Gwen

Such a cute vid.. Enjoyed watching Isaac having fun!!! Yes, they LOVE to toss items around... Roscoe also loves to throw stainless steel bowls around. The more noise they make clanging together or tumbling off his metal cage, the better!! I have a few spare ones loose in the bottom of his cage I put treats & toys in & he spends hours tossing them everywhere !!

Yes, Dee .. Gilbert is making sure his muscles & lungs are strong enough for flight. My little Gabby is a top-notch pilot & can land on a dime or circle until she decides where to gently land. She exercises "flying" in her cage every day. (flying in place) That's cool Gilbert is trying, just give him a little time. Music soothes the savage beast & I sing to Roscoe also. I'm happy Gil is responding to you. Thanks again for everything !!!

Dee: You truely have become a treasured friend thru GF and you & I know very well those days when it's safer to vent here than tear our hair out!!! I said before Roscoe is much more difficult to raise than my 4 kids were... Even the smallest idea becomes a mission to break new ground. I'll try anything. FYI... Roscoe took off & hit the full glass storm door a few months ago. Remember I posted that he had a goose egg over his eye & I felt so terrible!! Your looking forward to Gilbert's freedom of flight and to my absolute amazement -- the other day my husband was in the garage & made a loud noise, Roscoe took off from the top of his cage and made a beautiful 6 foot circle back to his cage IN FULL CONTROL !!! I think he's been holding out on me !!! He can fly !!!! I guess he chooses not to. Another moment when I realize I don't even know who he is yet!!!

Janet: I LOVE LOVE your videos of Louie!!

They are so very sensitive to our emotions !!! Within 5 minutes of my husband (who he HATES) laying down for a nap or going to bed early, Roscoe comes to me to cuddle, make kissy sounds & be my little love bug. I think that's so sweet that he is comforting you. The poo thing also is amazing!! Roscoe has never pooped in the house anywhere!! I commented to hubby just the other day.... I have a plastic place mat on the carpet below his cage door & that's where he goes when he's out. He's fullly aware cause I see him look down after he poops & hears it splat on the plastic. Once in a while I say, did you poop? He does have his thing of lifting his foot up when he wants to go back to his cage. I just told Dee the other day I always comply because I feel he is asking me to take him back to the safety of his cage. It's entirely possible half of the time it's to poop also. With your life in turmoil, he's showing you different ways to say I Love You. For his own safety your situation is perplexing. I realize it's tempting but it only takes them one time to accomplish a task & from then on they want to do it over & over. Perhaps you could roll his cage into your bedroom at night so you both get what you want??

Emlee & Ray.. Yup !!! I remember my sessions at the wood pile. ( my dad came from Denmark w/ 2 little bros. & his father after their mom died) Like him, I would even get whooped on -- for letting my little brother do something & let alone the things I did. Respect & man-up !! All because I was the oldest!!! (but I'm a girl) That look in Dad's eye puts the fear of God in you... Brought in the virture of honesty quickly!!!

Okay Girls !!! I must confess... Once some time ago Roscoe seemed interested in a pepsi can so I let him take a sip. I know at some point in his previous life, the family must have been pop drinkers cause everytime he sees beer or pop can he makes the "pop opening sound" and says get me a pop!! Like I said he looked like he wanted it so I offfered. He clamped on & wouldn't let go. I tipped the can & he got a taste!! Like a baby that gets that carbonation the first time he held his mouth open like he was gagging. He went right back for the "nector of the gods". My husband said it isn't such a good idea because he might cut his tongue on the can so I stopped. Weeks later, I let him try Diet Mountain Dew... now that he loves!!! Less carbonated and no sugar. I'm still afraid he might get hurt so the water bottle is what I give him... He does indeed love sharing those moments w/ me & I love it too.. Now you've got me soooo curious !!! I'm going to pick up some Simply Limeade next time I'm out & I'll let you know. MAYBE, I might get a pic. He's so stubborn -- even when he hears the music the camera makes when it turns on he freezes. I've even tried turning it on in the other room but the second he sees the thing pointed at him he fluffs up. I still practice several times a week but he HATES that camers!!

Welcome!!! You have an absolutely beautiful baby girl.. Yes, Yes, more pics & stories about your new adventure. BTW, did I forget to mention baby pictures?? LOL

Update: Dee, I backed off & giving him the benefit of doubt, he is also in the middle of a heavy molt, (i placed a small humidifier under his cage in front of the register to ease his itching/preening) & last night he cuddled twice, each time for about 10 minutes!.... Instead of the tent, I just laid on my stomach on the floor & he walked over & stood under my chin with my arms wrapped around him. He was so sweetly calm and put his head against my neck and then snuggled in my arm with his head tucked between his feet. That was such a precious moment!!!

I always keep my bottle of water next to me & Roscoe says "water" when I take a drink. A few wks. ago I held the bottle out to him & asked if wanted a drink. He came over & I held a paper towel under his chin & he took 3 or 4 drinks. Now, daily he goes over to my bottle & says water.. when he wants a drink !!! so cute... Sometimes he dribbles more down the front of him than he gets in his mouth but the fact that he asks for it, I can't deny him!! The other half of my dilema is he also is camera shy, but knowing you got your pics because he was preoccupied gives me reason to think I'm going to try to snap a pic too !!! THANKS!!!

Dee!!! Roscoe does the little 'ole man thing!!! He looks so wise & almost puts himself to sleep w/ the talon slooooooooooowly sctratching the top of his head, his neck & the front of his neck... I USE that time to softly say, "Awww", "Aww". I also make sure whenever I do get the opportunity to pet the top of his head, I make the same connection-- saying "Awwww, Awww". When he goes in his cage at night, he clings on the side for a few minutes & he lets me play & stroke his toes while he makes kiss sounds. He does have his moments, & I treasure them !!! I can well imagine that sweet feeling you have w/ Gilbert when he lets you pet his head thru the bars.... Oh, I almost forgot... When Roscoe is down on the floor w/ me.. He lifts up his foot & looks up at his cage, I ALWAYS tell him ok, buddy you want back on your cage? Sometimes the little booger plays games, He will come down, walk over to me & put his foot up. He does this like 4-5 times in a row!!! My husband says.. you don't have to do that everytime!! I say, yes I do, he needs to be reassured that I will always return him to his safe place whenever he wants...

Thank you so very much for keeping me company to explain your view on Gilbert's complex personality!! I have so many ups & downs, it's heartwarming to know someone else has the same situation. Everyday is indeed a new challenge & I'm finding Roscoe is truely more difficult than it was raising 4 children!! Gilbert is miles ahead of Roscoe in his roaming adventures. He will not venture more than 15 ft. away from his cage!! The living rm. is his whole world and I long for the day I can actually take him to the kitchen, bathroom for a shower; let alone downstairs!! He has been quite anti-social towards my husband or when we have company over. His tent game I play at night he was cuddling & letting me pet the top of his head, now the last 3 or 4 nights he grabs my finger & won't let me touch him ??!!##?? I'll just wait till he's ready & in a few days he will cuddle & I will be thrilled again.... The little sweetheart still comes to me & that's all that is important...

So stinkin' cute!!!

I see so many, many simularities in Gilbert & Roscoe!! These re-homes have baggage that is very difficult to decipher. Like you, I spend everyday trying to figure out different ways to figure out what he needs. He also will only step-up on my right hand. He feels more responsive when I have him on a strict schedule. It's like he takes comfort in knowing what will be going on each day at a specific time! He loves the routine... It's entirely possible our guys need something to depend on to help them adapt to their new lives. I got new glasses abt. 6 mo. ago & Roscoe was stand-offish for a wk. before I realized. I put my old ones back on in the evening when I let him out & he goes back to his cuddly self. Go figure!! Please keep me posted... I love comparing these two!!

First of all, Dee, I feel your pain!! I had braces at 50, 15 yrs. ago & still remember not liking the hassles !!! It's a big adjustment for you as well as Gilbert. So cute that he came to you to inspect your mouth!! They really notice even the smallest things. Earrings, glasses, nail polish - Roscoe doesn't like changes... Just take baby steps w/ him, he's already curious & once he realizes it's part of you, he will accept it. Hang in there...

Roscoe absolutely loves sweet potatoes!! He gets excited when he sees me take it out of the microwave. He will take it from a spoon but prefers to "wolf it down". Sometimes I wonder where he puts all of it. (like 2-3 TB spoons). Grapes, bananas, green beans, corn, squash, oatmeal,yogurt, all varieties of baby food & peanut butter. He throws out almonds but likes pumpkin seeds, cashews & unsalted peanuts in the shell. He's so cute with Brownberry Healthnut bread. He doesn't eat the bread but shreds it & picks out all the nuts & grains. The other thing that's cute is he just started drinking Dasani water out of the bottle. He walks over to my bottle, reaches up & bites the cap. I hold a paper towel under his chin & he guzzles... He always says water when I take a drink, walk by & pour some in his bowl & when he hears a pill bottle turned over. (along w/ his water sound)

Welcome home, Baby Luna!!! You have been blessed with great parronts...

Janet: I love a train ride !!! First one I ever took by my self was Michigan to Eugene Oregon. (that's right out by you!) How truely beautiful our USA is !!

Loved traveling w/ my grandparents!! (was their 1st grandchild) My grandfather was a principle of a middle school. In the 1930's they purchased an island in Canada & I spent summers w/ them. No electricity or running water. He & my dad built two cabins. (they floated an old Buick engine on a barn door across the lake for a sawmill) I played on my granma's treadle sewing machine, she taught me how to use the cook stove, used the wringer washer, walked the island w/ her pointing out the names of flowers/trees... I went fishing w/ grandpa at 4am & saw mink & moose at the damn, chopped wood & he taught me to make/tie fishing flys. Talk about a step back in time!! So pure, so simple. Would lay down & feed shrew by hand, dressed bullfrogs in my doll clothes, even let me take a big lake trout to bed w/ me -- was so proud of my catch!! We also went in the winter, drove the car over on the ice... Had a trap door in the roof to gain access because the snow was so deep.. Snowshoed, & saw bear claw marks on the shutters 3" wide where they tried to get in. What a life our ancestors must have had !!!

I love hearing about the responses Marcus has in conversations w/ you!!!! When they reply properly, "contextualizing"; they are understanding & using language skills that pertain to the subject at hand. How wonderfully intelligent these greys are!! Sometimes, Roscoe amazes me for several minutes "his attention span", he truely is communicating!!!

Watched your vid !!! (& a few others of Marcus). Yes, indeed, Karen, he is a little taskmaster. Dahlia!! Come here! Go lay down!! Stop it!! Go-Go!! Marcus sounds just like Roscoe!! Come here!! Go lay down!! Hey, Stop it!! Go to Bed!! Go...Go...Go!!! They want to be in charge of everyone in the house !! Roscoe turned his head, listened intensely, and after he finished hearing Marcus, said; "WOW, I like it"!!! Also, watching Marcus on his videos, I noticed that cute little way he uses his foot to express what he's saying & after waving it around, does his little stomp!!! PRECIOUS little soul ...

Golden Ager... I remember when everyone had a 12" black & white TV, pedal pushers were "cool", snow chains on your tires, & we all rode our bikes w/ a clothes pin holding a baseball card against the spokes made a fantastic noise!!!

My Roscoe has just recently started to cuddle!! He crawls under a fleece hoodie (his tent) the same one I've used since day one when I sat next to his cage. I placed it on my lap & when he first came out of his cage, he would sit on it & feel safe. He now walks across the room to me & his blankie, crawls under it, mouths my fingers & allows me to pet the top of his head. Your avatar gives me "warm fuzzies" & I yearn for the day he will lay on my chest like that... Watching your vid, I also talk to him like you do Isaac. My husband mimics me, repeating my speech, making fun of the way I talk to him. Lately, I notice him walking over to Roscoe's cage & talking to him the way I do !! BTW, for the 2yrs. I've had him... Roscoe & my husband do NOT get along. I love hearing about your interactions with your baby & your vids!! I had "a moment" two nights ago.. Under his tent, on the floor, he stepped up onto my pillow & cuddled on the inside of my elbow for a minute; then he moved up onto my chest, layed down, tucked his head down & let me stroke his head, neck & back. He stayed there for several minutes!! He loved the warmth & I could hear him breathing. Blissfully, one of those rare times, like you have w/ Isaac!!! Being a parront, I treasure the moments, all to have him show me that he does, indeed, love his mommy !!!

Yes!! Missy is a beautiful name... Also, special because Ella-Rose picked it out !!! ))

That is totally adorable !!! I have no experience w/ Senegals but, in general; I would say he is happy, relaxed, & trusts you completely!! Any critter, when belly & neck is exposed is completely vulnerable...