Another one?! Why, thank you!

Another award... two in one week! Thank you to Nic over at Four Better, Four Worse for thinking of me for the Preppy Mafia Award. I was given this award for all the (adorable) pictures I take of my "little chunkers." Nic has a little chunkers herself, who happens to be only a few days younger than Abby.

So here's what I get to do... answer a few questions and pass the award on to a blogger I love. Drum roll please..... I'm going to pass my Preppy Mafia Award on to .... Tiffany over at The Florida Hogan's. Tiffany gives great reviews about different baby products and I love looking at the pictures of her two girls. They are so sweet! Her daughter Payten quite possibly has the cutest.... bedroom... EVER. Check out her page!

1) Who is your style icon(s)?

I honestly don't have one. I just wear what is comfortable nowadays. When I was working, I would dress up more often, but now that my job requires me to crawl around on the floor chasing after a baby, there is no point to be uncomfortable!

2) What is your favorite Socialite lit book?

Not so sure about this one. I agree with Nic (the Mama that awarded me this) that when you are unsure of an answer, say False or choose letter C. I'll go with False.

3) Favorite party theme?

Don't really have a favorite party theme... am I really getting the Preppy Mafia Award? So far, I haven't answered a single question! I guess if I were having a theme based party, I would just decorate with bright and bold colors. I would use flowers in funky vases to add to the mix.

4) Go in a Halloween costume?

Halloween is always fun, no matter what age you are. I love dressing up and being someone different for a night. I'm lucky that we attend a party each year for adults only, and we do come up with some creative costumes!

5) Extravagance you cannot go without?

Getting my hair done. Yet as I type this I have been way overdue for a highlight and cut... I'm talking months. There is something revitalizing about how you feel after your hair is just cut, colored, and styled... and it's now on my to do list!

6) Living person you admire?

This one is just way too hard. I admire a lot of my family and friends, all for different reasons. They are a huge part of my life! :)

7) Greatest fear?

I get so upset when Abby smashes a toy to her face or falls on her head trying to crawl. Seriously, I just can't take it! I worry about that little girl all the time. :)

8) Trait in yourself that you deplore?

Sometimes if I'm frustrated, overwhelmed, or simply tired, I take things out on other people. I don't mean to, but that's how I deal with those emotions. It's not right and I need to work on that.

9) What talent would you most like to have?

I'd love to be able to sing. I have been singing since I was little and it just never gets better! I know I can't sing, but I sing along to everything. My hubby mutes the commercials sometimes just so I can't sing along with a jingle. Sad. I hope Abby loves to sing as much as her Mama... I just hope she sings better! :)

10) Greatest achievement?

Having a baby. Need I say more?

Thank you again Nic for thinking of me! I love that family and friends enjoy catching up on my blog and take the time out to read it each day.

Let's go back ...

... to the year 2004. The year I met the "hot baseball player." That's what my friends referred to him as anyways. (rightfully so) I'm not going to bore you with the whole how we met story, or the long distance relationship that followed after baseball season ended that summer. I just stumbled across some old pictures that gave me a good laugh today and thought I'd share them.

That summer of 2004, I met the man that would change my life. At that time, I had no clue that the so called "hot baseball player" would change my life in such a wonderful way. Jim is my best friend, the husband I always dreamed of and hoped I would have one day, and a loving Daddy to our little girl, who just loves him to pieces!

First picture of the two of us...

This pic is when Jim was going through his "Bad Boy" stage.

Notice the lip ring... just one among a few piercings.

November 9, 2007 ... Together Forever :)

"I'd like to thank...."

Since joining the D-List Blog Party, my blog has gained some new followers and I have found some blogs that I really enjoy reading. One in particular, Webbisodes, has grabbed my attention. It seems that me and the Mama of that blog (Shannon) have a lot in common. We both have one baby, a girl, with the middle name of Grace. They are only a month apart. Both babies are chunky monkeys and absolutely adorable. Shannon and her hubby are Florida natives. Get it yet? So naturally, I enjoy catching up on Shannon's blog each day.

Anyway.... Shannon awarded me (along with others) an award over the weekend. This is my second blogging award, yay! Thank you Shannon for thinking of me! :) The Versatile Blogger Award is passed along to bloggers that are known to be flexible, adaptable, and talented. Wow, me? I'd like to think that, but not so sure I possess these qualities all the time. I'd like to say I'm flexible and adaptable, especially because that is a huge part of our lifestyle. Being a part of baseball, the hubby and I face many situations where these qualities could make or break us. Talented... let's see... I'm a decent shopper, can make a tasty Italian soup in the crock pot (yes, I know that's not really cooking), and after becoming a Mama, I've learned how to multitask quite well.

So thank you Shannon for visiting my blog and for sending me this award! I would also like to pass this award on to a few bloggers I have recently discovered. Blogs like these keep me reading everyday! :)

Nic @ Four Better Four Worse

Torie @ Life With Rylie

Julie @ Farber Family Adventures

An almost perfect day ...

Doughnuts made for a yummy way to kick off this beautiful Saturday! Such a simple indulgence can always put a smile on my face. Unfortunately, this Mama always has a sweet tooth and indulges in sweets a bit too much!

Then it was off to Emily's softball game. The weather was perfect and it was great to spend some time out in the sun. Em did a great job, pitching the whole game and getting a homerun! Abby had fun playing in the grass, watching everyone around us, and she even helped Justin keep score. Abby just loves her cousins!

A rare picture of Mommy & Abby. I'm usually the one behind the camera,

but not this time!

After an afternoon nap, Abby is ready to go again. She LOVES the walker Gramma bought for her. She ZOOMS across the front porch, chasing Max from one end to another. Not sure why we are encouraging walking, but she has so much fun and she keeps us laughing!

To end the night, we had dinner with the whole family. It's always so special to sit down and share a meal together. Aunt Heather spoiled Abby with some ice cream for dessert, while Max was probably thinking, "that used to be me until she came along." Poor dog ... we still love you, I promise.

If only all days could be like this ... beautiful weather, great fun, and sharing time with family. I only wish Jim could have been here to share this day with us. So until next time, it was just an almost perfect day.

The 9 Month Rundown

Sweet Abigail Grace turned 9 months old today. It's been a whirlwind around here the past few days. I've been packing up the apartment in Baltimore and getting ready to head home to Sarasota for a few months. ::Thanks Mom and Dad graciously for all their help::

I'm looking forward to spending some quality FAMILY time together while Jim rehabs his elbow. Although an injury at the beginning of the season isn't what you want to hear, I think it's God's way of giving us some more time together ... as a family. I am anxious to see what is in His plan for the future, and I pray that we will be able to return to Baltimore in just a few months.

Grandad takes a break from packing and

moving furniture to ... babysit?!?

Because I feel like being a slacker tonight, here is "The 9 Month Rundown." Here it goes...

Baby Abigail Grace, at 9 months old you are ...

* 20 pounds! (75th percentile)

* 27 inches long (40th percentile)

* Smiling and laughing at just about anything

* Rolling over from place to place

* Scooting backwards

* Up on hands and knees, trying to crawl/walking with assistance

* Reaching out to touch Max

* Saying "Da-Da" over and over again

* Imitating sounds/clapping and saying "yayyyy"/waving/shaking head from side to side

* Sleeping on back, but mostly on tummy or side now

* Wearing size 3 diapers

* Drinking 4 bottles a day (5-8 ounces)

* Eating solids 2 to 3 times a day and loving everything! (does it look like you miss a meal?)

* Picking up finger foods

* Taking 2 naps a day and sleeping 11-12 hours at night (approx. 7pm-7am)

* Sporting a toothless grin

*Crying every car ride that lasts longer than 10 minutes :(

Baby Abby, Mommy is also teaching you how to "dance" and "give kisses." You give me so many reasons to smile and laugh. I love being home with you and seeing how you change from day to day. I am so looking forward to these upcoming months. I love you!

You're invited... Blog Party 2010!

My bestie invited me to the Blog Party 2010, and yes there really is such a thing! Here's some background. A few weeks ago, she stumbled upon the D-List and passed this website on to me. It's a website designed for mommy bloggers, to communicate and share the ups and downs of parenthood. Every week the website features five new blogs, which gives you a chance to find other bloggers to follow along on their journey of being a Mama.

If you'd like to join in the fun, go ahead and see what it's all about!

Whether you are a daily reader or perhaps a new reader from the Blog Party, I thank you for visiting my blog and hope you enjoy reading what our family is up to. For those of you that know me, you can skip through the introduction.... but those of you that are new to my blog, here is a quick rundown of my life!

Name is Liz. Love taking pictures, eating pizza and sippin' sweet tea. Chocolate is my favorite. Married to a great man who would do anything for me or his little girl. Live in sunny Sarasota, Florida with our dog Max. Used to teach third grade, but became a stay at home mom when Abby was born. Hubby plays professional baseball, so we travel to be with him during the season. Sometimes life gets real crazy. I have faith in God, that he will give me the strength I need to get through life when it does get crazy. Our family is spread all over the country, which is why I started this blog. I love my family. If it wasn't for all their continued support, I don't know where I'd be. Most of all, I love the family my hubby and I have created and I look forward to the fun, challenges, and LOVE that our family will share over the years.

So... welcome to Tickled PINK! Thanks for stopping by :)

Rubber Ducky + Water + Bubbles = FUN!

After a long day, there is nothing better than relaxing in a tub full of warm water and lots of bubbles. Add a glass of wine and it's perfect. Well ... add a rubber ducky for Abby and we're all set and ready to play! Abby and Mommy always love bath time, so tonight I decided to take some pictures of the fun.

Abby is full of smiles, giggles, and crazy hairdos!

Sweet, cuddly, and silly time after a bath.

When Abby was about a month old, I started giving her a bath every night. I wanted to make it a routine, so she would know what was coming next... sleep! There's something that is so calming about a clean smelling baby in pajamas, cuddly with Mommy, and ready for bed. I'm completely convinced that now Abby knows bath time is the start of our nighttime routine. We play, sing songs (well I sing... not so good might I add), and laugh together. Abby lets me know when she's had enough ... she'll wipe her eyes (sleepy) or when I say "All done?" she will put her arms out to me when I reach for her. Then there are some nights, like tonight... where I pull her out of the tub, even though she's not fully ready and she is NOT happy! But in the end, I get to cuddle with a happy baby, ready for bed.

Tonight she actually fell asleep in my arms. This doesn't happen often these days, so I soaked it up for a few minutes before placing her in the crib. I love that we get to share these moments together. Bath time is kinda our thing and it never gets old. :) If only I could fit in a bubble bath for myself every night .... now that would be a perfect way to end each day!