Lauryn ‘Pumpkin’ Shannon and Josh Efird Show Off Baby Ella, Talk Becoming New Parents

Credit: Ben Rollins Photo

Lauryn ‘Pumpkin’ Shannon and Josh Efird Show Off Baby Ella, Talk Becoming New Parents

From reality TV to real family life! Lauryn ‘Pumpkin’ Shannon and fiancé Joshua Efird have started a brand new chapter in their lives after welcoming their first baby, daughter Ella Grace, on Friday, December 8. Shannon, 18, spoke exclusively with Us Weekly about her life as a new mom, how Mama June Shannon and Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson have been since the baby arrived and what her relationship is like with Efird now. June was actually in the room with her daughter during the labor, Shannon revealed, along with Efird and his mother. While she was in labor for over 24 hours, the new mother did admit the process wasn’t as bad as she expected. “The hardest thing about having a baby was having to push,” she tells Us. Read more and see Us Weekly’s exclusive photos of Shannon and her family below! Mama June: From Not to Hot airs on We TV Fridays at 9 p.m. ET.

Credit: Ben Rollins Photo

Lauryn ‘Pumpkin’ Shannon and Josh Efird Show Off Baby Ella, Talk Becoming New Parents

From reality TV to real family life! Lauryn ‘Pumpkin’ Shannon and fiancé Joshua Efird have started a brand new chapter in their lives after welcoming their first baby, daughter Ella Grace, on Friday, December 8. Shannon, 18, spoke exclusively with Us Weekly about her life as a new mom, how Mama June Shannon and Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson have been since the baby arrived and what her relationship is like with Efird now. June was actually in the room with her daughter during the labor, Shannon revealed, along with Efird and his mother. While she was in labor for over 24 hours, the new mother did admit the process wasn’t as bad as she expected. “The hardest thing about having a baby was having to push,” she tells Us. Read more and see Us Weekly’s exclusive photos of Shannon and her family below! Mama June: From Not to Hot airs on We TV Fridays at 9 p.m. ET.

Credit: Ben Rollins Photo

Unconditional Love

"I honestly didn't know that I could love a little person so much," Shannon, 18, tells Us. "I want her to grow up and not listen to what others have to say, and if she wants to do something, go after it!"

Credit: Ben Rollins Photo

A Mother's Advice

Baby Ella Grace has been sleeping a lot and doesn't cry too much – just when she's hungry or sick. Living with Mama June has helped a lot, too, since she “absolutely loves Ella!" The best advice her mother has given her as a new mom is to sleep when the baby is sleeping! “I'm not gonna say it's easy being a young mother. It is a hard process, but I've grown into it," she adds.

Credit: Ben Rollins Photo

Young Motherhood

Shannon, who plans on attending cosmetology school in the future, admits that while it's tough being a young mother, she always hoped to have kids young – ideally, around age 24. “I don't condone teen pregnancy but I like the fact that I'm going to be able to grow up with my daughter," she tells Us. She and Efird want four kids total.

Credit: Ben Rollins Photo

Sisterly Love

Shannon feels lucky she can lean on her family, especially sisters Alana and Jessica Shannon, who she calls her rock. Alana is constantly helping, offering to feed Ella and even change her diaper. "The thing that has surprised me the most is how many diapers you go through," Shannon says, noting that they go through 10-15 a day. “They don't come cheap either!"

Credit: Ben Rollins Photo

Creating a Team

In addition to being parents, Efird and Shannon do still plan on getting married "when Ella's a decent age," she says. For now, their relationship is just getting better and better and she’s very in love. “They say [babies] change things, but honestly I think a kid is maybe what we needed in our relationship,” she tells Us. “We've become closer than any other time. We both help each other out. It's like it's a team thing now."

With reporting by Marc Lupo.