Jaclyn Stapp Update

Stork Magazine, May 16 2007

It’s been quite some time since Jaclyn Stapp graced the cover of the premiere issue of Stork Magazine, and I am sure that many of you are wondering what she and her family has been up to.

We asked Jaclyn a series of questions about her new baby and family that she gladly answered.

1.) WHAT IS YOUR DAUGHTER'S NAME, D.O.B. AND WEIGHT? Milán Hayat Stapp. Scott picked out our daughter's name, which is both Indian and Middle Eastern heritage. She was born January 4, 2007, at 6 pounds 7 ounces, in Boca Raton, FL.

2.) ARE YOU BREASTFEEDING WITH YOUR DAUGHTER? I believe breast feeding really has its benefits and helps to create a wonderful bonding experience. Yes, I did breast feed Milán and then supplement as needed. Although it has its challenges, I wanted to offer Milán a healthy start in life, as I knew breast feeding benefits are worth it.

3.) HOW OLD IS YOUR SON AND WHAT IS HIS NAME? Jagger Michael Stapp is Scott's only son from a previous relationship. He is a very loving little gentleman and quite smart for his age. At 8 and half years, he is growing up fast and is looking more and more like his dad with his big brown eyes and long brown hair. Jagger and I spend a lot of time together shooting hoops, riding bikes, and watching him play on his all-star baseball team. In fact, he recently hit his first homerun! He knows when Dad is away, he is the man of the house.

4.) HOW DID JAGGER REACT TO MILÁN? Jagger was an only child, so it was important to let him participate with Milán's arrival and her care at home. He stayed with Scott and I in the maternity ward. He is often so excited to hold the baby and help feed her, but flees when it's diaper changing time. He especially likes putting on his big brother hat that he wears so proudly around the house. I include him with much of Milán’s activities and he loves to be with her. He placed Milán’s picture on his bed side stand, and always remembers her in his bedtime prayer.

5.) DOES YOUR HUSBAND DO ANY CHANGING OF THE DIAPERS? HOW HAS HE BEEN INVOLVED? Scott, my amazing husband, is hands-on dad... he either stays up late with me or we take turns with Milán waking at night, warming her formula, changing diapers, engaging in baby burping and more... he is very loving and often sings to her, which is so calming. They have such a connection, we all know she’s already daddy’s little girl.

6.) WHEN WERE YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND MARRIED? WHERE? SMALL OR BIG WEDDING? We recently celebrated our first year anniversary by spending a week at the beautiful Parrot Cay Island in the Turks and Caicos.

Scott and I were married on February 10, 2006 in Miami where we truly had an exquisite wedding celebration on the glistening waterfront of the Viscaya Gardens. The fairytale wedding with the services of Barton G, we had the wondrous western and Middle Eastern flair. Serving an exotic dinner, music, belly dancing and more. It really was a special night with over 250 guests followed by a honeymoon in Maui.

7.) CURRENTLY WHAT ARE YOU DOING, WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS, ETC: First of all I want to enjoy every moment of motherhood, as the children are really growing up fast and I want to be a part of all their milestones. I am an avid believer of good health, exercising and eating right, so I am diligently working out to my pre-birth weight. I am also currently working at home as director of Public Relations for the Scott Stapp Foundation, planning fund raising and charity events that support children and families in need. One upcoming event is a visit to Boca Raton's Haven house for abandoned and foster children. This summer I am scheduled for several engagements which include judging two state Miss USA pageants, a fashion photo shoot, and modeling assignments.

8.) ANY INFO THAT YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO INCLUDE:

The biggest fulfillment and blessing for me is indeed family. Especially when children come into one's life, priorities change as well as one's overall outlook on life. From my own personal childhood experience I learned about commitment as a parent and how spending time with one's children does indeed have a great impact on a child’s life as it did mine.

I was one of five children raised in a close-knit family by my widowed mom. When my dad suddenly died in an accident when I was nine years old, it left an indelible imprint on my life. I grew up quickly and learned very early about hard work and responsibility. I also learned about the unconditional love of a devoted single parent. As she led by example, my mother instilled in me the strength and confidence to overcome being teased at 9 that I was skinny and looked like a boy, or as a teen kids laughed at my long weird toes, and as a young adult I was self-conscious that I had a curved back. But because my mother believed in me, I was blessed with many accomplishments; from graduating high school with numerous scholarships, receiving the president's award for hundreds of volunteer hours, graduated from Stetson University, and, despite a poor self-image, I modeled for swimsuit and print catalogues and magazines, I competed and won the title of Miss New York. With a mentoring for children platform, I was a motivational speaker for at risk children. One particular proud moment was visiting our troops in Baghdad. I visited orphanages, visited with the women of the governing council to speak about democracy and civil rights, many of my accomplishments built from a profound motto, “I was sorry I had no shoes until I met the man who had no feet”. Being a new mother is on the job training, I do want to set expectations for our children and spend as much time together as I can, and especially lead by example, which I know first hand is the greatest superpower a parent can have.