A Mama’s First Birthday

These photos were taken a year apart—me pregnant and me now with our 10-month-old Teague. My body has changed a lot! I’m happy to be back to my pre-baby weight. Yet the most important change I’ve gone through has not happened on the outside, but on the inside. On Teague’s first birthday, I also will be celebrating the first birthday of a mom, me.

Last year, my anxious and overwhelmed pregnant mind had a back-up, back-up plan that involved taking my baby to a fire station because I was going to be such an unfit mother. I was believing all the lies the enemy was telling me about my incompetence (John 10:10).

I never imagined I would have anything to offer others as a mother! Yet it hasn’t quite been a year later, and not only are my friends asking me for baby advice, but so are friends of friends. As a new mom, I’ve also been asked to write for and represent Graham Blanchard and its Newborn Promise Project focused on resources for parents and young families.

Most importantly to me though, Teague is a happy, healthy, and thriving baby boy. I no longer question if I can be a good mom, God is showing me every day that I am. I have been blessed with the greatest gift and opportunity to trust in God (Proverbs 3:5).

As much as I would like to wrap Teague up tightly and call him all mine, I know that he is on loan, entrusted to me for a short time, so I can help him grow up knowing God (and hopefully loving Him), and help him launch into the world.

God takes our greatest weaknesses and uses them to bring Him the most glory (2 Corinthians 12:9). I’m a great mom, but not because of anything I have done. I serve a great and mighty God. (Deuteronomy 10:17). Thank you, God, for Teague and the opportunity to trust in you. I’m all in.

Listen to the Podcasts: Kari Jobe as a First Time Mom and other shows in our podcast series Baby at Home. Download the App for our complete new Christian parent resource hub.

Jamie Alter is Graham Blanchard’s New Mama-in-Residence who shares her insights and lessons learned on the roller-coaster new parenting  journey. She is the Director of Brand Development at Alter Endeavors, a digital marketing company she founded with her husband, Nick.