Nickerson News

I know you all have at least one good story to share. Mine happened last week. It actually could have been a lot worse so I am thankful that it actually had a happy ending.

Abel and I took our weekly trip to the grocery store. This particular store (ALDI-also known as the cheap grocery store) only takes cash or debit card. Never been a problem. Abel’s nap time was drawing near so he was on the verge of losing it as we were checking out. I thought to myself, “only a few more minutes and we will be out of here!” I swipe my debit card, again and again and the machine kept saying DENIED! I thought it was because Abel kept touching the buttons. Finally, after 3 times the cashier said I should call the number on the back of the card. They moved me off to the side and Abel is so done with all this so I give him an avocado and hope it will keep him entertained while I try to solve my little problem. After waiting what felt like hours for an actually human being to answer the phone she tells me my debit card has expired the DAY BEFORE! Supposedly, they sent the new one out, but I never got it. She hears Abel screaming in the background and I can tell in her voice she truly feels bad for me. She tells me to go to the nearest ATM. Their wasn’t a nearest ATM and even if there was I haven’t used an ATM since college. I couldn’t tell you my pin number if my life depended on it. By this time, Abel is now on the floor of the grocery store throwing the most awful temper tantrum and I suddenly am THAT MOM with THE KID that can’t control her child. Thankfully, family is close by and my sister Kate swung by and gave me some sweet cash. Thank GOD for family! Well, that is my grocery store horror story and I’m sure it won’t be the last. Anyone got a good one to share?

IN ABEL NEWS: Abel took about 5 steps ALL on his own today. The first time he did it I, of course, screamed with SHEER delight so he then kept wanting to do it. I couldn’t believe it! So, the clock is ticking and it is only a matter of a few days/weeks till he is doing it all my himself. It is definitely a bittersweet moment. It is so exciting to see your little guy walk all by himself, but then so sad that my little baby is well…not such a baby any longer. Why do they have to grow up so fast???

And finally the last round of my Mass pictures.

Meet Kingston-Abel’s third cousin. (Seth’s cousin’s son)

Abel hanging with his 3rd cousins (Kingston and Bryana). If you added up all his cousins (1st, 2nd and 3rd….well, it is just way too many but so fun!)

I love these ones. Abel looked so cute looking out the loft window in his PJs. It was a cold, rainy day and just happened to be good lighting (and of course a little editing always helps).

Stealing Grandpa’s pen.

Unwanted house guest

It was one of those lazy Sundays (or so I thought) and Abel was taking his nap so I thought…”ya know, I could use a nap”. I curled up in my bed really looking forward to this much needed nap, but as soon as I shut my eyes I started to hear faint scratching above my head. A few days ago, a critter decided to make his home in our attic. This isn’t the first time and we have known that we REALLY need to replace our broken attic fan that is causing creatures to take up residence in our attic. They seem to make their way out after a few days and then we just forget about it. We were just about to hire someone to replace it a few weeks ago, but we thought the price was too high and we just figured Seth and a neighbor could install it for free. Well, a little too late….now we have a raccoon in our attic. We haven’t seen it, but I was outside the other day and one of my neighbors said, “Hey Julie, I just thought you should know I have been seeing a raccoon climbing up and down your tree.” Wow! Thanks neighbor! And it totally hit me that the creature who is keeping us up at night is a RACCOON!!! We fear babies raccoons are coming if they haven’t already. I called animal control and they charge a SINFUL amount of $400 to come out and catch the animal. EXCUSE ME! I almost dropped the phone when I heard that number. No thank you! Seth would rather “take care” of it then actually pay that kind of money. Anyone interested in a raccoon? Needless to say, mama juju didn’t get a nap!

In other news: May is Cystic Fibrosis month. A few months ago, I really didn’t know exactly what Cystic Fibrosis was until I started following Nathan Lawerson’s blog. (I wrote about them a few months ago). If you haven’t checked out his site, do so. You will be inspired.

Abel is 11 months today! Do I really only have ONE more month of the so called “baby stage”? He is trying to talk more and more and he knows how to sign book, milk, eat, and more. He can stand by himself for about 10 seconds at a time and can take about 2-3 steps on his own.

Enjoy some more pictures from our Mass. trip.

His Grandpa Nickerson has lots of “grown up” toys. Abel wasn’t so sure about this one….

But he did seem to like this one. I told Grandpa maybe in a few years he can take him out on the water.Grandpa already picked up a life vest for him. If you can't figure out what this is...it is a huge boat parked in the grass.

Picking apart a flower.

He could spend hours in the grass….

Signing the word book for Grandma Nickerson.

He would sneak food to Cada. Cada soon realized where the goods were and she followed Abel all week.

Mass. Trip Part 1

I took a ZILLION photos while we were in Mass. I couldn’t help myself. Abel looked so cute playing in his grandparent’s huge yard. He is obsessed with being outside. He loves the outdoors so much that when we came inside yesterday from playing outside he threw a temper tantrum. I don’t know if I have posted this on the blog yet, but about a month ago he started throwing temper tantrums. Is this early? Anyone else have stories of when their little one started these nasty gestures? Must start reading those discipline books….

Enjoy our adorable outdoor baby!