Even though Hoda Kotb is in quarantine with fiancé Joel Schiffman and their two daughters, she didn’t let that stop her from making her youngest child's first birthday a truly unforgettable event. In a world where social distancing has become the norm, the beloved NBC anchor managed to pull off an amazing celebration for her daughter Hope. The proud mom shared how her famous family celebrated this milestone despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Hope’s First Birthday: A Virtual Celebration
On April 12, which also happened to be Easter Sunday, Hoda, 55, told People about the unique way they marked this special occasion. “We did a little Zoom party,” she revealed. “We baked the cake ourselves. Haley, my older daughter, helped me with the baking. Then we hopped onto Zoom and connected with my mom and my sister who’s in Dubai. It was quite late over there, almost midnight, but they were there for every moment of it.”
Who Was at the Virtual Party?
When Hoda listed the virtual party attendees, she included her brother, his wife, and their kids. “We did it all in the playroom because we were trying to Zoom on TV,” she added. The effort was all worth it, and it truly captured the essence of family togetherness, even if they weren’t physically in the same room.
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Hoda, known for her engaging style in her book I Really Needed This Today, couldn’t help but share a laugh about the family dynamic during the celebration. “You should have seen the ridiculousness of our family conversation,” she joked. “I’m like, ‘Turn yours down. I can’t see my mom! Mom, push the button on the right that says — no, the one that says gallery.’ Joel just looked at us like, ‘What’s happening?’ But your truth comes out… all your weirdness of your family is on full display.”
Giving Fans a Peek at the Celebration
On Hope’s special day, Hoda gave her fans an inside look at the celebration through a series of posts throughout the day. In the morning, the proud mama shared a heartwarming photo of Haley Joy and Hope wearing matching striped pajamas while playing with their stuffed animals. The picture was a sweet reminder of the innocence and joy that childhood brings.
Hoda also uploaded a snapshot of her eldest daughter’s chalk drawings, captioning the post, “So many Easter surprises xoxo.” As the evening rolled in, she shared a collage of pictures as they sang “Happy Birthday” to the little bundle of joy. “As my best friend @karenswensen said… ‘Hope blooms this Easter!’ Happy birthday, Hope! #1,” the doting mom gushed in the caption.
View this post on InstagramAs my best friend @karenswensen said.. Hope blooms this Easter! Happy bday Hope! #1 ❤️❤️
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More to Celebrate: Hoda’s Engagement
Besides Hope’s first trip around the sun, Hoda has plenty more to celebrate. In November 2019, she announced her engagement to her financier beau, Joel Schiffman. Joel, 62, proposed during a romantic beach vacation. “I have to tell you something that a friend of mine, a friend of ours, asked me to let you guys in on a secret,” she revealed live on Today. “I’ll give you her initials. Her initials are Hoda Kotb and she’s engaged.”
Considering the bride-to-be has a lot on her plate with her family, a source previously told Closer Weekly that fans shouldn’t be surprised if “Hoda leaves TV, or at least daily TV, by the time she’s 60.” The insider added, “Motherhood and soaking in every joyful moment of it, means that much to her.” It’s clear that family is at the center of everything for Hoda, and her fans can’t wait to see what the future holds for this amazing woman.
