Titus Wilder, born February 28, 2023 at 11:46 am, 9 lb 14 oz.
As you can see, he was so loved and adored from the beginning. All the hands and all the holding. These were some of the sweetest moments of my life, holding that newborn chunk of sweet-smelling goodness and watching everyone meet him and snuggle him for the first time. I was induced for his birth the day before his due date because we were concerned about his size. It is the only time I have been induced and though it wouldn’t be my preference, it went fairly well. His birth was relatively straight forward and without complication. I cried when he was born with such an intense wash of relief and joy that all was well. I remember one of the nurses also cried and said it was such a special birth. We took nearly our whole hospital stay to settle on a name for him and felt that God led us to Titus. Brandon really liked Wilder for his middle name.
I’m grateful that despite the delirium and fog of those early days, I took the time to snap a few newborn photos, the only ones I captured. I haven’t shared them anywhere before. I remember being completely spent and sweaty after the couple of hours it took to get everyone dressed and trying to get decent shots by ourselves without a tripod, but it was worthwhile!
Then before we knew it, we were celebrating his first birthday. One whole year of waking up each morning to his snuggles and squish, everyone piling into our bed arguing over who would be first to hold him. Even at 16 months old, this is still the daily routine, their enjoyment of him strong as ever. It has been the sweetest season even amidst other difficulties, sacred and precious beyond words as we consider what a gift each child is, what a miracle, and we drink in the pure blessedness of it.
everything He gives 