Andy Cohen just welcomed a baby boy! š

Andy Cohen
And he's got a sweet family name.
Andy Cohen is one of the busiest people in television, and heās about to get even busier because the Watch What Happens Live host just became a dad!
Baby Benjamin Allen Cohen came into the world Monday, and his dad shared the big news on Instagram.
āHe is named after my grandfather Ben Allen. Iām in love. And speechless. And eternally grateful to an incredible surrogate. And Iām a dad. Wow,ā Cohen captioned a photo of a sweet skin-to-skin moment with his baby boy.
Baby Benās birth comes a few weeks after Cohen announced he was expecting during a December episode of WWHL:
āAfter many years of careful deliberation, a fair amount of prayers and the benefit of science, if all goes according to plan in about six weeks time Iām going to become a father thanks to a wonderful surrogate who is carrying my future,ā he said.
Cohenās been single since the springĀ and didnāt mention a co-parent in either announcement. It seems heāsĀ doing this as a single parentāand thatās a totally valid choice. For any new parent, single or notāincluding Andy Cohenātheir village becomes so important after the baby arrives.
In those early days, weeks and months, we all need help. Every parentās village looks different (Cohenās will probably have more famous faces than most) and every parentās needs are different.
Thatās why Julie Smith, a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in parent coaching,Ā previously told MotherlyĀ that one of the most powerful things members of the village can do for a new parent is asking them, āWhat do you need right now?ā
By asking parents what they need, instead of presuming, we village members are letting them know that their needs matter as much as the babyās, that we have confidence in their parentingĀ andĀ that they are not alone.
When we ask this crucial question we can avoid well-intentioned efforts that actually add more stress than they relieve, like showing up with casseroles when the freezer is already full (Cohen probably doesnāt need casseroles at all). We can meet parentsā needs in a really meaningful way.
New parenthood can be an exhausting experience, but it is one Cohen has been dreaming of for a long time.
āFamily means everything to me and having one of my own is something that I have wanted in my heart for my entire life,ā he said when he announced the pregnancy. āThough itās taken me longer than most to get there, I cannot wait for what I envision will be the most rewarding chapter yet.ā
The man who broughtĀ theĀ Real HousewivesĀ into the world has brought a baby into the world, and we are so happy for him.
Congratulations Andy! š
[A version of this post was published December 21, 2018. It was updated to reflect the birth.]