Valentine's Day this year was memorable for many but for Today Show co-host Hoda Kotb, it was extra special. Kotb dropped the bomb on everyone last Tuesday, February 21 during a call-in to the Today show, announcing that she has adopted a baby girl.
It turned out some co-hosts knew about the baby but left it up to Kotb to formally break the news publicly. Nevertheless, they remained enthusiastic in congratulating the new 52-year-old mom.
"This little girl Haley is the luckiest girl in the planet, because you are going to be the most fantastic mom," Matt Lauer said.
Prior to the announcement, Kotb was privy on why she went on leave. The TV host, however, remained active on social media by posting cryptic messages on Instagram that left people wondering what she was really up to.
The newborn who was born on Valentine's Day is named Haley Joy. Sounding emotional, Kotb explained how she and beau Joel Schiffman came to name the baby as such.
"Haley is because of Halley's Comet and it was one of those things that I just picture her sailing through the sky," Kotb told her Today co-hosts Kathie Lee Gifford and Jenna Bush Hager at a second call-in.
She also explained the desire to continue a family tradition wherein first names all started with H. Kotb's sister and niece are named Hala and Hannah respectively. The middle name on the other hand, Kotb says was chosen for the emotion she and Schiffman feels.
"She brings us joy," Kotb continued. "She's got a beautiful way about her."
Although Kotb went into details on how the baby was named, she did not expound whether or not current partner Schiffman is legally registered as the baby's adoptive dad. US Weekly reports that Kotb was married to Burzis Kanga from 2005 to 2007 before she started dating Schiffman.
Kotb however, said on SiriusXM radio last year that she dated Schiffman three years before mutually deciding to live together. Details of that revelation is in an uploaded sound clip on Soundcloud.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
