This is 29

It’s not marked by loud celebrations or the excitement of my earlier milestones. There’s no rush of turning 21, no looming expectations of 30 (yet). Instead 29 feels quieter, more introspective. A moment where the past and future meet and I find myself standing at the crossroads, reflecting on what’s been and contemplating what’s to come.

At 29, I stand in the space between who I’ve been and who I’m becoming. The expectations I carried throughout my twenties have started to fade, replaced by a more grounded understanding of who I am and what I need. It’s a season of growth. Messy, unpredictable, and filled with moments of clarity that seem to come and go like waves. There’s no rush now. There’s only the beauty of learning, unlearning, and allowing the process to unfold.

A Decade of Becoming

As I look back on the past decade, I’m awestruck by how far I’ve come, not in terms of accomplishments but in self-awareness. My early twenties were full of excitement, fear, and the overwhelming sense that I needed to have it all figured out. I navigated the unknown with wide-eyed anticipation, chasing dreams while learning to balance them with reality.

And then came marriage and motherhood, a chapter that redefined everything I thought I knew. It became a core part of my growth, transforming me in ways I hadn’t imagined. My daughter has been my greatest teacher, showing me the magic in the mundane and the beauty in the small moments. It wasn’t always easy, but it has always been worth it. In becoming her mother, I found myself.

Where Am I?

At 29, there’s a quiet strength that comes with knowing myself better. I’m more comfortable with uncertainty, more willing to release the things that no longer serve me, and more patient with my own journey. Yet, I also understand that I’m still in the midst of becoming, and there’s peace in that realization.

I’ve built a career that allows me to witness and capture the raw, intimate moments of life. Moments that reflect the heart of motherhood, birth, and family. Photography has become a way for me to honor these stories, to hold space for the beauty and the mess that come with them. Each family reminds me that life is not about perfection, but about presence and showing up fully in the moments that matter most.

But 29 also brings a certain weight. It’s a time when you begin to feel the shift, recognizing that life is not infinite and that the decisions you make now carry more depth. It’s no longer about saying yes to everything but about being intentional with my time, choosing what truly aligns with my values and letting go of the rest.

Embracing the Unknown

As I look forward to 30, there’s no fear of leaving my twenties behind. Instead, there’s a sense of quiet excitement, a readiness for whatever comes next. The past decade has taught me that life is not about having a clear roadmap. It’s about navigating the detours, embracing the unexpected, and finding beauty in the unplanned. If that’s anything being a military family has taught me.

The lessons I’ve learned haven’t come from achieving perfection, but from letting go of it. From the moments where I allowed myself to be vulnerable, to do, and to learn from it all. To try and fail, then try again and again and again. There’s a deep peace in accepting that I don’t need to have all the answers, and that sometimes, the best paths are the ones you stumble upon by chance.

At 29, I’m learning to trust the process of life. To allow myself to evolve, to change, and to release the things that no longer resonate. I’m gentler with myself, more mindful of the journey, and more willing to find happy in the here and now, rather than waiting for it in some distant future.

Celebrating the Little Things

If there’s one truth I hold onto, it’s that the little things really are the big things like they all said. The quiet moments with my family, the simple traditions we’ve built together, the daily laughs we share. These are the moments that make life meaningful. These are the threads that weave together the story of my life, and they’re the moments I’ll carry with me as I move into the next chapter.

So, this is 29. A year of reflection, growth, and embracing the messy beauty of the journey. It’s a time of letting go, of making space for what’s yet to come, and of honoring the person I’ve become along the way.

This is 29. And I’m so happy to be here.