Hayley Erbert Gets Emotional Welcoming Baby With Derek Hough
Last Updated on April 11, 2026 by Bella
New mom Hayley Erbert is opening up about the emotional reality of motherhood—and her honest words are resonating with parents everywhere.
Just three months after welcoming her first child with husband Derek Hough, Erbert shared a deeply personal reflection on Instagram, describing motherhood as both beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time.
“Joy and Heartache Can Both Be True”
Erbert, 31, gave birth to the couple’s daughter, Everley Capri Hough, on December 29, 2025. Since then, her life has completely transformed—and not in the simple, picture-perfect way many expect.
In her heartfelt post, she described motherhood as a “dichotomy,” explaining that it feels like living in two emotional worlds at once.
“My heart is constantly bursting open, while also breaking into a million pieces,” she wrote.
Her words capture a reality many new parents experience but rarely articulate so clearly—the coexistence of overwhelming love and quiet sadness.
The Bittersweet Reality of Watching a Child Grow
One of the most powerful parts of Erbert’s reflection was her honesty about time.
While she celebrates every milestone her daughter reaches, she also finds herself grieving the version of her baby that existed just moments before.
“I find myself celebrating every little bit of your growth, while quietly grieving the version of you that existed just moments before,” she shared.
It’s a sentiment that speaks to the fleeting nature of early parenthood—the realization that every “first” also means saying goodbye to a moment that will never come back.
Erbert admitted she sometimes wishes she could “freeze time,” even as she looks forward to all the milestones still to come.
A “Beautiful Contradiction”
For Erbert, motherhood isn’t about choosing between joy or struggle—it’s about embracing both.
She described the experience as a constant pull between:
- Holding on and letting go
- Wanting time to slow down while knowing it won’t
- Feeling complete happiness alongside emotional vulnerability
“It’s the most beautiful contradiction,” she wrote, summing up the complex emotional landscape of becoming a parent.
Her perspective offers a refreshing contrast to idealized portrayals of motherhood, instead highlighting its raw, human side.
A Special Journey to Parenthood
Erbert’s journey into motherhood carries even deeper meaning given her past health challenges.
Two years before her daughter’s birth, she underwent life-saving brain surgery after being diagnosed with a cranial hematoma. At the time, she described it as a second chance at life.
Now, becoming a mother feels like a full-circle moment.
“What a miracle it is that two years ago I was fighting for my life… and now I am creating life,” she previously shared.
This perspective adds an extra layer of gratitude and emotion to her motherhood experience.
Derek Hough’s Sweet Response
Erbert’s post didn’t just resonate with fans; it also touched her husband.
Derek Hough responded simply but powerfully in the comments:
“My girls ❤️”
The couple, who married in 2023, first announced their pregnancy in July 2025, calling it the “biggest thing to happen to us.”
Since welcoming Everley, they’ve shared glimpses of their new life as parents, often highlighting both the joy and transformation that comes with it.
Final Thoughts
Hayley Erbert’s honest reflection is a reminder that motherhood is not a one-dimensional experience.
It’s layered, emotional, and often contradictory.
But in that complexity lies its beauty.
Her message is simple yet powerful: it’s okay to feel everything at once—the love, the joy, the nostalgia, and even the heartbreak.
Because that’s what makes motherhood so deeply human.
TL;DR
- Hayley Erbert opened up about motherhood, describing it as a mix of joy and heartache at the same time.
- She and Derek Hough welcomed their daughter Everley Capri Hough in December 2025.
- She shared that motherhood feels like “living in two places at once,” where happiness and emotional pain coexist.
- Hayley said she celebrates her baby’s growth while also feeling sad about how quickly those moments pass.
- She admitted she sometimes wishes she could freeze time while still looking forward to her daughter’s milestones.
- She called motherhood a “beautiful contradiction” filled with love, change, and emotional depth.
- Derek Hough reacted emotionally to her post, commenting, “My girls ❤️.”
- Hayley’s journey feels even more meaningful after surviving life-saving brain surgery two years before becoming a mom.
