Lily Collins celebrated her ‘first birthday as a mama’ as she turned 36 on Tuesday – and shared sweet family snaps to mark the occasion. 

The actress and her husband Charlie McDowell welcomed daughter Tove, their first child, via surrogate just weeks ago.

Sharing a glimpse into her family life, the Emily In Paris star posted the snaps of them doting on their little one to her Instagram. 

Lily penned in the caption: ‘First birthday as a mama and I truly couldn’t be happier or imagine it being any more special. 

‘What a magical year it’s been and what a beautiful year I’m stepping into. Grateful doesn’t even begin to express how I feel…’.

Lily dressed casually knitted beige jumper, blue shirt and jeans as they posed at the seaside location. 

Lily Collins celebrated her ‘first birthday as a mama’ as she turned 36 on Tuesday – and shared sweet family snaps to mark the occasion with her husband Charlie and daughter Tove

Sharing a glimpse into her family life, the Emily In Paris star posted snaps of them doting on their little one to her Instagram

It comes after Lily celebrated her first Valentine’s Day as a mom, sharing a sweet pH๏τo of her family. 

The star stayed true to her television character, snapping a selfie of herself, her husband of three years Charlie, their baby daughter Tove, and their fur baby. 

In her Instagram Stories, Lily shared a flashback pH๏τo of herself and Charlie writing, ‘How it started,’ and then re-shared the new family pH๏τo writing, ‘How it’s going.’ 

Next to the family pH๏τo shared on the main page of her account, the new mother gushed,  ‘I truly can’t imagine feeling more love. Valentine’s Day (and every day) just got a whole lot sweeter…’  

‘Now I’m crying (they’re happy tears dw)’ wrote Emily in Paris co-star Paul Forman. 

Earlier this year, the Netflix sensation announced the birth of her first child with a simple post showing the baby resting peacefully.

She wrote in a caption for her 29 million followers to read, ‘Welcome to the center of our world Tove Jane McDowell. 

‘Words will never express our endless graтιтude for our incredible surrogate and everyone who helped us along the way. We love you to the moon and back again…’

The actress and her husband Charlie McDowell welcomed daughter Tove, their first child, via surrogate just weeks ago 

While the actress has been inundated with congratulations from fans, she has also faced criticism for joining the ranks of Hollywood stars who have welcomed a baby via surrogacy.

Some social media users attacked the actress and her spouse for taking part in the ‘unethical trend,’ which, critics argue, involves ‘rich people renting women’s bodies.’ 

Some have evened likened it to ‘human trafficking.’

Read More Lily Collins beams as she enjoys a beach day with husband Charlie McDowell and their newborn daughter

Others speculated that Lily, along with other A-list celebrities, might have chosen to ‘opt out’ of pregnancy to preserve their looks.

McDowell, 41, hit back at the critics, writing online: ‘In regards to the unkind messages about surrogacy and our path to having a baby – it’s OK to not be an expert on surrogacy. 

‘It’s OK to not know why someone might need a surrogate to have a child. It’s OK to not know the motivations of a surrogate regardless of what you ᴀssume.

‘And it’s OK to spend less time spewing hateful words into the world, especially in regards to a beautiful baby girl who has brought a lot of love into people’s lives. That’s all for now because she just pooped and I need to change her diaper.’

It comes after Lily celebrated her first Valentine’s Day as a mom, sharing a sweet pH๏τo of her family 

In her Instagram Stories, Lily shared a flashback pH๏τo of herself and Charlie writing, ‘How it started,’ and then re-shared the new family pH๏τo writing, ‘How it’s going’