real mom: Beccy Gordon hunter-reay
Meet Beccy Gordon Hunter-Reay. This beauty is wife to Ryan Hunter-Reay known as the most successful American race car driver currently competing in open wheel competition. He has won more races than all of the other current American IndyCar drivers combined and recently won the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series Championship. Beccy and Ryan gave birth to their first baby just two months ago. They are in love with handsome baby boy Ryden. He has already stolen his parents hearts and also his dad’s lap in a race car. We loved hearing about life and motherhood from this beaming first time mom. Ryan and Beccy’s story is a sweet one and this couple is the real deal. Here is what she had to say:
Q:How did you and ryan meet?
A: I met Ryan at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in 2004. I was working as a pit-reporter and he was racing. It was the first race of the season and I was new to the series, so I set out to meet anyone and everyone. When I met Ryan, I can honestly say it was love at first sight! I thought he was so sweet and absolutely adorable. Later that day there was an autograph session where I made friends with an amazing lady, she knew a ton about racing and we instantly hit it off. That night, I met my cousin who was with a huge group of people for dinner. I was late as usual and they were scrambling to make room for me, when I suddenly felt a tap on my shoulder. It was Ryan and he invited me to sit at his table, as I turned around, the lady I met at the autograph session was sitting there and waving me over. It was Ryan’s mom! She was behind it all and I had no idea that Ryan and her collaborated on the effort. Of course I sat down with them for dinner and instantly I knew Ryan was the one for me. We like all the same things: racing, the ocean, classic rock and our personalities are very similar but different enough to keep the spark. The rest is history. Long Beach is now our favorite racetrack for many reasons. We met there, got engaged there, he won there & this year we’ll have our baby there! J
Q:Did you two always know you wanted to be parents?
A: YES! We always knew we wanted to be parents it was just a matter of when. Our schedule is crazy hectic and we knew once I was pregnant things would change. We timed it perfectly and the baby arrived in the off-season. He was earlier than expected, but we say he just got a jump start!
Q:What has surprised you the most about motherhood?
A:I know some moms will hate me for this, but the ease of motherhood is what has surprised me the most. Everyone warned me about every bad thing that can happen and how hard the process can be, so when everything went perfectly it really surprised me. I was ready for the worst! My pregnancy was really a breeze, I never had morning sickness and I was able to travel to all of Ryan’s races without a problem. I didn’t even show until I was over 6 months pregnant so we were able to keep my pregnancy a secret… we told everyone in racing about my pregnancy while we were on stage when Ryan won the IndyCar Championship! It was really amazing that way. I know motherhood will have its challenges but I’m ready for them.
Q:What is it going to be like for Ryden to grow up as an Indy kid?
A:The IndyCar Community is really our second family. We spend nearly every weekend together and it’s an amazing life. The women of IndyCar all stick together and support one another. My dear friends, Heather Carpenter, had a baby boy, Cruz, about two weeks before Ryden was born and just this week another friend had a little boy named Harley. I’m excited for Ryden’s future life at the track. We know he’ll have a little buddy. There are a lot of little girls in the paddock and no
w there is a new wave of little men too. Last week Ryan tested (practiced) his IndyCar at Sebring International Raceway here in Florida and it was Ryden’s first trip to the racetrack. We used it as a test for Ryden as well to see how he would adjust to life in our bus. I should have known, but he LOVED it! It was the first time he slept through the night and he loved the sound of the cars. I was so excited that he passed his test with flying colors. You can see in the pictures how calm our baby bird is and how happy/proud his daddy is.
w there is a new wave of little men too. Last week Ryan tested (practiced) his IndyCar at Sebring International Raceway here in Florida and it was Ryden’s first trip to the racetrack. We used it as a test for Ryden as well to see how he would adjust to life in our bus. I should have known, but he LOVED it! It was the first time he slept through the night and he loved the sound of the cars. I was so excited that he passed his test with flying colors. You can see in the pictures how calm our baby bird is and how happy/proud his daddy is.
City Mini Elite Baby Jogger – forget all the high-tech expensive strollers. This stroller does it all for me and it’s really easy to travel with!
Baby Bargains – A friend of mine told me to buy this book and it became my lifesaver for registering. I had no idea what to get and the book breaks down every product so you have confidence in the items you register for.
Fisher Price My Little Lamb Infant Seat – I take this with me to friends homes if we are planning on staying a while. Travels easy and Ryden loves it.
Vaseline – Ryden got a diaper rash in the first week he was home. Since I’ve been using Vaseline everyday its completely gone and no sign of one coming back.
Hospital blankets – steal them! If you don’t have the guts to take them, use Aden & Anais bamboo swaddle blankets. They are so soft and I use them for everything!
Graco Pack N’ Play Napper Elite or the Chicco 4-n-1 Playard– no reason to buy a crib before the baby’s birth if you have one of these. I stressed about getting the nursery done and all I do is use this! You have an extra two-three months with one of these. I have one upstairs and down and another in our bus.
Born-Free Tru-Clean Sterlizing System – this is amazing for the bus, I would waste too much water cleaning bottles so this is the solution.
Mamaroo by 4moms – this is definitely the most “high-tech” item I’ve bought and we LOVE it. You can choose from ‘Car Ride’, ‘Tree Swing’ to ‘Kangaroo.’ It’s unreal.
Thanks for the tips Beccy and for sharing your story with us! And a huge congrats on baby Ryden!
XOXO
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Comments & Replies
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Babies and race car driving is fun until the baby starts driving with a heavy foot. The baby is gorgeous as many babies are. Hope you don’t have to go to the morgue and identify him or his friends in a reckless driving “accident”. No one should ever have to do that but in the racing capital of the world it is a common occurrence.
A romantic story but would encourage you to get with reality after spending so much time on the manufactured cloud nine. Almost reads like a Kim-yay reality TV script. Not impressed with Ryan’s family back round and although Beccy is certainly cute, she is just an ordinary wag IMO
It’s really a romantic review and fabulous looking you both.
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Her wedding dress is stunning!! Great story!
Her wedding dress is stunning!! Great story!
I agree! And the products she chose are awesome. I love aden and anais swaddle blankets They are soooo soft!
She really is so down to earth. We love that about this real mom!
She’s stunning & so down to earth! Love this interview!! 🙂
She is gorgeous! Love that she keeps it real with an affordable stroller. Strollers are SOOOO expensive now! Crazy