Meagan Starr

We are so thrilled to share that a second little Starr is joining our family at the end of the year! Read on if you want more than that fluffy caption 👇🏻 Announcing a second pregnancy feels unexpectedly strange to me; I've asked myself a hundred questions leading up to sharing this post. Some of the most frequent: ❔Is the timing... right? ❔Did we tell all of our close friends and family? I know we're forgetting someone... ❔I'm already showing, but could we keep it to ourselves a little longer? ❔Will I hurt anyone's feelings by announcing this? Is my caption too casual? Too nonchalant? I know there's another hopeful woman out there that will be disappointed to see this. ❔Will this negatively impact my business? ❔Am I giving enough love and attention to this second baby? I already feel like I'm failing. ❔was it this bad last time? I know I should feel so grateful, but I'm also miserable. ❔And really: Does it even matter? To say this first trimester has been tough is quite an understatement... besides the doubting and questioning of my own capabilities as a mother-of-two, I have been sick and tired and barely functioning when I'm not actively working (though very thankful my clients have been unaffected). The mental and emotional struggle of trying to be present for a husband and toddler who still actively need me, while feeling like I've been existing in a 10-week long carsick/hangover, has been a daily challenge. The guilt... shame... disappointment. Pregnancy is hard, and also a million other beautiful things. Yes, and. Finally starting to feel BETTER, but in case it helps someone else, this is my truth 👆🏻 Finally, I'm incredibly grateful to one of my very best friends @kaylaannsellers for taking these for us. She managed to capture a whole album-full for us in about 3.5 minutes last weekend, in our own home. Bless.

My little family, in our first home together, in a room that is so so special to me, taken by our dear friend and wedding photographer @shannons_photo . We captured the very last of the “newborn” stage yesterday, and I’ve never been more grateful.

Happy anniversary, @thezackstarr . Can’t think of a better way to end our 2.5 week roadtrip than a very special session with our @shannons_photo at @biltmoreestate . Truly a blessing to celebrate this season of life.

This year just feels… different. Last Thanksgiving we were in the thick of Roman’s diagnosis - scared, praying constantly, and honestly just trying to make it through each day. It was such a heavy season. Fast-forward to now, and we just had his one year check-in at Dallas Children’s where his team gave him the most encouraging report. He’s growing, he’s thriving, and we’re seeing answers to prayers we whispered through tears last year. We are witnessing a MIRACLE. God has been so kind to our family. My heart is extra thankful today. 🧡 (And a BIG thank you to @kaylasellersphotography for these photos from Roman's "first rodeo" birthday a few weeks ago!)

We celebrated 6 years of marriage last week. Really, truly celebrated. Because this has been one of the hardest seasons of our entire relationship, and it feels like we are finally emerging out of a deep valley - that at times - felt insurmountable. It's taken a lot of work to get here; a lot of hard conversations, PRAYER and supplication, many hours spent with our biblical marriage counselor, support from a few trusted friends, and just... the willingness to the hard work of looking inward to see what could be made new and better. We have also been a part of an incredible Re|engage group with @pathwaypeople , and I am so grateful to have found this program in the most timely *season-aligning* fashion. I say all of this, because we so often only see little glimpses of perfect and beautiful marriages online, and, having already been through *that* charade, my only desire is to share the real and the raw, and the true successes of covenant-desiring marriage. It is the hardest, best work I have ever done. @thezackstarr , I can truly say, I have never loved you more, never been so excited for the future that we are building brick by brick together.

Happiest 40th to my built-in twin @kaylaannsellers 👯‍♀️ For a decade you’ve been the taker of all my favorite photos, the sharer of closets, my forever girl-dinner date, and the loudest cheerleader in my corner. I have over a thousand pictures of us on my camera roll, because every moment with you is worth saving: life is just lighter, brighter, and more fun when you’re around. I’m posting this a day late because we both worked weddings yesterday (a true testament to your commitment and heart for your brides)… but today feels just as perfect to celebrate you. Forever thankful for our matching tattoos, our endless meme-swapping, and a friendship that only gets sweeter with time. Cheers to 40 years of you, and to all the fun still ahead 😉😉 📷 @shannons_photo

We’ve walked through some heavy chapters lately - the kind that test everything. But this week, we laughed more. We danced at a concert. Stayed out late. Shared a hotel bed with no monitors or late night feeds or toddler interruptions. And while all of that was wonderful, what really fills me up is the energy between us again: light, easy, familiar. I don’t take it for granted. It feels so good to enjoy each other again ❤️ If you’re in a hard season - hold on. Keep showing up. The light can find its way back in.

Millennial Moms Reel Timeline Day 1: “Let’s make a reel!” Day 30: “Still brainstorming…” Day 90: “We need coordinating outfits.” Day 120: “Where should we film?” Day 180: “Wait, trends changed.” Day 240: “Okay, for real this time.” Day 300: Starts editing Day 364: “We should’ve just done it.” Day 365: Reel drops. Just two millennial moms, one full year, and a travel reel we’ll never forget! Here’s to our next trip!

I've been thinking and praying about how to share this news for a few weeks now... I've hesitated, because sometimes I still feel like I might wake up from this strange dream, just shy of a nightmare. For now, at least, I am still holding a healthy baby boy in my arms, and mercifully, our only sign that there is something "wrong" with him is the alarm that goes off, every three hours, without fail. Nursing, bottle feeding, pumping. I am - we are - doing it all; it's the one thing I have some modicum of control over. We've followed these "fasting precautions" like his life depends on it, because, well... it does. Roman has been diagnosed with an extremely rare genetic metabolic disorder called LCHAD Deficiency, which, if I'm being honest, I'd never heard of until our pediatrician called me when he was just a few days old (made worse by the fact that HE didn't even know how to explain it to me, since he'd never seen it in his decades of practice). After much research and education, I can still barely pronounce what the acronym stands for, so I'll let google do the explaining: LCHAD deficiency is a hereditary disease caused by mutations in the HADHA gene, which prevents the body from producing the enzyme complex needed to convert fat into energy. This enzyme complex is crucial for breaking down long-chain fatty acids found in foods like milk and oils. (Continued in the comments...)

These little brothers, y'all 🥹🥹 I have truly experienced a supernatural peace this holiday (and postpartum) season; there's no other way to describe it. Someone asked me at church last night how I was *really* doing, and my honest answer was, "I'm doing so much better than I probably should be." Only Jesus could be responsible for the gratitude and deep joy I feel in what might otherwise be a very dark and depressing time. These days have been merry and bright, indeed. So, Merry Christmas, from my little family to yours ❤️ (Swipe over to peep our Christmas/birth announcement card!)

Currently living in the hardest and also the most beautiful season of my life so far; existing in a state of both grief and gratitude has stretched me farther than I even thought was possible. I've found comfort in this song so many times over the last couple of months, knowing that God has blessed me - abundantly - even in and through the loss of my Dad. I am eternally thankful for his legacy, and for the family @thezackstarr and I have created 🤍 "Father on this side of heaven I know that I'll run out of time But I will keep counting my blessings Knowing I can't count that high And I know that seasons never last forever So, God I will remember all of the reasons My heart has to be grateful All the times You've been faithful to me" @seph_schlueter

Happy due date, Roman Comfort! I always knew you'd be born before today, and I'm so glad for the two weeks we've already had to get to know you. You are the sweetest, snuggliest babe, and I'm thoroughly enjoying this second chance at newborn life. Boy mama, forever.