Heather Rae El Moussa cuddles son Tristan, one, and says ‘it’s still love month’… after responding to backlash for leaving stepdaughter out of Valentine’s post

Heather Rae El Moussa is still celebrating ‘love month’, despite the recent criticism she received over leaving her stepdaughter out of her Valentine’s Day post. 

The reality TV star, 36, took to Instagram on Monday to share adorable new snaps of her one-year-old son Tristan, whom she shares with husband Tarek El Moussa, 42.

‘Last we checked it’s still love month + we’re definitely feeling it over here,’ she wrote in the caption. 

‘Nothing better than being in the mountains for a rainy long weekend all cuddled up — Busy busy week ahead but we’ll be in our cozy clothes until further notice,’ she added.

In the two photos she was seen holding Tristan in her arms, while sporting tight pink leggings and a white top.   

Heather Rae El Moussa, 36, took to Instagram on Monday to share cute snaps of her one-year-old son Tristan and declared that it’s still ‘love month’ amid her recent Valentine’s controversy

Her blonde tresses were slicked into a bun, and she completed her outfit with a pair of cozy white slippers.

Even though she opted for a casual outfit, Heather still looked picture-perfect in the glam department, wearing bronze eyeshadow, big lashes and nude lipstick.

Meanwhile Tristan rocked a cute plaid onesie.

‘My loves,’ Tarek commented on the post.

Selling Sunset’s Chrishell Stause wrote, ‘Cozy cuties!!!’

‘Cutest mama!!!’ another follower added.

It comes after Heather responded to the backlash she faced after she did not include her stepdaughter, Tarek’s daughter Taylor, 13, in her Valentine’s Day post. 

On Saturday, she uploaded a cute photo of Taylor bonding with her baby stepbrother onto her Instagram stories.

Three days prior she shared a photo of herself posing with her stepdaughter.

She also shared a video of her and her husband supporting the teen at one of her volleyball games and wrote: ‘Go Tay!!! My forever Galentine.’

‘Last we checked it’s still love month + we’re definitely feeling it over here,’ she wrote. In the two photos she was seen holding Tristan, whom she shares with husband Tarek El Moussa, 42

On Saturday she uploaded a cute photo of her stepdaughter, Taylor, 13, bonding with her stepbrother onto her Instagram stories 

It comes after Heather responded to the backlash she faced after she did not include her stepdaughter in her Valentine’s Day post on Wednesday 

She shared a video of her and her husband supporting the teen at one of her volleyball games and wrote: ‘Go Tay!!! My forever Galentine’

Over a photo of Heather and Taylor hugging, she seemingly addressed the backlash and wrote: ‘We close our ears to the pettiness.’

The model — who celebrated her and Tarek’s son Tristan’s first birthday at Disneyland earlier this month — added, ‘We strive for positivity only. My girl knows she’s my #1 gal.’

The day before, the Selling Sunset vet shared a Valentine’s Day post dedicated to her husband Tarek, their son Tristan as well as Tarek’s eight-year-old son Brayden.

She posted a series of throwback photos and wrote a lengthy caption dedicated to ‘my boys’.

‘Happy Valentine’s Day to my boys T, T & B,’ she began. ‘I have never felt so much love in my life.

‘All three keep me on my toes but I wouldn’t want it any other way,’ she continued.

Then, she tagged Tarek and wrote: ‘I am so thankful to have you as my husband, my best friend and my partner.’

She gushed: ‘You are my person, and the best daddy I could’ve ever asked for.

‘I love you very much honey and I love you Tristan and Bray.’ Many Instagram users took to her comments section to point out that she did not include Taylor, who Tarek shares with ex Christina Hall.

One person wrote: ‘Where’s your wish for Taylor?!’

The day before, the Selling Sunset vet shared a Valentine’s Day post dedicated to her husband Tarek, their son Tristan as well as Tarek’s eight-year-old son Brayden

Tarek shares Taylor and Brayden with ex-wife Christina Hall, 40, from whom he divorced in 2018

Many Instagram users took to her comments section to point out that she did not include Taylor

Several comments were from users asking Heather why the post was only dedicated to her husband and sons

One user wrote that it was ‘not right’ to not include Taylor

‘I love seeing these family posts,’ another commented. ‘But question why Taylor is missing. She could at least be mentioned. Really hope all is ok.’

‘You can wish a girl happy Valentine’s too. Sad to just say the male kids,’ one user wrote.

‘I cannot believe you chose to alienate Taylor on Valentine’s Day,’ another said. ‘That is SAD.’

Others came to Heather’s defense and said she did not have bad intentions.

‘Come on everyone, Taylor obviously wasn’t with them,’ one comment read. ‘Heather would never intentionally leave her out, she wasn’t there, and so she didn’t mention her. Heather is a great stepmom.’

Heather also previously told Today.com about how Taylor has a say in what photos of her are shared on social media.

Back in June 2023, she told the outlet: She’s a teenager now and she’ll be like, “I don’t love my hair in that picture” [or] “please don’t post that one”.’