Andrew James Vickery

Andrew James Vickery

The Memories


This was one little baby boy who refused to get in any kind of a hurry, or did he just want to give mom and dad one big tax deduction by entering this world on
December 31, 1985.

So a few days later this little bundle of joy was taken home. As you can tell from the picture, Daddy Rick is a big time "Chicago Bears Fan".. But does little "A.J." care - nope - not a bit. He just snuggled down into his Bears Jacket, wearing his Bears hat and slept the day away. Looking closely at dad you might notice he's a bit ragged around the edges. Some might think Dad had been out celebrating a little bit too much, but the truth to tell is little A.J. celebrated his homecoming by staying up all night. Dad really didn't complain all that much - he just spent the night in awe and wonder.. at this little man.

Well a little time has passed now - its been a few months and A.J. has gotten used to his surroundings.. he's just about got his parents trained and he's all smiles and mischief. He had just about met everyone in his tight little family and was pretty sure he would be getting along really well with all of them.

Right about now Mom and Pop thought he ought to have a portrait done and this is the result. Actually this smiling face was pretty typical of A.J.'s world. After those first few days of not knowing night from day he settled down into sleeping when he should and mom and dad had decided that they might just keep him.

A.J. never seemed to lack for attention - his grandparents were around a lot, his aunts were around a lot - his mom and dad were around all the time. He even had a big black dog named Roach to keep him company.

                     

A.J. is now walking, talking and "smoking". You can't really see it good, but he found one of grandpas cigarettes in the back of the truck and thought "why not", I'll give it a try. I guess we should be happy that it wasn't lit. A little later, the same day he decided he was big enough to walk in grandpas boots.. Only problem was he couldn't pick up his feet. I laughed till I cried and then he got mad because he couldn't find a way to get out of them!


It wasn't uncommon for Rick and family to go out hiking, camping, walking through the wood. Daddy Rick, being the good photographer that he is, caught this magic moment. Grandma has always been especially fond of this particular picture.

It has always reminded me of what "pure innocence" really is. Its a wonderful little boy. He appears to be just a little bit frightened at this moment- as if he's caught in time somehow and can't seem to move. This image of my first grandchild is framed and on my wall, where it will stay forever. No matter how old you get A.J., this is the little boy that will forever live in my heart.

So what photo album would be complete without the wide eyed excitement of Christmas. A.J. knows who Santa Claus is this year, he's all excited about the expectation of presents to open. He wants every toy he sees and bubbles over with each new day.

Those in the Vickery family will recognize a special "characteristic" of A.J. in this picture. He is standing exactly like his namesake, great-grandpa Vickery, always stood. With his hands in his pockets. A.J. was almost 4 years old when Great grandpa Vickery died, but he was awfully proud of his little namesake.

The back of this photo reads "1997". You are about 12 years old, and at the time, I wondered where all the years had gone to.

Because we lived so many miles apart during these critical growing up years, grandpa and I missed all of your everyday life.

There is so much we didn't see and each time we did see you, you were always somebody new we had to get used to. We could only see that you were older, taller and growing up so fast. We watched you grow up in pictures, at Christmas Time and a few times during the year. We missed so much!

Your life has flown by so quickly. Its so hard to accept the fact that you are a man now and have been for quite some time.

Just know that you will always have our love - and we are both so very proud of you!