Jenna Bush Hager will always hold a special place in the hearts of Stephanie and Jason Dyott. She was the one who delivered the long-awaited news that their family was growing.
Stephanie, a fourth-grade teacher, and Jason, an electrical contractor, first turned to adoption in 2017, after struggling with infertility and enduring multiple unsuccessful attempts to get pregnant.
That year, they were matched with their son, AJ, just one week old at the time, and now 8. Stephanie described AJ as “the answer to our prayers.”
“I knew he was created for us,” she told Jenna.
But as AJ grew, so did the Dyotts’ hope to expand their family once more. After two years of waiting, they turned again to the Texas-based Gladney Center for Adoption, a journey that would lead them to an unforgettable moment with Jenna.
Last year, in an emotional pre-taped interview, Jenna had the honor of sharing a life-changing announcement with the Dyotts. The Gladney Center for Adoption had matched their family with a 3-month-old baby girl.
The Dyotts quickly returned from New York to Texas to bring her home.
On Jan. 22, the Dyotts brought their daughter, an infant named Reese, along with her proud big brother AJ, to meet Jenna and Sheinelle Jones in Studio 1A.
From the moment he walked on set, AJ was completely enamored with his baby sister — hugging her and smiling at her. It came as no surprise to his parents, who said AJ had been asking for a sibling for years, a bond so evident that Jenna couldn’t help but notice, telling him, “AJ, it doesn’t seem like you can’t keep your hands off her.”
Watching that bond already take shape has been especially meaningful for Stephanie. “One morning she was still in her crib. She was crying,” Stephanie recalled. “And when I looked on the monitor, I saw that he had climbed into the crib with her, and he was consoling her. He was telling her, ‘It’s okay Reese, Mommy’s coming.’”
AJ added that he had his iPad and was letting Reese watch her “favorite” show, “Kiff” on Disney.
Jenna was visibly moved as she watched AJ tend to Reese, gently and attentively. “This is the sweetest,” she said. “I’m crying.”