Jasmine Cooper Details Motherhood Journey Amid Silas' Deployment
Originally appeared on E! Online
Jasmine Ellis Cooper is more than happy to pop bottles again this summer—of the baby variety, that is.
Nearly two months after welcoming her first child with Silas Cooper, the Summer House: Martha's Vineyard star is opening up about experiencing motherhood while her husband, an officer in the Army Reserve that appeared in the first season of the Bravo series, is currently serving overseas in Eastern Europe.
And though Silas' deployment came shortly before filming the show's second season, his presence was still felt from thousands of miles away.
"He made sure I had all the snacks and flowers—that I knew that he was thinking of me no matter how far he was," Jasmine, who gave birth to baby boy Silas Jr. in late February, told E! News in an exclusive interview, "That was really sweet."
Their journey into parenthood comes after the couple, who wed in June 2022, showcased the ups and downs of their relationship during their first summer in the vineyard as newlyweds. It was an experience that the screenwriter admits was tough to face at first.
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"Watching back was not easy at all, if I'm being honest, for either of us," the reality star shared. "Because in hindsight, we've done the therapy, we've kind of started over—I've learned who he's become post-joining the service. That was something that I really didn't get an opportunity to do prior to filming or prior to our wedding."
That said, seeing their highs and lows play out on camera made for a fresh start.
"It was a chance to really be like, ‘OK, this is a part of our lives now,'" Jasmine explained. "Being a military family is changing our dynamics and we have to address it and you're not handling it the best and I'm not handling it the best so let's just relearn each other. It wasn't easy, but I think I'm reassured that I've chosen the right partner and I'll speak for him—he chose well."
The Atlanta native also made the choice to return the vineyard with a different outlook, especially when it came to starting over with fellow castmates Jordan Emanuel, Bria Fleming, Shanice Henderson, Amir Lancaster, Nick Arrington, Preston Mitchum, Summer Thomas, Alex Tyree and newcomer Noelle Hughley.
"I definitely had to take a step back completely," she noted. "Not just from my personal relationship, but like all my relationships. And I think that was the takeaway for me personally, with season one, is that I was internalizing things too much from everyone and I wasn't speaking and standing on business."
That said, Jasmine was more than happy to embrace the shift independently.
"To have [Silas] not be a part of the equation this season," she explained, "I was super excited because if something happens, you don't have him to blame. It's just me and you or whoever the person I'm in the situation with. I was looking forward to having girl time and just reminding folks: Yes, I'm growing. Yes, I'm changing. But I'm still going to have fun and I'm still going to care about my friendships."
Another change that's soon to unfold? Jasmine announcing her pregnancy, which as she shared, was met with "varied" reactions from her housemates. But as for the new parents, they've embraced their next chapter like no other.
"[Silas] is so happy being a father and he's so excited to come home," she added, "I think he's going to be a phenomenal dad. He is the type of person that will give you the shirt off his back and give advice—as we clearly have seen. He is not afraid to just step in and support anyone. So, I think he'll be the same as a father."
Keep reading to find out more about the entire Summer House: Martha's Vineyard cast.
Amanda Batula & Kyle Cooke
Kyle is busier than ever with Loverboy and a recent potential pregnancy has Amanda contemplating the next step and her identity outside of her marriage. Amanda is ready to leave city life behind and buy a house in the suburbs, but Kyle has other ideas as he continues to expand and focus on his company. With Kyle and Amanda realizing they are on different pages, will they be able to continue to work together, stay married, and raise a family all at the same time?
Danielle Olivera
For the first time in years, Danielle is single for the summer. After a tumultuous winter, she isn’t interested in another house romance, but she is ready to mingle with outsiders who come her way. After their major fallout last year, she is also attempting to rebuild her friendship with Lindsay by setting boundaries to prevent encountering the same issues. Will she be able to rebuild the relationship with her former best friend while allowing herself to grow, find love and launch her new app?
Ciara Miller
After two years in New York City, Ciara is coming into this summer full steam ahead with a more positive, grounded mindset. She is taking chances not only in her modeling career, but also in her personal life. She is committed to being open to both friendships and romantic relationships. Will this new mindset allow her to fall for one of the new housemates or will her past relationships in the share house scare her off?
Carl Radke
After a whirlwind engagement last summer, Carl and Lindsay have become consumed by wedding planning. Since leaving Loverboy, Carl has been searching for a new career passion while Lindsay is in full preparation mode now that the wedding date and venue is set. With the honeymoon phase over, Lindsay feels pressure from Carl to be positive all the time, which she admits can be difficult, and Carl acknowledges there has been a shift in their relationship. But with the wedding quickly approaching, will they be able to find a way to address these issues in time?
Jesse Solomon
Jesse Solomon is single and always ready to mingle. Working in Investor Relations and a veteran of the Hamptons summer and standing tall at 6’5, he’s never had an issue with the ladies and doesn’t plan to start now, regardless of their relationship status. With a big milestone coming up at the end of summer, Jesse opens up to his new friends and finds solace in their support.
Paige DeSorbo
Paige is happily in love with Craig, and they are the best they’ve ever been. However, when it comes to taking the next step, she continues to make excuses, feeling like marriage and relocating to Charleston will change her identity. When she starts looking for a new apartment in New York, Craig questions her choices and she is left wondering if her unwillingness to commit is going to push their relationship over the edge.
Lindsay Hubbard
After a whirlwind engagement last summer, Carl and Lindsay have become consumed by wedding planning. Since leaving Loverboy, Carl has been searching for a new career passion while Lindsay is in full preparation mode now that the wedding date and venue is set. With the honeymoon phase over, Lindsay feels pressure from Carl to be positive all the time, which she admits can be difficult, and Carl acknowledges there has been a shift in their relationship. But with the wedding quickly approaching, will they be able to find a way to address these issues in time?
Gabby Prescod
Gabby is approaching life with a fresh perspective. She is slowly freeing herself up to live life in a more open way. Her parents left their family home in New York last summer to pursue a new life for themselves in Texas. Feeling abandoned, she leans on her new friends in the house for support, but finds letting her guard down is harder than she expected.
West Wilson
A 28-year-old sports journalist, West Wilson was introduced to the group through Lindsay, whom he met out one night in the city. After being laid off during a mass staff change, he is on the hunt for the next opportunity. When it comes to dating, West’s biggest hurdle is being able to commit. As he turns on his Midwestern charm and quickly focuses his attention on a fellow housemate, will this be his chance to push himself to take things past the casual dating stage?
Summer's House: Martha's Vineyard airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.
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