On This Is Us, Chris Sullivan's character of Toby is in the midst of trying to be the best parent to a son with a disability. Off-screen, Chris is putting some of those parenting skills to use, as his first son was born on July 30.
Naming their baby Bear Maxwell, Chris and his wife Rachel couldn't be happier. Bear was born healthy and happy, despite the fact that he arrived right in the midst of this history-making year. According to Rachel, who spoke to People magazine with her husband, he's a very easy baby.
"He tells us what he needs and then when we give it to him, he is quiet again," she told the publication. Chris is also head over heels for his firstborn.
"He's a good guy," the actor stated. "He likes dancing. Eats a lot, rests a lot. He's kicked off at three-hours stretches [of sleep] between feeds, which is a good chunk of time, and it's slowly getting longer and hopefully, we'll continue in that direction."
Welcoming their newborn during such a trying time wasn't lost on the couple, who told People that "everything at our house already kind of felt surreal and like a time loop." That's one statement that every parent will be able to relate to.
But that said, Chris has nothing but positive words to say about becoming a dad. His positive viewpoints are enough to lift any new parent.
"It just feels like a never-ending slumber party," said Chris. "Every three hours, Rachel and I are getting up and checking in, and there's this little baby that needs tending to in one way or the other." Chris' spin on the lack of sleep is truly a good way for new parents to change their opinion on early wake-ups.
Even Chris' initial Instagram post welcoming his new son was positive and sweet. That photo showed just the baby's feet. "HE HAS ARRIVED!" Chris wrote. "8lbs of beautiful baby boy. Witnessing @therealrachelsullivan bring our first son into this world, after 20 hours of labor, was one of the great honors of my life. It was primal and intentional and I have never been more in love with this powerful woman."
Even though they're trying to socially distance themselves from loved ones, they're still managing to get a lot of help. According to Rachel, the couple's friends set up a meal train for the couple. That way, they don't need to think or worry about cooking meals while they're enjoying their baby and adjusting to parenthood.
According to Rachel, having that sense of community — especially during a time like this — has been absolutely priceless. "We've been really buoyed by love and support and all of those things," she said. "I think that's just so important when you're going through anything, but especially this. So that's something that has been really amazing to have. I wish that for anyone who's going through this, just to have such a supportive community."
There's a popular phrase that it "takes a village to raise a child." Some people don't happen to have that support by their side, especially now. So it's a sense of relief when there are people willing and able to lend a hand, especially during that first adjustment period. Rachel and Chris also seem to be handling everything with a smile.
"We have been so blessed at every stage of this process," said Chris. "Everything is going better than we ever could have hoped. I just feel very lucky for that. Rachel is recovering very well. Bear is as healthy as he could possibly be." Chris first announced that he and his wife were expecting back in January.
He did it in a pretty funny way, as well. First, he posted the sonogram. Then he said that they knew the sex of the baby and to swipe for clues. After that, Chris posted multiple safe yet phallic-looking photos of fruits, buildings, and nature. It was a memorable, humorous reveal for the star and his fans.
Rachel's announcement piggybacked off her husband's. As she wrote on Instagram, "It's TRUE!!! You heard it from @sullivangrams we are having a BOY!! So excited!! Nursery is in the works, names are being workshopped, doulas are being interviewed, naps are my go-to self-care bc I'm just so , so much to do and yet so much not to do, just enjoying the moment…life is good!"
Chris has often showed his undying devotion to his wife. In August of 2018, he made a point to talk on social media about Romance Awareness Month. "Romance means making yourself vulnerable," he said to People. "Ask your partner what they need to feel loved and when they tell you, say, 'I can do that!' Love is an action verb, and romance is the result of those actions."
Then he went into detail about the little ways he shows Rachel that she's loved. "There are small things I do for her every day because I know she loves them," the actor stated. "Making a killer breakfast burrito? I got game. Washing the car? Love it. Doing the dishes? I love it more than washing the car. Executing small shows of affection for my #WonderWife lets her know I'm paying attention and care about things she cares about. And by the way, she does tons of stuff I love too."
He even talked about what he's learned from his character of Toby, who often uses humor to try to solve rough patches with his on-screen wife Kate, played by Chrissy Metz. "It's important, and possibly even necessary for survival, but it has to be balanced with good boundaries and a healthy sense of self," he said.
It's unclear as to how exactly Chris met Rachel, but she works as a short-film producer — so it's safe to say they likely met on set, or through mutual friends in the industry. They've been married for 10 years, and Rachel always accompanies Chris on the red carpet for big events. Usually, they match — that's just who they are.
But one of the things that is very clear about Chris and Rachel? They're absolutely in love with each other. They both seem to work as a team, meaning that they're likely going to be great parents to baby Bear. And when productions start up again and This Is Us is allowed to film, surely he'll be welcomed by his on-set family. One of the reasons why the show is so successful is that everyone in the cast seems to genuinely care about each other.
It's unclear whether or not Chris and Rachel will try for more children in the future, but right now, surely they're enjoying their time with their first son. Surely, Chris will make sure to offer up more great parenting advice as his first year as a dad progresses. And chances are, that advice will also come with a laugh or two.
