A Monster Update

All right, here goes a month's worth of catch up.

I know I say this every time, but Maggie continues to amaze me. She continues to grow and learn every day. I think our extensive travels have helped her by being exposed to new experiences (and not stuck in the apartment).

We have done a lot of traveling in the last month. The first trip was a week long visit to Denver. We planned it to overlap with Bobbie, Sue, and Owen's trip to visit Karen. Maggie and Owen got along great, as you can plainly see.
My little budding photographer.

A happy Owen! He's filling out since the last time we saw him and cuter than ever!

Maggie found some new toys. She likes to throw the tennis ball and chase it around the room. It keeps her occupied for a while.
Maggie loved Karen's screen door. She liked to stand there and watch the people and cars go by. It was something totally new, since we don't really have anywhere where she can just look outside on her own. I did try to recreate this at our apartment by opening our door and blocking it with a chair. However, when I came back to the apartment from changing the laundry, she was out on the balcony/hallway, so I decided it was best to keep the door closed.

While we were in Colorado, we spent a couple days with my Auntie Margaret and my cousin Sarah in Brighton. They were fabulous hostesses and took us to the Butterfly Pavillion and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Auntie Margaret loved Maggie, and according to Grammie is still talking about her! (I can't blame her.)

Here they are in the Butterfly Pavillion. Maggie was only slightly interested in the butterflies but did enjoy the little kids running around. Note the big sticker on her shirt; it says, "I held Rosie the Tarantula." She did but didn't really notice it was even happening.
Our first picture together in a while (at least that turned out nice).

Back at Karen's, Maggie wasn't too sure about her plants. I suppose, before that, she really hasn't had exposure to plants seeing as it was February.
We also made a short day trip to Boulder to see Lara, and finally meet Chris (Maggie and I both agree that he's a great guy, definitely a keeper!) Maggie also met a new friend, Chase. Chase wasn't too sure of Maggie at first, she was a little too forward for him, but as we were walking down the street, they held hands. It was adorable!

Then, Friday, while Karen was at work, Maggie and I explored the Denver Zoo. In the beginning Maggie wasn't too interested, but by the end, she was finding the animals that I was pointing out to her. Here she's face to face with a spider monkey, her favorite animal that we saw that day.
We also planned this trip to be able to see John's baseball game against Metro State. Monica met us at the game, which was great. We got to catch up, and she got to meet Maggie. Maggie also enjoyed her first cupcake and was irate when it was gone!

Like always, Maggie makes friends wherever we go. This little girl was at Maggie's side for about an hour before her mom came to get her.
By the end of our week in Colorado, Maggie was beat! Her eyes were blood-shot, and when we took her out of the car, while I packed it up, she didn't even notice.
Five days after we got back, we were on our way, again. This time to Wisconsin. It was pretty low-key, but we got to see everyone.

Maggie in James' raccoon skin hat.

Mean Grandma!

We were only in Wisconsin for a long weekend, while John was in Kansas for baseball. Then back home for 10 days.

Maggie has discovered how to open cabinet doors. Here she got into (literally) our pantry cabinet.

Maggie is also trying to master the spoon. As of right now, she can feed herself with a spoon if I put the food on it and hand it to her. She is still working on the scooping part. We are also finished with bottles (besides very occassionally), she drinks everything out of cups, which is a huge relief when it comes to the dishes.
For spring break, while John was with the baseball team in Texas, Maggie and I were back in Wisconsin. Again, it was pretty low-key; it was great!

Maggie, our musical prodigy. Here she is pondering what will come next in her composition, (John thinks she's telling the piano to be quiet). Along the same lines, Maggie is dancing all the time, even if the music is quiet in the background, she hears it and starts to sway. (Her dancing recently changed from bobbing to swaying.)
Maggie also discovered the stairs this trip. She's great at going up, but we're working on going down without falling on her head. John thinks this picture shows her Kinzel side, with her sly little mischievious look, and the fact that she's climbing.

Coming down the stairs the WRONG WAY!
On the piano again and doing a little ballet.
We got home in time to have Easter with John and his parents.

Maggie in her Easter dress.

These next two pictures are compliments of Bobbie and show two new tricks.

Maggie talks on the phone (and the book and the comb, pretty much anything shaped like a phone, but mostly just phones).

Oops, sorry! But this shows how Maggie has learned to put her own hat on. Not perfect, but impressive none the less.
Maggie got into the cabinet again. I heard her get in, while I was folding laundry, but didn't think much of it. But then it got really quiet and when I went to check on her, she was eating a bun she had grabbed out of the bag.
It was pretty funny!
Now, we're finally home for a decent amount of time, before we head out again for South Carolina. We are planning a birthday party for Maggie on April 27th. I think we have a good amount of family coming out, and it is an open invitation to whoever wants to come for the weekend. (Sorry, our couch has already been called by Karen.)

Other than this giant update, Maggie is also walking more. I'm sure she could walk if she tried, but she just doesn't want to let go of the furniture. But day by day, she gets braver; it shouldn't be too long now. She is finally getting tooth #3, and we are entering sleepness night #3. John is still as busy as ever and Maggie and I are trying to stay as busy as possible. The days keep getting warmer, so that helps us.

I think I hit on everything. If I missed something, let me know. But now it's time for bed, hopefully!