Nancy O’Dell Recalls Bittersweet Moment with Daughter and Her Mom

Saying her daughter is "definitely a tomboy," Nancy O’Dell recalls the first year of Ashby Grace’s life as "blissful [and] fulfilling" and to put it simply, "heaven." While the first year hasn’t been all joy — Nancy’s mother was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and passed away in June — having a little one in the house couldn’t have come at a better time. An uplifting presence, then 5-month-old Ashby "crawled over to her and put her head on my mother’s chest as if to say ‘I know and I love you Grandma’" shortly after the diagnosis, an experience that Nancy refers to as "one of the sweetest moments I have ever witnessed."

Being a first time mother, Nancy — who fondly recalls her pregnancy as "definitely enjoyable" — was nervous with a newborn in the house, and like many new moms "felt like I had no clue what to do or when to do it." Luckily for Nancy, her husband Keith Zubchevich was a pro, as he has two sons from a previous marriage. Even Access Hollywood co-host Billy Bush – who is a father to four children himself — offered Nancy some advice, going as far as bringing a baby doll to the set to show Nancy how to swaddle!

Continue reading to find out about Ashby’s special heirloom and Nancy’s thoughts on being a mom!

With the birth of Ashby, Nancy was introduced to a whole new field of shopping: baby products!  With so many shoes on the market, the 42-year-old followed the celebrity trend and picked baby-friendly Pedipeds, a shoe which she says she absolutely loves since they don’t slide off of "those cute pudgy feet." Revealing that she is also a major Orbit and Silver Cross fan, one of Nancy’s favorite finds for her daughter is her custom made highchair by Nicole Reid. With a chair that "looks great just sitting out," Nancy is happy that Ashby will have a "great heirloom piece with her name…embroidered on the back."

While Nancy did take some time off after the birth of Ashby, it wasn’t long before her duties to Access Hollywood were calling her back. Facing the "toughest thing ever," Nancy returned to her hosting job, but admits that "sometimes I run from the set to get home and see her." Describing having a child as "Christmas every day," Nancy cherishes the time she spends with her baby girl and hopes to "be [a best friend] for my daughter." It has not taken Nancy long to figure out the greatest gift she can give to her daughter, explaining that it is important "to make your child feel so loved that he or she will know you will always be there for him or her always!"

Give love, love, love and when you think you are showering him or her with too much affection, love even more.

Source: The Cradle; Photo by Bauer Griffin.