Avery's been eyeing up mommy and daddy's dinner like a fat lady at an all-you-can-eat buffet. So, we're now at the beginning stages of introducing solid foods - she had rice cereal for the first time on Saturday! It wasn't as big of a mess as I expected, though we did have a couple near-miss situations: Avery's flailing arms + a glass bowl = a disaster waiting to happen. She made a lot of funny faces, but kept opening her mouth to take several bites. Dustin has also let her lick a few things like apple, banana and carrot. Yes I said lick - since that's about all she can do at this point. Won't be long before she's throwing Cheerios and spaghetti on the floor (and our house becomes heaven-on-earth for Fred and Ginger). 
In other news: Avery's really taking notice of the dogs and making all kinds of new talking noises - I could listen to her all day long and not get tired of it! You can all remind me of that when she's a teenager and I'm complaining that she won't shut up :) She's also taking note of sounds a lot more, especially ones that are loud and scary. A while back she cried the first time I used the Vita-Mix and when I sizzled some veggies in a skillet. But the latest was her total panic over the coffee grinder. She cried instantly (complete with tears) including becoming red-faced and shaking her tiny fists. From now on, the grinder will be referred to as "the evil one" and has been issued a restraining order so as not to come within 50 feet.
I've discovered that I'm as amazed by her crying as by her smile - just one more side of her that puts me in total awe over having created a human - I admit to the part of me that just wanted to sit there and watch her cry to absorb even that moment - but in true mommy fashion, I scooped her up immediately to soothe her. Although I know it's impossible, I hope I'll always be able to make the bad things go away . . . . -- Anita
