Oh boy, this has been a very exciting weekend for Baby and I!
John, my fiance, had to go down to VA to help his mom and stepdad with their truck, so I was planning a relaxing weekend by myself at home with the animals, watching cheesy horror movies and eating seafood. Well, I got home Friday to a kitchen flooded with water. One of my rotten kitties had gotten the faucet in the sink turned sideways and turned it on, so it poured onto the counter and ran down onto the floor.....there was a puddle all through the kitchen and seeping into the carpet in the living room. Baby was making a running water sound and saying, "Uh-oh!" Water seeped down through the floor into the garage too, so I spent all night running the wet/dry vacuum and rug shampooer. My sick bush vipers were getting worse, and a friend of mine got really mad that I'd gone to Al for help rather than him so he chewed me out, which really hurt. I was crying and exhausted a mess. I sat on the couch and cried, and Baby looked at me, and whistled mournfully, then said, "You ok?" My mouth dropped open...it just made my day. I wanted to hug that sweet bird! I told him that yes, I was ok now and thanked him and gave him a treat. So awesome.
I practiced having him step up onto the bowl and then back onto my arm many times, all while talking soothingly. If I talk softly to him while he's nervous, he seems to calm down and talks back to me. We did this for 5-10 minutes Saturday and Sunday, and Baby was stepping up realiably. At first he would flap his wings, and say "Can't. Can't. No" but I softly told him he was a good boy and he could do it, it was ok, he was safe, so when he got onto my arm, he said, "OOhhhhhhh", like he was realizing it was ok. (I know he probably doesn't really know what he is saying, but he says things in the perfect context at the right times...sometimes I'd swear we're having a conversation).
John got home and yesterday he wanted to work with Baby. He got the bowl and put it up to Baby when he was on top of his cage, but Baby said "no" and ran away from him, lol. John followed and Baby growled. Baby flew away out of the living room, and the dogs chased him...John hadn't bothered to put them upstairs. So I hear John yelling at the dog, and Baby squawking and growling...I ran in to find John holding Rory back with a leg, and holding onto the back end of Baby with one hand while trying to get him onto the bowl with the other..>Grrr.. Baby HATES being grabbed and he was terrified. I yelled at John and told him he cannot ever grab at Baby...he needs to never be threatened by our hands or we'll undo all the progress. I made John hold the dog and back off, and I told Baby it was ok, and let him get a comfortable grip on the table before presenting the bowl and saying "it's ok. Step up,": He got right onto the bowl and walked onto my arm. John's jaw dropped, lol. (poor John. I think he was jealous, I felt badly, but he shouldnt' have grabbed at Baby). I took Baby upstairs to the bedroom and he sat on my arm, looking all around and whistling and saying, "ooooh. Ohhhh" at all the new sights.
I saw that he had ruffled up wing feathers, so I told him I was just going to smooth them, and I gently reached to stroke them smooth......and he let me! No biting. He said, "ohhhh" and I said, "good Baby. see, I won't hurt you" I tried then to scratch the feathers behind his head, and he tensed, but then leaned into it and bobbed his head up and down. I told him what a good boy he was and pet him gently for a few minutes. I called John up to show him and see if Baby would go to him, but Baby flew away behind the bed and wouldn't come out until John left. JOhn was cleaning up from dinner, so he said I could deal with getting Baby out from under the bed...as soon as he left, Baby came trotting right out when I called him, lol. I got him back on his bowl, then my arm, then he scooted up my chest and pressed his face under my chin.
I just completely melted and teared up, I was so happy. Heck, my eyes are getting teary just writing this; I'm such a sap. It was amazing, and I talked to Baby and gently pet him until he seemed calm, then slowly walked downstairs and let him step off of me back into his cage.
I went to bed with a HUGE grin....I never in a million years thought I'd be scratching his head and stroking him just three weeks in! He's amazing and I love him sooo much.
Baby has not been exposed to it for about 10 years and there was still signs of damage. 
