Mara Martin is going to be a mother once again!
According to an exclusive statement she sent to PEOPLE on the arrival of her second child, the Sports Illustrated model who gained widespread attention in 2018 for walking the catwalk while nursing her daughter has given birth to her second child.
Vera Elise Vandenburg was born on Friday, August 4 to parents Martin, 37, and Ryan Vandenburg, 37, who are engaged. Vera measured 22 inches in length and weighed 9 pounds, 9 ounces. Aria, who is now 5 years old, will now have a younger sister.
The mother of two young children reflects that “there has definitely been a significant learning curve for us.” “Initially, Ryan and I thought this would be really easy because we’ve done this before, but we were quickly humbled by the amount of diapers that newborns go through. We had no idea how many diapers they go through.” And you can forget about getting any rest!”
Due to the fact that the new baby requires the majority of our attention and time, I have found it difficult to ensure that Aria continues to get the love and care she deserves.
Having said that, the little girl of five years old “immediately fell in love” with her younger sister.
“She was so excited to meet her, and when we got to bring her home, I think it really sunk in that this was her new baby sister,” Martin tells PEOPLE. “I think it really sunk in that this was her new baby sister when we got to bring her home.” “She’s been so helpful by wanting to hold her, change her diapers, and take care of her,” I said. “She’s been wanting to hold her.” As they both become older, I can’t wait to see how their connection develops. The last week has easily been the most fruitful of my whole life.
Martin is particularly effusive in his gratitude for Vandenburg’s role as “a great partner through such a vulnerable period.”
“Ryan has been amazing to me throughout my whole pregnancy, the delivery of both of our daughters, and now as a father of two tiny children. Now that I am a week postpartum, recuperating from delivery, and beginning my adventure of nursing Aria, Ryan has taken up the additional slack by assisting in all areas, whether that be cooking, cleaning, changing diapers, or playing with Aria to keep her amused.
In February, the couple shared their joyous news with People magazine in an exclusive interview. Martin said at the time, “We are so excited for baby No. 2,” and we couldn’t agree more. “We had been tracking and trying all of the tricks and tips for almost an entire year, hoping to get pregnant again, so when we found out, we were absolutely thrilled!”
“Because it has been more than five years since Aria was born, it feels like my first time all over again in some ways, but her excitement makes it really fun and different this time around,” she continued. “In some ways, it feels like it’s my first time all over again.”
Martin nursed her then-5-month-old child while walking in the Sports Illustrated Swim Search fashion show in 2018. At the time, she told PEOPLE that she was “proud” to represent working women at that moment.
Despite the fact that Martin “doesn’t know if I’ll breastfeed on the runway again,” she has said that she “definitely” wants to breastfeed her second child.
“We’ll see how it all goes — the important thing is that my baby is fed and loved,” she added. “We’ll see how it all goes.” “Breastfeeding Aria was such a wonderful experience for me, so I’m hoping to share that bond once more with another child.”
Martin noted that she believed her daughter Aria was “most excited of all” as she and Vandenburg prepared to welcome their new arrival, and Vandenburg agreed with her assessment.
Since the day she discovered out, the model claimed, “she has been talking nonstop about being a big sister, telling everyone we see, and practicing with her baby dolls.” “She’s been practicing with her baby dolls,” the model added. “She even let the secret slip out to some family members earlier than we planned on announcing it because she begins her conversations by blurting out, ‘Hi! Mama has a baby in the belly!’ ” It is the most delightful sight to see.
