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.