.  Aunt Laurie and Cousin Jack babysat Sophie.  She was great for them.   We had a lot of fun.  Bears Won!

City Baby.

I took Sophie to the theatre after she was 2 wks old.  We walked to see eric between his shows on a Saturday.  It was surreal.  After that, Soph and I started taking lots of walks to Millenium Park together.  Mostly in the late afternoon, when it wasn't so hot.  We would go to see Eric between shows on Saturdays and some Wednesdays, but just let him sleep on Sundays.  I still had quite a bit of heavy bleeding at this point, but felt that both Soph and I needed fresh air.  Apartment living, while they were super nice apartments, can be very stuffy.  With the park being right across the street, I could go for a short walk with her and get home when she needed to eat.  Walking elsewhere in the city got tricky, sirens and street noise get pretty loud in Downtown Chicago.  I have become a pro at handling our stroller by myself thru a closed door.  Coming in and out of the apartment was always a bit tricky. This was the first time I realized that laundry on my own was no easy feat.  It was difficult to navigate a newborn, tons of dirty cloths(Eric, me , and new baby) thru the apartment and elevators and doors to the laundry rm.  Not being in a house and not having help around all the time, I kind of just had to time it when Eric or his parents were going to be there to sit with Soph, so I could run around and do that.  Anyway..enough of laundry and back to the park.  It has become a sort of solace for me.  Sophie loves the fresh air and the park has so many beautiful places to walk.  I'm so glad we are so close.

Grandma and Aunt Cheryl Visit Chicago!

Grandma Morabito (Sophie's Great-Grandma) and Aunt Cheryl drove from Cleveland to visit.  We all just sat around and admired Sophie.  It was so much fun.  We went out to an early dinner one night, but other than that it was just relaxing at the apartment and lots of loving on that baby! 

The Trenches

I don't really feel the lack of sleep because I've been so excited.    Soph has also been sleeping for 4 hr stints since we brought her home.  When I told the Dr. we had been waking her to eat every 3 hrs he yelled at us, "NEVER WAKE A SLEEPING BABY!"  So she sleeps.  She is eating about 2.5 ounces a feeding and eats about 8-10 times a day.  Pretty much by the time you get your boobs out, feed her, put em away, change a diaper, get her to sleep, she's up again to eat.  When people say eat, sleep, poop.  they really mean it.  I think people forget or don't talk about the fact that when baby is first here, there's not any real playtime.  They kind of just look out at the world from under there prize fighter eyes and ...eat, sleep, and poop.  Eric is doing a lot of press and the show, so I am trying to make it so he doesn't have to get up at night.  Since I'm breastfeeding, he can't really help 'til I start pumping more, as far as feeding goes.  He loves to see her when he comes home though and is just the best daddy ever.  He has a mean diaper change on him too!  My mom stayed for two wks and did all our laundry, took out the trash and held Soph after I fed her so I could catch a few naps.  She was an overall saint!  By the time she left, I was feeling a little better...able to walk without as much pain and whatnot.  It was good timing.  She had to get back to school and teach, but I'm pretty sure she was having so much fun with Soph, she'd have just as soon stayed.  There were days there that, if she wouldn't have been around, I wouldn't have had the time or even remembered to eat.

Sophia's First Visit To The Theatre: Almost 3 wks

I took Sophie to the theatre between shows today.  It was her first visit with Shrek.  She seemed quite comfy with him.  I'm pretty sure she new it was daddy.  I think the fresh air walk to the theatre did us both good and I know Eric really enjoyed seeing us!

Opening Night of Shrek:The Musical at The Cadillac Theatre, Chicago.

Last night, July 25th, 2010, Eric officially opened as Shrek in "Shrek:The Musical," at The Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago.  I am so proud of him.  He gave, yet another stellar performance and I'm so glad I was able to be there and support him.  Eric was able to bring myself, his parents, his brother, and my mom to the opening.  We we're really lucky that Dreamworks was so good to him.  Usually you get yourself and a guest.  The Opening Night Party was at Macy's in Downtown Chicago.  It's a super old Macy's that famously used to be Marshall Field's.  Very beautiful inside.  There is a huge Tiffany ceiling that is just gorgeous as well as the giant Macy's Shrek Parade balloon in the lobby for the special occasion.  Aunt Laurie came in and watched our 10 day old Sophie while I went to the show.  I fed Sophie just before I left for the theatre.   Only 10 days out, I could only very painfully express (over the course of a few days) enough milk for one feeding.  (Of course, read, after the fact, that many women don't have their milk come in for 2 wks after giving birth...aka me.  They often encourage pumping to jumpstart your milk coming in.)  Sophie didn't even walk up until I came home from the show.  As soon as it was over and we gave a huge standing ovation, I busted out of there and got a cab the few blocks back.  I could still not walk super well and surely not fast.  I came home just in the nick of time for her to be ready to eat.  I fed her and then Eric picked me up in a car and we headed to the party.  The timing was perfect, as it takes Eric about an hour to get out of make-up and then get dressed up, I was able to go the few blocks to our apt. and feed the baby.  When we got to the party, my mom left to go relieve Aunt Laurie.  I'm glad she got to see the awesome party though.  The top floor of Macy's was beautifully decorated with a huge Shrek cake at the entrance.  Eric and I were able to stay out for a while since my mom had a bottle to give Sophie and she is already sleeping 4 hr stints at night.  We enjoyed chatting with everyone and just being part of the overall excitement!  Eric's family left after the party and Eric and I joined the cast/crew at The Elephant Bar for an after party.   We did not last long, as I felt that my insides just might fall right out and we both were missing Sophie.