In Memory of Boots

March 17, 1996 - May 21, 2011

Boots and me soon after I first got him

Boots' first Christmas

Boots playing "The Easter Bird"

A few months before we left Texas

Christmas in our Provo Apartment (with Boots in the tree)

Boots' 12th Birthday

Boots' 13th Birthday

When I walked into the kitchen Saturday morning, I noticed Boots' foot was covered in blood, as were the feathers on his underside. Alarmed, I examined him further and saw that one of his toenails was gone. It looked like it had somehow broken off. I immediately started to apply pressure to try to stop the bleeding, but my efforts didn't seem to produce any results. We called the vet and took Boots in with high hopes that they could help. The vet said they needed to stitch the wound. After they took Boots in to surgery, they told us we could go home and they would call when he was done and had recovered from the anesthetic. However, I was shocked we got a call about a half hour later from the vet saying that Boots hadn't made it back from the anesthetic. They couldn't get him to wake back up. Nate went and recovered his body from the vet and we buried him in our back yard that afternoon.

It is hard having Boots gone. I keep expecting to see him when I go into the kitchen, but then I just see an empty cage and remember all over again that he is gone. It makes me so very sad. Boots has been my little companion for fifteen years. I got him the summer after seventh grade. It was so nice at that time to have a little bird who always acted so happy to see me, especially at a time when I had few if any friends at school. He always was a bit neurotic with a tendency to injury himself, but we loved him all the same. He was a lot of fun to have around, and I will continue to miss him greatly.

First Bath

 Wednesday, May 18

Drying Off

Nice and Clean

More Pictures of Austin (yes, we think he is cute)

 And so we have been busy taking pictures of our new little man:

Yep. This is the life.

Austin with Nate's brother Brian

Austin with a little mohawk

Austin Comes Home

After spending a day or two at the hospital:

We brought Austin home with us the Sunday after he was born:

First car ride

I also came home with a beautiful rose from Nate:

Then later that afternoon, some family came to visit:

Proud new Grandma

Happy new Grandpa

Brand new Uncle trying to figure out how to hold a baby

A new Great-Aunt

An excited new Great Grandpa

A super happy new Great Grandma

Austin is a pretty big deal to my family, especially considering he is the first grandson for my parents and first great grandson on my mom's side of the family.

Happy Four Year Anniversary!

Yesterday Nate and I celebrated our four year wedding anniversary. It was pretty low key, since most of our time was devoted to caring for Austin.

I think that the addition of Austin to our little family has made me more grateful than ever for Nate. I can't imagine how I could have gotten through my pregnancy, Austin's birth, and this first week without Nate by my side. He has been so amazingly attentive to me and so helpful. I am glad he has been able to take some time off of work to help with everything this week. And really, I couldn't have asked for better help than he has given.

Nate also decided to give me a chicken tractor in honor of our anniversary...That is a chicken tractor without all the pieces. Specifically, I got chicken wire and a heating bulb to use to make the coop. And the promise of help to build one. Perhaps most people would find that an odd anniversary gift, but I am pretty excited about it. I have been wanting to build a chicken coop and have chickens since we moved here. It isn't exactly Nate's dream, but he is so wonderful to be supportive of my various aspirations. It is just another example of how wonderful Nate is to me.

I made Nate a bouquet of chocolate covered fruit (since the traditional fourth year wedding anniversary gift is fruit and/or flowers). I think he liked it. I also threw in a charcoal chimney starter and barbeque tongs.

I love you Nate! I hope you know how much you mean to me! You are the best husband I could ever have wished for!