In a heartwarming turn of events that has left fans both stunned and overjoyed, beloved television personality Hoda Kotb and her former fiancé Joel Schiffman have reunited — and surprised everyone with the adoption of their third child together.

The unexpected announcement came during a special segment on the Today Show, where Hoda emotionally revealed not only the adoption but also the gender of their newest family member: a baby boy.

An Unexpected Reunion

Hoda and Joel, who publicly announced their split in early 2022 after eight years together, had remained committed co-parents to their two daughters, Haley Joy and Hope Catherine. While the pair had parted ways romantically, insiders close to the couple say they remained “deeply connected through parenthood.”

What no one saw coming was their quiet reconciliation earlier this year. According to sources, the couple had been gradually rebuilding their relationship in private, focusing on mutual respect, personal growth, and their love for their children.

“They found their way back to each other through their shared values and the joy of parenting,” a close family friend shared. “It was never about falling out of love — it was about timing, healing, and rediscovery.”

The Surprise Reveal

What fans expected to be a routine update on Hoda’s life turned into a viral moment when she unveiled the newest member of their family. During a live gender reveal on air, a burst of blue confetti rained down in the studio, sparking cheers from her co-hosts and viewers across the country.

“I’m so thrilled to tell you… Joel and I have welcomed a beautiful baby boy,” Hoda said, her voice trembling with emotion. “We are over the moon. This little guy is already so deeply loved.”

The name of their son has not yet been revealed, but Hoda confirmed that he is healthy, happy, and settling into his new home surrounded by love.

Fans React with Joy and Surprise

Social media quickly lit up with messages of support, admiration, and disbelief. “Did not have Hoda and Joel reuniting AND adopting a third child on my 2025 bingo card,” one fan tweeted. Another wrote, “I’m crying happy tears. Hoda deserves every ounce of joy this world has to offer.”

Parenting advocates and adoption supporters also praised the couple’s decision and the positive light it shines on blended and evolving families.

What’s Next for Hoda and Joel?

While the couple has not officially confirmed whether they are romantically back together in the traditional sense, Hoda emphasized their united commitment to their growing family.

“We’re not labeling anything. We’re simply following love,” she said.

For now, the family of five is embracing their newest chapter with open arms — and open hearts.

Hoda Kotb became a mom for the first time in 2017 when she was 52 years old, adopting daughter Haley Joy after a battle with breast cancer left the beloved TODAY anchor unable to conceive. Two years later, she adopted daughter Hope Catherine.

Keep reading for more details about Kotb’s kids.

How many children does Hoda have?

Hoda is mom to two girls, both of whom she adopted.

Did Hoda adopt both kids?

Yes. Hoda adopted both Haley Joy and Hope Catherine. “I tell them they were adopted, and I’m not sure if they 100 percent know what that means,” Kotb told People‘s Me Becoming Mom podcast in 2021. “I always say, ‘You didn’t come from Mommy’s tummy, you came from my heart.’ And they understand that.”

Who is the father of Hoda’s daughters?

IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

Kotb adopted her children with ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman. The couple got engaged in 2019, after six years of dating, but split in January 2022.

Kotb went public with their breakup on Today With Hoda & Jenna. “Joel and I have had a lot of prayerful and really meaningful conversations over the holidays, and we decided that we’re better as friends and parents than we are as an engaged couple,” she said. “So we decided that we are going to start this new year and begin it kind of on our new path as loving parents to our adorable, delightful children, and as friends.”

Who are Hoda Kotb’s kids?

Haley Joy

Kotb adopted daughter Haley, now 7, on Valentine’s Day 2017. Kotb said of Haley on her very first Mother’s Day, “I remember she fit. That’s all I remember. I remember thinking, ‘I can’t believe this fits like this.’ It’s like a puzzle piece that snapped in, and now I’m me.”

She shared a similar sentiment in April 2017, just before she returned to work on TODAY: “When I look at her, I see forever. I see past me. I see the future…which I guess I never saw [before].”

Hope Catherine

Kotb adopted Hope Catherine, now 5, in April 2019.

Kotb called in to TODAY to announce the happy news, saying that both her little girls were “amazing.”

“I was watching Haley with [Hope] and I didn’t know what that was gonna mean or how it was gonna work,” she said. “We walked in, and I gotta tell you guys, watching Haley with her…she literally wrapped her arms around this little girl. I’m standing in the middle of my living room right now. [Hope]’s sleeping in the bassinet right here next to me and I keep looking, like, ‘She’s right there! She’s wrapped up like a baby burrito, she’s here!’ It’s the coolest thing ever.”

How old was Hoda when she had her first child?

Hoda adopted her first child when she was 52, and she’s been open about becoming an “older mom” since.

“I am so happy and fulfilled with my decision that I don’t feel any ounce of shame,” she shared on Today with Hoda & Jenna in December 2023.

Prior to that, in 2020, she recalled being criticized by a viewer who didn’t agree with her decision to have kids later in life.

“I got a physical letter in the mail … from a woman who wrote, ‘Who do you think you are, having kids at that age?’ I literally read it and thought, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe someone put a stamp on it and sent it.’”

Later, on another episode of Today with Hoda & Jenna, she said, “I see all the good parts about being an older mom. Like, I’m in my own skin, I know who I am, I’ve got much more patience and love and all that stuff. But along with that also comes the fact that you’re an older mother.”