Killdeer babies

Mama killdeer telling me to get lost as I snap a photo from the car. Teresa Shumaker photo.

Baby killdeer. Teresa Shumaker photo.

 I was having one of those mornings where I was contemplating shipping off my crazy pets (only a daydream of the frazzled), when Matt came home and asked if I saw the babies in the driveway of our condos.
He barely finished his sentence when I had my hand on the back door with my camera around my neck.
These cuties were just standing in the middle of the driveway/alley where about 20 condos garages open up.
Later on that day, as we were leaving for the store, an impatient woman whipped around our car and almost hit the two babies, scaring them to run into and bounce off a garage door.
So I asked Matt to stop the car, I jumped out and attempted to corral the birds down a grassy corridor that leads to the golf course.
One of the little guys freaked out and ran the wrong direction then tried to hide in an AC unit.
Thankfully, he stopped moving and I was able to corral him and his sibling into the grass.
Of course, when we returned  from the store they were back in the middle of the driveway. But by evening they had moved on.
Here is hoping they stay away from traffic and other hazards. Mom and dad killdeer are great parents and almost took my eyes out when I was helping the babies. If they are brave enough to try to take me on, those babies should be safe from other predators.

Count the legs, there are a few extra feet sticking out. Teresa Shumaker photo.

A very vigilant parent. Teresa Shumaker photo.

Little baby killdeer. Teresa Shumaker photo.

Killdeer family, the other parent was busy circling around. Teresa Shumaker photo.

Roadrunner

Greater Roadrunner. Teresa Shumaker photo.

Greater Roadrunner. Teresa Shumaker photo.

 While on the way to visit a nearby wildlife refuge, we spent an hour driving the three-mile road leading to the park. The side of the road was teeming with activity and we saw more birds there then our entire time in the refuge. (Live Oak trees are incredibly hard to see birds in.) 

One of the highlights of the roadside shows was the greater roadrunner. 

I have always thought of this bird to be a very "Texas" bird. Turns out this bird ranges from California to Louisiana. Not so Texan after all. 

Nevertheless, seeing these birds running alongside country roads is a real treat. They are full of sass and wait until the last minute to run off the road when a car approaches, then they stand on the side of the road puffed up waiting for the metal box to pass. 

This particular bird kindly posed in different ways so I could get his (or her) best angle. Clearly it is destined to be a runway model.

"Move along, I have important things to do." Teresa Shumaker photo.

Wildflower Season

Bluebonnets in San Antonio, Tx. Teresa Shumaker photo.

Texas in spring is a gorgeous time, but this year has been breaking rainfall records, which means that the spring wildflowers are blooming in force. 

Bluebonnets. Teresa Shumaker photo.

Bluebonnets bug. Teresa Shumaker photo.

"Thanks for the leg up!" Teresa Shumaker photo.

Laughter

If there was one word to sum up my mornings as a parent, it would be laughter.

Our mornings currently begin between 5 to 6 a.m., my daughter, River, wakes up to eat, then falls back asleep for a short time. I use this nap as an opportunity to quickly brush my teeth and shower. I am usually able to jump back in bed right as she is waking up - which is often an ordeal.
Sometimes she kicks, flails and grunts for minutes, sometimes she wakes up crying, and every so often she just opens her eyes.

Whatever her wake up method is, once she is completely awake she is nothing but smiles and giggles. We typically spend an hour laying around talking, laughing, tickling, reading, and enjoying each other. The cats join us in bed for skritches and to inform me that I am late — again — on delivering their breakfast. Sam, my dog, plays with our feet and wriggles around the bed, enjoying our morning routine, too.

By 9 a.m. breakfast is complete, and River and Sam know what is coming next - our morning walk. The tell-tale clue is me singing the "Adventure Time" theme song, with the names of Jake the dog and Fin the human changed to Sam and River. At first, pushing a stroller with one hand and hanging on to my chaotic 50 lb. dog with the other was a little daunting. But after a few months we have the routine down and I can even push River up hills and over curbs one handed.

Our walks are not simple strolls in the neighborhood. Sam wants to sniff everything and so we follow. Over the curb, around trees, behind bushes, next to the pond — our stroller has seen it all. River's first few weeks of walks were used for napping, but now she takes everything in.

I point out birds and sounds, describe our surroundings and give a commentary on Sam's behaviors. These mornings are my treasure.