Anderson Cooper announces birth of his baby boy

Who knew that while Anderson Cooper was clashing with the Las Vegas mayor and trying to be a journalistic voice of reason to the world during the current coronavirus pandemic, he was also secretly preparing to welcome a whole new bundle of joy to his life? The host confirmed that he became a proud new papa to a baby boy born via surrogate earlier this week, proving that he’s basically the world’s best multitasker.The CNN host announced the big news on-air and on Instagram April 30, revealing he named his newborn son Wyatt Cooper after his late father. “I hope I can be as good a dad as he was,” Cooper said, referencing the man who died during open-heart surgery when Cooper was 10 years old. As for his son’s middle name? Cooper chose Morgan, which was a family name on his mother Gloria Vanderbilt’s side. The host reveals Morgan was also one of the names his parents considered naming him.

 

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I want to share with you some joyful news. On Monday, I became a father. This is Wyatt Cooper. He is three days old. He is named after my father, who died when I was ten. I hope I can be as good a dad as he was. My son's middle name is Morgan. It's a family name on my mom's side. I know my mom and dad liked the name morgan because I recently found a list they made 52 years ago when they were trying to think of names for me. Wyatt Morgan Cooper. My son. He was 7.2 lbs at birth, and he is sweet, and soft, and healthy and I am beyond happy. As a gay kid, I never thought it would be possible to have a child, and I’m grateful for all those who have paved the way, and for the doctors and nurses and everyone involved in my son's birth. Most of all, I am grateful to a remarkable surrogate who carried Wyatt, and watched over him lovingly, and tenderly, and gave birth to him. It is an extraordinary blessing - what she, and all surrogates give to families who cant have children. My surrogate has a beautiful family of her own, a wonderfully supportive husband, and kids, and I am incredibly thankful for all the support they have given Wyatt and me. My family is blessed to have this family in our lives I do wish my mom and dad and my brother, Carter, were alive to meet Wyatt, but I like to believe they can see him. I imagine them all together, arms around each other, smiling and laughing, happy to know that their love is alive in me and in Wyatt, and that our family continues.

A post shared by andersoncooper (@andersoncooper) on Apr 30, 2020 at 6:51pm PDT

“He was 7.2 pounds at birth, and he is sweet, and soft, and healthy and I am beyond happy,” Cooper wrote in a heartfelt Instagram post that included several adorable photos of the new babe. “As a gay kid, I never thought it would be possible to have a child, and I’m grateful for all those who have paved the way, and for the doctors and nurses and everyone involved in my son's birth.” The host then went on to thank the surrogate who carried Wyatt for him, and acknowledged other families who have relied on the kindness of surrogates in order to have their own children.“I do wish my mom and dad and my brother, Carter, were alive to meet Wyatt, but I like to believe they can see him,” Cooper, who split with boyfriend Ben Maisani in 2018 and will do this parenting thing solo, continued. “I imagine them all together, arms around each other, smiling and laughing, happy to know that their love is alive in me and in Wyatt, and that our family continues.”One friend Cooper can certainly count on for support as a new dad is fellow new dad Andy Cohen. The Watch What Happens Live host immediately jumped onto social media to offer up his own congrats to the proud papa, sharing a photo of Anderson and Wyatt and writing, “New life, new hope! Wyatt Cooper, you couldn’t have come at a better time! I know a friend who can’t wait to meet you!” Cohen was of course referring to his own son, Benjamin Allen Cohen, who was born in February 2019 via surrogate.“On Monday I became a father,” Cooper also said at the end of a CNN Town Hall. “I've never said that out loud and it astonishes me. I have a son." Sounds like fans of the journo will have to keep their eyes peeled, because this happy new dad is bound to be sharing more adorable baby pics in the days to come.[video_embed id='1950505']Anderson Cooper announced the birth of his baby boy on CNN.[/video_embed]