O happy day

Five

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie @ O Happy Day) — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 12:03:00 +0000

The world may be shut down at the moment, but it didn't stop our sweet second born from turning five. A whole hand. Ryder James, your smile is still as big as your heart. You are our tiny little old man. You wake up at the same time every morning, get dressed, make your bed, brush your teeth and put waffles in the toaster. All that's missing is the morning paper.

You are wise beyond your years and love your people well. Coronavirus has ended your only preschool year two whole months early which hurts my heart so much, but you just bounce right along. You love playing outside with your brothers and you've recently learned to ride your bike without training wheels. You love our basketball goal and the bounce house, but you're just as happy indoors with puzzles, Legos, and crayons.

You are just the best big brother and we call you our "over snuggler". You still love to play with "baby Jude" and are the biggest helper. You really just love babies in general- more than the average 5-year old boy I believe!

You wake up everyday asking "can we go somewhere???" which is hard right now when there is literally nowhere to go.

You had to have a tooth pulled back in November due to it getting injured a year and a half ago, but it clearly wasn't your sweet tooth. Doughnuts, cupcakes, cookies, pancakes, and breads are your favorite food group. Back when we still went to grocery stores, you used to say "I like samples when they're treats but not when they're dinner" and I can't think of a more accurate statement for you.

You love Super Heroes, Paw Patrol, Monster Trucks, Hot Wheels Cars, and all things Disney!

We had the most special birthday trip planned for you that had to be postponed, but I'm so glad we got to squeeze your party in the weekend before the world shut down. Our little Ryder bear, we love you to pieces and are so blessed to be your mommy and daddy!

Lately

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie @ O Happy Day) — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 11:42:00 +0000

Well it took a worldwide pandemic and Disney World shutting down to clear my calendar long enough to circle back here. There has been a lot of life filling the past days, weeks, and months. We celebrated holidays, snow days, and every day in between. Before the world shut down we had pumpkin field trips, a frigid Halloween, waffle house breakfasts, lots of Christmas fun, plenty of time outside, a Saturday snowstorm, plenty of doughnuts, and a Disney half marathon.

SIX

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie @ O Happy Day) — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 00:51:00 +0000

This boy right here who made me a mommy turned 6. We literally just blinked and he went from being a tiny NICU baby to a kindergartner overnight.

Finn, you are smart. You love to learn and remind me when it's time to do your spelling words. You are in a competition with yourself to see how quickly you can learn them. Which brings me to the next one, you are competitive. You want to be the fastest, the strongest, the best. This drives you to be the hardest worker I know. You ask to go outside and hit golf balls, ride your bike, or do yard work.

You are kind. You're a good friend and quite possibly my favorite trait- you're an includer. You ask 3 friends to sit with you at the parents' table when you're only supposed to have 1. When we eat lunch with you at school, just about every third kids says "hi" to you in the cafeteria and you call them your friends. You ask people what their names are and you remember them. You remember everything. We call you a sponge and a steel trap.

You love soccer. Your Saturday morning kindergarten league may as well be the World Cup because of the amount of effort you give.

You love Legos. You can build a set for an 8 year old within an hour. What's even more surprising is that you'll focus on it for that long. If there aren't instructions- you build whatever you want.

You love super heroes. All of them. You love reading about them, dressing up like them, and reenacting them with our brothers.

We love you so much and are so proud of you!

Two

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie @ O Happy Day) — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 15:35:00 +0000

Well hello, friends!

Yes, the blog still exists but between being a mom of three and running my own business from home in all my "free" time, it sits quietly in the backseat. But nonetheless, I want to keep it up as a virtual baby book for my own reference.

Our sweet, Jude Weldon turned TWO last month! Three letters describe you- FUN. You are so much fun! You are sweet, spunky, full of giggles, and full of energy. You want to do everything your brothers do. You love playing outside and get frustrated because you can't ride a big bike. You get offended if your brothers get to do anything that you can't. You love playing with cars and legos and things that your brothers would've never played with at two. You love animals- especially "pup pups". You love growling like a tiger and roaring like a lion. You smile with your tongue out and it's the cutest.

You're 24lbs and 32in which puts you just under the 50% for both. You're wearing size 24 mos - 2T shirts and 12-18mos pants. You are just the sweetest and squishiest.

You love snuggling and wrestling and dancing. You're learning what it looks like to play during the day while your brothers are at school. Unfortunately, this means you're in the car for awhile but you don't seem to mind. In typical third baby fashion, your naps are less than regular but you don't seem to mind.

We love you to pieces, sweet boy and can't imagine our family without you in it!

Four

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie @ O Happy Day) — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 12:06:00 +0000

Our sweet Ryder James turned 4 last month and we could not be more proud of the little guys he is becoming. Ryder, you are smart and sweet and spunky with the kindest little heart and biggest smile. You still smile with your whole face and I couldn't love it more. You love your brothers fiercely and snuggles are your love language.

You love waking up early but are content to sit and do puzzles in your room until your clock is green. You make your bed and get dressed all by yourself. You love playing outside with your brothers but are perfectly content to play trains inside by yourself- this you get from mommy. You hate being cold- this you get from your daddy.

You love treats in all forms. Regarding the samples at Costco or Trader Joe's "I like when they're treats but I don't like when they're dinner". That pretty much sums you up perfectly. You will eat your weight- which isn't much- in pancakes.

You're barely in the 5th percentile for weight and height at 28lbs and 37" but will play with the bigger boys without skipping a beat.

You'll start preschool this Fall when Finn goes to Kindergarten- the downside of having your brother only a grade apart- but you could not be more excited about starting school. You ask every day in carline if "I get to get out of the car?" But you love going to the grocery store, the park, and library, and anywhere else with just mommy and Jude.

You've learned how to write your name, can recognize letters and numbers, recognize patterns, count, and know our address and phone number so I think you'll jump right into Pre-K just fine!

You are pretty obsessed with Jude. You call him "My Judy!" We'll see how he likes that nickname when he's older.

You are just our sweet and snuggly little guy and we are so proud to be your mommy and daddy!

Disney 2019

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie @ O Happy Day) — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 20:21:00 +0000

Part of the reason that blogging has been far and few between has been because of my new "job". Last June, I became an authorized Disney Vacation Planner with Pixie Travel here in Atlanta! I absolutely love my new role and love helping families plan their Disney vacations. I have a full client load with plenty on the calendar for 2019. This also means that I have been spending nearly all of my free time researching all things Disney. We've been so fortunate to travel to Disney over the years with Dustin's family and had just the best time on our most recent trip a couple weeks ago. The boys are at such fun ages and Disney World is just the most magical for them! Here are some of the highlights.

Holidays 2018

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie @ O Happy Day) — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 20:07:00 +0000

Since it's almost Valentine's Day, now's as good a time as any to catch up on Thanksgiving and Christmas. We thoroughly enjoy our holidays around here and squeezed as much fun as we could into the last few months of 2018- which is why the blog has been a bit neglected. Nonetheless, this is sort of my virtual scrapbook so here is a look into the end of 2018.

We had a blast at North Point's Fall at the Farm party.

We taught our boys the value of giving, serving, and loving others at church.

We had our 5th annual Christmas PJ playdate with this crew.

We are loving Oma and Opa's new home in Clemson and spent Thanksgiving there.

We started a family tradition of Waffle House before getting our Christmas tree.

We loved having daddy home for nearly 10 days over Christmas break!

We delivered some toys to my friends and former colleagues at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

We saw Santa- Jude was less than impressed.

We rode the pink pig.

For the past 2 years, I've taken Finn on a special movie date and this year we saw Mary Poppins.

We went to Stone Mountain when Nonna and Pop came to town for Christmas!

We said good-bye to Eddie the Elf for this year on Christmas Eve.

We cheered on our Tigers in the playoffs and eventual National Championship!

Family Photos 2018

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie @ O Happy Day) — Thu, 22 Nov 2018 11:57:00 +0000

We had family photos taken the other week with the wonderful Brandi Sisson! You guys- she is seriously the best! She took what was a cold, rainy morning and turned it into the sweetest family session. If you are in the Atlanta area, you need to call her! She captured the boys so perfectly and I just love them.

Fall Catch up and Halloween

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie @ O Happy Day) — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 14:04:00 +0000

Since Thanksgiving is Thursday and Christmas decorations have been up in our house since Nov. 2, I figured now's a good time to finally do a Fall wrap-up and Halloween post. We have maximized the pumpkin season and squeezed as much family fun into it as possible. We picked apples, saw a lot of pumpkins, watched a lot of Saturday morning soccer games in the heat and the cold (because Fall in Georgia), took a day trip to Clemson for Homecoming and had lots of fun in between!

We absolutely love our neighborhood- especially during holidays! For Halloween, there is a kids' costume parade complete with a police escort and a pizza party at the playground before trick or treating. Last year, Jude was only a few weeks old and we barely made it to the festivities. This year, the boys had a blast! All of them! Nonna and Pop even came to town to have some fun.

One

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie @ O Happy Day) — Fri, 16 Nov 2018 13:09:00 +0000

ONE

Here we are, sweet boy! This is overdue a bit, because you turned one on Sept. 24.

I know it's cliche, but it has truly been the fastest year ever. You are so happy with the biggest smile. Your belly laughs are the most fun. You love to rough and tumble play with your brothers. You're standing and scooting and walking with the walker. I feel like we're just days away from you actually walking. You love to clap when you're excited or anytime we say "Yay!!!" You wave at everything, but it's usually with a serious look on your face.

It is just the cutest how excited you get when daddy comes home from work. You hear his voice if you're in another room and it's as if you can't get to him fast enough- you speed crawl and usually trip a bit because you're trying to go so quickly while making loud grunts and shrieks and yelling "da-doo!!"

You love being outside with your brothers and get your feelings hurt if they go out without you. They love playing with you and you chase them around the house as they run and hide. At first, I thought it was un-kind, but you laugh so hard I realized you think it's the most fun ever. You love being able to actually play at the playground- the swings are your favorite.

You are 20lbs and 29in which puts you right in the 50% for both. You have 6 teeth.

As much as I'm trying to fight it, you are picking up on your middle brother's eating habits and the pickiness is starting to show. I give you your veggies first every meal, but you cry and throw them on the floor.

You're still going strong without a 4th ear infection. This is the one that would send us back to tubes, so it's almost as if know that. I would love to spare you the procedure, but it's also going to be a long winter.

We celebrated your birthday with a combo party with big brother Finn (not sure how long we'll be able to swing that, but it was perfect for this year!) We just love you to pieces little squish and think you're the most fun ever!

You looked mostly unimpressed with your party.

Five

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie @ O Happy Day) — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 09:14:00 +0000

Five.

It is so hard to believe that our little tiny NICU baby is now five years old. Finn, there are just not enough words to describe how much joy you bring our family. You are sweet and spunky and compassionate and fiery. You work your absolute hardest at everything you do. You love hard and play harder. You are the leader of our little cub pack and your brothers adore you.

You pack a big personality into such a little body. You're 38lbs and 39in and wear a size 9 (toddler) shoe.

Your work ethic rivals most adults I know. I'll let you go play outside by yourself sometimes while I get your brothers ready and I'll watch you out the window. You'll rake the leaves, sweep the driveways, and check the mail all on your own initiative. Once your "work" is done, you'll throw your little golf bag over your shoulders and head to the top of the driveway to start hitting golf balls.

You love playing on your soccer team. It's a pre-k/kindergarten league that practices and plays on Saturday mornings, but in your mind it may as well be the World Cup. You give it all you have every game and you're getting pretty good too. What I'm most proud of you for is that you're the first one to check on a teammate when they fall down- on either team.

You are fearless which is equally exciting and terrifying. You're not afraid to try new things and meet new people. You are our little extrovert and love people so well. You are strong-willed which is challenging to harness, but I know it will take you very far in life.

You do the right thing- even if it means making mommy pick up "litter" in the parking lot and find the nearest trash can because "we don't litter in our family".

You love your friends. You pray for them at bedtime and say good-bye to them by name in the parking lot after school.

You are our little feeler and are very aware of your feelings and how you're making others feel. This is what I pray carries you through school and through life. Yes, we want to you be smart- but even more than that, we want you to be kind. We pray that you know the love of Jesus and can show it to everyone you are ever eyeball to eyeball with.

At the beginning of this school year, I asked you what you wanted to be when you grow up and you said "fireman sports player". That sums you up perfectly. You are adventurous. You love helping others. You love having fun and working hard.

We just love you to pieces and are couldn't be more proud of you!

Eleven Months

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie @ O Happy Day) — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 10:45:00 +0000

Baby Jude! I'm barely getting this up here before you turn a whole year, but you are still in fact 11 months! You are a full on mover, shaker, dancer, clapper, belly laugher who loves to rough house with your brothers and daddy. Ryder rolls around on the floor with you and you think it's just the most fun ever. You love when we're holding you and we dip you backwards so you're upside down. After we do it, we usually have to watch out because you'll throw yourself back trying to do it again.

You pull up and scoot along everything. You've even stood a couple times without holding onto something when you take a break to clap. You wave at everything and love to dance. You're in one of my most favorite baby stages- the involuntary baby bounce dancing stage. You just start bouncing and twisting anytime you hear music- the car, the grocery store, outside, anywhere.

You get your feelings hurt if your daddy takes your brothers outside to play without you because you want to be included. You also get your feelings hurt if we walk out of the room or if your brothers stop playing with you. You do this sad silent pouty face that turns into a full on scream.

You love to sleep and love going down for naps and bed at night. You're practically already trying to roll over on your belly before we can even place you down in your bed. You do not love Wed and Thurs as those are the days that Finn goes to school until 1:30, so you don't see your bed until after 2.

You love to eat, but are starting to show your preferences very strongly. I am fighting this pickiness as much as possible, because I already have a 3 yr old that will only eat pancakes and peanut butter and jelly- even if it means letting you cry because I put the broccoli on your tray first.

We've made it a whole month without another ear infection, but we've also made it a whole month without you catching a cold.

You recently scared us when you woke up from your nap covered in hives. We were in Clemson visiting Oma and Opa's new house and you ended up covered in hives within a matter of an hour and a half. We took a trip to urgent care and still don't know why. We may never know, but we are going to schedule allergy testing at your one year appointment.

Because of this, I know you're up to 20lbs. You're in size 12-18 mo clothing, but most of it has already been through your brothers and is probably not true to size.

You have 6 teeth and just the longest wispiest hair with a couple curls in the back. If you were a girl, you would absolutely need a bow at all times so I should probably get it cut soon.

We just love you to pieces, our little squish! We can hardly believe we get to celebrate your first birthday next week!

Ten Months

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie @ O Happy Day) — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 10:17:00 +0000

Ten Months! I'm just thankful that I'm able to get this posted before you turn 11 months with how quickly this summer is going. Our sweet baby Dude, you are So. Much. Fun. Seriously! We say it all the time, but we just call you a bundle of fun. You love rolling and wrestling with your brothers. Ryder practically lies on top of you, throws your legs around, squishes your cheeks together and before I can stop him- you are just cackling with belly laughs.

You know how to sit up on your own and it's just the cutest, because you sort of back into it from being on your belly. You just figured out how to pull up on furniture and stand up and are so proud when you do. You're still doing what we call the "wounded turtle" crawl on your belly, but have just figured out how to rock backwards and forwards on your hands and knees.

We just lowered your crib, because you know to pull yourself over and your head would just take you over the edge.

You love to eat! You are now the best eater of the three boys in that you will eat anything and you typically eat it all. I haven't really found anything you don't like and I hope it stays that way.

You've started dancing and it's the funniest thing. You sort of bounce up and down while sitting and will then roll your head around. I think it makes you dizzy, because then you look up and laugh.

You wave, but it looks more like you're cooling yourself off/waving to yourself and it's the cutest little thing, because the bigger the reaction you get, the more excitedly you do it.

Your ears haven't been giving you much of a break this summer. You've have 3 separate ear infections in about 10 weeks. You need to have 4 in 6 months before you can get officially referred for tubes, but we know it's only a matter of time. We've got a great ENT and I'm just waiting to give him a call to hopefully give you (and us) some relief. Ryder got them at 15 mos, but I have a feeling you'll be sooner.

You're right at 19lbs and wearing size 12-18 month clothing. I still think that may be because your clothes used to be your brothers' and have been through many washes. I still think you're pretty average size wise, because you're in the 50% for each.

You have 4 teeth now and I'm pretty sure you're working on two more.

We just love you to pieces and you are the perfect little guy we never knew we needed!

If you've had a morning nap, I'll wait until after I put your brothers in their rooms for rest time before I put you down for an afternoon nap and here is where I usually find you.

So much love. And so many diapers.

Last year, for CFA Cow Day I felt like a cow. This year, you got to sit next to me and try your very first nuggets.

"Just sprinkle some food in front of him on the ground and he'll sit there".

Ryder's thing he says all the time now that I just love is "Gimme dat baby!!!"

Seaside

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie @ O Happy Day) — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 10:30:00 +0000

We just got back from a fun week down in Seaside with my side of the family. It was hot and sticky and we're still finding sand at home but everyone had a blast. Days were spent at the beach and evenings were spent with (hot) strolls to the square.

When you're the baby brother

Sunglasses stayed on a total of 30 seconds

Very grateful this one still beach-napped in the mornings

"Hey boys, stand normal for a picture"

Nine Months

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie @ O Happy Day) — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 11:29:00 +0000

Nine Months! You have now spent just as much time on the outside world as you spent in my belly. Although that's hard to believe, because I felt about 14 months pregnant by the time September rolled around last year. This has been such a big month for you, sweet boy!

You still have two bottom teeth and we're waiting on those top two to poke through. The drool is picking up, so it could be anytime now.

You love feeding yourself by the fistful! One day you were just super fidgety and fussy when I was trying to feed you, so I just gave you a cut up version of what we were eating (chicken, potatoes and Brussels sprouts) and you squealed and dug right in! You now officially eat better (both in quantity and quality) than Ryder. I still try and give you purees sometimes, because letting you feed yourself usually means we have to be fully committed to also give you a bath before bed.

You are still barrel-rolling your way around the house but just this past week you've started army crawling! You are most proud of this and once you get from point A to point B, you look up with a gummy grin and a little giggle.

You started sitting like a big boy in a grocery cart too- this is actually something I'm pretty sure I did with your brothers closer to 6/7 mos so I blame this on the third baby syndrome.

You're sitting fully independently to play although sometimes that pumpkin head still takes you down- I blame that on the fact that you inherited your daddy's deep head.

You still love watching you brothers do anything and everything- especially outside.

You're 18lbs and 28in which puts you in the 50% for both. You're wearing size 4 diapers and 12-18 mo clothing- although again this is probably because they're hand me downs that have been through your two brothers and shrunken over the years. You're likely a true 9-12 mo size.

You had your third ear infection over a 6 week period, so Santa may be bringing you tubes this year. You still despise taking medicine of any type, so out of desperation we gave you this last antibiotic with spoonfuls of chocolate syrup and you kept it down- messy- but you kept it down.

We can hardly believe how fast you're growing, baby Jude, but we just love you to pieces!

You now sit like a big boy in restaurants- again this is third baby syndrome. Your big brothers likely did this around 7 months, but it's just been easier to keep you in your car seat until now.

Ryder asks to hold you at least 4x a day.

You have yet to find a food you don't like.

My latest method of giving you an antibiotic/choc syrup cocktail. Patent pending.

Because this was our first attempt.

"Jude, when you sit here you get all the snamples"- Ryder

This progression of pics is mostly blurry and I didn't have time to adjust my light settings, but it's an accurate depiction of their sweet bond. Ryder wants to be next to Jude at all times. Jude loves it so much until he doesn't.

Eight Months

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie @ O Happy Day) — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 10:39:00 +0000

Baby Jude, Baby Dude, Doodles, you are 2/3 of your way through your first year and I can't even believe it! This was quite a big month for you too. We took your very first trip to Hilton Head with daddy's side of the family and you loved it! You got a little overwhelmed with all of the noise and over stimulation going on, but we had ten kids 12 and under in the house- so who wouldn't? You slept in the closet and probably got the best sleep out of anyone in the family. What's also hard to believe is how well you did this week given you had your very first ear infection. Your big brother got his tubes exactly 6 months after his first one... so I wonder if we will be due before the end of the year. Hope not!

You also got your first two teeth like a champ. The bottom two popped through and it didn't seem to phase you- hoping that means good things to come.

You're up to 18lbs (which was Ryder's weight when he turned 1) and size 4 diapers. You're wearing size 9-12mo clothing and in typical third child fashion, I forgot to pack you a single swimsuit when we went to the beach, even though you probably have more than your brothers combined. Aunt Brittney and Walmart to the rescue, though!

You're not crawling, but are still rolling your way around. You have figured out how to spin around on your belly and still like to lift your arms and legs off the ground in true "sky diver" form.

We just love you to pieces, little squish!

You got in the pool for the very first time and loved it once you got past the cold water.

You on the left and Finn on the right- both at 8 months. Same suit. Same hat.

You'll fall asleep in your play pen if I take too long putting your brothers in their rooms for rest time.

For some reason, you are obsessed with this hat and I think it's just the cutest thing ever. We're pretty obsessed with our Tigers too, buddy.

This is the face you make when your brothers come in the room.

Hilton Head

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie @ O Happy Day) — Tue, 22 May 2018 10:45:00 +0000

We spent last week in Hilton Head with Dustin's family and had the best time with our crew. We didn't make it to a beach last summer, so this was really the first time our boys have been to the beach since Finn was 2.5 and Ryder was 1. Basically, it felt brand new to them. I would never really classify "beach with 3 young kids" as a vacation- more of a trip. Or an away game as we like to call it. You're essentially doing everything you usually do at home, only on less sleep in a different house. Thankfully, schools were still in session so it was not crowded at all. Our crew is too young for "real school" and our nieces and nephews attend a classical-hybrid model school and wrapped up their year. Nonetheless- it was so much fun! The boys loved playing with their "tuzzins" (cousins). They loved looking for crabs and fish, feeding and then running from the birds and digging all. day. long. Neither of them feared the ocean which is equally exciting and terrifying. Jude rocked his morning beach naps. All in all, it was a great week.

Jude basically looked like this every morning from 9-10:30am.

I love everything about this picture. Baby cheeks and lips. Curly hair. Dimple knuckles. Wrist rolls.

Our first morning there was Mother's Day. All the moms in the house went out (in uniform) for a kid-free breakfast while the dads were in charge.

This kid. He talked the whole way there about wanting to "fly a kite on the beach". He's never even seen a kite before except on Curious George. Opa brought a kite and he woke up every morning asking to fly it.

When you're the baby cousins and your parents don't want you to eat all the sand.

This kid loved the wind in the face, watching the birds and basically watching everything that everyone else was doing. He didn't so much love the cold water on his toes.

It's like mentally he sentenced himself to a week of hard labor having to dig the whole beach.

"mommy, take my picture on this rock."

A little beach golf.

About 30 min after being out on the beach, this one would come up to eat all of the snacks.

And then he crawled into the wagon and looked like a tiny baby all over again.

We were so thankful for great weather all week even though the forecast was 60-80% chance of storms every day. The one morning it was lightly raining, we took the big boys to play putt putt while Jude napped at the house.

Ryder's smile is one of my absolute favorite things about him right now.

More baby jail when the big cousins are swimming.

Our fam of five went into Harbour Town one evening for dinner and to see the boats and lighthouse. Dustin and I used to come on day trip dates in high school and do the same thing.

All of the digging finally got to him and he slept for an hour like this.

Seven Months

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie @ O Happy Day) — Fri, 11 May 2018 10:44:00 +0000

Seven Months! You have now made it over the curve of your first year and are closer to turning one than being born. Baby Jude, you are so much fun. You are always smiling, rolling, wiggling, flapping your arms, pulling your toes and want so badly to move with your brothers. You are still pretty obsessed with them. Ryder makes you belly laugh in a way that only he can and Finn is your number one big helper. When you're on your belly, you still pull your arms and legs off the ground in your "skydiver" position as we call it. Ryder did the exact same thing. I've had to pull out the old pop n play (play pen) to keep you from rolling your way all around the house. You still love jumping in your jumper and you especially love when your brothers push it like a tire swing before I catch them and tell them to stop. You bathe with the big boys now in our big bath tub and this will continue until you're at least teenagers because I think it's the cutest thing ever.

You are still such the little dream baby. You go with the flow and take more than your fair share of car seat and stroller naps when we're on the go. If you don't get a nap in the morning, you still don't seem to mind. You nap like a champ in the afternoon and thankfully so do your brothers.

You love to eat! You get three 6oz bottles/day and an 8oz bottle at bedtime. You love purees at breakfast and dinner and lunch on days when it's actually convenient for me to sit down and feed it to you. You started eating baby yogurt this month and love it.

As of this post, you're about 7.5 months and you just got your very first tooth last night! I knew it had to be happening soon, but it just popped through and you're still happy as can be. This is how Finn's teeth came. Ryder's were another story. I hope this is setting up our next two years to go really well in this area.

We won't be back at the doctor's office for a check up until 9 months, but I would assume you're around 18lbs. My arms get tired after holding you for extended periods of time and you are just a big ball of squish and I love every bit of it. You're in 9 mo. clothing and size 4 diapers, except I'm trying to finish my last pack of size 3's.

We just love you to pieces, sweet baby Jude and it's a blessing to see you grow!

Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie @ O Happy Day) — Sun, 22 Apr 2018 16:34:00 +0000

We are well into Spring around here (I think). It's 38 degrees outside at the moment. Regardless of the 40 degree range in temperature, we have already been spending a lot of time outside. Finn started playing soccer at a school near our house. He loves it and we love watching him play. We've spent a lot of time playground hopping and had some fun play dates with friends. There are only a couple more weeks of school and I've already started my beach packing list in my phone so I can see summer peaking at us around the corner. Here is a look at what we've been up to recently.

On Thursdays, after taking Finn to school, the younger buddies and I would head to music class. When we show up early, this one gets a snack in the car.

After music class, we supervise these two on weekly lunch dates.

We've had a couple trips to the doctor's office for ear checks now that his tubes are out. Besides the one raging ear infection the week after they fell out, we haven't had any- so hoping it stays that way.

Our neighborhood hosts an Easter egg hunt for all of the kids.

This kid's smile is seriously one of my favorite things about him.

Easter service at church.

Easter morning in Christmas pj's.

Jude's first Easter!

This sweet dream baby is just so content to sit in his stroller on trips to the playground- sometimes for 2+ hours and will just watch his brothers until he falls asleep.

I love this picture so much. Inherited friendships are the best kind and these buddies are just the sweetest.

Some of our very best friends came to town to join in on the crazy for the weekend. If only we could get them to stay.

Master's Sunday at church.

Visiting the Nature Center near our house.

"Hey mom, want to hear my song??" Always buddy. Always.

Dustin's parents are selling their family home in Aiken so the Oprea kids gifted them with a family photo session with the house in the background before they move.

Jelly beans bribes for days.

So much love on this blanket.

One of the biggest accomplishments around our house this year has been that Finn learned to ride his bike without training wheels! He'd go so fast even with them, that they barely touched the ground anyway, so we took them off and he hasn't looked back!

Six Months

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie @ O Happy Day) — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 19:56:00 +0000

Sweet baby Jude, we are officially halfway through your first trip around the sun. I feel like the newborn days are such a blur, especially when they're tossed in the mix of preschool and play dates for your older brothers. Now is when I'd like for time to slow down.

You are sleeping and eating like a champ. You still do not have any teeth, so you're literally happy all the time. There are many mornings when I put you in your high chair for breakfast, but don't get around to actually giving you breakfast for another 30 minutes and you just sit there smiling and watching your brothers. You are obsessed with them. You turn your head and watch them wherever they go with the sweetest little expression that seems to say "you guys are so fun! I want to play!" Some times they come on a little strong- especially the blonde one- and you let them know that too. They are both pretty obsessed with you too and I can already see the sweetest bond growing between my three little musketeers.

You sleep from 7pm-7am and get a consistent afternoon nap everyday. Your morning and mid-day naps are less that regular since we're on the go so much, but you don't seem to mind. You are a great stroller or car seat sleeper and for that we are thankful! You are a hungry boy- maybe even our biggest eater yet. We've switched you completely to formula thanks to mommy coming down with a stomach bug awhile ago that knocked out most of my supply, but you don't mind one bit. You're taking four 6oz. bottles each day with an 8oz. bedtime bottle since you're still just eating meals to "try new foods". Eventually, I'm hoping to get you down to 4 bottles/day like Finn used to take.

You are rolling all over the place. Literally. I'll put you on your play mat and walk into another room and come back to find you've rolled yourself a good 6-7 feet away from it. I now put you in your excersaucer when I have to leave the room. You love to jump in your doorway jumper. You love being outside and watching your brothers ride bikes and kick soccer balls.

You still give the biggest, gummiest, open mouth smiles and we love it.

You're eating breakfast and dinner and lunch when it's convenient.

You love grabbing toys and looking at books.

You celebrated your first Easter and your basket may have been filled with toys we already have. I promise to get you new things when you're old enough to actually realize it. For now, we're busting at the seams with boy toys and clothing.

You are up to 17.9lbs and 27.75in which puts you right in the 50% for both, but you are anything but average sweet boy. We love you and your round little head and your big gummy smiles, baby Jude!

Three

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie @ O Happy Day) — Sun, 18 Mar 2018 19:28:00 +0000

It is so hard to believe that our sweet spunky Ryder is three! Rydee, Rydee Bear, Tinies, sir-snacks-a-lot... the list goes on. While you were not the one who made me a mommy, you were the first baby boy I felt kick inside of me. You were like a much needed breath of fresh air that showed me my body wasn't in fact broken. God chose you to be our second baby boy and we couldn't be more grateful.

You love playing with trucks, playing soccer, golf and basketball outside, coloring, Paw Patrol, monster trucks and anything with sugar. You absolutely adore Finn and sometimes I forget that you are in fact 18 months younger than him, because you are just the best of friends. You are newly obsessed with baby Jude and want to be two inches from him at all times. I usually have to remind you to "be gentle" and "don't lay directly on him", because you just squeal with excitement anytime he does anything. "Look at him smiley face!" is what you say when he smiles and your face just lights up. You love lining up your cars, trains, basically anything that looks like it needs order. I have no idea where you get that from...

You are my snuggler and I couldn't love it more. There are times when you want to crawl in my lap, tuck your hands down by your waist and bury your face in my shoulder just like you did as a baby and I melt every time.

You are sweet and loving and compassionate and like to ask "mommy are you happy?" To which I always reply "Yes! I'm very happy!" We sing Jesus Loves Me and Amazing Grace before bed and you sing every word to both. We have made great improvement in the wake-up time thanks to your OK to Wake Clock. It has somehow managed to keep you content in your bed until turning green at 7:30 every morning. When it does, you stand up (still in a crib) and say "my tick tock's green!!!!" into the monitor for us to come get you. Yes, you're still in a crib. Finn was in a crib until 3.5 and that was only because we needed his crib for Jude. There's a good chance you could be in yours until kindergarten.

You love running errands with Jude and me after we drop Finn off at school, but that's mostly because it means snacks for you. Now that it's finally warming up, hopefully we'll start going to the playground again too. You love playing Finn's guitar and watching anyone else play the guitar. This has led to a love of watching Crowder videos on YouTube and you now know all the words to I Am.

You don't go to the doctor until next week, but we've had our share of sick visits thanks to your ears recently and you're up to 28lbs and 34in. If I could take one thing from you now, it would be that you got your mommy's ears. Your first set of tubes fell out after a good run of about 21 months. Within a week, you had a full blown double ear infection with a fever over 103. This could mean a second set of tubes, but only time will tell and thankfully we have warm summer months ahead instead of a cold winter full of sickness... so we will see.

When you come in from playing outside in the afternoon, you always say "mommy, what'd you make me for dinner?" I'm not sure why you ask, because 95% of the time you're not going to eat it anyway, When I describe what you like to eat, it sounds like I'm talking about Will Ferrell in the movie Elf. You've never met a baked good you didn't like and you could eat your weight in pancakes. You also like hot dogs, peanut butter and jelly, mac n cheese and fruit. Needless to say, you go to bed hungry most nights. I'm hoping you grow out of your pickiness soon, but you're also pretty stubborn about it... I have no idea where you get that from either.

We love you so much, baby boy! Here are some of my favorites from the past 3 years.

This picture just makes me melt every time, because I see a tiny newborn and a still squishy baby Finn.

You hate being cold. This you get from your daddy, because mama loves a good snow day.

This is your "cheese" face at the moment and I love it so much.

At Children's urgent care with your first ear infection since tubes fell out.

Five Months

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie @ O Happy Day) — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 17:15:00 +0000

Our sweet baby Jude, We have now entered what I like to call the "happy baby phase". It lasts from approximately now until those pesky teeth start to appear, so probably just days. You are sleeping well at night and happy during the day. You're trying new foods. You found your toes and still cannot get enough of sucking on your fists. You love to eat. So much so that I've introduced formula in addition to nursing and you're taking it like a champ. I'm pretty sure that even if you were our first and I was able to structure our days around you and sit around and feed you all day long, I'd still be introducing formula by now. Right now your (on a perfect day) schedule looks like this:

7AM-nursing
8AM- breakfast
8:30AM- nap
10AM- nursing plus 4oz bottle
11:30AM- nap if we're home
1PM-nursing plus 4oz bottle
1:30PM- nap
4PM- 6oz bottle
5:30PM- dinner
7PM- 6-8oz bottle
7:30- bedtime

You're rolling all over the floor. I sometimes forget this and will leave you on your play mat while I'm dealing with your brothers and will come back down to find you partially wedged under the chair. Now, I put you in the excersaucer when I have to leave the room. Just like your brothers, you've decided that you'd rather be a belly or side sleeper. We put you down on your back and you immediately roll over to settle in for the night.

So far you've tried squash, avocado and brown rice cereal. You seem to be a fan of all of them. Your "meals" are still only when it's convenient now so you don't always get a breakfast, lunch or dinner. You have tried peanut butter and scrambled eggs with no problems, so I'm counting that as a win.

We don't go back to the doctor until 6mos. for a check-up, but I'd guess you're around 15lbs. You're in size 6-9mo clothing and size 3 diapers.

You have the most infectious little belly laugh and your brothers bring it out of you the best. You are just smitten with them and think they are the most fun. Good thing too, because I have on occasion found Ryder trying to drag you across the floor by your leg. All the while you're just smiling away.

You started using your doorway jumper this month and love to jump just like your brothers did. I've had to remind them that it is not in fact a slingshot and no they cannot spin you like a tire swing. Other than that, it's been going well.

We love you to pieces baby Jude!

Dear World

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie @ O Happy Day) — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 12:23:00 +0000

Dear World,

This is my crew.

Now they don't know yet, just how broken you are. They don't know there is hurt beyond scraped knees and that mommy's kisses can't actually fix everything. All that is in my mama heart wants to keep it that way, but I know I can't.

What I want them to know is that in our family, we love people. Hard. Even if they are different than us, we love the heck out of them.

I want them to be young men who make room. Make room for friends on the playground, classmates at the lunch table and women at the board table.

I want them to know that I would rather send them to school with a hundred Valentines than for someone to feel left out.

I want them to be kids who give away their lunch money, because they see a classmate who hasn't eaten in a week.

I want them to know how to win with pride and lose with grace.

I want them to know they are safe when they go to school and church.

I want our adults to stop acting like children so that our children can stop having to act like adults.

I want all of our children to have the futures we write on those first day of school chalkboards.

Sincerely,

Their Mom

Winter

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie @ O Happy Day) — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 11:35:00 +0000

SO normally I'm one that likes seasons to feel like seasons. Meaning I like it to be warm (not hot) in the summer, cool in the fall and cold in the winter. I don't mind it being cold when it's supposed to be cold. Summer seems to last about 7 months here. This year, this sign couldn't be more true.

I'm sure it's the combination of having boys that would live outside and the fact that the flu season is a monster this year, so we haven't been leaving the house. Other than school (which is even a question mark), we have put all other activities on hold. No church, no Chick-fil-A, no mall playgrounds, no tiny carts at Trader Joe's. Mama may lose her mind, but Jude is too young for a flu shot. So that leaves us playing in every corner of our house until it's a little less cold (still not warm) to go outside later in the day. We've also watched a lot of movies.

We got a little more snow. I say a little, because after the pre-Christmas blizzard of 2017 it immediately feels like I'm from the north. Anything less than 6in doesn't feel like much at all and this was probably closer to two.

Every year on MLK weekend, my college roommates and I manage to escape for the weekend. I say escape, because we have 14 kids between us so it takes a lot of work to leave a preschool behind.

Pre-quarantine shopping trip.

Drowning in babies and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Trying out all sorts of new big boy things with this one.

I posted this picture for his 4mo post, but couldn't not post it here too. Jude's pouty lip is just the cutest and definitely lets us know when he doesn't like something.

We went to a family wedding in TX and Jude was the perfect little third wheel.

Any time that daddy is home generally looks like this. PJ's, puffy coats and all the balls outside.

But seriously, winter, you can move along now.

Four Months

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie @ O Happy Day) — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 20:46:00 +0000

FOUR. This has been your biggest month yet, sweet boy! You celebrated your first New Year's as we rang in 2018. We had yet another snow day and you took your first plane ride for a family wedding in Texas. This has been my most favorite month yet as you are really growing into your little personality. You love to smile, laugh, chew on your fists, kick your feet and roll around on your play mat. You are starting to love your new excersaucer you got for Christmas, but I think you like being able to sit up and look at everything instead of lying on your back constantly. It also allows you to be eyeball to eyeball with your big brothers.

You love eating, napping, bath time, sleeping in your car seat and watching your loud brothers run around.

You don't love when your brothers are too loud and they scare you, the process of getting your pj's on after bath, when your schedule is thrown off thanks to school or church, when we leave you in your bed all night long instead of feeding you every few hours.

I just moved you up to size 3 diapers, because you were exploding out of the 2's. You're wearing size 3-6mo. clothing. You are up to 14.9lbs and 26in.

You tagged along with us to Texas for a family wedding last weekend and did so well with the exception of the plane ride there. You slept through the entire rehearsal dinner, wedding and reception. Your schedule was thrown off, but I think you liked having mommy and daddy all to yourself.

Speaking of schedule, here is where we're at currently:

8AM- wake up and eat
8-9:30AM- awake time; play time if we're at home
9:30-11AM- nap; home or car seat if we're on the go
11AM- eat
11-12:30- awake time
12:30-2PM- nap
2PM- eat
2-3PM- awake time
3PM- nap
5PM- eat
5-6PM- awake/fussy time
6PM- cat nap
6:45PM- bath time; watch brothers get ready for bed
7:15PM- bottle and books with brothers
7:45PM- bed time

You're "sleeping through the night" in the sense that I'm not feeding you, but you don't actually stay asleep all night long. You'll wake up and cry for a bit, but then eventually fall back asleep.

Your hair might be one of my most favorite things about you right now. It sticks straight up in the back no matter how much I brush it down.

You are such a happy little guy and give us plenty of smiles and laughs, but when you're not happy about something you certainly let us know. You get the saddest/cutest little pouty lip and most of the time, it's followed by a loud scream.

I can't wait for the weather to warm up, so that we can get out of this nasty flu season and go on some walks. I have a feeling you're going to like being outside just as much as your big brothers.

Sweet boy, we love you so much and feel so blessed to be your mommy and daddy. You are the sweetest little gift we never knew we needed.

A perfect example of the pouty lip.

Here are your big brothers at four months.