Moore Lovin': February 2011

February actually began a little on the chilly side, for Texas. The first Friday of the month, we got snow! It wasn’t much more than a slight powdering, but it was enough to shut down the entire town of College Station. I was excited to finally see snow; I miss it so much! And Devin’s work was cancelled, so we had a fun day. We finished our classic book for the year (our tradition is to start a classic on January 1^st and not watch movies until we’ve finished it), Robinson Crusoe. Devin built a snowman for Becca (see pictures below), and we watched two movies. The best part of the whole day though, came later that night. Becca smiled her first real smile! Her first was for me, and then I quickly called Devin over and she smiled for him too. I can’t even tell you how so very happy it made me to get a real Becca smile. It filled me with more love for her.

This was the only time it was cold enough to use this gift

So toasty warm, she fell asleep as soon as we put her in

I never knew anyone who was afraid of snowmen

Here’s her 4 week Friday video, also taken with Mr. Snowman:

Random Becca pictures from the beginning of the month:

Bundled up for a warm nap

Good, good, good - good vibrations

Devin likes to make up songs on the spot for Becca; this scene inspired "You Look So Tiny in that Chair", a favorite of ours

Here's lookin' at you, kid

Oh no, that's a look of distress

Cuddle time with Daddy

~~Helping Dad with~~ Distracting Dad from his homework

A coy wave

Modeling cuteness

Becca’s 5 week old Friday video exhibits her new-found talent of smiling:

Our Valentine’s/Devin’s birthday celebrations were planned by me this year, and I tried to make up for the new baby/no babysitter-low budget situation by stretching the fun from Friday through Monday. I made a lot of meals that involved hearts, knowing that Devin loves food and really enjoys out of the ordinary meals and artsy presentation of food. I took him to a restaurant he’d been wanting to try out (and we almost never eat out anymore), and we went to see Gnomeo and Juliet (which was also Becca’s first movie theater experience – she was pretty good). Devin presented me with a beautiful bouquet of roses that filled the whole house with their lovely smell and lasted almost 2 weeks!

Heart toast and strawberry smoothies

A most heart-felt dinner

"And they call it Bella Notte"

Love-ly breakfast

Homemade heart-shaped pizzas

Beeeeyootiful

One of my best friends, Sarah Herrington, came to visit all the way from Minnesota. She brought her fiancé, Tom Cottle, so we could meet him. We approved of him, and had a great time just sitting around and talking.

Becca mummified in Sarah's papoose gift

Telling stories of the glory days

Thanks for coming, Sarah!

Devin is such a great dad – he loves to tote Becca around and involve her in whatever he is doing; here he was teaching her all about fixing a flat tire on a bike.

So intent, he wouldn't stop to pose for a picture

Maybe if she was facing out, she would learn more

We thought this video of Becca on her 6thweek old Friday was so hilarious; I caught what sounded like her saying “hi” – listen real closely:

Random pictures from the middle of February:

Chillin'

Making faces at Mom

Ha! I think she looks like a turtle when she does this

Normal no-neck look

She really chunked up visibly from one week to the next - here's a milky smile for you

This bow's so big, it makes her head looks little. No small feat.

On the weekend of the 19^th and 20^th, we headed down to Sugar Land. We stopped by the Houston temple on the way:

Not Becca's best glamour shot. The temple is pretty.

…and then we spent the rest of the time with Devin’s family and celebrated all the February birthdays in the Moore family. Alaire sent a muumuu for Mom, and Devin modeled it for us all. Plus another shirt from his high school days.

My husband even looks hot in a muumuu

But even better in a tux

The highlight of the month was when my mom and dad came out to meet Becca. Mom was here for a week, and Dad joined for the weekend. I had been really looking forward to them coming and getting to know Becca. We scheduled her baby blessing for while they were here, but other than that, we didn’t do too much in the way of exciting – mostly just relaxed and enjoyed each other. And pretty much forgot to take pictures (except for the day of the baby blessing). We did take her 7 week old Friday video with Grandpa and Grandma Stratton though:

Bathtime with Grandma

So I'm naked. So what?

"I love to see the temple, I'll go inside someday"

Devin blessed Becca – she was very good, and he was very thoughtful in the words he used. I am so grateful to have him in my life and for the way he uses the priesthood righteously.