Catelynn Lowell, known for her role on Teen Mom: Next Chapter, took to Instagram to mark her daughter Carly’s 14th birthday. Lowell and her now-husband, Tyler Baltierra, welcomed Carly when they were just 16 years old in 2009 and made the decision to place her for adoption, a journey that was documented on MTV’s first season of 16 & Pregnant.
In her Instagram post, Lowell shared throwback photos of Carly from a dance recital, as well as pictures of Carly playing with her younger siblings—Rya Rose (18 months old), Vaeda Luma (4 years old), and Novalee Reign (8 years old). Accompanying the photos, the proud mom wrote, “14 years ago this amazing little girl was born! Gosh if she only knew how many people she has touched and changed. Happy Birthday, Carly! We love you so much!”
In a 2021 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Lowell mentioned that she isn’t inclined to watch old episodes of 16 and Pregnant or Teen Mom OG, except for one specific episode. She expressed her desire to watch her 16 and Pregnant episode with Carly when she’s older, stating that it will serve as a powerful tool to convey the reality of their experience without needing many words.
Lowell explained that having that episode will allow them to watch it together and address any questions Carly may have, as it captures their journey in a genuine and unfiltered way. During a November episode of Teen Mom: Next Chapter, Lowell, and Baltierra had a conversation about their daughter Novalee’s emotional state when she had been picked up from school earlier that day.
Novalee expressed her sadness, longing for her sister Carly, and questioning why they had to be separated. The parents spoke with Novalee, trying to understand her feelings, and she expressed that Carly feels like a sister to her, but they can’t see each other as much as she would like.
Reflecting on the conversation, Lowell shared that when she made the decision to place Carly for adoption at 16, she hadn’t fully considered how it would impact her future children. Baltierra echoed her sentiment, admitting that he also hadn’t thought about the potential negative effects on their children.
Despite the challenges and emotional moments, Lowell’s love and admiration for Carly shine through as she celebrates her daughter’s birthday and acknowledges the profound impact Carly has had on their lives.
