Young & Restless Star Shares Daughter Olivia’s Big ‘First’ in Emotional Post: ‘There Was a Lot of Crying This Morning’
Wednesday, September 1st, 2021
Melissa Ordway crumbled in the face of a moving milestone involving one of her littles.
Young & Restless’ Abby has been in turmoil what with her unborn child and surrogate being kidnapped by her ex-husband. While her portrayer Melissa Ordway isn’t going through anything quite so terrifying — thankfully! — that doesn’t mean things don’t get emotional from time to time. One of those ‘times’ is definitely when the little ones start school.
More: Eileen Davidson drops photo memories of her son
Ordway, a mom of two adorable girls, took to social media to share first day of school photos as her oldest daughter, Olivia, marked the big milestone of going off to kindergarten. Make no mistake, it’s not just a huge step for the child, but also for the doting parents who have to let their little go off into the world unaccompanied.
The Young & Restless star exclaimed, “Not really sure how this is possible but my baby started kindergarten this morning,” punctuated by a crying emoji.
As any good mom is wont to do, she went on to gush, “I could not be more proud of my Olivia Christine. She is brave, kind, outgoing, sweet, smart and has the most loving heart.”
Ordway admitted, “There was a lot of crying this morning (only by me) but I’m so excited for this new chapter and all the new friends Olivia will make and things she will learn.” Swipe through all of the cute first day photos, which include her husband, Justin Gaston (ex-Chance) getting in his hugs!
More: The Y&R twist for Abby *everyone* saw coming
Do you remember your first day at school? Or sending your child off that first time? Share your stories in the comment section, but first check out other cute kidlets in our adorable kids on soaps photo gallery.
Get your free daily soap-opera fix for The Young and the Restless — and all of the other daytime dramas — delivered straight to your email inbox by signing up for Soaps.com’s newsletter.
Most Popular
Advertisement
Image: ABC screenshot
1/35
<p><em>General Hospital</em> viewers found it tough to pay attention to what Nicholas Alexander Chavez was saying as Spencer — heck, what <em>anybody</em> was saying! — when Joey Clay was on screen as his kid brother Ace in 2023.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
2/35
<p>Leave it to Liam on <em>The Bold and the Beautiful</em> to doze off and miss the adorableness being radiated from daughter Kelly, played here by (we <em>think</em>) Avalon and Colette Carlish.</p>
Image: Paul Skipper/JPI
3/35
<p>Casting doesn’t get much more perfect than this: Back in 2008, <em>Days of Our Lives</em> had playing Hope’s daughter Ciara little Lauren Boles, a pint-sized replica of her lovely on-screen mom, Kristian Alfonso.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
4/35
<p>Well-played, Millie Ingle. Well-played. The tot made a lasting first impression upon being cast by <em>Young & Restless</em> as Mariah and Tessa’s daughter, Aria.</p>
Image: Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images
5/35
<p>Actually, it kinda made sense to dress Christian/Gavin McGinley that way in 2012, because the twins were <em>criminally</em> adorable as <em>One Life to Live</em> tyke Liam, the son of Michael Easton’s McBain.</p>
Image: Monty Brinton/CBS/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
6/35
<p>Though the paternity of<em> Bold & Beautiful</em> moppet Bridget was at first in question, there could be no doubt that Brooke was the mom of her Mini-Mi, played in the ’90s by Landry Albright.</p>
Image: ABC
7/35
<p>He’s a Leo, course — get it? And that’s a mighty impressive mane on Easton Rocket Sweda, who like his character is on the spectrum. He couldn’t speak until he was 4, but <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/wp-admin/_wp_link_placeholder" target="_blank">“now look at me,”</a> he cheers.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
8/35
<p>As handsome a fella as <em>General Hospital</em> star Chad Duell is, no one can say that Michael didn’t grow up just fine, thank you. But we’ll always fondly remember the years that he was played by impish redhead Dylan Cash.</p>
Image: CBS screenshot
9/35
<p>From the moment that Kellen Enriquez made his <em>Young & Restless</em> debut as Harrison, the little boy made a big impression. The hair alone… OMG!</p>
Image: Brian Lowe/JPI
10/35
<p>By now, <em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ Theo has become one of the show’s heartthrobs. But in 2006, when Abe and Lexie’s son was played by Kavi Faquir, his sweet presence was guaranteed to make hearts swell.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
11/35
<p>Playing the son of <em>General Hospital</em> mobster Jason, Porter Fasullo (Danny) has often gotten to wear so serious an expression. Grave matters are kinda the norm when Pop’s in “the family business.”</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
12/35
<p>Finnegan George looks as sweet as can be in this picture from 2018. But the <em>Bold & Beautiful</em> actor also nicely plays the mischievous side of Will that he gets from incorrigible dad Bill.</p>
Image: Aaron Montgomery/JPI
13/35
<p>We’d say they grow up so fast, but actually, this pic of <em>Young & Restless</em>’ Camryn Grimes (Mariah) with on-screen mom Sharon Case (Sharon) was taken more than 20 years (!) ago, when the junior achiever was still playing Cassie.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
14/35
<p><em>Young & Restless</em> must have known when it tapped Holden and Ryan Hare to play Billy and Victoria’s (and Chelsea’s) son Johnny that the kid could get anything he wanted, from an ice cream cone to a pony.</p>
Image: Monty Brinton/CBS/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
15/35
<p>Before <em>Bold & Beautiful</em> aged Rick into a hormonal teen carrying on with his nanny Amber, Steven Hartman was the fresh-faced youngster who laid the groundwork for the shenanigans to come.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
16/35
<p>When Bryant Jones — pint-sized Nate on<em> The Young and the Restless</em> in 2002 — hit the Technical Emmys that year, he did so in a super-snazzy suit that smartly left him a little room to keep growing into it.</p>
Image: Sean Smith/JPI
17/35
<p>She’s off now to follow her Hollywood dreams, but in 2015, Alyvia Alyn Lind was only a few years into her decade-long run as Faith, the ultimately troubled daughter of <em>perpetually</em> troubled supercouple Nick and Sharon.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
18/35
<p>We can only imagine how hard it was for <em>General Hospital </em>pot-stirrer Hayden to leave behind Violet with dad Finn. We can’t even bear to look away from this heart-melting snap of Jophielle Love and Michael Easton.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
19/35
<p>Good to know: Cameras <em>can</em> somehow withstand the cuteness overload involved in getting in a single shot both <em>Young & Restless</em>’ Judah Mackey (Connor) and Alex Wilson (Christian).</p>
Image: ABC screenshot
20/35
<p>Arguably the cutest kid ever on soaps, <em>General Hospital</em> Emmy winner Kimberly McCullough grew up before our eyes as Robin, the daughter of super-spies Anna and Robert.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
21/35
<p>Eh, never mind. When a toddler’s as precious as Erik and Theodore Olson, the twins who play baby Wiley on <em>General Hospital</em>, there’s no such thing as a bad picture.</p>
Image: Sean Smith/JPI (3)
22/35
<p>Nope, it looks like no fun whatsoever was had on the <em>Young & Restless</em> set on the day in 2013 that tea for two was served to Sophie Pollono (ex-Delia) and then-on-screen dad Billy Miller (ex-Billy).</p>
Image: Sean Smith/JPI
23/35
<p>Munchkins don’t come any more angelic than McKenna Roberts and Aidan Clark, whom<em> The Young and the Restless</em> had playing Lily and Cane’s twins in 2013.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI (2)
24/35
<p>Who needs a driver’s license? <em>Bold & Beautiful</em> scene stealer Henry Joseph Samiri (Douglas) can always get a “lift” from on-screen dad Matthew Atkinson (Thomas).</p>
Image: Paul Skipper/JPI
25/35
<p>Even without the blinged-out costume, <em>General Hospital</em> princess Brooklyn Rae Silzer never fails to sparkle as the granddaughter of Port Charles’ queen of kicking butt, the one and only Anna Devane.</p>
Image: Aaron Montgomery/JPI
26/35
<p>Back in 2004, before <em>Bold & Beautiful</em> decided that Steffy and Phoebe were no longer identical twins (<em>and</em> killed off Phoebe), Kylie and Keaton Tyndell were always ready to make viewers see double.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
27/35
<p>At the center of one of <em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ most well-blended families in 2017 was card-carrying cutie patootie Harper Udell as Arianna. Or was it Harper’s sister, Sydnee? So good at sharing are the sibs that they split the role between them.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
28/35
<p>Rising star Hudson West holds his own on<em> General Hospital</em> opposite even heavyweights like Roger Howarth, who when this pic was snapped in 2016 was playing Jake’s future stepdad, Franco.</p>
Image: Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images
29/35
<p>Even with the help of <em>Ryan’s Hope</em> family Ilene Kristen (Delia), Michael Hawkins (Frank) and Bernard Barrow (Johnny), Jadrien Steele, aka Little John, was going to have a tough time building a sand castle in Central Park.</p>
Image: Getty Images
30/35
<p>Port Charles could use a double shot of cuteness — and it’s had one since 2014, when twins Ava and Grace Scarola joined <em>General Hospital</em> as Sonny and Ava’s daughter, Avery.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
31/35
<p>From 2009-12, Samantha Bailey was our girl for all seasons as Summer on <em>The Young and the Restless.</em></p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
32/35
<p>When <em>Days of Our Lives</em> stopped using blankets to play Lani and Eli’s twins in 2021, <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/comings-and-goings/616632/days-of-our-lives-first-look-lani-eli-son-carver-real-life-twins/" target="_blank">Arya and Wynter Wells</a> stepped (toddled?) into Sal Stowers and Lamon Archey’s arms to take over the role of Jules’ twin brother, Carver.</p>
Image: Getty Images
33/35
<p>And only a few years after she was, Kristen Alderson was cast as Todd and Blair’s impetuous daughter on <em>One Life to Live</em>. She stayed with the soap so long that she went from little girl to leading lady, one who made such an impression that when ABC yanked the beloved drama, she was crossed over to <em>General Hospital.</em></p>
Image: Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images
34/35
