Kristen Welker Quotes About Being a Mom to Daughter Margot

Today personality Kristen Welker’s wish to be a mom became a reality in June 2021. The broadcaster and her husband, John Hughes, welcomed their first child together, daughter Margot Lane Welker Hughes, via surrogate. Any time she talks about her little girl and shares details about her big milestones, her face lights up!

Kristen and John wed in March 2017 after meeting on a blind date set up by a friend three years earlier. Their instant connection was unlike anything the journalist had ever felt before. She knew he was The One after John gifted her a presidential-themed crossword puzzle that he made for her on their second date.

“That’s the moment he got me,” Kristen told the New York Times in March 2017. “As a White House correspondent, it was so touching, and it marked him different than anyone else I ever dated.”

Soon after they tied the knot, the couple knew that they wanted to start a family together. They experienced infertility struggles and underwent several rounds of IVF before receiving heartbreaking news.

“I consulted with four different doctors,” Kristen told People in September 2021. “The lowest moment was when that fourth doctor called me and said, ‘We’ve run all the tests. We’ve looked at everything. We just don’t think that you are going to be able to carry a child.’ I thought, ‘How is this ever going to happen?’”

The TV personality and the marketing executive turned to surrogacy. They were matched with their surrogate in 2019. In April 2021, Kristen and John announced the exciting news that their first child was on the way.

“After years and years of trying, I’m having a baby girl with John and we are so excited,” she revealed on an episode of Today at the time. “It’s with the help of a surrogate.”

Little Margot arrived two months later, and the new mom was so happy she got to assist in delivering her first child.

“I was the first person to catch her and to hold her, I felt the most incredible bond with her, and that maternal instinct kicked in immediately,” she said. “And all of my doubts and fears went away, and then all of the focus was just on her and this beautiful being.”

Kristen and John could not be happier with their perfect family of three. “Every minute with Margot is a blessing,” the news correspondent gushed on Instagram shortly after her daughter arrived.

Keep scrolling to see all of Kristen’s heartfelt quotes about being a mom.

On Margot’s Arrival

The Harvard University alum shared what it was like to see her child come into the world during an interview with Today costar Hoda Kotb in October 2021.

“And so, as she was being born, I stretch my hands out … and in that moment, Hoda, all of that self-doubt went away,” she said about Margot’s delivery. “And all I felt was this bond and this overwhelming sense of love and connection that I’d never felt for another human being before.”

On the Journey to Parenthood

In April 2021, Kristen wrote a letter to her daughter just a few weeks before she was born.

“Your daddy and I have learned so many lessons trying to bring you here and we want to share them with you: Every journey is unique; don’t compare yourself to others. There will be heartbreaks in life; some won’t ever fully heal; others will make you stronger. It is OK to ask for help; in fact, it can be empowering.”

She continued, “Families are made in all different ways, come in all different shapes and sizes and all families should be celebrated. And, finally, while I didn’t carry you in my body, I have always carried you in my heart and I will always be your mommy.”

On Bringing Margot Home

During her interview with Hoda, Kristen explained what it was like to bring her newborn home from the hospital.

“I just talked to her the whole ride home. And we held hands … her little finger grasped onto my finger. It was incredible,” she said. “I stared at her, and I thought, ‘I can’t believe she’s mine. And I just hope I don’t ever let her down. I just want to give her the world.’”

On Margot’s 1st Birthday

The Pennsylvania native and her hubby threw the cutest birthday party for Margot to celebrate her turning 1 in June 2022.

“Happy 1st Birthday, Margot Lane!” Kristen captioned a series of photos from the party on Instagram. “Celebrating you this weekend has been the greatest joy. You amaze me every day. Your dada and I couldn’t love you more. We’re so grateful for our family who made this an unforgettable weekend and for Uncle Ed who gave us the best new kicks! We’re also thinking of Grandpa Hughes, who we lost this year, but who was thankfully able to meet baby Margot.”