a bird house, once again!

Meet our new parakeets, Kiwi and Blueberry!

Our home has been birdless for almost 3 years. I've been missing having a pet and was considering getting some fish. Then, while we were visiting Dan's family after Christmas, I saw this news story. Long story short, a man contacted Detroit animal welfare to let them know he was bringing 60-80 parakeets from a breeding/hoarding situation that had gotten out of hand. Over the next 2 days, he dropped off 836 parakeets!

After two days of considering (and lightly wheedling Dan), I contacted a bird store that was caring for many of the parakeets and submitted an adoption application. The birds had to be monitored and given vet care before they were ready for adoption on January 23rd. I spent early January preparing all the necessary supplies: flight cage, travel cage, cage cover, cage lining, perches, seeds, food/water dishes, toys, and cleaning supplies.

Mom agreed to be my travel buddy for the drive to Michigan for adoption day. We drove up a day early and stayed overnight with Aunt Nancy and Uncle Pete. Saturday evening, we had a nice dinner with them, my cousin Ryan, and my Aunt Mary and Uncle Ray. I'm glad that the trip gave us an excuse to visit family I haven't seen in a while! Sunday morning, we went to church and then drove to the bird store. I had no idea what to expect, but the process was very smooth. The store was cute, organized, and very clean!

The employees were really helpful and knowledgeable. They showed me the cages of males (my preference to avoid any possible issues with egg-laying), and I spent a few minutes selecting two (the last blue male and a very bright green one). I settled them into their travel cage, paid the adoption fee, and we got on the road home!

Mae was so happy to meet them, and Colin screeched with excitement every time he saw them. Mae and I tossed around a few names, and Kiwi immediately stuck for the green one. I picked Blueberry for the other guy but will probably call him all sorts of nicknames including Blue, Bluey, and Bloobs.

Since being home with me, they've been pretty quiet with an occasional chirp. They've been eating well and seem to be enjoying each other's company aside from the occasional squabble. I got them checked out by the vet on Wednesday, and they appear surprisingly healthy considering the situation they came from. He estimated that they are no older than 2, but it's really impossible to tell their ages.

I moved them from their travel cage to their flight cage after returning from the vet. I'll give them a few days to settle into their new environment before I attempt to handle them. I had no idea if they'd be socialized at all, but they seemed pretty calm and not too bitey with the vet or when I transferred them to the bigger cage. They are so sweet and cute, and I'm just so excited to have them join our family!

"my mommy has a baby in her belly"

This is how Mae has been greeting everyone for the past few weeks (and I mean everyone: neighbors, friends, every single person we pass at the grocery store). And yes, it’s true... we are expecting a little boy in June!

I am 23 weeks along today, which means baby is the size of a mango. Our early genetic testing came back normal, and our anatomy scan at 20 weeks shows a healthy, growing boy. I’m feeling pretty good aside from fatigue, occasional bouts of Braxton Hicks, and LOTS of anxiety. I am feeling kicks pretty regularly now, which helps to calm my nerves a bit. The first few months were very, very stressful.

Mae is BURSTING WITH EXCITEMENT to be a big sister. We told her on Christmas and let her spill the beans to Dan’s family when we visited the next day. Both families are very excited to welcome a new baby! Mae has already picked out a name, Octopus Mae. (I’m seriously considering it.) I showed her the ultrasound photos, but she said that the doctor needs to “hold still better because they’re kinda blurry.”

Here’s our little guy waving “hi” to everyone!

our new outdoor pets

Since Charlie died, Mae has been talking a lot about getting a new pet. I think this obsession can be explained as follows: 10% Mae trying to cope with the loss of a pet, 20% her fascination with pets in general, and 70% trying to understand the concept of allergies. It all stems from the first conversation we had when I told her that Charlie had died and was not coming home. When I said we wouldn't get a new bird right away, she asked if we could get a doggy. I responded, "No, dogs make me itchy." She asked if we could get a cat and I told her the same thing.

A few days later, she springs this bit of trickery on me:

Mae: Mom, do cats not make you itchy?
Me: Cats do make me itchy.
Mae: Mom, do dogs not make you itchy?
Me: Dogs do make me itchy.
Mae: Mom, do fish not make you itchy?
Me: No, fish do not make me itchy.
Mae: ... Can we get a fish?

We have had this same conversation DOZENS of times in the last couple months. Replace "cat/dog/fish" with every other animal you can think of. Goats? Turtles? Pigs? Giraffes?? Thank goodness I have allergies or we'd be shopping for a whole zoo's worth of animals. (For the record, if it has fur I assume I'm allergic to it.)

Resisting adding a new pet to the family has been slightly easier with this addition to our house.

I've had this hummingbird feeder (thanks, Mom & Dad!) for a while but couldn't figure out where to hang it up. I finally noticed an old bracket hanging outside the big window in our kitchen. I was able to reach the bracket from the extension ladder and hang a length of chain from it. With a cup hook attached to the end of a long dowel rod, I can hook and unhook the feeder from the chain to refill it. We have almost constant hummingbird visitors, and they go through a cup of sugar water in about 3 days! They are very territorial and I love watching them fence each other mid-air. En garde!

They are entertaining, low maintenance, and I don't have to clean up their poop. The perfect pet. Plus they don't make me itchy!

Here's the other addition to our house that's making me happy. New shutters! I ordered these black vinyl shutters from Home Depot, and Dad helped me install them when he visited a few weeks ago. It took us all morning, but it went pretty smoothly with two people and his hammer drill. Well worth it... they make me so happy. Thanks, Dad!

Here's the before photo. New shutters, storm door, door paint, handle set, light fixture. Just ignore those overgrown bushes... they're next on the list!

birth announcements

Or maybe I should say "hatch announcement!" The mourning dove babies arrived! We enjoyed checking their progress daily after they hatched a few weeks ago. I showed Mae the nest every day, and she kept asking about the egg. It's really hard to explain to a two-year old that the egg turned into a baby bird!

Day 4: I photographed the babies on Day 1 or 2 (not sure exactly when they hatched), but they were really hard to see. They were kind of slimy and breathing heavily after the exertion of hatching. I was surprised to see two chicks since I'd only seen one egg in the nest! However, for the next 5 days, I only saw one baby. I wondered if the other had been snatched or if maybe I'd been mistaken about seeing two on hatch day.

Day 7: I'm not crazy! There are definitely two babies in there! They were fluffier and less grumpy-looking today.

Day 9: This is the first day I've seen the babies on their own in the nest! I started to worry but noticed a couple mourning doves on the phone wires across the street. Dan said it must have been "date night" for the parents. The babies were just a few days away from leaving the nest, so it makes sense that they get a little time on their own.

Day 11: On his way out the door this morning, Dan called to me that one of the babies was on the ground. I rushed outside all worried, but Dan had seen it fly almost up to the roof line! I took some photos of it hiding near the bushes. By the time I got home from work, both babies had fledged the nest. I looked around in the bushes for them but they were either well-hidden or had moved locations. According to the Internet, they will stay on the ground for a few days while the parents continue to care for them. Best of luck, little chicks!

In other springtime news: While on vacation last week, I got a text from our neighbor that a deer had birthed two fawns in our backyard! I was disappointed to miss it (although not that disappointed since we were in HAWAII!) The neighbor sent a couple videos (hence the grainy screenshots here) so I was able to see the little deer wobbling around in the yard. Then I took some photos of one of the babies hiding in our overgrown grass when we returned home! We are loving watching the wildlife in our new yard! (Though we could do with fewer moles.)

teeth, tennis, and a tiny egg

On Friday, Mom came for a visit. Mae and I gave her a tour of the house, since it was completely empty last time she was in town! I feel like I am struggling to get house stuff done, but I know I've accomplished a lot in only a few months. I'll share some photos of our new place soon. I want to finish hanging curtains, light fixtures, and artwork to make it feel more like home and less like a project. We are also getting a new storm door, replacing the front door hardware, and dealing with termites! (Fun fun.)

Friday morning, we went to Mae's first dentist appointment! I wanted to get her started with appointments, since she now has all of her baby teeth; the last 2 molars have just broken the surface. I think Mae and I are both very glad to be done with teething for a while. The dentist "checked" her elbows, knees, and fingers so she could get used to his gloves and dental mirror before checking her teeth. Then she got a quick fluoride treatment, lots of stickers, and a giant sparkly bouncy ball. I was also pleased that the dentist recommended keeping her pacifier for another year so she doesn't substitute her thumb. That is going to be a challenging transition, so I am happy to delay it as long as possible.

After leaving the dentist, we played with the giant bouncy ball for a while in the little park across the street. Then we drove to a bigger park where Mae showed Grandma her climbing skills and slide technique. Jen and Anna joined us for a few more minutes of playtime after lunch. Then we went home for nap time.

Friday evening, Dan and I took advantage of Grandma's offer of babysitting and went downtown for dinner. Grandma and Mae had pizza for dinner and then spent the rest of the evening at the park.

Saturday, I made a last-minute decision to travel to Kelsey's senior day with her tennis team. I was so glad I was able to be there while she was recognized! While they were announcing her at the beginning of the match and listing off her many athletic and academic accomplishments, the girls behind me were whispering, "Kelsey is soooooo smart." I am a proud sister for sure!

We got back to my parents' house late Saturday evening and I drove home Sunday morning after a much needed night of sleep. Sunday afternoon was packed with housework, running, and church.

We have several busy weeks ahead, and lots of fun things planned. I am super anxious/excited about running my first marathon next weekend and hoping that I don't get injured or sick this week! I am also very excited for this little mama mourning dove who has nested in a dead plant on our front porch. I hope we have a tiny dove chick to admire in a couple weeks!!

playing, parties, and penguins

Last weekend, Mae and I met her grandma and grandpa at the Children's Museum. After a quick lunch, we headed straight for the kids' play area. I put her in the super padded baby area with all the soft toys and she laid completely still and stared at me like I had insulted her. She was much happier when I picked her up and took her around the bigger kid areas. Her favorite area was the music room where there were lots of ways to make loud noises. I think we have a natural-born percussionist! She also loved and/or hated playing in the waterfall. She squealed with joy and/or terror!

Later that day, we tried out the baby swing for the first time. Mae LOVED it.

On Saturday, we went to Teal & Jon's gender reveal party and were thrilled to find out they are having a little girl! We also got to meet Courtney and Luke's little boy Everett for the first time. Mae liked playing with the other kids, but was much more interested in stuffing pink confetti in her mouth.

This past Friday, Mae had her 9 month check up. She gained almost a pound since her last doctor visit and finally passed the 15 lb mark! Her new pediatrician seems a little more relaxed about her weight and happy that she's stayed on one growth curve since about 6 months. Mae enjoyed her celebratory dinner of turkey burger bits, pieces of hamburger bun, shredded potato, and chunks of honeydew! We are still feeding her baby food, but offering bits of our table food during meal times. She also likes trying to eat things like dust bunnies and leaves.

We are trying to get a handle on the recent stretch of crazy weather. On Friday it was 83 degrees, and Mae enjoyed playing in the grass. The next day it was only 36 degrees! We went to the zoo to see the penguin parade where the penguins walk from through the zoo from one exhibit to another. It was so fun to see these waddling birds up close!

mile(s) high

I really can't complain about having to travel half way across the country for a wedding when it gives me an excuse to visit beautiful Colorado! Earlier in October we flew to Denver for the wedding of one of Dan's college friends. On Friday, we met up with his friends in Boulder and explored the town until the rehearsal dinner at the gorgeous Chautauqua Dining Hall. Instead of staying in Boulder with most of the other wedding guests, we booked a hotel in Estes Park for easier access to Rocky Mountain National Park Saturday and Sunday. I'm not going all the way to Colorado without doing some hiking!

Saturday morning we drove into the park and followed Trail Ridge Road all the way up to the peak, stopping many times at the scenic overlooks to take in the purple mountain majesties and snap a few photos. From the Alpine Visitors Center near the top, we walked up a steep stone staircase (panting heavily from the altitude, not just because we are out of shape) to 12,005 feet above sea level!

We continued along the road a short way to the Continental Divide, the invisible line where water to the east drains to the Atlantic and water to the west drains to the Pacific.

On our way back to Estes Park to get dressed for the wedding, we stopped again to photograph the beautiful Aspens in their golden autumn glory. The fall colors of the park are actually surprisingly limited as most of the trees are conifers.

Although the scenery was incredibly beautiful, I did leave the park slightly disappointed Saturday afternoon because we saw NO ELK. I was promised elk!

Saturday evening we attended Paul and Colleen's beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony. After dinner under a white canopy, we danced outside, illuminated by stars, campfire, and globe lights strung from the trees.

Sunday morning, we woke up early for a day of hiking at the park (and determined to see some elk). Less than a mile past the entrance... BAM! Elk! We hopped out of the car to see a hulking male elk herding his harem along next to the road. He was quite vocal with funny trumpeting sounds when the ladies weren't moving fast enough for his liking. As they walked away through the trees, we joked that we could just turn around and go home, since I'd accomplished my main goal of elk sighting.

We continued our drive along to the Bear Lake trailhead and started with a relatively strenuous (for us) hike to Emerald Lake, also passing by Nymph Lake and Dream Lake. It was incredibly windy, but we stayed warm enough when protected by the trees. We saw lots of little chipmunks and a curious little Stellar's Jay who came so close I could almost pet him!

After our morning hike, we lunched on PB&J sandwiches (which we had to guard carefully from aggressive chipmunks) and then walked around Bear Lake. Finally, we finished the afternoon with a short trek to Alberta Falls where I finally caught a nice photo of a Gray Jay after many unsuccessful attempts on our morning hike. (These birds are also known as Whiskey Jacks, which I much prefer to the boring name Gray Jay.)

Monday morning drove to the airport for our flight back home. On our way out of Estes Park, we saw a lone male elk out for a casual morning stroll along the sidewalk... a hilarious farewell for a great mini-vacation. I have to point out a downside of this trip though: Dan has now gained a state on me, since I had already been to Colorado but he hadn't!

felt birds

Ahhh... That feeling when you finish a project that's been shelved for over six months. Wonderful.

I started on this back in February while on leave from work. It was the only thing getting me out of bed some days. I'd wake up, trudge downstairs, settle on the couch, and stitch these birds while watching Lie to Me on Netflix for hours. I finished them quickly, but the little felt flock sat in my project basket for months while I pondered how to display them. The birch branch came home with me from Michael's in late March and waited in the living room corner for inspiration to strike. All summer, I mulled over various layouts in my head. Finally settling on the design and method of construction, I whipped it all together over the course of a week. The creative process simply cannot be rushed (is what all great procrastinators say).

The bird designs are all available (for free!) from Downeast Thunder Farm. There are dozens of patterns available, but I selected my 9 favorites, which I resized on the computer, printed and traced onto freezer paper, ironed onto wool-blend felt sheets, and cut out. After assembling and embroidering, I attached a shiny black bead eye, stuffed lightly, and attached a loop of embroidery floss for hanging. I sawed the birch branch into three sections which I mounted together with eye hooks and jewelry chain.

This project was fun and therapeutic, and I absolutely love how it turned out. It's currently hanging next to the door in our front hallway and will probably stay there until the Christmas wreath goes up!

sun, sand, seagulls

Usually we visit Dan's parents at their beach house much earlier in the summer, but I'm pretty sold on switching to a late August vacation from now on! Every day we spent the cool mornings relaxing at the house, the afternoons splashing in the warm waves, and the evenings sipping cocktails while trying to get water out of our ears.

We enjoyed a few days with Dan's parents, then his siblings joined us for the weekend. We lounged on the beach, went for walks, and boogie boarded on the waves (my first time!). I even caught a little crab who was scuttling across the sand near a jetty. I scooped it out of the shallow water (careful not to get pinched!) and gave it to a kid to hold in his beach pail.

Ok, time for some bird photos!

We saw no sandpipers during last year's visit, so I was thrilled to find flocks of them up and down the beach this year. I think that most were Sanderlings (the cutest sandpiper in my opinion), but I also saw a few loners with dark bands across their necks (perhaps the Semipalmated Plover?).

This little guy managed to snag a squishy little sea critter and was prepared to defend his catch at all costs. This reminded me so much of the seagulls from Finding Nemo who shout, "mine! mine! mine!"

Finally on our last day, we took one of my favorite group selfies ever... See you again soon, family!