John Zachary Welker Hughes was born on Thursday, May 30, joining big sister Margot.
Kristen Welker, 47, and her husband, John Hughes, are basking in the joy of welcoming their second child. Their newborn son, John Zachary Welker Hughes, arrived on May 30 through a surrogate. The little one weighed 7 pounds and measured almost 20 inches long. He is now joining his thrilled big sister Margot Lane, who is about to turn three.
The wonderful news was shared by NBC News Chief White House Correspondent Peter Alexander on the Sunday, June 2 episode of “Meet the Press.” He said, “The Meet the Press family officially has a new member. Look at the nugget!”
Peter continued, “John Zachary’s big sister Margot, as you can imagine, is extremely proud and welcomed her baby brother yesterday.” According to Kristen, her surrogate, whom she affectionately calls her “angel on earth,” is doing great.
Alexander added, “From all of us here at Meet the Press, a huge congratulations to Kristen, John, Margot, and all the grandparents. And to John Zachary, we know you’re watching; we can’t wait to meet you.”
This happy news comes just a month after the couple shared their plans to expand their family. Welker, who broke new ground in September by becoming the first Black journalist to host NBC’s “Meet the Press,” expressed her joy, saying, “This is an extraordinary moment, there’s no doubt about that.”
Welker and Hughes’s journey to parenthood began in June 2021 when they welcomed their daughter Margot via surrogacy after years of struggling with infertility. Reflecting on their first surrogacy experience, Welker shared that the journey was filled with uncertainty. She remembered, “I think when you’re embarking on a surrogacy journey for the first time, it is a huge leap of faith. Would I bond with Margot immediately? Would she feel any differently towards me?”
Those fears quickly vanished when Margot was born. Welker recollected, “We bonded immediately. She looked up at me, I looked down at her and told her that I love her more than the entire world. All of the fears I had immediately disappeared. I really have been able to enjoy this second surrogacy journey. This experience has been very different.”
As for Margot, she has been eagerly awaiting her baby brother’s arrival. “Margot has been telling her classmates that Mama and Dada are getting her a baby brother for her birthday,” Welker laughed. “She’s very proud of the fact that her baby brother will be sleeping in her old crib.”
Interestingly, even before John Zachary’s arrival, Margot had already given him a special nickname, “Lolo,” which has been adopted endearingly in their home.
The joy in the Welker-Hughes household is palpable, and the family eagerly looks forward to this new chapter. Don’t forget to catch “Meet the Press” every Sunday on NBC and witness Kristen Welker’s insightful discussions.
