Rory is 13 Months Old!

My sweet Rory is 13 months old. I know most Mama’s just do the monthly updates for the first year but I feel like there is so much change in the first two years that I want to document as much as possible. And this last month has been quite a crazy month for Rory and the rest of the family.

Rory is still rocking it as a nursling. He was hesitant about starting solids at the beginning but starting to pick up the pace after a week or two. Well then the eczema hit and we scaled back solids and mostly nursed until it cleared up. And now he is back to loving solids, though we are introducing them slowly and still loves to nurse and does this about 6 times a day for nutrition and probably an equal amount of times for comfort. This little guy just loves to be close to his mama. Nursing Rory as a “toddler” (though to me he still seems like a baby at just 13 months) is full of action and character. There is a lot of hair/face grabbing. He isn’t trying to hurt me but I have to admit, it does not feel great so I have started to wear my hair up as much as possible. Rory has become an extremely active nursling, especially when he is nursing for comfort/closeness. Still, I love nursing my babies and I am excited to be a month into the second year of my nursing journey with the twins and no where near stopping.  As far as solids go, Rory is the neatest 13 month old eater I have ever seen. And although I use a bib every time, he really does not need it. I find very little of his solids anywhere but in his mouth. I was shocked to discover Rory is the neater eater of the twins (by A LONG SHOT!). He loves carbs and meat though as I said we are slowing introducing foods some of his favorites so far is gluten free pasta, chicken, beef, diced potatoes,  organic gluten free happy baby puffs and they teething wafers by the brand Plum. He would eat a whole box of those if I let him. And though I prefer to limit the processed food for my kiddos in favor of homemade and whole foods, I am grateful to have these easy go to options while we are continuing to expand Rory’s dietary choices. We are doing babyled weaning with both babies, meaning they eat what we eat (though with Rory this is adjusted a bit) and as of now, they will wean when THEY are ready. If we are led to change that at some point I am open to that but right now I am just enjoying this journey of food and nursing together. Toddler nursing is new territory to me as Elijah weaned at 11 1/2 months (though he continued to get my previously pumped milk until 16 months).

As of this morning, Rory is tipping the scales at 17 pounds 2 ounces having gained back the pound he lost the week before last when he had the stomach flu. Still a little guy (though not as little is his twin) he is healthy, cheerful, vibrant and active so we are not in the least concerned about size. Rory still likes to walk next to me holding one hand and will take a couple of steps on his own. He loves to play with his big brother and when Elijah is near, Rory is all smiles. Elijah notices too and declared “Rory likes me!”.

Rory has FINALLY started sleeping through the night! Praise God! Hallelujah! He will occasionally wake up and “chat with attitude” but then goes right back to sleep if I stay very still (as I still sleep in the nursery) and quiet. He will sleep about 11-12 hours. Napping is still a challenge and there are days when I try and try but he just won’t settle to sleep and there are days when something just clicks and he takes two perfect 90 minute naps. I have read all the gentle parenting sleep books, looked at the articles and even let him fuss a bit but there seems to be no rhyme or reason to a successful nap day versus a less successful nap day. One thing I know for sure is that this time with him so little is such a short season and while some days are exhausting, no nap means I get more time with  my Rory and I especially enjoy getting that precious one on one time with him on the days when napping is not in the cards. I strive to give each of my children as much one on one time as possible and so I make the most of this precious time with my boy.

He is such a joy, a true delight, to be around. He still has the BIG EMOTIONS that we identified when he was a wee baby but with those big emotions comes big smiles, big laughs, big hugs and big joy. He loves his baths and splashing around in the water with his brothers is one of his favorite things to do and surefire way to make him smile on harder days. I can’t wait to find the perfect baby pool for our boys to splash in this summer! I know Rory will be a happy boy as long as he is in the water.

A true product of attachment parenting, Rory continues to LOVE to be worn though lately when he go to the store, he seems to like it best riding beside his big brother in the cart. He is still quite happy riding on my back as I cook dinner, go on family walks or just go about my daily duties around the home. And I love having him with me. His smile and laughter and general silliness fills my day with sunshine. He is so precious and so loving and lovable. God definitely knew what he was doing when he placed this boy in our family.

Love this sweet handsome face!

Yup, Rory is definitely a Parish baby.

Pure JOY

Expect my 13 month old to sit still? No way! Here he comes!

“Mama you are so funny!”

THAT is an ELIJAH face!

Sweet boy!

“CHEEEEESE”

There he goes! On the move!

My Elijah wanted to jump in for some brotherly shots. Rory was not cooperating.

Love their relationship

“Mama look at me! I have teeth!!!!”

<3

I attempted to get one of the three of them but……..well……it was not in the cards today.