Dedication

This weekend we had a baby dedication with our church, but it was so nice to be able to have our families there including the grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. If you're not sure what a baby dedication is, it's basically for the parents to publicly say we will raise our children to love the Lord and those witnessing should hold us accountable. We read some scripture and said a prayer for the children.

Gavin got an increased sense of confidence in his walking capability this past week, so he was showing Granddaddy how he struts his stuff.

Here's a little family photo after the baby dedication.
And a much larger family photo.
Psalms 78:1-7 "O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in parables,I will utter hidden things, things from of old- 3 what we have heard and known,what our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, His power, and the wonders He has done. 5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which He commanded our forefathers to teach their children, 6 so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. 7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget His deeds but would keep His commands."

And the Winner Is...

In the ring: It's the Doctors vs. The Moores

Round One: Dentists vs. D. and A.
The round goes to D. and A. for having no cavities. The only penalty is limited flossing.

Round Two: Pediatrician vs. Gavin
And this round goes to the pediatrician. Gavin gave it a valiant fight, but ended up getting three shots. He's still a champ for mustering a smile after it all.

Gavin's stats: 19 pounds 2 ounces (5% percentile)
30 1/4 inches long (25% percentile)
75% percentile for head circumference

Special mention goes to D. for also getting a flu shot and sporting matching Snoopy band aids with his son. Here they are with their war wounds.

While waiting on the doctor, Mr. Man chowed down on Puffs.

And more Puffs. Daddy even got Gavin a special monster prize for being so brave.

PJ Day

After the busy week we had and the fact we all woke up with a major allergy attack, this Moore household decided to declare today PJ Day. That's Pajama Day, not Pirate Jabbering Day like so many millions of people think today is. Although we did have a little bit of pirate talk going on.

In honor of PJ Day, we stayed in our pajamas all day. That's right, we even fed the horses, got the mail and went for a ride in the mule in our pajamas. We desperately needed this day.
Oh, and one of us went for a joy ride in a police car.
We're just glad the cop didn't make us walk the plank. Arrr!

So I admit, it was actually Talk Like a Pirate Day, which we tried to explain to Gavin. However, he wouldn't humor us by wearing his pirate hat, but instead chose the classier Amish Boy hat.

And since we already mixed things up a bit by wearing our pajamas all day, we decided to have breakfast for dinner. I made blueberry pancakes. If anyone knows the trick to getting pancakes evenly brown on both sides, please let me know. Gavin and his toes will thank you.

Oh The Places You Will Go

Gavin has this fascination with the buttons on my cellphone. Actually, it's buttons on anything electronic.
Yesterday, he turned on the television and managed to change the channel to a foreign station. I didn't mind because it might help him in the long run to be bilingual. I just didn't like the volume being at shrieking level.

The other scary button he started messing with is the back door lock. I can't believe he's tall enough to reach it much less try to unlock it. I'm extremely glad the door sticks.

As he turns fifteen months old today, I was thinking that at this time his development is more educational and social, less physical. Although this week we did find out he reached the 20 pound mark. He's also taken up to 12 steps by himself, but just doesn't want to let loose and walk completely on his own.

His awareness of his surroundings and meanings of words is what has astonished me the most. He can point to the light or birds when asked where they are. He will wipe his face with his bib after eating. Gavin also waves to people and almost all animals especially Sweetie the horse and Ms. Kitty. He gives us kisses when we ask and starts dancing and clapping when he hears music. Plus he puts the cellphone, his play phone or the real phone up to his ear likes he's talking on it.

Although he's fifteen months old, I can't bring myself to cut his hair just yet. I'm not sure where he gets the curls from, but I want to keep them around a little while longer.
At this age, he's always on the go, mostly it's by means of the long or obstacle course route.This about as relaxed as he gets and we're trying to absorb every moment.

Mommy and Gavin Day

Maybe I should say it was Mommy and Frank Sinatra day.
Little man hasn't been feeling the best lately. With a cold (that the doctor said there's nothing we can do about except let it run its course) and two top molars coming in, someone needed another day of extra TLC. Me Me provided the lovin' yesterday.

We haven't done much except play, read books and a little laundry. Actually - animals were fed, plants planted, sheets changed and so on, but all of that happened during nap time.
I think there are days when we all need some extra TLC. And even though today was meant for Gavin, it was nice to be the recipient of this smile all day.

Little Piggies

Remember the nursery rhyme of This Little Piggie? Well, if you don't, here's a little refresher:
This little piggie went to market;
This little piggie stayed home;
This little piggie had roast beef (or beast if D. says it);
This little piggie had none;
And this little piggie went "wee, wee, wee" all the way home.

Well, the little piggies at our house are having roast beef, beans, cheerios, oranges- you name it. Suddenly Gavin seems to think that his poor little piggies are going hungry and he needs to feed them. We hear all of the time that he's so much like both of us, but I think this is a Gavin original.

Illuminating

I think we have a genius on our hands. When we ask Gavin where the light is, he points up to the lit ceiling fan. Aw, it just makes a parent proud. But for all I know, other kids his age may have been doing this for months. Or, maybe they aren't expected to do this till they're two. I don't know. I haven't been keeping up with my weekly toddler updates.

I just know that it's exciting to see Gavin learn something new, something as simple as pointing to the light. It's not exactly something I feel like I have been doing much of lately. I know we're called to be lights of the world, a city on the hill, but right now my light feels a little dim, a flicker if you may. Life catches up and poof, what once was a blaze is now barely smoldering. There's such a simple solution except I can't get it through this crazy head of mine to re-prioritize and seize those quiet moments with God.

Fire needs oxygen; God breathes life; I need the breathe of God in my life to be a light. Simple right? Let' just say I need to get a fire lit under me.

Play Ball

We had these glorious plans to attend several Astros games this summer, but those plans were short-lived when D. had to spend most of the summer in Florida. Still determined to participate in America's favorite past time, we headed out to the ballpark with our friends Pris and Kris.

Pris and I have known each other for.... let's just say probably before we can even remember. Long story short, we didn't see each other for many years, were college roommates and it was like we were never apart. Kris, well Kris is just lots and lots of fun and we're glad that he's permanently wherever Pris is. And Gavin just so happens to be one of his favorite kiddos so that makes him extra special.




Daddy and Gavin needed some quiet time otherwise known as it was Gavin's nap time and we didn't want to run off the other fans.

The seats weren't that great, but the company was the best. Plus, the Astros won!

Laboring

After almost a month of being away from our home in another state this summer, coming to said home and packing, then moving, starting school and trying to unpack in the midst, I was so ready for Labor Day. It's amazing how just one little extra day off can make a world of difference. While we spend most weekends trying to catch up, this one day gave us time to sprinkle in some fun activities. Plus, we're all unpacked and organized sans one bathroom and the garage of course.

So to celebrate all of our laboring, we played and ate, and played some more. I don't have any pictures of us swimming or eating, basically because I was too busy doing both.

Gavin got to see his cousins who have both grown so much in the past couple of months. But if you look at this picture, you may notice something missing. It's Gavin's smile. See, he's a little used to being in the driver's seat. Not that he doesn't mind sharing a mule ride with Logan, but being eight months older, he thinks it's probably best he drive.

Now, that's better.

Mr. Man also got to drive the jeep on his own.
And he and Daddy watched the pinata fun.
Then G and Granddaddy tried it out.
In all, it was a very enjoyable and labor-free day.

Sweet and Delicious

My kindergarten kiddos are a sweet bunch this year. That's not to say the past couple of year's kids haven't been sweet, but these are exceptionally so. They must like me a little bit too because today I received my first apple. Call it cheesy, but it was pretty swell getting an apple as a teacher. And here's the proof.

Since hearing they are now in season, I'm on a little bit of an apple kick. Due to some inspiration and not knowing where to put this vase, I dished up this yummy creation.

And who else likes apples besides teachers? This guy (horse) right here. For the first time in the nearly ten years I have known D. I got to ride one of Me Me's horses this weekend. What better name for the sweetest horse than Sweetie. She's so kind and gentle. We all got to take her for a spin. Ranch life may be rubbing off on us.



I'm going to be taking a little hiatus, at least through the weekend. Some of you might be thinking I already took a hiatus, but this one is intentional. The main reason is time. I need to cut back on some things. My blog wouldn't necessarily be on the top of my list because I need this little bit of a creative outlet, but it also shouldn't be anywhere close to the top of my priorities. Have a great Labor Day weekend.