Peta Murgatroyd at the 26th Annual Race to Erase MS Gala

Peta Murgatroyd Recalls Temporarily Forgetting Her Dad Was Late Amid Chaos of Birth

Home / Stars / Peta Murgatroyd Recalls Temporarily Forgetting Her Dad Was Late Amid Chaos of Birth

By Afouda Bamidele on June 29, 2023 at 5:00 AM EDT

Peta Murgatroyd is out here getting us in our feelings with a bittersweet memory from the birth of her son, Rio.

The professional dancer, who recently welcomed her second child with her husband, Maks Chmerkovskiy, is opening up about the emotional experience of becoming a mom while remembering her late father.

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Peta Murgatroyd Experiences Memory Lapse About Her Father 

The proud new mother-of-two took to Instagram to celebrate the birth of her baby boy, Rio John Chmerkovskiy. In an endearing video set to Natalie Taylor's tune "Loved You Before," she captured the precious moments of his arrival. 

The clip began with her taking deep breaths, holding onto the bed rails, and preparing to welcome him. Moments later, she cradled the newborn in her arms with a radiant smile.

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Peta Murgatroyd Channels Inner Rihanna With Help From Husband And Son
Instagram | Peta Murgatroyd
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As her beau looked on with tears of joy streaming down his face, Murgatroyd held up their precious bundle of joy, planting gentle kisses and pressing her forehead against Rio's. With a heartfelt caption, the TV star expressed her joy, stating

"💙 Happy Birthday Sweet Rio 💙. What a wild ride!!! With a midnight car race into the hospital not knowing if @maksimc will make it or not, to the many hours of laboring down Mr Rio until he was in the perfect place to push him out with 4 pushes… … he's here and he's HEAVEN ✨." 

Although the birth of her second son after many miscarriages was a joyous occasion, it was also bittersweet for the "DWTS" dancer, as she remembered her father, who passed away last year. In the text, she explained:

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"There was a moment after the birth where I looked at my mum and said "did you text dad?"…I welled up with tears as I realized I'd forgotten he was gone. It was a moment for me. I knew I felt his spirit there and I know he will be looking down and protecting all of us here." 

In conclusion, the "Burn the Floor" star expressed gratitude that her husband made it on time and to their supporters for "being on this journey with" them. Her fans poured out their heartfelt support and admiration for the joyous moments she shared.

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Among the comments, this person expressed their happiness for the pair, stating, "No couple I'm happier for. Thanks for sharing with all your fans. It means the world. 😊😉." The overflowing emotions of Chmerkovskiy caught the attention of this netizen, who loved how "emotional Max gets."

Some could not help but acknowledge Murgatroyd's late father's presence, like this fan who wrote, "The sweetest. Your Dad was definitely watching over you. ❤️." Another follower emotionally penned, "Awe I cried through this video. So much love and happiness! Congrats to your family. He's perfect." 

After their second son's eagerly anticipated arrival, the couple wasted no time revealing their newborn's name to the world. The Blast reported that in a joint Instagram post on June 21, the new mom proudly shared, "💙 Rio John Chmerkovskiy 💙 Born ~ 6.18.2023. 8.6 oz and thriving!" 

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With gratitude and love, she added, "We are overjoyed to share our baby boy with all of you. @shai.aleksander is already the best big brother, and we all feel very complete 🥹 Life is good XO."

The heartwarming snapshot showcased the peaceful slumber of the adorable newborn. Wrapped in a stylish tan outfit and sporting a matching beanie and pacifier, he lay beside a wooden fixture bearing his name. 

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Maksim Chmerkovskiy Playfully Teases Peta Murgatroyd's Emotional Farewells

In a delightful Instagram update, the choreographer lovingly teased his wife about how emotional she would get whenever he had to leave home. Accompanying an adorable snapshot of their beautiful family, he expressed his affection for them in the caption titled "Bye for now." 

The image showcased the couple sharing a sweet kiss while their six-year-old son, Shai, smiled at the camera. In the caption, the "Forever Tango" star revealed he was attending "Tech Week" in Napa. He playfully mentioned that Shai was left to hold down the fort while he was away and that the little one took it literally by holding onto his mommy's belly, 

The "Fuller House" guest star humorously mentioned how his sweetheart gets teary-eyed when he leaves for work and even when he goes shopping. In the caption, he affectionately revealed, "@petamurgatroyd is in tears. As per usual. Sometimes she tears up when I go to get groceries, so this is a big one 😢."

Continuing the lighthearted tone, the dance instructor humorously admitted about himself, "Me: I'm gooooooood! Also, me: [sobbing and listening to @sade for the entire 6-hour drive]," followed by three crying emojis.

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