Outside, please

Theo and I have been enjoying our new place.  We've just been spending our days outside and Mom moves us back in at night.  She says it might still be a little too chilly for us to be out all night.  Every morning I'm excited to see Mom and get back outside.  I love it out there.  Theo does too.  (Really, Theo likes whatever I like!  He's a real copyduck.  It's okay, that's what I love about being a big sister.  He thinks everything I do it the greatest!)

Good Morning, can we go outside now?!

We were outside today and Mom looked out the kitchen window to check on us.  She saw Our Cat sitting there staring in our direction.   Wonder what she was thinking?

oh, Hello.

DUCKS BEHIND BARS!!!

Okay that was just a teaser!  But the new is still pretty big.  We've been moved to our new (temporary) outside home!  Mom decided that it was time for me to stretch by legs and have more space.  Even though Theo is a little younger, he's like any second duckling, he gets to do things a little younger than the first!  He's got me looking out for him.

Our Bedroom

Mom made a cozy enclosure for us in the backyard under a crepe myrtle tree.  We have lots of shade and a nice bed of sweet smelling straw.  Mom put chicken wire (I know, right? chicken wire? I didn't even ask.) over the top so we're safe from predators (again, not sure what that is, and again, didn't ask.).  But Theo and I LOVE the new digs!  We've got a kitchen, a play area, a bedroom and a large potty area the size of, well the whole thing is our potty area.  A duck's dream.



Our pond is close by when we want to take a dip, so that's super convenient.   We still have to be 'supervised' in the pond,  but it's nice to have it within walking distance. When Mom is outside, she opens our door and we can wonder around the yard, although mainly, we just follow her around or sit right by her feet.   Theo and I love the great outdoors -  sun shinning, birds singing, wind blowing, bees buzzing.  And now we add our voices to the mix:  ducky's chirping!

Our Boy,  The Lifeguard

Mom says it looks like the Beverly Hillbillies have arrived.  She says that this is just temporary until the Farm is ready.  Whatever.  Theo and I are in ducky heaven.  Life is good!

2 BIG NEWSES

I'm a big sister!  We adopted a little ducky brother for me!  He's just six days younger than me.  We've been getting to know each other this afternoon.  He follows me when I follow Mom!  I don't think he's going to let me push him around though!    The brooder box is a lot noisier than it was - he peeps, A LOT and LOUDLY.  I think he's starting to settle down though.  See....  he's really pretty sweet...

He doesn't have a name yet - My Girl is going to name him

Also, today I am 1 week old!!  Quacky Birthday to me...!




                  Sam - 1 Day

Sam 1 week

Days 6 & 7 - Catch Up

Day 6

 It's been a busy couple of days.  The Little Girl kept Mom busy and me too!   I enjoyed the stroller rides, but after the 10th time around the house I was getting dizzy.  Little Girl stopped to pet the cat and I decided to make a break for it.  I sprang up with my strong legs and lovely orange feet and 'boing', I jumped right out of that box and onto the floor!  Yippee!  After that there was no keeping me in the box!   Little Girl went home.  It was kind of quiet after that, but I needed a rest!


After my nap, it was time for a swim.  A ducky's got to stay fresh.  Mom took me out of my brooder and I followed her outside to the pond. I stay really close to her.   She lifts me up and puts me in the water.  'iiieee!  The water was COLD.  I flapped my wings and chirped my loudes,t fussing to get out!   Mom scooped me out and dried me off.  Then she set me down in the warm sun.  Nice.  I looked around for stuff to eat and explored around under the chair where Mom was sitting having her coffee.

I've learned a new trick!  I like to slurp up some water from my nifty water dish and then squirt it out of my mouth like a fountain!  It makes a great mess!  Mom kept saying 'how is water getting all over the place?'  I wasn't going to tell her!  Early this morning,  I was kind of bored and thought it would be fun to do the water squirting trick again.  So I slurp up some water and squirt, more water, more squirts - this is fun!  Then I look up and....oops, there's Mom watching me.  Busted!

My Boy got his learners permit today!  We celebrated by wrestling around on the floor.  I pinned him down with one wing tied behind my back.  WIN!  Then I gave him a big kiss to let me know that I'm proud of him.  Maybe he'll take me cruising around once he is allowed to drive with ducks in the car.  I wonder when that will be?

Day 7  

I've been watching The Dog Max.  He's an interesting fellow, but won't give me the time of day.  When Mom tries to get him to come over to see me, he just turns his head away with an 'hurrumph'  or he flips his tail and goes outside.  I think he would really like chase me round, maybe have a little nibble of duck a'la fresco, or in the very least, pull out some of my fluffy tail feathers!  But I think he knows that once I'm grown, I'll be chasing him and he's trying to stay on my good side!

                                                                          

These have been some beautiful Spring days.  Flowers bloom painting even the most humble garden with shades of every color.  Trees unfurl their leaves and reach for the sky.  The sun is gentle and just warm enough for a sit and soak.  And little eggs hatch!  Thank goodness.  I'm one lucky duck!

Day 5 - My First Monday!

Welcome Monday!

Today, I think I reached my full 'poo-tential'.  Mom woke up to a pretty messy situation.  What can I say?  I'm a baby duck. We eat, peep and poo.  I didn't get any input into my design - if I had, I'd have voted YES to the sphincter muscle.  Mom says thank goodness for puppy pee pads; they're great!   I'm going to get some straw in my brooder this week.  Mom says it'll help keep my brooder box a little 'fresher'.  Not sure what that means, but I'm excited!

Swam a bunch today.  I also got to follow Mom around outside today.  I found all kinds of great things to check out as potential food: honeysuckle flowers, little tiny bugs (Yum), leaves, little sticks to pick up, drop and pick up again - over and over.  What is it with ducklings and sticks, anyway?  You give us a toy and all we really want is a stick.

I'm getting really good in the pond.  I dove three times today- LOVE IT.  I can even preen myself without falling over for an unexpected head dunk in the water.

Mom says I'm growing before her eyes.  My beak is becoming longer and a light shade of orange.  My feet, (I love my feet), are already a lovely shade of orange.  They are so perfect to paddle me around the pool and when I follow Mom around the house, they go 'slap, slap, slap'.  And I do follow her - I try to stay right under her.  It's the safest place to be.

Little Girl came to visit again todayl   I think she's part of my family.  She really likes to hold me, but sometimes she holds on a little to tight.  So Mom put me in a box and strapped the box into a doll stroller and the little girl pushed me all over the house.   I got a great tour of the house, over and over, and over again.  It was such fun!

I think Mondays get a bad rap.  Mine's been great.  It's an opportunity to start fresh.  Let go of the bad stuff from last week, grab hold of the good and slap, slap, slap forward!

Day 4: A Quiet Sunday

Today has been a quiet day.  We are settling into our routine.  Mommy cleans out my brooder in the morning and puts in fresh bedding.  I poop A LOT.  I get fresh water and food.  Mommy tried to put a diaper on me - didn't work.  I got to swim twice today!  It was really warm in the sun and the water felt great!  My dad put some bricks and a rock in the pond to give me a place to rest.  I learned how to dive under the water!  So much fun!  I can't fly through the air, but I can fly through the water!  My mom tried to get a picture, but I was too fast - just a blur.  I also ate a bug!  YUM.

Day 3 - Getting My Land Legs

I'm finally getting used to using my legs, not quite so wobbly!  I can even run around!  I'm actually pretty quick!  I think what I do is scamper - that pretty much describes it.  I have had lots of company and I love seeing everybody.

Today I swam for the first time in my own pond!  I was pretty surprised by the water, but soon learned I could dip my bill in and drink it - refreshing!  My boy and his girl watched me swim and I enjoyed paddling around for them.  I even dunked my head under the water!  My boy let me use his hand to rest on so I wouldn't get too tired.

 I get pretty wet because my down isn't waterproof.  If I had a duck mommy, then the oil from her feathers would rub off on me and I'd be almost unsinkable!   (My human mommy is great, but she doesn't have feathers, so she's no help there.  I love her anyway!)  So, I'll have to wait until my real feathers come in, I'll really be set and can swim unsupervised.  Right now, I have to have a lifeguard.  I don't mind, I like the company.   My mommy does wrap me up in a towel and dry me off after a swim, so she helps in her own way!

 I've learned that if I peep really loudly, my mom will come and check on me and most often will pick me up for a little play time.  I've also learned how to jump!  Pretty cool for a three day old, huh?