Hoda Kotb talks maternity leave on return to ‘Today’: ‘I didn’t know what I was missing’

Hoda Kotb has returned to the "Today" show after five months of maternity leave. (Photo: Nicholas Hunt, Getty Images)

It’s official!

Hoda Kotb is back to co-hosting the “Today” show this morning after five months of quality time with her new daughter, Hope Catherine, and big sister, Haley Joy. 

The mom of two was every mom who has returned to work after welcoming a baby —feeling bittersweet.

Sitting next to Savannah Guthrie, who clearly missed her sidekick, Kotb reflected on her maternity leave.

“I’ve had the best five months I ever could’ve imagined in my life,” she shared. “I didn’t know what I was missing. And I was also excited to come back.”

She said that when she watches her daughters now, it gives her perspective: “I’m 55 and I get to be with them.”

She also got choked up talking about the extent of her leave, saying she “felt a little bad about it,” but knows it was worth it.

“In reality, life is a blink and you get this moment, so I decided I was going to take it.”

Kotb said that Haley has been teaching her about the “smallest, tiniest” things she didn’t even realize were awesome, like escalators and pockets. Yah, girl!

“Who’s luckier than me? Nobody!” she said.

Kotb’s announcement was followed with a flurry of baby news from the “Today” show. Soon after, her co-host for “Today with Hoda & Jenna,” Jenna Bush Hager, announced that she was expecting baby No. 3, and Hal arrived Aug. 2. Hager is now on maternity leave.

Meteorologist and third hour co-host Dylan Dreyer recently shared the news that she is pregnant with her second child, after experiencing struggles with secondary infertility.

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