NBC correspondent Richard Engel welcomes second son: 'We couldn’t be more in love'

Charles Trepany

Richard Engel has some personal news to report.

The NBC News chief foreign corespondent, who has spent much of his career covering war and political upheaval, announced in an email to the "Today" show that he and his wife, Mary Forrest, welcomed their second child, Theodore Forrest Engel, over the weekend.

"Mary and I are so excited to introduce our new son Theodore (Theo),'' Engel, 45, wrote in an email to "Today" Monday. "He’s healthy, happy (unless you unwrap his swaddle) and thirsty. We couldn’t be more in love. And now Henry is a big brother, too."

Engel added he's looking forward to life as a "Dada" of two.

"Life has twists, turns and new beginnings,'' Engel wrote. "This is Theo’s first chapter, and a new one for our family. We’re excited, nervous and thankful."

Engel opened up on the "Today" show in March with an emotional essay about his first son, Henry, finally saying "Dada" after being diagnosed with Rett Syndrome, a rare genetic neurological disorder that leads to severe physical and cognitive impairments.

Because of his older son's condition, Engel said hearing him say "Dada" was all the more meaningful.

"To parents with typically developing children, a little Dada may not seem like a big deal," he wrote. "But for me it was a validation, an acknowledgement that he’s in there, knows me, knows that his mother and I are forces for good in his life, and above all, that he loves us."

Contributing: Anika Reed

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBC's Richard Engel and wife Marry Forrest welcome second son