Hannah Ann Sluss is shocked at how well she’s adapting to motherhood, revealing the “most surprising” and “rewarding” parts of being a first-time parent after welcoming her son, Lucas, with her husband, Jake Funk, last month.
“One thing that surprised me the most about motherhood is just how much, as women, we can take on, physically, mentally, emotionally. You go from the biggest change, physical change and emotional change of your life to then immediately having to take care of another life,” Sluss, 29, exclusively told Us Weekly on Monday, December 8, while promoting Hallmark’s Keepsake Ornaments ahead of her first Christmas as a mom. “I’ve been surprised by how much I can push through pain and really work and thrive off of very minimal sleep.”
The Bachelor alum said she’s “really proud” of herself, noting the experience has given her “so much more appreciation for other moms out there.”
Sluss told Us that “extending our family” has been the “most rewarding” part of becoming a mother.
“This is the first grandchild on both mine and my husband’s side,” she shared. “So being able to see our son with his grandparents has been the greatest joy, and just seeing the traditions and morals that we’ll instill in him that our parents both have taught us, I feel like it’s going to be like the greatest blessing in both of our lives.”
Sluss, who gave birth to their first child on November 20, believes she had their son at “the perfect time.”
“We’re enjoying our newborn bubble. We’re at home watching Christmas movies, and so for this Christmas it’s just going to be like our little family,” the reality star explained, sharing the family tradition she’s most excited to experience with baby Lucas.
“Every Christmas Eve, we would always open the present from my grandmother, and she would give us a Hallmark Keepsake Ornament for the tree, along with our favorite bath wash and a Hallmark card. And that’s something that I wanted to continue with him because it was so fun looking back on decorating the tree and being able to relive those memories every year,” Sluss told Us, adding that Lucas’ ornament is a baby’s first Christmas decoration that includes his picture.
“It’s going to be so fun to be able to have a tree that tells our family story,” the new mom said.
Sluss’ strength isn’t the only surprising thing she’s discovered since becoming a parent. Calling Funk, 27, a “very hands-on” father, she shared that her husband’s enthusiasm for bottle washing also came as a fun shock.
“He loves to clean bottles, and he loves tummy time. He treats it like a little workout for him. So that’s been really fun because tummy time isn’t the easiest because they’re crying,” she revealed about Funk’s bonding moments with their son. “I kind of leave that responsibility up to him because he loves it. And he loves just seeing, already in two weeks. how much he’s progressed.”
Sluss also joked that Lucas might follow in his dad’s NFL footsteps.
“For our first doctor’s appointment, the doctor said he [Lucas] had a running back’s neck, like he had a really strong neck, and he [Funk] was so proud,” she laughed. “I already know that they’re going to be best friends.”
Sluss — whom Bachelor fans remember from Peter Weber’s season 24 in 2020 — revealed their engagement in January 2023 and wed in Italy in June 2024.
On November 25, they announced Lucas’ birth in a joint Instagram post and shared the special meaning behind his name.
“His name lived in our hearts long before we ever met him. Lucas was chosen in Cabo San Lucas, the place where we got engaged. 🤍 James is for Jake’s dad—a piece of him now gets to live on through our son🕊️,” the couple captioned their first family photos after giving birth. “Lucas James, you are a dream come true. We’ll cheer you on for the rest of our lives. We love you, big boy!!”
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