Hoda Kotb is really good at keeping a secret.
In an emotional phone call Tuesday with her co-anchors, Hoda announced on air on the "Today" show that she has adopted a baby girl.
Most of her co-anchors, aside from Matt Lauer and Kathie Lee Gifford, were surprised by the news.
Jenna Bush Hager and Gifford cried when Kotb called in to share the news on air.
“I’ve got the biggest mouth in the world and I’ve said zilch,” said Gifford.
Kotb has been absent from the “Today” show for a few weeks. Now her fans finally know why.
Baby Haley was born on Valentine’s Day.
“This is such fantastic news. This little girl, Haley, is the luckiest girl on the planet,” said Lauer. “You are going to be one of the most fantastic moms I can ever imagine.”
Kotb said Tuesday that her daughter's name was inspired by Halley's comet, which can be seen from Earth every 75 to 76 years.
“It was one of those things. I just picture her sailing through the sky,” she said.
As for the middle name, Kotb said “Joy” was in honor of the emotions she and boyfriend Joel Schiffman feel for their baby girl.
“She brings us joy,” she said. “She’s got a beautiful way about her.”
Kotb shared more of her joyful feelings on social media with a post of a feel-good quote.
"And then my soul saw you, and it kind of went, 'Oh, there you are. I've been looking for you,'" the image reads, with a photo of a small baby's hand wrapped around an adult's finger.
Kotb and Schiffman have been dating since June 2013. She has no biological children and often shares her love of children on air. She is the proud aunt of her nieces Hannah and Ella.
She said she’s excited to embark on this new journey.
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