NBC's Natalie Morales' Labor Went into Crisis When Her Son's Heart Rate Began to Drop

Former "Today" co-anchor Natalie Morales, who recently announced her decision to leave NBC, is a proud mother of two boys and the wife of a successful businessman. Here is a glimpse into her family life.

For more than two decades, the world grew fond of seeing Natalie Morales as a co-host on "Today," but that journey seems to have come to an end after she announced her decision to part ways with NBC and begin a new adventure in her life.

Morales grew popular for often having the latest gossip and news on celebrities alongside other interviews she conducted. In the years she was with NBC, the 49-year-old was a fan favorite.

While her career, which often demands her to travel, is an open book, Morales likes to keep things simple and normal when it comes to her family.

Morales is happily married to a successful businessman Joe Rhodes, and together they have two children, Luke Hudson, and Josh. From the pictures she shares on social media, the family seems to be a happy one.

HER MARRIAGE

According to reports, Morales and her husband Rhodes tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in August 1998 after dating for a few years. After their wedding, the journalist decided to retain her surname as she was bent on making a name for herself in her career.

The couple has been together for 23 years and is proud parents of their two kids. After tying the knot, Morales and Rhodes did not start a family immediately; they welcomed their first child Joseph Stockton in 2004, six years after their wedding.

Their second child, Luke Hudson, was born four years after the first, and Morales reportedly said she liked the age gap between her sons. The former "Today" host struggled with getting pregnant for her second child and spent more than two years trying.

Having battled infertility, Morales has some words of advice for those in such positions — she advised them to talk to others if they feel getting pregnant has taken a long time.

Rather than wait endlessly, the mother of two admonished other moms to visit a doctor after waiting for a year to get pregnant. She advised that proper examination should be done to determine if anything is wrong with the body.

The age gap between her sons is an experience Morales cherishes as she noted that her eldest son Joseph acts as a big brother to her youngest son Hudson.

Morales admitted that experts believe an admirable age gap between siblings helps the older child to feel special when a new baby joins the family as he is able to relate and share in the excitement.

MEET RHODES

Rhodes and Morales might have enjoyed a stellar marriage, but the duo has been through storms together and stuck with each other even after rumors emerged that she had an affair with a colleague.

Rhodes is a founder and contemporary Managing Partner at Stockton Road Capital LLC and serves as the managing partner of Hummingbird Brands LLC. He is also the president of Lenny & Larry's LCC.

SELLING THEIR HOME

A few years ago, Rhodes and Morales put their Hoboken townhouse on the market for an asking price of about $3.1 million.

The show host and her husband purchased the townhouse in 2002 for $1 million and expanded it in 2008 to 3,600 square feet. Shortly after putting it on the market, the couple was glad to have quickly found a buyer.

The house had an annual tax bill of $ 25,574 and was expanded to include a modern kitchen with heated Brazilian slate floors, a play area, a custom built-in barbecue island with granite countertops, a 42-inch gas grill, and a Kalamazoo pizza oven.

After selling her townhouse, Morales and her husband purchased a six-bedroom East Coast traditional-style home in Brentwood, California. The house was bought for $6.8 million with an annual tax bill of $2,658.

MOTHERHOOD EXPERIENCE

Being a mom is an experience Morales cherishes to the maximum, and although her career places a huge demand on her, like a superwoman, Morales has been able to find the balance between family and work.

The TV host once remarked that motherhood is the greatest experience of her life, adding that coming home to her son after a terrible day at work is the best way to lift her mood and put a smile on her face.

For Morales, finding the balance between family and work is down to priorities. The 49-year-old revealed that not asking too much of oneself is a good way to find a balance and pursue what is most important.

There is no doubt that family remains Morales's priority, but delivering top-quality journalism wasn't far off the list. The show host has been in the business for more than two decades and has covered some of the best breaking news stories.

Morales covered the 911 attack, the Battle for the White House, Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Columbia Shuttle explosion, and the D.C. sniper shooting.

And while she has an incredible portfolio, Morales had to get used to giving 100 percent at work and in her home. Anything less would amount to a poor experience.

LEAVING NBC

According to reports, Morales is ending her longtime relationship with NBC to join "The Talk," and sources revealed that she sent a memo to her colleagues announcing her exit earlier this month.

Shortly after graduating from Rutgers University, Morales began her television career at NBC affiliate WVIT in Hartford and she has since gone on to become one of the most successful hosts on the platform.

Although she is yet to comment on her arrival on "The Talk," Morales will be the most recent newcomer on the show which has experienced a slew of departures since Sharon Osbourne's abrupt departure. Hopefully, her arrival would be enough to save the show and make it a fan favorite, just like what she did with "Today."