Congrats to Bravo TV‘s Real Housewives of Potomac star Ashley Darbyand her husband, restaurateur, Michael Darby on the birth of their first child, a son.
The athleisure wear founder shared the news of the arrival with her fans and followers on Instagram by posting a photo of her Michael holding their son in the hospital while she rested.
“I never thought this day would come,” Ashley shared with her fans.“When I learned I was pregnant, I started thinking about when I’d feel the first kicks,” she added. “Then, when I was feeling the flutters, I wanted to know when I’d finally start to show. After watching the bump grow, my mind went to birthing day (WILL THIS REALLY HAPPEN?!) And when the day finally came that this sweet child came into our world, it felt like the sunniest day after a sky filled grey. The most sensational day of our shared life. Mickey and I are savoring every moment with our wonderful son.”
Just six days ago, she shared a sweet Instagram post about making it to the finish line and reaching 40 weeks.
The couple announced they were expecting this past February after suffering a miscarriage which was part of their storyline in their hit reality TV show.
The story line also includes open discussions about their marital problems, near divorce, Michael’s strained relationship with Ashley’s mom, their disagreement about whether to have children and finally, this season, their reconcile and work on starting a family.
Congrats! No news on the name of the bouncing baby boy yet.
“I really don’t think I fully dealt with my miscarriage until until I found out I was pregnant again,” an emotional Monique Samuels shares during a testimonial to last Sunday’s new episode of Bravo TV‘s Real Housewives of Potomac. “The fear and the loss just came back to me so I really had to just sit back and leave it in God’s hands”
These comments were made during her testimonial in between scenes of a party she threw last year before the birth of her third child last year, celebrating her Rainbow Baby.
A Rainbow baby is a sustainable pregnancy or live birth following the loss of a previous pregnancy or baby.
FYI: A “Unicorn baby” is one that is birthed after infertility.
About her decision to host a celebration, the wife to ex veteran NFL legend Chris Samuels: “I thought this was a good way to celebrate new life to not forget it but to learn from it and move on,” she added.
During the episode, Monique referred to her miscarried child as “her angel baby” and later released several doves in the air in honor of all the other Angel babies out there.
“I know a lot of us women share the same story and a some of us don’t choose to express and share with others but I encourage us to because there’s healing in sharing, ” she added before opening up the mic later for other women in the audience to share their stories.
During the event, her cast mate Ashley Darby, who is currently pregnant accepted the opportunity to speak about having a miscarriage at age 19 and a more recent one with her restaurateur and businessman husband, Michael Darby.
Michael broke down in tears and actually left his wife’s side at a guest table temporarily.
Another castmember of the show, Katie Rost, also is familiar with tragic pregnancy loss.
Rost, a Housewife from Season 1 and currently a “friend of the Housewives” Season 4, suffered a late term miscarriage around 4-5 months of pregnancy.
She was pregnant with her fourth child with her boyfriend, a man named Jacob earlier this year when she miscarried.
According to an Instagram social media post by Rost, Jacob infamously snapped a highly disturbing and graphic bathroom photo of Rost laying on the floor shortly after the loss happened.
She the photo on her Instagram page before taking it down, but not before the gossip press got their hands on it and made it a story.
While in a vulnerable state, snapping a pic is not kind but I do not want to judge her decision to then post such a private and sacred moment on social media but yeah, that’s a heavy situation.
Photo of Rost’s kids and another young girl from Rost’s GoFundMe page
Rost is currently involved in a bitter custody dispute with her ex husband James Orsini over visitation rights with her children, son, James Rocco Orsini and twin daughters Renee Rost Orsini and Kathryn Rost Orsini who she lost full custody to. She has previously accused James of being mentally, physically and financially abusive to her.
Editor’s Note:
I could relate to Samuels’ later comment on the show about living in fear after getting pregnant again.
After I lost my first ever pregnancy about 17 years ago, my husband and I were extremely anxious and scared our second would end the same, with another loss.
We even went as far as purchased a portable ultrasound so we could constantly monitor the baby’s heartbeat anytime we wanted without having to go to the doctor’s for an appointment.
Bravo TV host and Real Housewives franchise co-creator Andy Cohen celebrated the impending arrival of his soon-to-be born surrogate child at a baby shower at the The Palm Beverly Hills last weekend.
The theme was ” A Star is Born” and featured ornate decorations, blue and white balloons, white and yellow florals, candles and a white floral wall.
Kyle Richards from the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills hosted the event at Cohen’s BFF Bruce Bozzi’s restaurant and enlisted the aid of the OG Housewives Nene Leakes from Real Housewives of Atlanta, Teresa Giudice from Real Housewives of New Jersey, Ramona Singer from Real Housewives of New York and Vicky Guvalsen from Real Housewives of Orange County to get the women from their respective franchises there.
Many of the Housewives from the network’s Real Housewives series attended including newer ones from the Real Housewives of Potomac, and Real Housewives of Dallas.
Attendees included Ashley Darby, Brandi Redmond, Bruce Bozzi, Camille Grammer, Candiace Dillard, Cynthia Bailey, Danielle Staub, Denise Richards, Dolores Catania, Dorit Kemsley, Dorinda Medley,Emily Simpson, Erika Jayne, Eva Marcille, Gina Kirschenheiter, Gizelle Bryant, Jackie Goldschneider, Jenni Pulos, Jennifer Aydin, John Mayer, Karen Huger, Kyle Richards, LeeAnne Locken, Lisa Rinna, Margaret Josephs, Marlo Hampton, NeNe Leakes, Phaedra Parks, Ramona Singer, Robin Dixon, Shannon Beador, Sonja Morgan, Stephanie Hollman, Tamra Judge, Teddi Mellencamp, Teresa Giudice, and Vicki Gunvalson.
The Tea:According to the tattles at Tamara Tattles and her comment section snitches who have all the tea:
When the Real Housewives of Atlanta arrived, the place fell silent and everyone was stunned by their fabulousness;
John Mayer, who is Cohen’s buddy, was impressed with Leakes who kept everyone in stitches;
Cohen was surprised to see Phaedra Parks who he had fired there and who Leakes probably invited in a rumored attempt to keep the RHOA franchise amidst falling ratings
Beador was reportedly wasted
Grammar and Rinna had a little fight and Cohen went over to them and said save it for the Reunion show
Rinna was the life of the party and got everyone to dance on tables
Notably absent were Bethenny Frankel (who had a speaking engagement) and Countess LuAnn from RHONY; Monique Samuels from RHOP (who is a brand new mom); Lisa Vanderpump from RHOBH (who is rumored to be leaving and feuding with Richards); Kelly Dodd and Heather Dubrow from RHOOC; Tinsley Mortimer from RONY; Porsha Williams and Kandi Burruss from RHOA (though she is on Celebrity Big Brother right now and Williams is heavily pregnant and maybe couldn’t get on a plane); Melissa Gorga of RHONJ
Marlo Hampton was not an original invited guest but came to surprise Cohen who picked her up and twirled her around when he saw her.
Ashley Darby from RHOP looked pregnant and having just peeped her Instagram, it looks true.
Leakes was caught on her phone amidst all the hoopla
Most got along.
Danielle Staub manipulated the media to get a last minute pity invite and showed up with a gift and glammed out…allegedly
They noshed on Chinese chicken and lobster Cobb salad, Salmon with Mango Salsa, Filet Mignon, Chicken Paillard, grilled asparagus, fried potatoes, spinach and grilled polenta cakes.
