Interview

Artem Chigvintsev Reveals The Sweet 1st Words He & Nikki Bella Are Teaching Matteo, 2 Mos., To Say

Artem Chigvintsev Nikki Bella
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Nikki Bella, left, and Artem Chigvintsev arrive at the Kids' Choice Sports Awards on Thursday, July 11, 2019, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Studio City, CA - *EXCLUSIVE* - Nikki Bella holds onto her fiancé Artem Chigvintsev at the farmers market on Sunday. The two love birds, who are expecting their first child together, wait patiently on a cold Sunday afternoon. Nikki's baby bump can be seen growing as she lifts her sweatshirt to get some air. She munches on some bbq as they leave the market.Pictured: Nikki Bella, Artem ChigvintsevBACKGRID USA 1 MARCH 2020 BYLINE MUST READ: Phamous / BACKGRIDUSA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.comUK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com*UK Clients - Pictures Containing ChildrenPlease Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
Studio City, CA - Nikki Bella and Artem Chigvintsev seen on Saturday for a hike. They share a kiss at one point. They also try some free samples of a healthy smoothie. Pictured: Nikki Bella, Artem Chigvintsev BACKGRID USA 17 AUGUST 2019 BYLINE MUST READ: Phamous / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients - Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
Sherman Oaks, CA - *EXCLUSIVE* - Nikki Bella and Artem Chigvintsev seen holding hands as they pick up some lunch at Sweet Butter Kitchen on Monday. The two former DWTS partners were casually dressed for their outing. Pictured: Nikki Bella, Artem Chigvintsev BACKGRID USA 29 JULY 2019 BYLINE MUST READ: Phamous / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients - Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication* View Gallery View Gallery 18 Photos.
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Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Bella are already trying to teach Matteo his first words! Artem revealed to media, including HL, after ‘DWTS’ that they’re actually not teaching Matteo to say ‘mom’ and ‘dad’ first.

If Artem Chigvintsev, 38, and Nikki Bella, 36, have any say in the matter, “mom” and “dad” will not be baby Matteo’s first words. Artem revealed the precious phrase that he and his fiancee are teaching Matteo first during his post-DWTS interview with reporters, including HollywoodLife. “We decided not to teach him ‘mom’ and ‘dad’ as his first word because we’re so competitive with each other,” Artem gushed. “Nicole’s like, why don’t we teach him ‘I love you.’ I’m not kidding to you, he’s obviously not saying it in words, but [there’s the] intonation of him saying that after we say ‘I love you.’ But he is the most adorable thing ever. Nicole will probably hate me for revealing this, but I’m so happy that I’m like… You know what? It is what it is.”

Artem is juggling with being a new dad and a DWTS pro. However, Artem made sure to gush about how much Nikki supports him as he competes with Kaitlyn Bristowe, 35. Nikki lets him get the sleep he needs every night!

Artem Chigvintsev Kaitlyn Bristowe
Artem Chigvintsev is competing with Kaitlyn Bristowe on ‘DWTS.’ (ABC)

“I have to say, Nicole is being a real trooper,” Artem raved. “I mean, literally during the nighttime, obviously, she breastfeeds him [Matteo]. She doesn’t have the bottle during the night. She’s like, well, what are you gonna do? Stand next to me and watch him feed? She’s like, just sleep. I know you have a tough day. So she’s being a super trooper for that. I just cannot thank her enough for doing that, honestly. She’s been giving me time to sleep even though, again, it’s not really a long time to sleep. But it’s still, I have to say, she does make it easy on me for sure.”

Artem noted that Matteo is such a good baby, but he’s constantly changing. “He started teething right now, which is tough because he’s waking up because he’s obviously uncomfortable,” Artem said.

At the end of the day, the DWTS pro is still basking in the joys of fatherhood and his new family with Nikki. “I just know that every time I look at him, every time she posts a picture of him, I can’t believe this is still my baby. It’s just ridiculous,” he said about Nikki and Matteo.