A Baby's First Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Well, ya comin'?

Where to?
To the North Pole, of course! This is the Polar Express!



Choo-choo!




The thing about trains...it doesn't matter where they're going. What matters is deciding to get on.




Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see.

Tide Fan, Grizz Man

This weekend our friends Jody and Emmy came to visit us with their baby boy that is just 10 days younger than Asher. They recently moved back from Missoula, Montana to Tuscaloosa! Originally Crimson Tide fans they also developed a liking for the Grizzlies from The University of Montana while living in Missoula.




Friday night, the Grizzlies matched up against the Villanova Wildcats right here in Chattanooga! Naturally, our friends had to drive up to see us and take us to the game. We had a great time with our friends from Tuscaloosa who, oddly enough we actually met in Rexburg. We are so happy that they have returned to The South and hope to spend more time with them in the near future.

Big Al

Check out my husband's recent art project. I didn't know he could be so creative with nail polish. haha.




Roll Tide!

Just Eat It, Eat It

The following videos are for anyone looking for an Asher fix, specifically some old people in Huntsville. JK! We love ya'll!!

Oatmeal Part 1 from Kimberly Cone on Vimeo.

Oatmeal Part 2 from Kimberly Cone on Vimeo.

Season's Greetings

We are in the midst of my favorite time of year!

I love Fall for so many reasons. Alabama Football, Halloween costumes and candy corn, Scorpio birthdays, my sister's dining table center pieces, corn bread dressing, Blue Bell Peppermint Ice Cream and preparations for Santa!

This year we have so much to be grateful for. Austin graduated from The University of Alabama with an MBA and started a job as an Auditor for Decosimo in Chattanooga, TN.

Rocky has really filled out. We were worried that he might be a skinny kid forever but he is a full sized Boxer now.

I bid farewell to my full time job in Birmingham and am enjoying being a mom to our newest addition Asher Dean. He is the most beautiful baby and so photogenic (evidenced by this blog). Everything is brand new to our baby and it reminds us to stop and be thankful as well. Being parents is even more difficult than we could have ever imagined but it is an experience that is well worth the struggle.

Our little family is full of so much love. We are grateful to all our friends and family for supporting us on our journey. Happy holidays and Roll Tide!

A Birthday Card

Speaks for itself. :-)

Reminiscing August 2003

I recently overheard some of Kendall's friends discussing their future plans for college. Topics ranged from applications to housing plans. It was all I could do to not jump right in and tell them everything I know about college. But I held my tongue and simply said that college is awesome!

BYU-Idaho was the best. I made so many memories there and I learned not just about secular truth but also about who I am and what I was meant to do.

Yesterday, while at my mom's house I was going through some old photos and came across pics from my college days. Below is a scanned photo from the very first day that I moved into my Freshman dorm in Chapman Hall. While there, I made some wonderful friends. These are just two of them.



This was just before digital cameras became the norm. I used several disposable cameras that year and had the film developed at Walmart. It's funny to think that I am old enough to say that.

Today, all three of us are moms living in opposite corners of the country. It's funny to think that at that moment in time none of us knew our husbands nor our babies.

I had so many silly worries back then and as I was looking through photos I thought, "If only I knew then what I know now." Hilarious! But I find that every life stage has been that way. It is a learning process. A lesson to be discovered on your own. And that's why, with Kendall's friends, I held my tongue.

Puka Monster and Rockstar

Austin and Asher were playing with Rocky and I just had to capture Asher's squeals of delight. I know the lighting is not the best but I knew the moment would only last so long.

Gonna Get You from Kimberly Cone on Vimeo.

Mmm. Tastes like grass.

But he seems to like them. Ladies and Gentlemen I give you Asher and his green beans. Yum.

Day at Bridgestreet

Every time we are in Huntsville we have to visit Bridgestreet (an awesome outdoor mall). This last time we ate excellent sushi from the Japanese restaurant there. Soo good!

And of course, Gigi took some shots of our cute little one.

A Boy and His Dog

While rolling and exploring on the floor, Asher found his way to Rocky.



How cute! They're cuddling.



When we were deciding whether or not to get Rocky I researched Boxers and found that they are good and patient with children. Since having Asher this has shown to be very true.

Asher loves his dog! Lately he has learned to pull at his ears, paws and nubby tail. Rocky will simply move a little but seems to enjoy the baby just as much as we do.

Just Because Gifts

My Aunt Tracy recently sent me a goodie package filled with all sorts of fun stuff from Ulta. This foot cream is one of those items. I love what is written on the tube.



I hope I am truly rich because I certainly don't have much money. ;-)


Austin took a business trip to Arizona and bought me these lovely black and turquoise earrings.




He also gave me this awesome notepad to go with them. He knows me so well. I love these colors!

Boo-tanical Gardens

Love my lil Dragon!

For the family is of God

After church the three of us spent an hour just lying in bed laughing and cuddling. It was a great moment that I wish to simply document here so I can remember the peace and joy I felt. I love my boys!

Hello Tucson!!

Asher would like to give a shout out to his family in Tucson, AZ!



Hi Great Grandma, Great Grandpa and Great Uncle Kenny!



Wish we could be there but you will have to settle for Austin. :-)

Hello Tucson! from Kimberly Cone on Vimeo.

And now for some throw backs.....



Notice the family resemblance? These are all Brendan.



Is that little Ken in the background?



Have a great time going out to eat!

Baby Back Ribs

"There is no relationship quite like that which can and should exist between a boy and his dad." -Elder M. Russell Ballard

Asher Laughs at Daddy from Kimberly Cone on Vimeo.

Baking Day

Here is my masterpiece! It is a lemon monkey bread. mmmm.

Spoiled

Gigi loves to buy Asher toys. Here is the latest. A fancy exersaucer from Fisher Price. He loves it!

Exersaucer from Kimberly Cone on Vimeo.

Welcome October

Ooooo. I love this month. Temperatures cool off, the leaves turn beautiful colors and best of all it's Halloween!! One of my favorite holidays. My dad's birthday is on Halloween and I always looked forward to the big package from my grandma that held the handmade costumes for my brother and me. Usually I was a princess. One year I was Sleeping Beauty and my grandma made me both a pink dress and a blue one because in the Disney version the fairies fight over the color of her dress. A few years later I was a genie. My neighbor did my hair all fancy and I wore glitter on my face. Back then, Halloween was better than Prom!