Shawn Johnson East, Andrew East welcome third child
ByNatalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Baby No. 3 FILE PHOTO: Andrew East and Shawn Johnson East attend as Vera Bradley partners with Blessings In A Backpack to kick-off back-to-school philanthropy tour at St. Vincent De Paul Center on August 15, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The couple welcomed their third child, nicknamed Bear, on Dec. 12 (Robin Marchant/Getty Images for Vera Bradley)
(Robin Marchant/Getty Images for Vera Bradley)
ByNatalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Olympian Shawn Johnson East and former NFL player Andrew East have welcomed a new member to their growing team.
Barrett “Bear” Madison East was born on Dec. 12. The sports couple told E! News, “He’s the best Christmas present we could have asked for, and we’re loving our family of five.”
As for their son’s special name, they said they didn’t know if they were having a boy or a girl, so they had picked names for each.
“We’re so happy we got to use the name Barrett Madison for our son and love calling him ‘Bear.’ We knew if we had a boy we wanted to pay tribute to Andrew’s dad who passed away last year and his name was Guy Madison East. Andrew’s Grandpa’s name was also Madison and it was later passed down to his dad, making it a really special family name,” Johnson East told People.
They chose Madison first then chose Barrett. But it was the nickname that they call a “perfect fit.”
“We’ve loved the nickname ‘Bear’ for a long time and considered using that name for Jett, but decided to hold onto it. Since then, we’ve always wanted a baby named Bear, and after seeing our sweet son for the first time, we knew this name was the perfect fit,” Johnson East said.
East also shared that having a baby in December meant a lot to him, the “Today” show reported.
“My dad was born on December 9 and passed away unexpectedly on December 27 of last year, so December is a really impactful month for us,” East said. “Having our baby born so close to my dad’s birthday feels really special and I know he would be smiling down and so proud of us.”
The couple announced in July that they were expecting their third child.
The gymnast and former football player married in 2016.
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Through the years SAN JOSE, CA - AUGUST 16: Shawn Johnson competes during the balance beam portion of the 2007 Visa Gymnastics Championship on August 16, 2007 at the HP Pavillion in San Jose, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Through the years SAN JOSE, CA - AUGUST 18: Shawn Johnson competes in the balance beam portion of the 2007 Visa Gymnastics Championship on August 18, 2007 at the HP Pavillion in San Jose, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Through the years SAN JOSE, CA - AUGUST 18: Shawn Johnson competes in the balance beam portion of the 2007 Visa Gymnastics Championship on August 18, 2007 at the HP Pavillion in San Jose, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Through the years WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 13: Gymnast Shawn Johnson poses for a portrait during the Athlete Summit at Smashbox Studios on November 13, 2007 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) (Harry How/Getty Images)
Through the years PHILADELPHIA - JUNE 20: Shawn Johnson competes on the balance beam during day two of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for gymnastics at the Wachovia Center on June 20, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsyvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) (Al Bello/Getty Images)
Through the years PHILADELPHIA - JUNE 20: Shawn Johnson looks on during day two of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for gymnastics at the Wachovia Center on June 20, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsyvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) (Nick Laham/Getty Images)
Through the years PHILADELPHIA - JUNE 22: Shawn Johnson competes on the balance beam during day four of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for gymnastics at the Wachovia Center on June 22, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) (Nick Laham/Getty Images)
Through the years BEIJING - AUGUST 07: Shawn Johnson of the U.S. Women's Gymnastics Team addresses the media during a press conference ahead of the Beijing 2008 Olympics at the Main Press Center on August 7, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) (Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Through the years BEIJING - AUGUST 07: Shawn Johnson of the USA practices on the balance beam in the National Indoor Stadium ahead of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 7, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Through the years ST. LOUIS - JULY 12: US Olympian Shawn Johnson fields the ball during the Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game at Busch Stadium on July 12, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Through the years LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL - FEBRUARY 27: In this handout photo provided by Disney, Olympic Gold Medal-winning gymnast Shawn Johnson poses with Minnie Mouse at Disney's Hollywood Studios on February 27, 2010 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Johnson, a past champion on ABC-TV's "Dancing with the Stars" series, was at Walt Disney World appearing at "ESPN The Weekend," a sports fan festival held annually at the theme park. (Photo by Matt Stroshane/Disney via Getty Images) (Handout/Getty Images)
Through the years GUADALAJARA, MEXICO - OCTOBER 24: Shawn Johnson of the USA in action during the Women's Artistic Gymnastics at the Nissan Gymnastics Complex during Day Ten of the XVI Pan American Games on October 24, 2011 in Guadalajara, Mexico. (Photo by Scott Heavey/Getty Images) (Scott Heavey/Getty Images)
Through the years GUADALAJARA, MEXICO - OCTOBER 24: Shawn Johnson of the USA in action during the Women's Artistic Gymnastics at the Nissan Gymnastics Complex during Day Ten of the XVI Pan American Games on October 24, 2011 in Guadalajara, Mexico. (Photo by Scott Heavey/Getty Images) (Scott Heavey/Getty Images)
Through the years GUADALAJARA, MEXICO - OCTOBER 24: Shawn Johnson of the USA in action during the Women's Artistic Gymnastics at the Nissan Gymnastics Complex during Day Ten of the XVI Pan American Games on October 24, 2011 in Guadalajara, Mexico. (Photo by Scott Heavey/Getty Images) (Scott Heavey/Getty Images)
Through the years GUADALAJARA, MEXICO - OCTOBER 24: Brandie Jean Jay, Grace McLaughlin, Jessie Rae Deziel, Bridget Elizabeth Sloan, Bridgette Cauatto and Shawn Johnson of the USA celebrate on the podium after winning the Gold medal in the Women's Team Artistic Gymnastics at the Nissan Gymnastics Complex during Day Ten of the XVI Pan American Games on October 24, 2011 in Guadalajara, Mexico. (Photo by Scott Heavey/Getty Images) (Scott Heavey/Getty Images)
Through the years GUADALAJARA, MEXICO - OCTOBER 27: Shawn Johnson of the United States competes in the Women's Artistic Gymnastics Finals in Uneven Bars during Day 13 of the XVI Pan American Games at the Revolution Sports Complex on October 27, 2011 in Guadalajara, Mexico. (Photo by Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images) (Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images)
Through the years GUADALAJARA, MEXICO - OCTOBER 27: Shawn Johnson of the United States celebrates after the Women's Artistic Gymnastics Finals in Uneven Bars during Day 13 of the XVI Pan American Games at the Revolution Sports Complex on October 27, 2011 in Guadalajara, Mexico. (Photo by Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images) (Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images)
Through the years GUADALAJARA, MEXICO - OCTOBER 27: Silver medal winner Shawn Johnson (L) and gold medal winner Bridgette Caquatto (R), both of the United States, pose with medals after the Women's Artistic Gymnastics Finals in Uneven Bars during Day 13 of the XVI Pan American Games at the Revolution Sports Complex on October 27, 2011 in Guadalajara, Mexico. (Photo by Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images) (Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images)
Through the years WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 16: Gymnast Shawn Johnson poses for a portrait during the USOC Portrait Shoot at Smashbox West Hollywood on November 16, 2011 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images for USOC) (Harry How)
Through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 26: Gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi and U.S. Olympian Shawn Johnson attend the U.S. Olympic Committee Benefit Gala at USA House at the Royal College of Art on July 26, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Joe Scarnici/Getty Images) (Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 28: 'Dancing With The Stars: All Stars' finalists Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough perform on ABC's Good Morning America at ABC News' Good Morning America Times Square Studio on November 28, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images) (Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 30: Legend and Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson attends the 28th Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner to Benefit The Buoniconti Fund To Cure Paralysis at The Waldorf=Astoria on September 30, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for The Buoniconti Fund To Cure Paralysis) (Stephen Lovekin)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 30: Legend and Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson and college football player Andrew East attend the 28th Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner to Benefit The Buoniconti Fund To Cure Paralysis at The Waldorf=Astoria on September 30, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images for The Buoniconti Fund To Cure Paralysis) (Brad Barket)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 20: Lorenzo Lamas (R) and Shawn Johnson attend "Celebrity Apprentice" Red Carpet Event at Trump Tower on January 20, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images) (Rob Kim/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - JULY 27: Former gymnast Shawn Johnson teams up with Dove to launch #mybeautymysay and stop sexist media commentary of female athletes. The billboard in Times Square launched on July 27, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Dove) (Neilson Barnard)
Through the years WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 26: Olympic Gymnast Shawn Johnson (R) and Andrew East attend the 25th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation's Academy Awards Viewing Party at The City of West Hollywood Park on February 26, 2017 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for EJAF) (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for EJAF)
