HGTV's Brian Patrick Flynn & Hollis Smith Welcome Baby via Surrogate

HGTV Dream Home Designer Brian Patrick Flynn’s is officially a dad!

The beloved interior designer and his husband, Hollis Smith, shared an intimate look at their daughter’s arrival on April 18. “THE STORY OF CLOVER: Part One,” Flynn captioned the black-and-white video on Instagram. In it Flynn and Smith join their surrogate on the way to the hospital and are by her side as she gives birth. Moments later, baby Clover’s tiny footprints are immortalized, and Flynn cradles her close for a tender moment of skin-to-skin connection.

Flynn and Smith first shared the big news that they would be welcoming a baby girl in February. “Currently entering our Dads Era. Baby Flynnsmith coming this Spring,” the couple captioned the Reel.

In the video, Flynn and Smith reflect on family photos and get their space ready for their little girl. The montage includes shots of the two looking at a sonogram photo and video, bringing a crib into their nursery and several toys, including a wooden block board that depicts the name of their daughter on the way, Clover.

“We’ve been together for 18 years and we’ve done really epic things together,” Flynn tells People, describing how they both enjoy doing “really unique” activities and that having a baby was “always on the table.” The couple said they begin the journey to growing their family in 2021 and were able to use their friend Taylor Frey’s surrogacy agency Elevate, which “specifically caters to same-sex families or single same-sex people in the LGBT community,” Flynn said.

“Magically our surrogate Marissa, who lives in the Midwest in the States, which is an hour and 20-minute flight from us, was like that couple’s perfect,” he explained. “She chose us. It was so magical and it was just totally meant to be. It turns out she’s also a graphic designer, which is the type of person I work with all the time in my career, Hollis as well.”

“The whole story is just total magic because now she’s absolutely a forever family member. So is her husband and so are her kids. They will be Uncle Nathan and Aunt Marissa and her kids will basically be cousins to our kid,” he added.

Only six weeks away from their daughter’s birth, Flynn has been going through quite the adjustment renovating and babyproofing the couple’s space. “My favorite thing in the entire world is an all-white house," he said. “And that might not be the smartest choice for somebody who’s about to have a little one who’s going to have sticky fingers and lots of food.”

“The hardest thing is finding something that is super comfortable but also pretty and durable,” he said. “And I’ve noticed my whole life, I love the beautiful, uncomfortable furniture because I never sit down, I never nest. But what’s going to happen now is Hollis and I are going to be laying down, napping, rocking, cradling.”

Our best to Flynn and Smith on their new addition!