the 29th...

On Sunday I turned 29....yes, 29. 

I feel pretty good about it, about the number. I try not to put too much thought into my own birthdays. They aren't as much much fun compared to planning a toddler's birthday party. But a celebration was to be had...

This is the look of a 29 year old woman ready to take on the world...

Maybe not a woman who's ready to take on the world, but one who's ready for whatever my 29th year may bring. I'm looking at it not as number, not as a year...not basing it on a time frame, rather I'm embracing it, take it day by day. I've learned I can't go back and I certainly can't predict the future. I've been realizing lately I need to live in the moment, for the day...I tend to think too much, put too much pressure on myself to create the "perfect" future...when in reality where I'm at in life is trying to create a good day that will eventually lead to an even better life. In my 29th year, things will fall into place for me. I'm starting fresh, surrounded by support and love. Slowly things are happening, good things. I'm making changes daily and vowing to live a better life for myself and my daughter. I feel like the moment 29 came I embraced it and decided to make a change within myself. To see the positive and when the negative creeps in, I choose to turn it around quickly. I'm far from where I want to be in this current moment. I've been struggling with things since my move...but these things don't define me. Nor will I let them.

My birthday was spent with people I love...sadly, some weren't with me, some are near and some are far. Either way I felt the presence of the ones I missed.  Birthdays to me don't need to be celebrated in a huge way...just acknowledged. You have many days to feel appreciated, but there is something extremely special about having one day just as yours....even if there are a million other people with the exact same birthday in the world...still, somehow the day belongs to you.

So we celebrated, had a BBQ, sipped wine, played with silly sting, chatted and laughed...enjoyed a summer night and took in the moment. Embraced the new life I'm living, the people I'm building friendships and relationships with, took in my sweet little girl who was far too excited that it was momma's birthday....and that alone makes the day that much more special.

To share my day with her...is all I could ask for. Although moments with her I feel like she's aging me, oh my how she keeps me young. She keeps laughter in my life and constantly makes me feel loved unconditionally. To see a birthday in her eyes....a cake, a song and blowing out candles is just pure bliss...

I'm proud to be her momma and for her to show me how life is supposed to be: don't over think, laugh more, love harder, live in the moment...before you know it, life might just pass you by. We have far too much ahead of us to not take in life as it comes...the good or the bad...in the end it all makes us who we are. Age doesn't define us...we choose who and what makes us, us...

 Secret wishes...dreams do come true....

xo,

Dani