>> I just want to leave it
It's going to be that kind of
day.
>> It was so emotional watching
that Kathie Lee last December,
announcing her retirement from
she says good-bye officially --
good-bye officially to the show
next month.
Hoda is going to carry on the
4th hour of "Today" with Jenna
bush-hager.
Her book is inspired by her
daughter Haley joy.
Hoda is happy, she joins us from
play that tear jerker back.
>> I'm looking for Kleenex
I can't believe it's happening.
Kath said to me 5 seconds ago.
She said it's 30 days from right
now.
And it just made it that much
more, you know, real, I think.
>> I love thinking back when you
guys started this show,
especially your career, Hoda,
and what kind of happened once
you sat in that chair, and
everything that transpired and
you shared so much of your life
with us.
It was tremendous and very
uplifting and inspiring for a
lot of people out there.
>> I think when I think about
Kathie Lee, the idea that I get
to sit next to Kathie Lee
Gifford, it's always so mind
blowing to me.
The three of us are kind of the
same.
Kath is in her own league.
There was something about that.
Also like, there is something
about being freon a set and I
had never been that.
And I think so many, so many
great things in my life happened
after she entered it and I was
just -- I was so struck by it.
Like, I got asked to speak at an
event because I was Kathie Lee's
co-host.
At that event I met Joel.
Because I met Joel, we got to
have Haley.
Like, so many things came as a
result of that first union.
And I used to write Kathie Lee
like a love note every year
reminding her, wow, I can't
believe I get to do this.
She's going to leave a real
hole.
I love Jenna, don't get me
wrong.
Jenna is amazing, home run.
But Kath has a special part.
>> Boy, I have to start writing
love notes?
>> I know.
>> You set the bar high.
>> You guys built this show
together and you set this
precedent of women supporting
women.
It didn't Matt efer what y'all were
covering.
It was the vibe of the two of
you for that.
Thank you for sharing
everything.
>> We talk about Jenna real
quick.
She completes you, too.
Jenna is so much fun.
You guys already have such a
good thing going.
What are you most looking
forward to with her?
>> She's nuts, y'all know.
She can put the drinks down.
Between those two things it's
already going to be good.
I do have to say when we were
sitting there, we were about to
announce Jenna, Kath, I looked
at the open door where Jenna was
walking through and I saw her at
like 7 years old.
I looked in those eyes.
She was like a little girl on
Christmas morning and I thought
to miez self, that's everything.
She comes with just a fresh look
about everything.
She's got wisdom way beyond her
years, and she's funny.
Y'all know, you worked with her
so often.
She's kind of the perfect fit.
>> I love hearing about y'all's
babies.
That's my favorite part when you
talk about it.
We were here when you had your
first book for Haley joy.
How was celebrating her second
birthday?
Was it a big se"sesame street"
theme?
>> I was looking at Joel.
I can't believe she's two.
The one thing people tell you
about parenting, blink and
you'll miss it.
I've been trying so hard not to
miss any moment.
I mean, you do -- there are a
lot of not great things about
being an older mom, I guess, but
one of the greatest gifts you
get is you don't waste time.
You literally, when I come home,
I sit on the floor with her.
I know I don't get much time, so
I'm gonna take all those minutes
and I'm gonna, you know, I'm
gonna take them, I'm gonna take
every single one.
Eight you're going to bring me
to tears here.
Tell us about "You are my
happy."
Bedtime stories is part of the
ritual for you guys.
>> Yeah, I think for a lot of us
who have morning jobs, you sort
of miss the mornings which is a
bit of a bummer.
I savor the nights.
I like the last half hour of my
day.
It's my favorite time of the
day.
It's when I give her a bath and
we go into her room and the
music is on.
I'm putting lotion on her,
putting her diaper on.
The music is playing, I'm
singing, and that is probably
the happiest I am all day,
unless Joel is watching and then
it's at dinner with him after
that.
But if he's not, the happiest
moment is in her room in the
quiet.
And there's something beautiful
and intimate about that and it's
a feeling that I have -- I
didn't know existed.
I didn't know that feeling
existed.
>> Hoda, how many times do you
fall asleep?
I get so cozy and relaxed.
I start reading -- I'm here, I
got it.
"You are my happy."
>> I'd wake up at 3:00 in the
morning reading the same page
over and over.
>> You got it.
Well, this book just talks about
the simple things in life that
make kids happy and moms happy
and it's about -- it's like
sometimes you lose sight of it.
You think that life is about
having a big birthday party or a
big whatever for your kid.
A big vacation.
Then you realize, wow, it's
really about a random Wednesday
night when you're read gd her a
book and you fall asleep.
>> You know what I love about
you, Hoda, you're such an
inspiration to so many,
including our friend Andy Cohen.
We have a clip of what he said
on your show when he was on with
you guys.
>> I just -- once I decided to
do it, I was in.
And you were a great help to me.
And inspiring to me as you and I
talked about it, Hoda.
So -- and I was also wondering,
can I do this at this moment in
my life?
>> Yeah.
>> I'm 50, okay?
Sl
let's be real here.
>> But you're used to being up
all night.
>> True.
Everyone is like -- are you not
sleeping?
I'm like, I haven't slept in 30
years.
>> What?
>> It's a different kind of not
sleeping.
>> You know what's great about
that, Hoda, that's a celebrity.
We hear from more women
approaching 50 that say, if Hoda
can do it, so can I.
What does that mean to you?
>> It means -- that means more
than anything.
I was actually in a cycle class
spinning, trying to spin.
Anyway, there was a woman next
to me who said she wanted to
talk to me.
She said, you know what?
I didn't think I could do it,
but I think I can now.
Oh, my god, Sandra bullock said
to me, some people think there's
a box, you have to live within
the box.
No, you create your family.
We're all unique.
Do your thing.
Don't miss out on something
because you think your window
if you want it bad enough, and
if you can't sleep, if you're
right now in this moment saying,
this occupies my thoughts and my
heart, then just try.
You owe yourself that, I think.
>> I love you, Hoda.
You are happy.
Tell Scott I want him to have a
>> I'm not missing this window.
My mama said you are her friend
in her head and she said hello.
>> That's crazy.
>> We love it.
>> I'll see you.
>> See you.