Friday, December 19, 2008

It's beginning to look alot like...

Christmas!!! And what an exciting Christmas season this has been. It's so much fun to have the little ones. Even though they still are too young to understand what the season is all about, it's fun to watch them looking at the lights. And it's fun to anticipate Christmas Day when we get to watch them opening their presents and playing with their new toys.
Zak and I are so greatful to have Ryder with us as well and to know that he is safe and happy and well adjusted.
We go back to court on January 30th and at that time, legal custody will be transferred to Zak. It is hard to know that his mother has to lose her parental rights, but unfortunately, that is what it has all come down to in order for Ryder to be in a safe, secure and loving environment. Without going into alot of detail, let it suffice to say that she is overwhelmed by her drug addictions, and all the love and help and treatment in the world has not been enough to save her, or pull her from the depths of her addictions.

Thanksgiving was busy this year as well. My family came from Illinois, so we had a houseful. Also, Lyllie's birthday was on Thanksgiving this year. It's hard to believe that she is a year old already...time has flown by too fast!!
Here are some Thanksgiving/birthday pics...

Our Birthday Princess



Ryder all dressed up for the big day!!



Ryder's Christmas Tree!



In other news...we have a new member in our family...
we got a sweet little baby lovebird who came home yesterday...



His name is "Baby" for now. I haven't come up with a name that I like, and neither has anyone else in my family come up with a name that I like, so I have been calling him Baby...guess that's because I like it...LOL!! He is just soooooo sweet. He is 6 weeks old, and is still being handfed twice a day. So that means that every morning and every evening, I mix him this special baby bird formula and feed him from a syringe. He is also starting to eat seeds and pellets quite well, so by next week he will probably be finished handfeeding.
Ryder likes to look at him, but he doesn't want to touch him or hold him. He's not quite sure what to think of him.
Roxy is very curious and interested in him, and she doesn't seem to mind sharing her mama as long as I make sure she knows that she is still the MAIN baby of the house and the light of my life.
I used to raise cockatiels, and handfeed them. I also had an African Gray parrot for about 4 years. However, when he started reaching maturity, he became aggressive, and I was unable to even open his cage door to feed him and clean out his cage. I ended up selling him back to the breeder, and he is now with a couple who had several other birds as well.
Anyway, now that I no longer have the cats (they went to a friend's house after we got Ryder), I have been rebitten by the bird bug. I always knew I would have at least one bird again someday. I just don't plan on breeding them again.
Here are a few more pics of the new "Baby"...

smiling for the camera...



snuggled up to his birdy blankie...yes, they actually make birdy blankies, and Baby loves his!!



Put the camera away now, mama...I go night-night!!



I hope everybody who reads this is having a joyful Christmas season so far.
And to those who have lost loved ones this past year, let your cherished memories carry you through this holiday season, and know that they are celebrating this Christmas in the presence of our Heavenly Father. We feel the loss of our PawPaw as this is our first holiday season without him, but we know he is close in our hearts and is sending us his love from heaven.