Soul Surfer Bethany Hamilton Welcomes Baby No. 4
Bethany Hamilton and her husband, Adam Dirks, have officially welcomed their fourth child to the family!
The professional surfer—known for her inspiring recovery story after a shark attack claimed her left arm at 13 years old—shared the exciting news on Instagram this weekend. “Meet our beautiful daughter Alaya Dorothy Dirks,” she captioned the video montage of her newborn meeting the family. “We are feeling really grateful to God for the blessing of family. We are honored for this opportunity to raise our children, to love, serve, protect and guide them through life,” she added.
Alaya is a shorthand of the Buddist term ālaya-vijñāna, meaning “storehouse consciousness,” or “abode” or “dwelling” in its original Sanskrit. Typically a feminine name, Alaya offers baby quite the foundation or “home base” to form a wise and virtuous character. Alaya is the first girl in the Dirks family and is the baby sister to Micah, 2, Wesley, 4, and Tobias, 7.
During her fourth pregnancy, Hamilton stayed on the go, working out and “stroller” blading just three weeks before she was due. The author and athlete showed off her skills on Instagram, posting a video of her not only rollerblading at 37 weeks pregnant but also, pushing her son down the street in his stroller at the same time—all without breaking a sweat!
Perhaps even more remarkable, the stroller gliding alongside her was almost a decade old. Talk about some longevity! “We’ve had this stroller for 8 years! It’s been good,” Hamilton captioned the post, including info on where she shops for her favorite baby gear. “Ready for more family adventures to come!”
Parents, friends and fans were unsurprisingly awe-inspiring by Hamilton’s impressive stroller-blading. “Rollerblading pregnant with one arm pushing a stroller. I fell getting out of the car today,” joked one user. “Is there anything you can’t do,” added another.
Hamilton first shared the news that she was growing her family on March 14. “We’ve got six of us on board,” she captioned an Instagram video of her and her family of five surfing. “Adam and I, and our whole fam, are so excited to be growing our family! I believe that life is a gift, and each and every life has value,” she added.
“Eight years into motherhood, I’ve realized that I value my children more than I value “my” time. I value my family more than I value other things like certain types of wealth or success. I believe a joy-filled family is wealth, and to know God, that is the most beautiful and precious wealth of all. We can pursue so many things in life, but what if we pursued what is right in front of us: the beautiful blessing that is family,” she wrote.
Our congratulations to Hamilton and Dirks on their new addition!
