Hilaria Baldwin Recalls ‘Tough’ Labor On Rafael’s 8th Birthday

Actor Alec Baldwin and his wife, Hilaria Baldwin, are celebrating the birthday of their son, Rafael Thomas.

The Baldwin family continues to grow by the day, with Alec's first daughter with ex-wife Kim Basinger, Ireland Baldwin, welcoming her first child with her boyfriend, RAC, last month. The "30 Rock" actor also welcomed his eighth child, a daughter named Ilaria, with Hilaria, last September.

Another Baldwin birthday has just arrived, with Rafael turning 8. On Saturday, Hilaria took to Instagram to recall a "tough" later and share a sweet birthday montage of her son with photos reminiscing on his birth and the past few years of his life growing up with his siblings.

On Saturday, the Boston native took to Instagram to share a video montage of some of their son, Rafael Thomas, who is now 8. The photos feature them showing their young son sleeping as a baby and holding him in the hospital before it cuts to him when he is a bit older. In one shot, Hilaria is lying on the floor and holding him in her arms beside the bed. In another photo, he is kissing her cheek as she holds him up.

He poses with his brother in another shot before the whole family comes together to celebrate his birthday in front of a “Naruto” themed cake. “Happy Birthday Rafa!” is piped on the front of the cake with black cursive, while the sides of the cake are completely covered in colorful sprinkles.

"Happy 8th birthday Rafael Thomas!" Hilaria wrote in the caption. "On these days, my mind always goes back to their birth stories, and Raf was a tough one. 23 hours of labor, born a month early, came out blue, and had a tough time breathing."

"I was telling him today about the Nicu nurses and how wonderful these humans were-warm, kind, supportive. They cared for him in that little incubator carefully turning him, and comforting my broken self, at the time," she explained. "How they guided us through taking out his tubes, when he was ready, being able to hold his hand through that hole, then take him out and hold him…and eventually bring him home."

"I am forever grateful to you angels, who helped my baby live. My biggest boy: thank you for the kisses and letting me try to hold you, while you pretended to suck your thumb… you are a soccer star, so funny, so smart, kind, an inspiration to us all…we love you so very much, and celebrating you is a joy," she concluded.

Family friends and fans were quick to pass along the “Happy Birthday!” messages. “Happy birthday to him!!! You two are amazing souls,” one fan commented. “Happiest Birthday. Sweet Rafa, I hope your day is full of magic and happiness,” another follower wrote. “Rafa. You can be whomever you want to be! You are growing up so big and strong. Everybody loves you. Happy birthday, sweetheart,” a third fan chimed in.

Only two days ago, the podcast host took to Instagram to share a video that featured her dancing with her son, Leo. The video begins with the two rubbing noses while Hilaria holds him in her arms. At this point, he is just a baby. Now much older, Hilaria has a harder time holding him in her arms.

She is able to dance with him on her hip for a few minutes before she eventually lets him down. He is getting tall enough that Hilaria can actually let him twirl her. The two shares a hug and sway side to side as the video comes to an end.

“Leo is my little dance buddy. Last night, we tried to recreate this video of us dancing, right after he was born…I feel like the next one will be him carrying me,” she wrote in the caption. “FYI: there’s always been a rainbow hanging over your head. Love you all.”

Fans loved this video as well. “May you two always keep dancing together,” one fan commented. “Ooooh save these clips for when perhaps one day you’ll be dancing at his wedding with him for the groom/mother dance. Already picturing it,” another follower wrote. “Beautiful. Soon he’ll be taller than you!” a third fan exclaimed.