Family photos

The amazing and talented Christina Heaston came through town from South Carolina last week and spent a Sunday afternoon taking photographs of my little family. It was the best experience; I just adore Christina, and her stunning photography. I feel so lucky to have been able to get photographed by her, and I know we will cherish these pictures forever. They are by far my most favorite.

Next month I'll be hosting a REALLY amazing giveaway from Christina (I'm talking amazing, folks), so if you love these you maaay just want to be sure to keep your eyes peeled.

Be sure to check out Christina's website, Facebook, and follow her via Twitter!

Thank you again Christina, you are such a talented woman and I am so happy to call you a friend.

Here some of the many photos:

a little laugh for your Sunday

I really love imagining that Henry grabbed my camera and took this himself- for his Myspace profile, of course. So many captions could go with this photo, but I think the best is "hey ladies." hahaha! I love my little (myspace-picture-taking) man.

Happy Sunday!

Henry: 4 months

This post is a bit belated, as Henry turned 4 months old last week, on the 22nd! He didn't have his checkup until yesterday though, so I wanted to wait to publish this post until then. He is doing very well and his appointment was wonderful...our tough guy didn't even cry during his shot. ;) Henry currently weighs 14 pounds, 14 oz. (50th percentile) and is 26 inches long (70th percentile).  This month it seems like H. is really coming into his own- his personality shines through a little more everyday, and it's so amazing to watch him figure things out on his own. He's been love love loving his Sophie the Giraffe and is happiest when she's in his hands...or his mouth! He also has been liking his Glowworm at nap time.

This month Henry:

rolls over, from back to front, and front to back
has taken to screaming and squealing
started teething
can fully move his head and hold it up
is starting to reach for things
can recognize people
knows his name (at least I think so)
smiles all the time
laughs a lot more often
drools constantly
loves putting his feet and hands into his mouth

Breastfeeding is going well as usual, and he is still sleeping with us in the cosleeper in our bed, but napping in his crib (or on me) during the day. He was sleeping through the night, 12 hours, but now he goes to sleep at 7pm and wakes up around 4 to eat, then sleeps a little more until 8 or so. Some nights recently have been more difficult, with him waking up every few hours, but the past couple of days have evened out and he's doing much better now that we are home and won't be traveling for some time.  We're probably going to move him fully into his crib at 6 months, and I think that transition is going to be a lot harder on me than him! We'll see.

So, yay for Henry and yay for 4 months! I am just starting to plan his first birthday party (crazy, I know) and I am REALLY excited about this little idea I've concocted. I think it's going to be amazing. And even more amazing? He's 1/3 of the way there. Bittersweet.

Here's to another wonderful month full of wet baby kisses and belly laughs. We love you so much Henry!

Roll with me Henry!

Henry's been rolling over for a few weeks now, and like the new parents we are, it's the hugest deal! When he first did it, I bet our neighbors thought we had won the lottery with the cheer we let out. It's just so awesome to see him try, try, and try again, then finally accomplish something. And now can go from back to belly, and belly to back. Yay Henry! I initially realized he could do this a few weeks ago when I placed him on his play mat and turned around for a second- the next thing I knew, he was on his belly! In the past month he's become quite the little rolly-poly and is moving around like crazy. So, in the spirit of rolling over, here's a short little video I put together. Thanks to my friend Allie for sending me this song so many months ago! Enjoy.

Tattoo...Wednesday!

{I forgot to take a final picture so this photo was taken before we touched up the black again and 

added a tiny more blue- I'll post a better photo later, of course!}

Today was a great and super special day- I finally got my mama tattoo for Henry! I had gone back and forth about what I wanted to get, and years ago (before I was a mama) I knew that one day when I had a little one I would want to get his or her silhouette. When Henry was born I originally wanted to get that for him, but thought instead that I would wait until we had all of our kids and do something a little more traditional now, like an anchor or just his name in script. I realized though that it was silly to wait to do something that I really wanted (and had wanted for ages), so I made the appointment, and today was the day!

Mondo at Immaculate Tattoo in Mesa, AZ tattooed me (he previously did the "Sweet Darlin'" above my knees), and as always I loved it. I have been going to Immaculate for years and years, back when Jason tattooed me, then Cory, and now Mondo. It's a great shop with great artists, and I highly recommend you check them out if you're in the area.

I am so, so in love with it with it and of course, it's my new favorite (like every new tattoo I get)! I'm just so happy with how it turned out, and I can really see Henry in it- his tiny little button nose, chin, and the bits of hair.  I hadn't thought about a frame before Mondo brought it up, but I'm so happy I ended up getting one. I have never seen a silhouette tattoo before and I have a hard time picturing things in my head, but as usual with good artists they manage to produce something that is better than you could have even attempted to imagine. I love that.

So, today was an excellent day. I'm just so excited for big-kid Henry to one day realize that this tattoo is of him, and for him to look at my arm and know his mama loves him oh-so much.

Today, Sunday

Hank and I decided to stay another night at my parents', so in the morning we all went to IHOP for breakfast (my Dad's choice). I'm not a fan of breakfast places like this- I really, really love eating big, healthy breakfasts at home...but I did find something good to eat and it was really fun. Definitely a great morning, and we headed out fairly early and stopped by Scottsdale Fashion Square before we actually headed up the mountain. The mall was fun, but super super crowded. It's weird- ever since I moved to our small town five years ago, I really cannot handle or stand big, crowded places. The parking lots are too much, all of the bustling crowds are too much, and I just would rather avoid it all together. However, we got there right as the mall opened so it wasn't too bad.

*Quick question though- I fell in love with a dress at H&M, but they didn't have my size. If you are headed to one soon and wouldn't mind checking and possibly picking up something for me (I can paypal you), could you email me at sometimessweetblog @ gmail? This is the second time I've done this at H&M recently (I had my friend send me a top last week) but I adore this dress and would love to own it. I'd appreciate it so, so much- and thank you in advance for any and all responses! :)

Doesn't the snow look beautiful? This is what we came home too. One thing I really enjoy about living up north is that we get all four seasons. Although I'm not a huge fan of the cold, it is nice to have snow and to really experience so many different types of weather. People think Arizona and automatically think HOT...but our beautiful state really has a little of everything. It's neat that Henry will grow up having snow days like I did growing up in New Jersey. It definitely brings back memories of my Mom making hot chocolate and letting us watch daytime television under the big blue blanket. Ahh, I love it.

But anyway, great weekend! I'm excited for a wonderful week too. I'll be down in Phoenix again, heading to the Children's Museum with my pals Natalie and Anita, and our little ones. Although Henry isn't quite big enough to enjoy it, I think he will like checking out some new scenery and being with other kiddos. I also have a hair appointment with Rhonda, and I'm excited to cut it all off! Juust kidding. I wouldn't ever do that- I love love my long hair. I do want to darken it a little more and trim my bangs, but that's about it. I've mentioned it before but Rhonda's been doing my hair since I was 14...how insane is that?! I love her and she really is like family. I feel lucky to have her in my life.

I hope all of you have a great week! I'll leave you with some photos. xo

I like to imagine that Henry is saying "heeeeey!" in this one. It makes me giggle.

at breakfast

Dad looking squinty, mama, and Lauren

 Hank's

mine! Veggie omelette and a banana

bathtime, I snapped this photo about an hour ago. How darling is he?!?

after bathtime with Daddy

Henry: 3 months

3 months?! 1/4 of a year? Whoa, Henry. Slow down there. I am in total disbelief that it's been an entire 12 weeks since this little-big baby was in my belly, and I was only daydreaming of what these days would be like. Now that I'm smack dab in the middle of "these days," nothing in my wildest imagination could have prepared me for the amount my heart would grow in such a short time. To be a mother is an indescribable thing. This love I have for my son, the way I want to protect him, guide him, nurture him, it's amazing. I feel like he makes me a better person, and if this is how great it is at just 3 months, I can only imagine how much more this love with grow over our lifetime.

Our darling boy has been growing and growing, and something changes everyday- there's truly always something new. Hank and I were just remarking about how remarkable the speed of growth is. One day he wasn't able to reach up and grasp his toys, and now he is. One day it took a lot to get a smile out of him, now it's all he does. It's truly amazing.

This month Henry:

• is still breastfeeding. Hoping to go a year. 
• is a LOT more vocal. He's making some sort of noise all of the time- lots of vowel sounds and squeals.
• can reach above his head and grasp at the toys hanging from his playmat
• can hold objects in his hand and will try and move them to his mouth
• has become a thumb sucker and soothes himself this way. The sucking noise is so loud at night sometimes it makes me laugh.
• is all smiles, all the time
• first sort of real laugh (on Super Bowl Sunday while lying on our bed) but only does it once and awhile- I think the real thing is coming soon!
• loves his Sophie Giraffe. If he's crying all I have to do is squeeze it and he stops what he's doing and smiles and smiles.
• is liking tummy time more- can hold his head up, but still doesn't push all the way up on his arms- he can do a little mini one though.
• has a lot more head control 
• is starting to like sitting in his Bumbo.
• has been drooling like crazy
• has been trying to put things in his mouth- the head cushion on his swing, toys, etc.
• went on his first hike
• went downtown to the square for the first time

Our typical day is as follows:

6 or 6:30am- wake up and eats, goes back to sleep for a short while
8am-wakes up for the day
8-8:30 or 9am- lays in bed with mama and cuddles, listens to music
9am- plays on mat in the living while I make myself breakfast, then I go sit next to him on the floor and eat
10am- Henry eats again.
10:30am- nap time, usually sleeps for about 2 hours and during this time I'll blog, eat lunch, etc.
12:30ish- wakes up, we change it up over the next few hours- play on the floor, use the swing, read in the glider, dance around to music, go on a walk
4pm- eats again
4:30ish- takes another nap until about 6 or 6:30
6:30- wakes up, plays, hangs out with his papa
8:30pm- start winding him down for bed, bathtime if needed, quiet playtime
9:00 on the dot- feed him
9:30pm- asleep for the night...and start all over again!

We're really lucky because he's been sleeping through the night for quite awhile now. At first I got a little nervous about not feeding him during that time, but my milk kind of adjusted itself and I've had no problems. He still eats like a champ and feeling rested is definitely something I'm thanking my lucky stars about.  I've heard from a lot of people that he's an "easy baby," and I've also heard that the next one is always the opposite! ha! So we shall see. Not that we are into having another baby any time soon for goodness sakes...don't get any ideas MOM. ;)

So, happy 3 months Henry! You are amazing and we love you so.