I just wanted to post you a message & let you know that my little Kismet has spoken his first words. "Peek A Boo". I was shocked. I was watching a movie & he was sitting on my leg with me & I heard him say it. I muted the TV to be sure I heard him correctly & sure enough, he said it again clear as day. I didn't think he would talk this soon. He's only 5 1/2 months. So, now he says Peek A Boo all the time. It's very amusing to hear. I've played peek a boo with him when he hides on a chair under the table & with a towel but I didn't think he enjoyed it as much as he obviously does since that was the first thing he said. Go figure.
On a separate note, I have to go away for 6 days & it breaks my heart to leave him so early. My father is very ill & I am helping my mother fly him to a special hospital in Colorado. It's very important otherwise I would not be leaving so soon. So, I am very worried how he will handle this. I really had planned to go for an overnight or something first but there was no time This trip came up fast. My pet sitter is wonderful. She comes & lives in my house when I am gone. She has come over several times to "meet" kismet and he will even step up onto her hand without too much trouble. He's still a little hesitant but once he's up there, he will chirp at her & make baby noises so I know he's OK with her. I talk to him daily & tell him how much I love him & that I'm not leaving him. I tell him it's only for 6 days & how much love & attention his sitter will give him etc. I will even call home & let him hear my voice on speaker phone each day (although I'm not sure at this young age it will help). I even thought about leaving a t-shirt or something that smells like me in his cage with him but don't know if that works for parrots like it does for puppies. Ha Ha.
Aside from my having to take this trip, my little Kismet is doing very well. He's gotten much better about his eating (finally). He does still spend a lot of time low in his cage. During the day he takes his naps on the floor of the cage or a low perch which I don't understand but he will climb up high to play with the toys up high & to eat so I know he's not afraid to be up there. He just refuses to perch up high. It's very odd. He does sleep (at night) on the high perches but only at night. I'm dumbfounded. But, he's happy, playful, lovable & a little treasure so I don't overly worry about it yet.
If you can think of anything else I should do to make my time away from him easier please let me know. Or if you have any thoughts on why he stays low. I know this is not normal for Grey's to be on the bottom or low like this. Has anyone else ever said their birds do this too?
As always, your site is very helpful!
Linda (and the little Peek A Boo Kismet)
