birdie go!

pippin was three months old when i brought him home. when he was only little (as a friend's little girl used to say), he fought going to bed just like any toddler, complete with his own arsenal of delaying tactics. i halfway expected to hear, "mom!! i need a drink of water!" after i closed his door each night. (yes, he has his own room. it used to be the guest room. oh, well.) now that he's older, he often lets ME know when it's time for him to go to bed. he'll pipe up with "birdie go bed!" (or his shorthand version "birdie go!") or "byenight!" -- usually just before his usual bedtime of 10 pm. after i put him in his cage, just before i pull the cover down over it, we have to have our byenight kisses. (he's VERY good at giving kisses, complete with sound effects.) he hangs on the door of this cage, sticks his beak up to the bars and i give him kisses on his beak. after each one, he coyly pulls away and moves to a different spot for more kisses. finally, i say,"byenight! i love you!" -- and i absolutely do.