zenna is almost one!

in the chaos that is our life now, i missed zenna's 11-month-update. i knew it was ambitious to document every month, but i'm so glad i did, because it's the little things that get forgotten and it's the little things i want to remember forever! 

so before she turns one next week, here's what she's mastered BEFORE she turned one. 

she is a walking machine. she crawled for a while, and walked along couches for a while, 

then she would only take three or four steps towards me before falling into my arms, 

but now she's walking everywhere!

i'm beginning to sense a lot of independence from her too. when we're walking in the mall, 

she doesn't want to hold my hand or go where i go, she wants to be in charge-

and she's not afraid to throw a fit if she's not getting exactly what she wants.

she is starting to thin out A LOT. darn that walking. i'm interested to see where she lands at her one-year-checkup appointment. 

she has the funniest personality, and she thinks she's all that and a bag of chips.

she teases us all the team. she leans in for a kiss, then at last second dodges away giggling at herself. 

she stands up near me, looks me directly in the eye, then turns and runs away while constantly looking over her shoulder to see if i'm chasing her. 

she's giggling constantly at this game! often, she'll chase too. 

she loves sitting in our rocker chair all by herself, rocking so ferociously i'm concerned about her falling out, but if i try to sit with her, make her stop, or preoccupy her, she screams as if she's caught a finger in the door. 

she LOVES her baby doll. she had this incredible, natural instinct to kiss her baby and hug it close and pat it's back. i was amazed. 

she loves the baby doll for about thirty seconds, then throws her on the floor with quite a bit of force. 

she smiles ALL THE TIME. she's happy. 

she knows the meaning of the words "goodbye" 

and "soft" (as in pet my face softly, don't claw my eyes out please) and "dance." 

yeah, she dances on cue now - if she wants to. 

she loves climbing anything. on couches, on stairs, into the dishwasher. everywhere. 

she's gotten to where she usually just takes one longer nap in the afternoon with daddy, 

then when i get home she's started taking one at 7 pm... which means she stays up again until late... 

we're working on that haha

i love her so much and can't believe she's a eight days away from turning ONE!