Nikki Bella and Artem Chigvintsev want their son’s first words to be “I love you”.
Nikki Bella and Artem Chigvintsev
The happy couple welcomed baby Matteo into the world on July 31, and have now said they’re trying to discourage their son from saying “mum” or “dad” when he starts talking, as they’re both “so competitive” they’d rather his first words be something universal.
Artem said: “We decided not to teach him mom and dad as the first word because we’re so competitive with each other. Nicole said, ‘Why don’t we teach him: ‘I love you?’ I’m not kidding to you. He is obviously not saying it in words, but he is [doing], like, the intonation of him saying that … It’s the most adorable thing ever.”
The ‘Dancing with the Stars’ professional also shared an update on his son’s milestones, as he admitted the tot has started teething.
He added to Us Weekly magazine: “He is teething right now, which is tough because he’s waking up obviously uncomfortable … Every time I look at him, every time she posts a picture of him, I’m like, ‘I can’t believe this is still my baby.’ It’s just ridiculous.”
Meanwhile, 36-year-old Nikki recently opened up about her battle with postpartum depression, saying she felt particularly lonely after Artem, 38, headed to Los Angeles for work, leaving her with Matteo in Phoenix, Arizona.
She explained: “I didn’t realise at week seven, you kind of come out of your baby blues and … go two different paths. You go the path of being healthy or you go down the path of being depressed, and that depression path can be a really dark, deep hole. I was starting to feel invisible. … It just started to build up. Being alone with Matteo and just feeling lonely and not loved and invisible.”
The former professional wrestler resented Artem for going to work at first, but eventually the pair sat down to discuss their feelings.
She said: "I am such a pleaser and I try to be a perfect girlfriend or a perfect fiancée so I act extra supportive even if something's bothering me deep down inside.
“I felt bad for Artem because it made him feel terrible and then he's like, 'I wish you came to me sooner.’ He was just so sad at the fact that I was feeling all these things and I never told him.
"Communication is key. Talking to people is key. If you are someone who's fighting postpartum [depression] and you're just trying to be strong like I was, you can't. We can't win this battle. We cannot fight postpartum depression; we just physically and mentally can't and we have to talk to people."
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