Life of Wilder: Week Forty-Three

My sweet Wilder will be 10 months old tomorrow! He gets more and more fun every day and is just such a sweetheart. That little boy is the light of my life and has been a ray of sunshine through everything we've been dealing with this week. Our families have been having such a good time loving on him and playing with him. He has made us laugh and smile through our tears and I've never been more thankful for him. My dad totally lights up and says, "Hey my Baby Wilder" every time we bring him up to the hospital. It just melts my heart.

So, Paul and I have made a big decision this week. We wanted to honor my dad in some way so we have decided to change Wilder's middle name to Rhea after my daddy. We like the name Roman but it didn't mean anything to us so this just made sense. In fact, I had been thinking about it, but wasn't sure what Paul would say or even if it was something reasonable to do. But when Paul got here on Tuesday he suggested it himself. Both of us just felt like it was the right thing to do and my dad was very touched when we told him. I can't tell you how thankful I am to be able to say all the things I need to to my dad while he's still here. It has given me such a peace with what's happening.

This week has mostly been spent going back and forth between my parents' house and the hospital. We'll wake up and play with Wilder in the morning and then head over to see my dad in the afternoon. Paul has been such a big help with Wilder this week and I'm so grateful that he's been here to hold me up. 

Watching the rain at the 

hospital with Grana

 At the hospital with Grand-Sally 

(my grandmother)

 Visiting the hospital yesterday in 

our MS State maroon

Being at the hospital is exhausting for Wilder because he has to either be held or be in the stroller the whole time so the other day we took him to check out one of Jackson's parks to try to burn off some energy before heading over to see my dad. 

I'm grateful to have been able to spend a lot of time with my brother and his wife this week too. They live in Mississippi so we were originally just going to see them this weekend at the Mississippi State game but with all that's going on they've been here in Jackson all week and it's been so wonderful to see them getting to know Wilder better and loving on him.

Wilder has also gotten to spend some time with Paul's dad and his grandparents, Mama Sue and Pappy, this week. They just eat him up and it is so sweet to see them with him. 

Last Saturday we went to the first birthday party of some friends' little boy. It was farm-themed and everything was sooo cute! Wilder had such a great time playing with his little friend's birthday presents. I think he thought it was his birthday! 

Trying to figure out how to take that trike apart ;)

On Friday we got to spend some time with Paul's sister Audra and her husband Michael who were in town for the weekend from North Carolina. They hadn't seen Wilder since he was a month old and were amazed at how much he's grown and changed. We had such a good time catching up with them and watching them play with Wilder.

Last night, instead of going to Starkville for the MS State game as we had originally planned, Paul and I and my brother and sister-in-law went out to eat at a restaurant that was showing the game while my cousin Maddie stayed at my parents' house with Wilder (Thank you, Maddie!). It was nice to get out of the house for a while and try to get our minds off things as much as possible. It wasn't a pretty game but we pulled off a win so that was OK with us. Plus, we just had a good time getting to hang out with William and Lauren, which we haven't been able to do in so long.

Wilder sported his MS State shirt

that my parents had

gotten him on their last trip

to Starkville in August

Wilder has been having such a good time exploring my parents' house all week. He is a total fool for their cat and chases her all over the place. Whenever he sees her he gets so excited and tries to meow at her, but it sounds more like a scream/squeal and it scares the crap out of her. 

"Meowing" at Evey

He's also been having fun playing with the different toys and non-toys they have...

Wilder has also learned a couple of new things this week. Last week, it was the questioning hand raise/shrug. This week it's pointing at everything and anything. And occasionally he'll combine the point and the hand raise as if to say "That right there. What is that?" It is so cute and has been providing much-needed comic relief all week.

He's also learned to climb the stairs. Oh joy. That's not something I was really eager for him to learn but he was determined and has finally gotten the hang of it (under direct supervision only, of course).

Here are a few more cute pictures from this week...

 Sitting in the rocking chair that

I had as a baby

 Checking out Uncle William's cool work boots

 Too busy for lunch

I just want to say thank you to everyone who has contacted me to say they are thinking about and praying for my family. We have felt so loved and cared for in the midst of this sad and dark time in our lives and all your sweet messages and comments mean so much to us. We would so appreciate it if you would continue to pray for comfort for my dad and for us.