Congratulations are in order, Maria Menounos is finally a mom! After years of infertility struggles – and a battle with cancer – she has welcomed her first child with husband Keven Undergaro.
The star welcomed daughter Athena Alexandra on June 23 via surrogate, she revealed to Us Weekly.
"It was the most special moment of my life," she said of the first time she got to hold her baby girl, and Keven added: "It was like Christmas morning times a million."
Maria, 45, went on: "The doctor literally grabbed her and hiked her onto me. I sat with her on my chest, and Keven and I kept looking at each other like, 'Oh, my God.' It was just pure joy."
"For so long, I've felt something's been missing," the first time mom admitted, but today she can say: "Now I feel so grounded, like I finally know where I belong… It's euphoric."
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Giving insight into how she and her husband, 55, landed on the name Athena, Maria said: "We knew we wanted a Greek name. We had a list, and everyone says when you see the baby, you'll know, but that was totally untrue for us."
She continued: "We were like, 'What do we do?' Athena is the goddess of war and wisdom, and Keven loved the power of that name, so that was it!"
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Maria also opened up about her relationship with her surrogate, revealing that she and Keven spent some time in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where their baby girl was born, ahead of her birth.
© GettyShe recalled driving her surrogate to doctors appointments, having dinner with her family, and booking a hotel room with her so they could be together when she went into labor.
"We got to the hotel, and it happened that night!" she said, adding: "She and I were in my room just chatting, and I showed her all of Athena's stuff and her clothes and I just started bawling about how I've been waiting for her."
© GettyOnce they were at the hospital, it was all hands on deck, with her surrogate's husband in charge of taking photos, plus Maria's husband, dad, and doula all there in support as well.
Now she says of her and her surrogate's close bond: "We love her and her family so much. They gave us the greatest gift ever. We still talk all the time and consider them family."
Maria and Keven have been together for 25 years, and they tied the knot in 2017.
Though they are relishing their time with their newborn, Maria already knows she wants to add more to her brood, and said: "I want 50 more. I have one good embryo left. We'll see, it would have to be fast. The joy that Athena has brought to this house — I want more of that. It feels so good.
