Andy Cohen’s son Ben takes his first steps

On Saturday he took to Instagram to describe the ‘purest joy’ he felt at taking son Ben around their New York neighborhood for ‘his first time’.

And pictures taken on Saturday show the first steps taken by Andy Cohen’s one-year-old son Ben, as the dad and his boy went outside to cheer the coronavirus first responders. 

Ben was already showing his flair for style in a vintage Grateful Dead T-shirt. 

Cohen’s little boy held onto his dad’s hand as the pair strolled, with the Bravo host donning a face mask.

Masks are not recommended for wear by children younger than two.

At one point Ben took an interest in a flowerbed of tulips, and Andy stopped and crouched down as the toddler inspected them. 

 Andy’s son celebrated his first birthday back in February. At the time of his birth in 2019, Andy could barely contain his emotions.

‘I’m in love. And speechless. And eternally grateful to an incredible surrogate. And I’m a dad. Wow,’ he wrote at the time.

The 7PM ‘clap because we care’ moment of cheering and noisemaking has become somewhat of a ritual for New York to show its appreciation for frontline workers and first responders in this new age of an ongoing pandemic, and it has been adopted in other cities as well. 

While some have taken to coming down near an actual hospital at the known time of change of shifts, many NYC residents have also taken to leaning out of their windows or simply opening them, as they clap, holler and clang pots and pans together in appreciation.

Those who have balconies or fire escapes come out at 7pm as well, as seen with Andy’s fellow New York-based celebrity Sarah Silverman.

Cohen, who himself is a survivor of Covid-19 and was forced to quarantine away from his son for the duration of his illness in March, took to his Instagram Story during the cheering session, as well as after the fact. 

He turned the camera on himself and Ben, still sitting on his shoulders, to share how moved he was by the show of support for those who have been at the forefront of dealing with this unprecedented health crisis.

Calling it ‘very touching,’ Andy also urged others who are able to join in the nightly ritual, either from their windows or from the street.

Previously, the Watch What Happens Live host told his fans and followers that the 7pm clap and cheer is a highlight of the day for Ben, who runs to the window at that time in joyful expectation of all the noise.