Erin

Wow! What a bevvy of talent: beautiful drawings everyone, and exciting writing accomplishments, Liv... Does that mean you wrote an episode of House that was used in the series, or was what you wrote based on one of the episodes written by someone else?

Poor little baby...hard to watch/know about.

Sorry, who is Collin the Whale?

Hello...sounds like some talented folks are here on the BBC, I know who to ask if and when I start woodworking! I am a knitter - I used to be really into cabled sweaters - know it's more like hats and mitts for my nephews, or dishclothes! I also collect paper, hand-made, etcetera, and have been known to make a few hardcover books in my time ...I also like to draw/paint, and I am a bread baker!

Great Name, Erin: Yes, that is exactly the kind of thing I am talking about....exactly. There is a whole progression they go through - not tough to teach once you know what it is....if you are doing a search, try terms: Phonological awareness, pre-reading skills, sound segmentation, onset and rime, these should get you in the right ball park....good luck!

Hi Melbourne Budgies: Phonics is not exactly the same thing as phonological awareness...they are related. Phonological awareness is a progression from being able to identify rhyme, sounds and syllables in verbal communication before ever trying it on the printed page. It makes learning to read much less painful. I would suggest if you have any connections in elementary school, or even a librarian, to see what's available for this in your area. You could also try calling a speech pathologist in Australia who works with little ones, and ask him/her what's available...

Looks like you've got lots of teachers and home schoolers to help you out, as well as a good plan in place. Im a speech pathologist who works with 0-5, so thought I'd mention a few things....One thing I haven't seen mentioned here, is the benefit of taking a look at your education system's expectations for the level you are working on with your little one. In Canada they have a K-8 booklet that lists the goals/targets/objectives for each year that is very helpful in providing a focus and making sure you have covered all the bases. You could probably obtain this through the government department responsible for education. Also, when it comes to literacy development, it is critical for a young one is to have some instruction in phonological awareness (pre-reading skills) such as learning to identify sounds within words, be able to segment and blend sounds and syllables. This is typically started when kids are about 4 and continues through to 6. These skills are at the core of learning to read. We have a program widely used in North America called Jolly Phonics, which combines gestures with sounds and works well for the little ones. Australia might have a different version/program, but I know the Jolly Phonics one is available on internet. If you know any teachers, they might be able to get a hold of some resources for this component of your programming. Good luck!

Hehehe: Thanks DrNat. All very good advice. I am chuckling as I recollect when I lived in Costa Rica as a volunteer when I was younger, and they had guard geese. You're right. They will take chunks out of you if one attacks you. I can still remember the sight of one barrelling forward hissing with its mouth open....and that was 14 years ago! You sound wise financially. I just scraped together enough to make the down payment and money will be tight for the first year, but ease up a bit after that. I have a fund set aside for "surprises," too. I like the grow your own veggies part, too. Thanks again.

I'm really sorry, she sounded like a beautiful little one

Sailorwolf: Interesting recommendation ....is it just their size that scared them off? Or did they known what was happening and respond somehow?

Yes, thanks for all the work you do, it is very much appreciated. :parrot:

Isn't his face just incredibly transparent and expressive? we develop muscle "habits" as we age, and don't use the full range of possible postures/expressions like babies do.

Liv, Maesie, Angelic Vampyre, Neat et al: Thank you so much for the well wishes and the great tips! They are appreciated! I have only been here a little over a week so I feel like I am sleeping in someone else's house! I never thought I would own my own home, so it is really a dream come true. (Except in the winter when i have to shovel snow, I might not be quite as enthusiastic, but even still. I am thrilled!) Neat, I have had 2 parties here so far, but nothing labelled "house warming" so that people would bring me gifts. One is coming up though! You are so right, Liv. I looked for a place with mature trees and found one with a great big Maple in the front yard, and the back yard opens out onto a ravine with....you guessed it, lots of trees! Again...you are right. I find the more cleaning, work I do, etc. the more it feels like MY house and not someone else's. (previous owner smoked too, so the smell was terrible in places and I scrubbed the walls and waxed the floors....bought some plants to clean the air. It's getting better. Fortunately, the walls weren't yellow or anything.) I am thinking of a bull mastiff...a dog expert friend of mine said they would be an awesome choise because they are couch potatos, and yet will not hesitate to get involved if they sense their owner is threatened. I have them in my bedroom, which is pretty birdproof: and so far they have just gotten out to stretch on top of their cage....I know I had a budgie stuck behind a pop machine once when I brought them into the hospital and it took 3 of us to rescue it (which we did). Angelic Vampyre, I have cleansed the house with a smudge ceremony from Native Ojibway culture: burning white sage, cedar, sweet grass and sacred tobacco, to rid the house of previous owners' energy and ask for blessings. It seemed to make a big difference! This is great advice too, especially since I won't be able to afford to buy much for awhile! LOL Thanks again folks, and don't hesitate to add more tips if you think of them! :hap:

ditto, could we see?

okay, like does their hair grow like that, or do you bring them to the budgie salon for a boofy doo?

Hi Jodie: I recall having the same reaction as you. Don't sweat it...animals just make hay when the sun shines and there's lots of food around.

Hi Everybody: I just bought my very first house, which I own all by myself and wondered if anyone had some tips - I'm looking for ways to avoid getting taken by crooks, home upkeep tips, danger zones, new home blessings, and whatever else may strike you as helpful! I can't wait to let my budgies free once they figure out where thery are...freedom is so sweet and I've had them at someone else's house for almost 2 years so they've been caged. soon they will be born free....

Isn't that just too funny! Sensitive little things, aren't they. Good sleuthing...glad you found the solution. My little baby girl got night frights for one night only, but I just bought a house and moved in, so I figured this was the problem. I came downstairs and crooned in her ear and she went right back to sleep and it hasn't happened again (9 sleeps later).

Oh my gosh! It's the Canadian version of Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (movie). Except We'd have to call it Wild Budgies of the Great Plains Welcome. I used to live in Winnipeg once upon a time....How's the weather out there this summer? I think if you took away the millet bird feeder, and got a cage and put millet inside, you'd have to be patient until they came but you'd save them from subarctic death. Good luck

I'm reading down the list nodding as I go -- remembering how I used to be but alas, am no more...things like drinking before going to the bar to save money cracked me up!

the voice sounds human to me....

CaspersRose: Great to meet a fellow speech pathologist online! What area do you work in? (I'm birth to 5). I agree with you about the cats' conversational skills...actually I was thinking it would be a good clip to use as an introduction to talking about social communication during parent presentations!

wow! Thanks, Liv. That was beautiful! I'm wondering if there's a career for me teaching animals how to talk instead of humans (I'm a speech therapist). Those little kitties are lovely, so bonded, eh?

Thank you for sharing photos of your beautiful new son...he's very cute. Hope mom and baby are doin fine and you aren't too sleep deprived!

Welcome aboard !