Happy birthday Wyatt! Anderson Cooper’s ‘sweet, funny, happy’ son turns one

Anderson Cooper’s son Wyatt turned one on Tuesday and the CNN on-air personality was more than happy to celebrate the milestone.

The New York native took to Instagram to share two cute photos of his son: one where he was holding and red balloon and another where the child was in a light blue onesie.

‘Today is Wyatt’s first birthday. I can’t believe it has already been a year. He is sweet and funny, happy and kind, and i love him more than I ever thought possible,’ gushed the journalist.

There were several comments from his celebrity friends.

Lisa Rinna of Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills said, ‘THAT FACE! HBD WYATT!!!!’ Tamra Judge of Real Housewives Of Orange County added, ‘Happy birthday Wyatt.’

Amy Sedaris shared: ‘That face!!! So cute.’ And actress Annabella Sciorra wrote: ‘Happy Birthday Wyatt!! ❤️❤️❤️.’

Cooper’s close friend Andy Cohen shared an image to Instagram where the two matched in red plaid shirts as he was holding Wyatt on his lap: ‘Happy 1st Birthday Wyatt Cooper! I love twinning with you. XO Uncle Andy & Mr. Ben.’ 

Kelly Ripa of Live With Kelly And Ryan posted an image with the child as she said, ‘Happy 1st birthday Wyatt! MeeMaw [hearts] Wyatt.’ She added eight red balloon emojis which matched his onesie 

In April 2020 Cooper became a father for the first time.

The presenter revealed his happy news on his CNN show Anderson Cooper 360 in late April 2020, telling viewers his son Wyatt Morgan Cooper had been born via a surrogate on April 27, 2020.

Showing off a series of photos of his son, he said: ‘It has been a difficult time in all of our lives, and there are certainly many hard days ahead. It is, I think, especially important in these times of trouble to try to hold on to moments of joy and moments of happiness. Even as we mourn the loss of loved ones, we are also blessed with new life and new love.

‘On Monday, I became a father. I’ve never actually said that before, out loud, and it still kind of astonishes me. I am a dad. I have a son. And I want you to meet him. He is sweet and soft and healthy, and I am beyond happy.’

Wyatt is named after Anderson’s father, who died during open-heart surgery when the news anchor was just 10 years old, while his middle name, Morgan, is a family name from his mother Gloria Vanderbilt, who died last year.

Anderson also shared photos of the new arrival on Instagram and wrote: ‘This is Wyatt Cooper. He is three days old. He is named after my father, who died when I was ten. I hope I can be as good a dad as he was. My son’s middle name is Morgan. It’s a family name on my mom’s side.

‘I know my mom and dad liked the name morgan because I recently found a list they made 52 years ago when they were trying to think of names for me. Wyatt Morgan Cooper. My son.

‘He was 7.2 lbs at birth, and he is sweet, and soft, and healthy and I am beyond happy.’

Anderson went on to thank his ‘remarkable’ surrogate and the medical team who helped fulfill his dream of fatherhood.

He continued: ‘As a gay kid, I never thought it would be possible to have a child, and I’m grateful for all those who have paved the way, and for the doctors and nurses and everyone involved in my son’s birth.

‘Most of all, I am grateful to a remarkable surrogate who carried Wyatt, and watched over him lovingly, and tenderly, and gave birth to him.

‘It is an extraordinary blessing – what she, and all surrogates give to families who cant have children.

‘My surrogate has a beautiful family of her own, a wonderfully supportive husband, and kids, and I am incredibly thankful for all the support they have given Wyatt and me. My family is blessed to have this family in our lives.’

The presenter expressed his regret that his parents and brother Carter – who took his own life in 1988 – are not around to meet his son but thinks they would all be very happy for him.

He wrote: ‘I do wish my mom and dad and my brother, Carter, were alive to meet Wyatt, but I like to believe they can see him.

‘I imagine them all together, arms around each other, smiling and laughing, happy to know that their love is alive in me and in Wyatt, and that our family continues.’

Cooper’s ex-boyfriend Benjamin Maisani co-parents Wyatt. Anderson shared on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert: ‘He’s my family, and I want him to be Wyatt’s family as well.’

Benjamin was by Anderson’s side as their surrogate gave birth.

Last week Cooper said he receives hand-me-down clothes from Andy Cohen for his son.

He revealed the Watch What Happens Live star regularly gives him the clothes that his son Ben has outgrown but Anderson admits Wyatt’s style is a lot different from Ben’s.

Speaking on Live! With Kelly and Ryan, Anderson said: ‘He gets Ben-me-downs as Andy calls them … A lot of the clothes that Andy gets [have] a lot of razzmatazz in them. It’s a lot of tie-dye Grateful Dead stuff, which I don’t know if that’s his vibe at this point, but it doesn’t go with the boys … I see him more as a little Amish child. I would like to dress [him] just simply.’