Kissy, kissy!?

I've had Pippin about a week. When we first got him home, for two days we barely heard peeps: however, when something really made him happy he emitted a jolly caique growl that we love so much! It just warms your heart so much to know you've made him so happy with his favorite treat.

Then started the morning flocking call: sharp double caws. Now we have the afternoon calls, and the "I'm bored" calls. These are all about the same.

This AM, he did a new thing. Both his first mom (breeder Tammy) and I have the habit of take him gently in our hands and hold him under our chins to calm him and kissing his little head with kissy/clucking sounds until he's reassured and wants to move. Guess what? Pippin is now making those kissy chuckly noises regularly. So cute! He does it responsively, too. I wonder if anyone else's birds do this? (Maybe it's a normal caique sound that we just didn't know of before?)

Does this mean he'll be a good mimic? I know caiques aren't famous for mimicry, but some really can do it well. Hmmm.

Baby Food

Last night, Nora came over to meet Pippin. Birdie was eating dinner. So, Nora wanted a snack. It turned into dinner for two. Below are two videos that captured the fun.






Enjoy!

Birdie Breakfast

So, Dr. Stahl (our vet) encouraged us to share meals with Pippin. Yesterday morning was his first birdie breakfast. Daddy had an array of toothsome delicacies for Pippin to choose some. His favorites were snow peas and grapes. (This vid is long: I'll forgive you if you don't watch the whole thing. ;-))



We are such doting parents. It's so fun to have a new baby in the house.

Safe home!

We went to the breeders', we scooped him up, we visited the vet (oi, the sticker shock of vet bills!) and we came home. Pippin was a prince at the vet, who pronounced him "very well socialized" and "looking in perfect health." Blood tests will tell all about health, but behaviorally he was as calm as could be, and he did no screaming while restrained. :) He was so laid back the whole time... great in the car, great at the vet, and, well, just GREAT!

My baby climbed into his new pewter palace, went up to the top on the boing, took a quick drink of water that I offered him, and went to sleep. I can't wait to introduce him to all my kids and Nora! Here's a quick video if you want to see his adorable baby self:



I'm grateful to God and to Scott for the loving gift of support and grace as I've walked through the process of acquiring Pippin. Happy me!

All set up...

The cage arrived!!! A day early, and so fun to set all the new pieces in place. Here's the nursery, all ready for the new baby who comes on Monday:

Four more days...

Concentrating on what you're supposed to be doing is really hard when you're waiting for a good thing, isn't it? I feel like a little kid awaiting Christmas morning... honest!

Today they called and said that the cage will come tomorrow. Wow! Makes it all seem so real. I NEED to finish a work deadline--Week 6--before I can play with the new cage. So, why am I blogging? Because it's REALLY hard to concentrate!

Lord, HELP! Please give me the grace to concentrate on the work set before me so that I can fully enjoy the gift set before me!

Amen.

Soon now... and very soon!

A week from yesterday, Pippin will be home!

I've ordered his new cage...it's on the truck! I went for my LAST visit today: the next time I see him I'll be there with carrier in hand to bring him home, by way of the vet. (Poor birdie.) Scott has agreed to go with and be the doody bad guy going into the vet examining room with the new baby.

I am looking forward to setting up the "nursery" this weekend. I have lots of new stuff to put into his cage... oh boy!

It's fun; it's so fun to have a new baby on the way. I love God and I love the hubby he gave me who is so supportive.

Here are a few things I bought today to prepare for Pippin's homecoming:

Perches:

Wood...


Cotton...


Cement (trims birdie nails!)



TOYS:
Birdie pail with foot toys... so CUTE! (click on image to see full sized)




FOODS!

Foraging system (I know... doesn't look like much, but Tammy says he'll love it):



Herb mix (big bag):


Just veggies (looks yummy):





These I've bought along the way as I visited Pippin over the last month:

Jolly ball:


Orbiter (bought on my birthday by my dad and kit while visiting Pippin):




And much more... getting new stuff is SO fun!

About cages...

Well, I thought and I thought and I got what I thought was the perfect cage for a small bird-to-be at a GREAT price. And so it was.



And then, as regular readers will know, my wonderful hubby said "I love you" with PVC.



However, the more I read on the caique forum the more I realized, this is the bare minimum cage for a busy caique. Sigh. I hate making mistakes.

But, God is SO kind. In His providence, he sent me on Craig's List a woman asking "does anyone have a playtop cage to sell?" End of the 15 emails back and forth, she's buying it for almost all I paid for it (including shipping) AND with paying for Scott's amazing playtop, I'm getting more than what I paid.

On the advice of my Caique Forum friends, and after prayer and the support of my husband, I'm getting a sweet deal on this new cage, in a lovely gray color:



This should be the only cage my baby ever needs. I love birds! Onc cage serves for 40 years... 'specially a cage like this!

The added blessing that I am SO grateful for is that my Sweetie, for our last date night, decided we'd prepare for the sale of the old cage and the arrival of the new one by taking down his desk. As we did, we looked for cage hardware. We couldn't find it... but the, lo, we found the dining room table hardware that we had been looking for for months since our move to this rental home. I immediately called my SIL, who was waiting for the hardware, and she had JUST missed ordering replacement hardware last night!

God is so good; I am excited. My baby is going to have a forever home, and we're bringing him home on the 20th, God willing!

Too funny! Dancing cockatoo

Can you tell I'm waiting patiently for Pippin to come home? Here's another winner from YouTube. Enjoy!

Dancing Bare-eyed Cockatoo to the tune of "Shake Your Feathers"