Hoda Kotb of 'Today' adopts baby girl

Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Hoda Kotb is a first-time mom.

The 52-year-old Today show anchor confirmed on Tuesday's episode that she recently adopted a daughter, Haley Joy, after hinting at the news on Twitter.

"That little girl, Haley Joy, is my daughter!" she tearfully announced. "I adopted her. She's a Valentine's baby so she's a little nugget ... She is the love of my life."

Co-hosts Matt Lauer, Al Roker, Kathie Lee Gifford and Jenna Bush Hager were thrilled to hear the news and also offered their congratulations online. Savannah Guthrie and Dylan Dryer, who are on maternity leave, also chimed in on Twitter.

"So thrilled for @hodakotb and her previous daughter, Haley Joy!! She will be the best mommy ever! We love you, Hoda, enjoy every moment!" Gifford tweeted.

"Overjoyed for @hodakotb and her little comet Haley - a brilliant flash of light for our world. Love love love and LOVE," Guthrie wrote.

"There is no joy like being a mother! @hodakotb I'm so beyond happy for you!!! Welcome aboard the baby train! She's precious," Dreyer added.

Kotb had teased the news on social media in the past week by sharing cryptic but inspirational posts, such as "We're all just looking for someone to spend our forevers with" and "May the next few months of your life be a period of magnificent transformations."

"My girl #haleyjoy," she captioned a photo of herself with her daughter Tuesday.

Kotb had announced in October that she was moving in with boyfriend Joel Schiffman, but didn't mention her beau while sharing her baby news on Today. She and Schiffman have been dating for over three years.