maya-bean's berry 1st birthday

birthday reflections, empowering affirmations, + a freebie

I blinked

(one month)

and blinked

(nine months)

and blinked again--

And my baby girl turned 1.

Our lives have completely changed for the better since Maya Inez Alberta arrived.

I'm not the same.

J's not the same.

The kids aren't the same.

And all of that is a good, good thing.

I knew our family dynamic would shift, adding in a baby 5 years later than our last.

I foresaw the challenges. Was certainly anxious about them. Dreaded them, even.

So much so, that I even couldn't begin to fathom the joy.

And oh, what a joy it has been.

My first moment alone with my sweet little bean, I nestled her into my chest and spoke these words of life over her:

Maya Inez Alberta,

🤍 You are made in the image of God.

🤍 You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

🤍 You were designed on purpose, with purpose.

🤍 You are loved and wanted.

🤍 God delights in you.

🤍 God has prepared good works for you to do.

My eyes welled with tears as I prayed over my baby, this sweet one who I finally held in my arms, a full week past her due date after my most anxiety and doubt-ridden pregnancy to date. I’d struggled to find joy and hopefulness as her life grew within me, and it wasn’t until I met Maya face-to-face that the bottomless depths of my love and gratefulness for her fully drowned out my fears.

This past year has held its share of thorns among the roses. Things got worse before they got better—but, glory to God, they did get better. There are so many things I have learned about myself and changes that I have undergone this past year that I truly don't know if I would've experienced if God hadn’t allowed my sweet Maya-bean to come along. Her birth-day was my rebirth-day, as I began to live out Version 5.0 of my motherhood and learn this new iteration of myself.

Celebrating my baby girl’s birthday this past June brought nothing but genuine joy and happiness. My heart was full to bursting when I saw and reflected on so many who love this sweet baby and have come alongside us this past year in various ways.

God is so good and kind to give us our Maya. 💗 Every good and perfect gift truly is from him.

there’s nothing like family.

our house was packed. upstairs was sweltering. still so much fun.

team holston, est. 2012

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Free printable of the empowering words of affirmation is available as a download!

The statements, titled "True Things About God and Me," hang in different areas of our home, and I try to regularly say them with* and to** all the kids.

*With--because these are true about me, too! It’s far too easy to forget that I’m also an image-bearer, intentionally made and loved by God.

**To--because it's important that they hear, from me, where their value originates and from where their purpose flows.

So whether it’s for yourself, your kids, or someone else in your life, subscribe* to my Substack for a free printable!

*Already subscribed? Check your inbox for a link to download!

a peek at the printable options!