Hoda Kotb is known for her warm, engaging presence as co-anchor on the Today show, but it’s her role as a mother that has been one of the most transformative aspects of her life.

In her recent interview, Kotb shared her deeply personal journey of adoption,

how it shaped her family, and how her daughter Hope became the inspiration for her newest children’s book, I’ve Loved You Since Forever.

Kotb’s path to motherhood was anything but traditional. After years of trying to have children biologically, Kotb made the decision to adopt.

Her journey began with the adoption of her first daughter, Haley Joy, whom she brought into her life in 2017.

However, it was the arrival of her second daughter, Hope Catherine, in 2019, that inspired Kotb to write a book that would celebrate the beauty of adoption and unconditional love.

Reflecting on the adoption process, Kotb admits that becoming a mother through adoption brought a sense of fulfillment and joy she hadn’t imagined. “It was a very powerful and emotional experience. I never thought I could love someone so deeply until I met my daughters. Each one is a unique gift in my life, and the journey to becoming their mother is something I will forever cherish,” Kotb said during her interview.

In her new book, I’ve Loved You Since Forever, Kotb captures the emotional depth of this love. The book is aimed at children, with a message that resonates with both young readers and adults alike. Kotb explains that it’s meant to reflect the special bond between a parent and child, regardless of how the child comes into the world. “Adoption doesn’t just change a parent’s life; it changes the child’s life too. That’s something I wanted to highlight in this book—to show that love is what creates a family, not necessarily biology,” Kotb shared.

Inspiration from Hope

Kotb’s inspiration for writing the book stems from the love and connection she feels for her daughter Hope, who was born in 2019. “Hope was the catalyst for this book,” Kotb revealed. “When I held her for the first time, I knew instantly that I had loved her my whole life. Even before she was born, she was already a part of me, and that is what I wanted to express in the pages of this book.”