Sophie the Explorer

Sophie is semi-obsessed with Dora the Explorer. She begins every morning shouting, "Gora! Gora!" As soon as you turn on the show and the theme song begins to play, she stills like a statue. She does not move or make a sound; she is completely entranced. No other show holds such power over her. She likes Sesame Street and Diego, but only Dora is viewed with utter reverance. Eventually, the lure of Dora proves too much and she begins gravitating toward the television, as if she can actually become one with Dora if only she can get close enough. Usually she stops and sits directly underneath the TV, but tonight Chris and I peeked in the living room and found her like this.
The sad thing is, we didn't have the heart to move her. We just left her there, happily hanging out with Dora, Boots and the gang. Perhaps this picture isn't the best example of my parenting skills, but when your kid loves something that much, it is so hard to take it away from her.

The first reviews are in...

Okay, normally I keep this blog strictly about the fam, but my theatre company has gotten some really amazing reviews for our new show, The Grapes of Wrath, and I'm pretty proud of all of us, so...check out two of the best reviews from the Chicago Sun-Times and chicagocritic.com. You can also visit stagechannel.com to see video clips of the show.

We are also going to be on TV tonight! And more reviews are coming, so stay tuned. :)

And now, go look at your calendar and figure out which day you can come see the show before we close May 24th...not because I'm in it, but because it's just a really good show.

It is open

One of the hardest and most enjoyable plays I've ever rehearsed, The Grapes of Wrath, opened this weekend. The audience was great, and we all celebrated together after the show until the wee hours of the morning. I can honestly say I look forward to going to the theater every day because I have so much damn fun, and I'm so proud to be working alongside 30+ of the most talented people I've ever met. It's taken a small army of gifted artists to give this puppy legs, and I hope all of you can come check out the results.

Words cannot describe how supportive Chris has been throughout this entire process. I have been in rehearsals five days a week since March 1st, and the last two weeks I've been at the theater every day (except during my pneumonia-enforced vacation, that is). Every step of the way, Chris has not only played Mommy and Daddy to the girls while I'm gone, but he's also done a large majority of the housework, ran endless errands, helped me memorize lines, made sure I got extra rest whenever possible, nursed me when I was sick...heck, he even made photo CDs for the show's press kits!

Even though I still have four shows a week ahead of me for the next month, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief now that the play has opened. The light at the end of the tunnel is visible. And after months of virtually no social life, today Chris was finally able to do something for himself - go with friends to a Sox game. But unfortunately, Chris's body apparently intuited that now was a good time to start slacking off because Chris came home from the game sick with fever. How unfair is that? He should be kicking back and enjoying some much-deserved leisure time right about now, and instead the poor thing's shivering in bed. It really sucks, and as soon as he's back on his feet I owe him many many MANY nights out with the boys.

On top of everything else, my family even surprised me with gorgeous flowers for my opening night. Here's a picture of the beautiful roses that Emma picked out for me - with help from Daddy, of course.
I have an amazing family. I'm surrounded by amazing colleagues and friends, and I am married to a truly amazing man. I don't know how I got so lucky, but I do know I am very, very grateful.

Sophie helps

Sophie just finished helping me empty the dishwasher. She pushed the front shut all by herself, and she was so cute with her little proud face that I couldn't resist taking a pic. (Also, how adorable is that outfit? Thanks, Grandma Kitty.)

Sophie Walks! (Kinda)

Sophie took her first unassisted steps today.

She was standing at the kids' table in our living room, and she wanted food (of course) that Chris was holding in the middle of the floor, but instead of dropping to her knees to crawl like she has done for 8+ months, she just let go of the table and started walking toward the food. She got about four good steps in, stumbled, and fell on her butt. Chris, Emma and I watched it all in silent disbelief before simultaneously erupting in applause, startling Sophie so much that we had to reassure her with loud, enthusiastic calls of "Good GIRL!" like crazed escapees from the positive reinforcement funny farm.

It was a fluke, and I don't know when she'll try again - but hey, it's a start! And a rather late start at that, considering she's just shy of 17 months old...which, of course, makes the event all the more welcome.

The irony is that I signed her up for gymnastics just this morning. Classes begin in mid-June, and all the participants need to be "exclusively walking." I figured a little deadline could be good, something to work toward, because Sophie had been showing little interest in learning to walk on her own. Honestly, what I remember thinking as I filled out the online form was, "That's two whole months from now - surely she'll be walking by then?" Followed quickly by, "I swear, if she isn't running by then, she's grounded." (Grounded from what, you might ask? Sesame Street? Gerber's Crunchers? Who knows.)

Hopefully, this first step toward walking (and YES, that pun is intended, my friends...wowza!) is a sign that Sophie does, in fact, plan to incorporate upright mobility into her repertoire of tricks before she's 2. Time will tell.

Sick

I am sick. I've been feeling rundown for weeks but have mostly been able to keep the heavy illness at bay. However, on Thursday I finally succumbed - and once I gave up the fight things went downhill very quickly. I started with what felt like a cold that morning, and by that night I was at rehearsal, curled up in a corner on the floor with several blankets piled on top of me, shivering uncontrollably and trying to calculate in my head whether or not I could actually get up and stay up long enough to make it through the end of Act II. I didn't make it. Turns out I have a nasty sinus infection and pneumonia in my right lung. I've pretty much been in bed ever since. In fact, I've been awake right now for approximately 3 hours, which is the most awake time I've had in 48 hours. I've missed rehearsals, appointments, my girls, my work, my life...and my wonderful, amazing, angelic husband has been handling it all while I sleep the sickness away.

I have dress rehearsal tomorrow from 11-3 and am determined to make it. Think healthy thoughts in your head for me! Oh - and come see me in The Grapes of Wrath!

And So It Begins...

The search is over.

[Insert drum roll here.]

Wait for it, wait for it...

I am proud to announce that Emma Bloom Mathews is officially enrolled in kindergarten. She will be going to Walt Disney Magnet School. Chris and I really like what we've seen and read about the school, and we are so relieved that a decision is made that we are not only comfortable with, but also excited about. Em peeked through the windows of different classrooms (or "pods," as they call them) during registration today, and she met and played with three little girls who will be in her grade next fall. I kept going on and on about the colors and toys and computers and teachers and artwork and playgrounds and books and cafeteria, and she seemed enthusiastic about all that she saw. But after we left, the one thing she took away from the place was, "I can't believe my new school is named Disney...just like Cinderella!"

It's surreal to me that come September 8, 2009, I will be the mother of a kindergartner. Onward and upward!

Shuck Up!

Emma's new saying is "shuts."

As in:
(Me) "No, you cannot write your name in permanent marker on the wall."
(Em) "Awwww, shuts."

Chris and I explained that the word we believe she is looking for is "shucks." However, Miss Emma Bloom will not be dissuaded. There is precedent for this aversion to labeling things accurately. In Emma's world, exclamation points are "bookmarks," coins are "moneys" and starving is "starvelating." Despite numerous corrections, she holds firm to these alternate words/pronunciations because, as she states, "I like the way I say it better."

Simply put: Emma prefers "shuts," and so "shuts" it is.

No big deal, I say. It could be much worse. Em's major fascination lately is with vowel sounds, so I'm just thankful it hasn't occurred to her to substitute an i for the u.

Happy Easter

Life's been moving at a rather fast pace lately, so it was nice to take a step back today and just enjoy being together. The Easter Bunny brought the girls some toys and treats. Emma had a blast searching for all the hidden eggs, and Sophie had a blast shaking them until all the jellybeans popped out. Then Aunt Jayme came over, and the five of us had a yummy Easter feast. We ended the day playing with the girls at the park. Emma was able to ride her bike for the first time this season, and Sophie...well, Sophie got dirty. It was a low-key, lazy, lovely Sunday.

Here are some pics from the day, and a video at the end of Sophie thoroughly enjoying her mashed potatoes. Happy Easter!

Sophie with her Easter eggs and new xylophone.

Emma twirling in her new Easter dress.

Aunt Jayme & Emma devouring Easter dinner.

The girls hit the slide.

Sophie lovin' her potatoes.

My heart is broken

Sorry I haven't posted lately. I've been a bit busy, but all is well with us. The weather turned on us again this week, so we've been stuck inside a lot. Here's a video of what passes as entertainment in our homebound world...desperate times and all of that.

Grandma came to visit us this weekend, and both girls were in heaven. However, two straight days of over-stimulation had taken a toll on Emma and by Sunday afternoon she was tuckered out. She took a three hour nap, and we knew it would be difficult to get her back to sleep at bedtime. Fast forward to 8pm, and as predicted, Em wasn't going down without a fight. I wasn't in the room when Chris was tucking her in, but I guess she kept misbehaving until Chris had finally had enough. He turned off the lights and shut the door without giving her goodnight kisses. Of course, she lost her mind...screaming, crying, the whole she-bang. She even started wailing repeatedly, "My arm is broken, my arm is broken." Chris and I shared a glance, perplexed but amused at her newest delay tactic and wondering where in the heck that one was coming from.

I finally went in to play "good cop" and tried calming her down. She was completely distraught and still sobbing about her arm. I told her her arm was just fine, and she indignantly corrected me. "That's not what I'm saying, I'm saying my heart is broken, it's broken into pieces because Daddy has no love for me tonight." And she sounded heartbroken as she said it, letting loose a fresh gush of waterworks while I sat there stunned. I know better than anyone that this child of mine is a really, REALLY good manipulator - I mean, I'm talking professional level here - but despite that knowledge, she still sucked me right in with that one. I tried my best to comfort her, but all she wanted was Daddy.

Apparently she sucked in an eavesdropping Chris too, because not 10 seconds later he appeared in the doorway, ready to make things right between them. I don't know what was said after I left the room, but peace was soon restored.

Both girls adore Chris, but that Emma Bloom...she has some mad, mad love for her Daddy.