May 21, 2008

T.I. Says He Was 'Hands-On' During The Birth Of His Sixth Child, Major Harris

By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Sway Calloway (MTV.com)

T.I. was with his longtime companion Tameka "Tiny" Cottle every step of the way last week when she gave birth to their son, Major Harris, on Friday. He felt almost as comfortable in the operating room as he does in the studio.

"[Reports] said he was 5 pounds and 15 ounces," Tip said of his newborn. "That was wrong. He was actually 7 pounds and 4 ounces. I was in the O.R. Hands-on. I was trying to help. ... Tiny's all right. She's a soldier."

Unlike some dads, proud papa Tip wasn't squeamish about seeing the wonder of his sixth child's birth: "When you've seen far more gruesome scenes for far less worthy reasons, you'll be all right."

T.I. admits that he and Tiny did have some trepidation during her pregnancy. Last year, the couple suffered the loss of a baby girl when the infant died at birth.

"It was a major concern, but I had to walk in faith," Tip said. "Before it happens to you as a parent, it's never anything that you'd even consider. The possibility of your baby not making it never even crosses your mind until it happens. Once it happens, it's a constant concern. I just prayed on it and left it in the hands of the Lord. ... I was fearful. I had some worthy concerns. But like I said, I had to walk in faith. Everything's great. He's great."

During Tip's time under house arrest due to weapons charges, he got a chance to bond with his other five children like never before.

"I was the babysitter," he said with a huge grin. "You always know it's somebody there now. The kids know they couldn't get away with nothing. I spent more time with them than I did since before anyone knew who T.I. was. I appreciate it. I value that time I got to spend with them."

But don't think T.I. took on the Mr. Mom role without any swagger. He cooked but didn't wear an apron. "I got a Louis Vuitton robe, my therapeutic slippers," he said. "I was vacuuming, cleaning up. I wasn't washing no dishes. That's where I draw the line."