On August 20, 2020, TV actress turned Broadway star Lea Michele welcomed her first child, Ever Leo Reich, with her husband, Zandy Reich.
Michele and Reich’s romance follows the classic friends-to-lovers trope. The couple met in 2016 at Michele’s best friend’s wedding and happened to sit next to each other as they were ‘sort of the closest in the friend area.’
They started seeing more of each other through mutual friends, officially started dating in 2017, engaged a year later, and married the next. Then, life got even better for the both of them when they discovered that Michele was pregnant. An insider shared that the two had always wanted to become parents shortly after the announcement.
And now that she’s coming up three years into motherhood, let’s take a quick look back at her journey. And, of course, finally meet and get to know more about Ever Leo.
Baby On Board
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On May 3, 2020, Lea Michele posted a photo of her growing baby bump on Instagram, captioning it with a simple line: “So grateful ????.” But behind that photo and others she shared throughout her pregnancy was one of the most challenging times of her life.
Michele, who at 30 was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), struggled to get pregnant. In an Instagram Live series Before, During, & After Baby hosted by Katharine Schwarzenegger, the actress opened up about her condition.
She explained how it made conceiving complicated right off the start. She also shared how the feelings built up and emotionally exhausted her.
Then when she finally got pregnant, she suffered through several intense and scary health complications. At one point, she had to go on bed rest and also experienced heavy bleeding, so she had to be rushed to the hospital.
Looking back, Michele admitted that it was the lowest she had been in her entire life and described the whole experience as “horrible.” However, there was a silver lining in all those challenges: they brought Michele and her husband Reich closer together. But she clarified that she would never wish what happened to her to anybody.
Arrival: Meet Lea Michele’s Baby, Ever Leo Reich
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Michele and Reich finally got to hold their baby boy, Ever Leo, on August 20, 2020. A source told PEOPLE that mom and baby were happy and healthy, and the couple was extremely grateful. They also added that the baby had been very easy so far.
A week later, Michele shared a black-and-white photo of the baby’s foot with her and her husband’s hands cradling it. And she subtly captioned the post with his name, “ForEver grateful for this true blessing ????.”
Motherhood has definitely reshaped Michele’s perspective in life and her career. Talking with Drew Barrymore on the latter’s show, the singer shared that she had realized she had been so career-focused her entire life, to a fault. And that meeting her husband and then having a son together really gave her grounding.
In another interview, she shared that being a mom softened her. Before becoming one, she confessed that she had this sense of drive that ‘created a lot of blind spots in her life.’
She claims that Ever changed her, opened up her heart more, and made life even more beautiful in ways she didn’t know were possible. And “Everyday,” she looked forward to hearing him call her ‘mama.’
The EVERyday Journey
Michele had been openly sharing their moments together with Ever, posting photos and sometimes videos on Instagram – from early morning cuddles, walks by the beach, slow lazy Sundays to strolling down the streets of Brooklyn and meeting his mom’s co-workers.
Aside from photos, Michele shared with fans a special studio album titled Forever, filled with lullabies dedicated to her son. In an interview with People, the singer shared that she had always loved the idea.
However, her passion for making one ignited as she went through pregnancy and spent time with her son during his first year. She also adds that singing had always been one of her ways of communicating with Ever while he was still in her belly.
When asked if Ever had a favorite track from the album, his mom was convinced it was her cover of Coldplay’s “Yellow.” It made sense because it was one of the songs played when Michele walked down the aisle to marry Ever’s dad!
Michele also admits that Ever wasn’t a fan of her high notes. During her appearance on The Tonight Show, she shares that Ever started crying hysterically after hearing her hit some high ones.
But the more interesting part was that Little Ever had also started to show his singing talent. While speaking with Access Hollywood, she said, “He does sing a little bit already, which is kind of crazy! I’ve always heard that singing is genetic, and it just might be.”
But for the longest time, she had kept his face hidden until her birthday greeting for her husband, Reich, whom she lovingly called “Z,” last January 23, 2022. In the photo, Reich was holding Ever, who was looking so cool and awesome, wearing matching sunglasses with his dad.
Milestone: The Start of Little School
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On New Year’s Day 2023, Michele posted the cutest thing: Ever wearing a blue sweater, a blue backpack – as big as he was with his initials ‘ELR’ embroidered – and cute white shoes. In the caption, the singer said it was captured on September 6, 2022, on Ever’s first day of little school.
Michele also shared that she cried as she tied his little shoes that morning. “I feel like just yesterday you were born. And now you have your first day of little school. I’m your mama before anything ever and I love you.”
On the same day, Michele started her Broadway performance of Funny Girl, where she starred as Fanny Brice. It was a rollercoaster of emotions for the new mom, who was happy for her child reaching a milestone and nervous about returning to work and leaving him. Fortunately, with the help and encouragement of the incredible women in the Broadway community, Michele found the strength to get back and do what she loves to do.
On Ever’s Future
If ever Ever decides to pursue singing, the couple expressed that they would be hundred percent in support of him. The couple admitted they both felt they wanted (Michele in particular) to protect their son from the not-so-pretty aspects of the entertainment industry.
However, it was more important for them to make Ever feel supported in whatever ventures he decided to pursue or felt would make him happy. In a way, Michele was raised by parents who always supported her in anything she loved, so she knew she had to do it for her son, too.
You could also visit Lea Michele’s Instagram to see more photos of Ever Leo Reich.