At the End of a Downhill Slide, Britney Spears Loses Custody

Hard to believe that just a year ago -- as her marriage to deadbeat dancer Kevin Federline ended -- Britney Spears was the one who looked like the good parent.

Because by yesterday, when a judge ordered the troubled pop star, 25, to surrender custody of her two small sons to Federline, it felt like a long time coming.

The two had shared custody 50-50. But Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon -- who earlier ordered Spears to hire a parenting coach and undergo random drug tests because of "habitual, frequent and continuous" substance abuse -- ruled that Federline, 29, must get full custody of Sean Preston ,2, and Jayden James ,1, tomorrow at noon.

A look back at Spears's tailspin year, and K-Fed's unlikely emergence as The Good Dad:

Nov. 7, 2006: Spears files for divorce after two years of marriage. News stories reflect poorly on Federline (he left her to go party in Las Vegas after her C-section, etc.). Spears seeks custody of their two sons, her ex does the same.

Nov. 10: Federline flirts and chain-smokes through a lame, non-performing gig at D.C.'s Platinum nightclub that fails to juice sales of his flop debut CD.

Nov. 18: Spears is seen partying in Vegas with Paris Hilton. Soon, several unflattering photos emerge of Spears pantyless under short skirts.

Dec. 18: In a surprise appearance at a WWE show in D.C., Federline hypes his new wrestling career: "My name is not K-Fed, it's Kevin Federline, [expletive], and I want some and I'm gonna get some."

Jan. 1: Federline gets body-slammed by heavyweight John Cena in his wrestling debut.

Jan. 5: The couple agrees on shared custody. Spears says her '07 plan is "just to take care of me more."

Feb 4: Federline gets laughs in a self-deprecating Super Bowl ad for Nationwide Insurance that shows him working a fast-food job.

Feb. 16: Hours after checking out of rehab, Spears walks into a hair salon in full view of paparazzi and shaves her head. In later days, she checks back into rehab, then checks out within hours. Federline threatens to pursue full custody, and she returns to rehab.