Anderson Cooper Told His Mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, He Was Planning to Have a Child Before She Died

Caroline Hallemann
·4 min read
Photo credit: Rabbani and Solimene Photography - Getty Images
Photo credit: Rabbani and Solimene Photography - Getty Images

From Oprah Magazine

Anderson Cooper's announcement of the birth of his son Wyatt Morgan Cooper earlier this week was tinged with sadness, as his family isn't here to share in the excitement.

"I do wish my mom and dad and my brother, Carter, were alive to meet Wyatt, but I like to believe they can see him," he wrote on Instagram. "I imagine them all together, arms around each other, smiling and laughing, happy to know that their love is alive in me and in Wyatt, and that our family continues."

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I want to share with you some joyful news. On Monday, I became a father. This is Wyatt Cooper. He is three days old. He is named after my father, who died when I was ten. I hope I can be as good a dad as he was. My son's middle name is Morgan. It's a family name on my mom's side. I know my mom and dad liked the name morgan because I recently found a list they made 52 years ago when they were trying to think of names for me. Wyatt Morgan Cooper. My son. He was 7.2 lbs at birth, and he is sweet, and soft, and healthy and I am beyond happy. As a gay kid, I never thought it would be possible to have a child, and I’m grateful for all those who have paved the way, and for the doctors and nurses and everyone involved in my son's birth. Most of all, I am grateful to a remarkable surrogate who carried Wyatt, and watched over him lovingly, and tenderly, and gave birth to him. It is an extraordinary blessing - what she, and all surrogates give to families who cant have children. My surrogate has a beautiful family of her own, a wonderfully supportive husband, and kids, and I am incredibly thankful for all the support they have given Wyatt and me. My family is blessed to have this family in our lives I do wish my mom and dad and my brother, Carter, were alive to meet Wyatt, but I like to believe they can see him. I imagine them all together, arms around each other, smiling and laughing, happy to know that their love is alive in me and in Wyatt, and that our family continues.

A post shared by andersoncooper (@andersoncooper) on Apr 30, 2020 at 6:51pm PDT

Cooper's mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, passed away last summer at the age of 95 following a battle with cancer, but he was able to tell her about Wyatt before she died.

"I was able to tell her shortly before she died that I was going to have a baby," he told his close friend Kelly Ripa this week on Live with Kelly and Ryan.

"Wyatt hadn't been created at that point, he wasn't actually a being at that point. He was an idea in my head, and I was in the process of it," he said. "She was thrilled."

On the morning show, Cooper also opened up about settling in to life with Wyatt, who was born via surrogate last Monday.

"I just stare at him," Cooper said. "Hours will go by and I realize I've just been sitting there, holding him. After a baby's born, you do this thing called skin to skin where you hold the baby on your chest. I still do that all the time. There's nothing better. He's like a little amphibious creature; he's all curled up with his feet up. It's so cute. I just can't help but stare at him. And every now and then, you know, baby's sleep a lot. But then he'll suddenly open up his eyes and look at you. I don't even know if he can see me at this stage, but it seems like it and he's sort of understanding sounds."

"It's way better than Netflix, I'll tell you that," Cooper joked.

He's also coming to understand why people drink coffee.

"I've become addicted," he said. "I've never had coffee before—I've had it once or twice on TV, never in real life, and now I can't believe I've lasted this long. I'm up a lot during the night. I understand why people drink coffee now."