MSNBC Host Nicolle Wallace Welcomes 'Perfect' Baby Girl: We Are 'Smitten with Her'

The 'Deadline: White House' MSNBC anchor welcomed Isabella Sloane Schmidt with husband Michael S. Schmidt via surrogate

Deadline: White House MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace has welcomed a baby girl into the world!

On Tuesday, the newscast featured Alicia Menendez taking an on-air call from Wallace, who had been absent from her hosting duties for the past week. After greeting her fellow anchor, Wallace, 51, explained her whereabouts and shared exciting news.

“I have not looked at my phone in a week, and I am amazed at the theories out there,” she said as Menendez chuckled.

“I understand why the truth was ruled out by so many people that Mike and I had a baby. Her name is Isabella Sloane Schmidt, and Mike and Liam and I are all smitten with her.”

She shares son Liam, 11, with her former husband, Mark Wallace. Isabella is her first child with husband Michael S. Schmidt.

While the immediate family is over the moon for Isabella’s arrival, the television host quipped that their dogs “are still rendering judgment” about the small new human who recently showed up in their home.

“I wasn’t pregnant,” she said after revealing she was able to keep growing her family under wraps until the baby was born via surrogate. “I’m so happy to share our happy news today,” she said.

Related: Famous Families Who've Welcomed Children Through Surrogacy

Wallace admitted there are “pros and cons to being a mom again at 51.” She also reflected on the adjustment period with her new bundle of joy.

“You are tired,” she stated. “I was up all night long last night, and I was like, ‘Oh wow. Yeah, this is what 3:45 a.m. looks like.’ ”

The ladies laughed as Wallace called it a “blessing to be focused again on what has always grounded me," referring to her family. She said Liam was doing a great job of stepping into his role as a first-time big brother.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Wallace added that he was calmer than she and Schmidt in the beginning and was a pro at scooping Isabella up. Liam “just has a knack for the sway,” according to his mother.

The political commentator joked that while at the bank earlier in the day, she found herself swaying even though the newborn wasn’t present. She also assured viewers that she would never leave the show, and that she was only out temporarily.

“I’m so lucky, and so grateful that [you’re] helming these hours while I take a couple months to hang out with Izzy,” she added, saying her family has been tuning in to watch the program.

While discussing Isabella's sleeping and eating habits, Wallace referred to her baby girl as “perfect.”

With all the talk of food, Menendez shifted the conversation towards Thanksgiving.

Wallace said her family is “sort of hunkered down” because “there’s so much in the beginning,” but shared that they plan to have a “small family Thanksgiving” and may attend the parade since they live near the route.

“And if we cop out, we’ll just watch it on TV,” she added.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.