Hi, I'm 16 Months Old!

I learned two things after taking Sidney's latest chair picture. 1. Don't try to take the picture while her cousins are here. They all have way too much fun together and she won't sit still. 2. I need a better camera.

Sidney is adjusting well to her new surroundings. She still sleeps well, she still smiles all the time, and she loves spending time with her cousins. She is doing really well in her school, she's starting to talk more and more, and she's so close to running. You would never know that she's had so many things change in her life in the past month. What a kid!

Greetings from Albuquerque

I’m here. I made it. Months of contemplation and weeks of planning have led me here to my new home in Albuquerque. It took me a long time to admit to myself that my life was not going to go back to the way it was. I needed to realize that for myself. It didn’t matter what advice I was given or how certain others felt about my situation. I had to move on and I had to do it someplace else and I had to come to that realization in my own time. I moved to California with certain intentions which no longer existed. It was time to make a new life for myself on my terms.

I’ve had some tough days during the past year and the day I left my house was certainly one of the toughest. I walked out of an empty house thinking about all the plans I had made for it when I moved in during the Summer of 2009. I had no idea that all those plans would be blown away on a chilly December night only six months later. What was once a warm and inviting home for me to raise my daughter had become a place of lies and broken promises and humiliation. I didn’t want to live there anymore knowing all the secrets that were shared behind my back.

So, it’s time for me to put the past behind me and move forward. I have a wonderful, caring family who have helped me settle in to my new surroundings with ease. I have a good job with friendly, helpful people who have welcomed me warmly. I found a great daycare for my daughter and she seems to be settling in nicely. My parents were right there for me and Sidney through packing, moving, traveling, unpacking and settling in. I hope they know how much I appreciate all they did for me.

I am hopeful about my future and my daughter’s future. I am certain I made the right decision to move here and I haven’t regretted it for a moment. I look forward to meeting new people and finding good restaurants and buying a house and taking Sidney to new places. I’ve got a list of road trips I want to take with her when she’s old enough to enjoy them.

I know I still have some healing to do and some anger and sadness to deal with, but I have a lot of dark days already behind me. I can look back and realize how far I’ve come in my healing over the past year, and be proud of myself.