HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BABY! NEWSBUBS TURN ONE

Celebrating a year of motherhood, Susie, Melissa, Janika and Sam share their little ones’ precious milestones

- SEBASTIAN VAN DER ZWAN

When Woman’s Day reunites Newshub mums Samantha Hayes, Melissa Chan-Green, Janika ter Ellen and Susie Nordqvist for our exclusive shoot, it’s the first time they’ve all been together since before COVID-19 hit the country. It’s utter chaos but also ridiculously cute.

As their adorable babies – all born within two months of each other and recently turned or about to turn one – toddle around an apartment at Auckland’s Swiss-Belsuites, crawling under tables and stealing each other’s toys, it’s hard to get a word in.

The phrases, “I can’t believe how big he is!” and “Such a good walker!” ring out several times. “This is why I wanted a girl,” Janika coos over Susie’s daughter’s sweet outfit, to which her colleague replies, “Oh, you can borrow her any time!”

When one of the “Newsbubs”, as they’re collectively known, threatens to ruin his onesie with a stream of dribble, the mums race to find a bib.

“Don’t worry – I brought three!” calls a victorious Mel, before removing a TV remote from her son’s mouth. Somehow he’s managed to urn on the news. “He’s going to keep us in jobs,” she laughs, “but he actually likes the weather graphics best.”