Peta Murgatroyd Remembers Late Dad In Baby Rio's 3 Months Milestone Tribute

Peta Murgatroyd marks a significant moment as son Rio turns three months old, but her heart carries a weight of remembrance.

As the saying goes 'kill two birds with one stone, the devoted mother cherished the occasion with a heartfelt tribute to her late father, Derek John Murgatroyd, who departed in 2022.

The professional dancer, who is now a mother of two with husband Maks Chmerkovskiy, took to her Instagram page to celebrate her bundle of joy's incredible milestone with a three-slide picture upload. 

The first image saw the tiny tot lying on his back, smiling happily at the camera as his mother held his little hand. Dressed in a free-fitting nude onesie with the "Winnie the Pooh" character, Rio sported a more serious expression in the following slide. 

In the subsequent snap, the celebrant's smile returned with a hearty laugh at whoever was causing his giggles in the background. Apart from the apparent happiness in the post, Peta got fans in their feelings with her caption, which was equal parts heartwarming and bittersweet. 

Expressing her deep love and gratitude for her baby boy, she wrote, "Happy 3 months earthside my little Rio 🎉 You are my light, my joy, my world. Be still my heart, I thank god for you." 

In the last paragraph, however, the still-grieving daughter penned a touching note to Derek. She indicated her belief in his presence with them, noting, "Pop is watching over you xo." 

The message resonated with the "DWTS" dancer's followers, who sent her support, like this person wrote, "Happy three months. I am sorry your pop isnt here to know him." They empathized further by sharing their own story of losing a loved one, writing:

"My mom lost her dad, my "Pop," when she was 25. It was a blessing when my little brother was born when she was 27. Keep dancing.💕💃🕺🏼."

This netizen expressed their well wishes to Rio before stating, "He looks just like your dad. Just give him a tiny pair of glasses, and they'd be twins 💕." Meanwhile, a third admirer felt otherwise and noted that he looked like Peta instead. Others gushed over the baby, calling him "adorable" and a "Super cute kid!!"

In July, the actress joyfully spread her happiness on Instagram, allowing thousands of followers to join her celebration. In the special video accompanied by a soothing lullaby, she captured the newborn wrapped snugly in a soft blanket. 

After displaying the baby's name on a white outfit, it moved to Rio, alert and making adorable expressions in his crib. Overjoyed, she captioned the post, "Happy 1 Month of life my little Rio 💙."

Peta affectionately detailed his distinctive characteristics and emerging personality: "scowling brows, mischievous grins, impressive diapers, the most inquisitive eyes, and chubby thighs!" 

She added, "He's my milk monster, my guy can eat for hours. when this kid is hungry, you better have it ready." The Broadway star mentioned that Rio adored "bath time but loathes getting dressed after." 

She also humorously noted that his cries could rival coyotes' howls whenever he was cold. Concluding her post, she expressed, "A month of pure bliss with a side of sleepless nights…Thank you for choosing us @rio.john.chmerkovskiy you are loved beyond measure XO."

The professional Latin dancer has continued to remember her father in all she does, proving she is still grieving the loss. On what would have been his 82nd birthday, the 37-year-old returned with a post featuring a series of cherished moments, from family outings to tender grandbaby snuggles. 

The tribute also included a photo of Derek dressed smartly for what seemed to be a dance, culminating in a warm, tight hug. In the caption, she appreciated him for his cheerful and reliable presence. 

She admitted to missing him "terribly" and added, "the word terribly doesn't really suffice." The "Burn the Floor" performer vividly recalled their final goodbye: "I still feel the warmth of your hand in mine when we last said goodbye. I said to you.. "don't go anywhere ok dad?!" Your words back to me were.. "well where do you think I'm going darl?!" 

She noted that the interaction showed his desire to shield her from fear during his final moments. Expressing undying love for her father, she openly acknowledged that coping with the emotions surrounding his birthday was "f**king hard."