Avery's Adventures Episode 3

Avery's Adventures Episode 3 from Megan Smith on Vimeo.

Avery's Adventures Episode 2

I think the opening shot looks so much like she's an actor in a sitcom.  I kept hearing the theme to Full House in my head when I watched it.  Enjoy!

Avery's Adventures - Episode 2 from Megan Smith on Vimeo.

Avery's Adventures Episode 1

We went to the park today where Avery was able to try out the swings for the first time.  It was a bit chilly, but Avery didn't seem to mind that in the least.  The video below contains some footage of that trip, as well as some other short clips.

I thought it wasn't possible for quite some time, but both D and I agree that Avery seems to understand all the meanings of the word "change."  She's been doing the change sign for quite some time now (it looks like she's disco dancing).  It has also seemed for quite some time the she knows it means things other than just change her diaper, which was the intent of the sign. She does the change sign when she wants to change clothes or change the situation she's in or change her diaper.  When she wants her diaper changed, she does the change sign and points at her diaper;  when she wants to change clothes or take off her coat, she does the change sign and then grabs the clothes to put on or tugs at what she wants to come off;  when she wants to change a situation (e.g. get out of the high chair, stroller or car seat) she also does the change sign.  It's amazing to me that babies can pick up on this stuff!
In terms of new signs, she's got the sign for "ball" down, as well as "bath."  She's also come up with her own sign for brushing her teeth.  This is a definite welcome change since she used to fight us when we'd attempt to brush her teeth.  Now she asks to do it.

Finally, her eating is getting much better.  She absolutely loves pasta with sauce - and she insists on eating it with a fork.  If the pasta falls off the fork, she picks it up and puts it back in the bowl to try again. She's also eating bananas and apple slices.  I still haven't gotten her to eat more colorful fruit, but we'll get there I'm sure.  In the mornings, she no longer wants us to feed her the yogurt, so we put her in the highchair and give her a spoon and she does it herself.  It's by no means a clean effort, but she does get a surprising amount into her mouth.


Avery's Adventures - Episode 1 from Megan Smith on Vimeo.

Clips

It's been awhile since I've posted - sorry about that!  I haven't taken many pictures lately because the battery was dead on the camera and I kept forgetting to recharge it.  I finally recharged it yesterday, so my obsessive picture taking can resume.

In the meantime, I do have a video with three unrelated clips.  First, Avery sings to the dial tone; next, she plays with Daddy's hat while we were in Mexico; and finally, she opens one of her Christmas presents.

Dial tone, hat, and presents from Megan Smith on Vimeo.

Some bullet points on fun things she's started doing:

• Avery uses the "help" sign and the "dog" sign with pointing to tell me when I should let the dogs in.  She can see from her high chair when Turtle and/or Eddie are standing at the glass patio door.  In case I can't see them, she lets me know when they are standing there and ready to come in. 
• The "bath" sign has finally sunk in.  This one took a while to stick.  She'll randomly ask to go upstairs to take a bath during the day.  
• When we go on walks with the dogs lately, she holds Eddie's leash from her perch in the backpack.  I grab the leash lower down in case Eddie tugs.  Avery does a really good at holding the leash for most of the walk.  Today she dropped it maybe three times?  That's pretty darn good.  If it's not too cold, I let her eat a cracker during the walk.  She has never dropped one and just munches while we walk.  When we get back, there's always one last piece clutched in her palm.  Pretty impressive considering it's a 30-45 minute walk.
• She's wanting to walk holding my fingers more often now.  She actually has really good balance, she just doesn't trust herself to let go.  I have yet to see her try to stand without holding onto something.
• She's getting into everything.  If there is a drawer, she will open it. 
• Music is her favorite.  She is constantly asking me to turn on the music by doing her little dance move.  She loves Latin music.
• I called her a little monkey the other day and she repeated "monkey."  Only once, though.  She hasn't said it again.
• This morning, she refused to let me feed her the yogurt.  She wanted to do it herself.  She did a pretty good job considering it was really runny yogurt. She'll also eat mac and cheese with a spoon or fork.  Again, it's not exactly neat, but she does get a surprising amount into her mouth.  The dogs happily clean up the rest.