Jasmine Ellis Cooper is more than happy to pop bottles again this summer—of the baby variety, that is.
Nearly two months after welcoming her first child with Silas Cooper, the Summer House: Martha's Vineyard star is opening up about experiencing motherhood while her husband, an officer in the Army Reserve that appeared in the first season of the Bravo series, is currently serving overseas in Eastern Europe.
And though Silas' deployment came shortly before filming the show's second season, his presence was still felt from thousands of miles away.
"He made sure I had all the snacks and flowers—that I knew that he was thinking of me no matter how far he was," Jasmine, who gave birth to baby boy Silas Jr. in late February, told E! News in an exclusive interview, "That was really sweet."
Their journey into parenthood comes after the couple, who wed in June 2022, showcased the ups and downs of their relationship during their first summer in the vineyard as newlyweds. It was an experience that the screenwriter admits was tough to face at first.
"Watching back was not easy at all, if I'm being honest, for either of us," the reality star shared. "Because in hindsight, we've done the therapy, we've kind of started over—I've learned who he's become post-joining the service. That was something that I really didn't get an opportunity to do prior to filming or prior to our wedding."
That said, seeing their highs and lows play out on camera made for a fresh start.
"It was a chance to really be like, ‘OK, this is a part of our lives now,'" Jasmine explained. "Being a military family is changing our dynamics and we have to address it and you're not handling it the best and I'm not handling it the best so let's just relearn each other. It wasn't easy, but I think I'm reassured that I've chosen the right partner and I'll speak for him—he chose well."
The Atlanta native also made the choice to return the vineyard with a different outlook, especially when it came to starting over with fellow castmates Jordan Emanuel, Bria Fleming, Shanice Henderson, Amir Lancaster, Nick Arrington, Preston Mitchum, Summer Thomas, Alex Tyree and newcomer Noelle Hughley.
"I definitely had to take a step back completely," she noted. "Not just from my personal relationship, but like all my relationships. And I think that was the takeaway for me personally, with season one, is that I was internalizing things too much from everyone and I wasn't speaking and standing on business."
That said, Jasmine was more than happy to embrace the shift independently.
"To have [Silas] not be a part of the equation this season," she explained, "I was super excited because if something happens, you don't have him to blame. It's just me and you or whoever the person I'm in the situation with. I was looking forward to having girl time and just reminding folks: Yes, I'm growing. Yes, I'm changing. But I'm still going to have fun and I'm still going to care about my friendships."
Another change that's soon to unfold? Jasmine announcing her pregnancy, which as she shared, was met with "varied" reactions from her housemates. But as for the new parents, they've embraced their next chapter like no other.
"[Silas] is so happy being a father and he's so excited to come home," she added, "I think he's going to be a phenomenal dad. He is the type of person that will give you the shirt off his back and give advice—as we clearly have seen. He is not afraid to just step in and support anyone. So, I think he'll be the same as a father."
Keep reading to find out more about the entire Summer House: Martha's Vineyard cast.
All-around creative and musician Alex is reentering the house fresh from a fling with a fellow housemate, but what happens when he crosses paths with newbie Noelle Hughley?
Fashionista and entrepreneur Bria is back (with Milo in tow, of course) and balancing her long-distance relationship with the dynamic of her fellow housemates and their significant others.
Jordan, a model and DJ, is ready to have a good time with her close friends, she's ready to sit down with Jasmine Cooper to reflect on what went down last summer.
Though Amir was new to Martha's Vineyard last year, he's more than eager to return with his best foot forward, though his new romance seems to stir up more trouble in the house than expected.
This summer, Jasmine is returning to the house sans husband Silas, but she has a secret that she's keeping under wraps from her housemates.
Nick is back and in a great place with everyone in the house this summer, though the housemates have a few questions when it comes to his relationship with girlfriend Tasia.
Preston is more than ready to have another fun-filled summer with his fellow housemates, all while deailing with the emotions of suffering a loss.
Shanice, the quintessential party girl, is ready to turn-up once again this summer, but when rumors about her past are brought up again, things go left.
Back to Martha's Vineyard with a new friend in tow (Noelle), Summer finds herself navigating her relationship with a fellow housemate.
Noelle Hughley
Newcomer and Georgia peach Noelle Hughley is ready to bring fun and vivacious energy to the vineyard, but will a flirtation with someone in the house complicate the summer?
Summer's House: Martha's Vineyard airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.
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