Hoda Kotb, who welcomed daughter Haley Joy two months ago, returned to the Today show yesterday and barely kept it in check. But, like most things with Hoda, watching her effusive reaction to her new life is infectious. Hoda kept bursting into tears, but it wasn’t, as Matt Lauer mentioned, because she was miserable to be back at work. Since welcoming Haley, she has never been happier in her entire life. Reading statements like that can sound a bit hokey so watch it instead to fully appreciate how much Hoda means it:
WATCH: “I’m scared to be sitting here. I’m afraid that I might explode into tears!” –@hodakotb #WelcomeBackHoda pic.twitter.com/l1VWCHEE0Q
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) April 17, 2017
Hoda spoke more on her journey to becoming a mother. She underwent breast cancer treatment 10 years ago. That plus her age led her to think she had no hope of having a baby. She also admits the desire to have a baby came to her a little later than most. Based on her interview, it seems she was willing to accept that this might not be a possibility. I think that’s why she is so overcome, because she didn’t actually think it could happen. It also sounds like she really didn’t tell anyone. When they aired her announcement on the show, most of her co-workers sounded genuinely surprised.
Later on in the show, Kotb opened up about the transformative effect of motherhood in a touching pre-taped segment. “You think that by a certain stage in your life, I’ve had every experience that I’ve had, and then all of a sudden she shows up. I felt like in my life, I’ve had joy beyond what I could have imagined, but this is beyond a dream. Like, you had your dreams — and then this,” she said. “I never believed in love at first sight until now.”
The anchor also joked that her daughter “probably thinks it’s raining in her nursery, because I’m always looking at her and crying on her.” The proud mama added, “When they first handed me Haley, I was scared to hold her, and when they first put her in my arms, it was a perfect fit.”
You can watch the segment that the quotes above are pulled from here. I thought her quote about Haley thinking it rains in her nursery was funny. I also appreciated when Lauer made a point to say that Joel Schiffman, Hoda’s boyfreind, was the perfect partner to join her on this journey. I not familiar with Joel but that’s a lovely compliment to pay someone and it makes me happy to know Hoda has someone worthy of her charms. If you thumb through her Instagram, her euphoria bleeds through every photo. Plus there are photos of Haley with all Hoda’s famous friends – it looks like everyone rushed over to meet little Haley as soon as they could. Hoda and Kathie Lee Gifford’s reunion on the show was pretty heartfelt too.
I don’t know about you but with all the bs going on around us, I could use a healthy dose of Hoda in my world. Congrats to the whole Hotb/Schiffman family!
Photo credit: Instagram, Twitter and WENN Photos
I still tear up holding my son out of sheer happiness and disbelief. Miscarriages, awful fertility treatment….and finally he’s here. Sending so much love to the folks still running the race, those at the finish line, and those who had to stop running. But also, huge shout out to the folks who never wanted to enter the race in the first place ♡
I’ll admit I was slightly hoping this was about her bursting into tears leaving her daughter so I could feel a little better. Left Little Monkey at 6 weeks and bawled my way through work the first two days. It’s much easier now, but holy sh!t. HOLY SH!T.
Aw. I can’t relate to the miscarriages and fertility treatment part, and can’t imagine how tough that would be. I can relate to the crying out of sheer happiness part. I will think about my son when I’m away from him and want to cry just thinking about how much I love him. It’s crazy. (He just turned 1, so you’d think it would’ve eased up a bit by now!)
I’ve never ever commented here before, but I just wanted to say that if it helps, I cried and cried when I left my daughter after I went back to work. I like my job and wasn’t sorry to be back, but leaving her was ridiculously hard. Also, I’m sorry about your experiences with miscarriage and infertility–I can relate to this, too. It’s so hard.
I’m still on my journey. 8 years of trying. Years of various medical appointments, finding doctors, leaving doctors who wouldn’t listen to me, wrong diagnoses, correct diagnoses, attending baby showers and feeling alone, feeling alone on Mother’s Day, feeling pathetic. I have an IVF transfer on May 15th. We only have one embryo that survived and every day I wonder….will it finally be my turn? I don’t even know how I will respond of it finally is. My default setting now is just to feel like I’m left out.
Kathleen, I am so sorry you are not having any luck. I never had any luck either (did 3 rounds of ivf, pursued adoption for 2 years with no match before we decided to get off the treadmill). It is an EXTREMELY lonely place to be, watching and hearing everyone else finally have their miracle. I feel your pain, you’re not alone. I found the decision to stop “trying” to be freeing, but the pain still exists. It’s like any grief – time does help it heal, but it will still come back from time to time and smack you in the face. Big, big hug!
Oh Kathleen…I wish I could hug you. Sending lots of love and light your way. What a terrible thing to go through. ♡♡♡
@Kathleen it took my aunt and uncle 10 years before they had my cousin…she’s a handful and is about to turn 18(??!!) but we all felt her sadness during that difficult decade…hang in there, hopefully you’ll also meet your baby soon. Best of luck!
I love your comments, Sunny Daze, and am so happy for you. Today is Day Two of my daughter going back to work after her leave ended: tough going when she leaves each day crying a bit…
WOW 6 weeks. That’s awful. Here’s it 12 months. Anything shorter than a 6 month mat leave seems so cruel to me. I hope you can change your laws. 6 weeks is just unbelievably short of a mat leave. How do you even function at work on so little sleep???
I’m sniffing back a tear. I’m so happy for her and her happiness!
I’m not a baby person but this is so cute and I wish her and her little family all the best. I’m also so happy she adopted and didn’t go the surrogate route. I know it’s a personal choice but if you can combine your own happiness with giving a kid who’s already in this world a loving home, I’m rooting for you even more.
Because BABY. Look at that little squisher, just look.
My, can I relate ??!!! Loving a son or daughter (I got 2, boy and girl) is the purest love. Like loving my mother. When you think you’ve reached the limit on awsomess and wonder, Then, there it is : a new, deeper layer of pure love. Like you love, love and then love some more. This journey is amazing in my eyes. I totally simpatize w those still struggling, I send you my support and prayers while I really respect whoever has decided not to embark on that journey.
The world is so depressing right now that I get giddy over every celebrity baby (and puppy…and kitten…)
I love Hoda. I don’t watch the AM shows because I just don’t like how inane they are, but I love her.
I’m you and you are me, I REALLY have developed a Serious distaste/hate for Morning TV Pablum.. CBS is about where I keep it and I tend to skip or roll my eyes to the Last bit of David Muir at nights cause is Feel good B*llshit aimed to create fee-fees and not particularly inform us ( and that’s how we ended with a walking hazardous waste Orange Vat as president) but MAN ALIVE did I just weeped with this Lady and Kathy ( not that wanting a baby that badly is anything I can relate to but like she is super warm/effusive/sympathetic type of person)
I really like Hoda. So, I am very very happy for her and her family! Cheers!
Simply beautiful! I’m just over 38 weeks pregnant myself and I am beside myself with excitement about meeting my new person very soon 🙂
I am so incredibly happy for hoda. That little girl is so loved.
Not surprised. Oxytocin is powerful stuff, ya’ll. Am I recalling correctly that her daughter is adopted? If so, good on her for disavowing any claims otherwise that adoption is less fulfilling than birth.
IMHO, she went back to work too soon.If you don’t have much money, don’t have paid mat leave, and need to get back to work as soon as possible I can understand, but I doubt this is the case for her. Why wouldn’t you want to spend more time with your new baby, like at least 6 months off? I don’t get it.
Cushy job, benefits, fear of losing the job.