Teen Mom’s Maci Bookout still can’t believe her son is a full-on teenager.
“How is my Benny 17 years old? Happy Birthday @bentleycedwards,” Maci, 34, wrote via
To mark the celebratory occasion, the MTV reality star shared new photos from a recent family photo shoot.
In pictures captured by Brianna Merritt Photography, Maci tried to carry Bentley along the beach.
‘Teen Mom’ Star Maci Bookout’s Family Album With Her 3 Kids: Bentley, Jayde and Maverick
But if fans needed any more proof that Bentley isn’t a young kid anymore, the high school student decided to switch things up by putting his mom over his shoulders and walking through the sand.
“17!?!!?!!!??!???! Omg happy bday!” Teen Mom’s Briana DeJesus wrote in the comments section. Costar Jade Cline added, “Happy bday!!”
While it’s unclear how Bentley celebrated his special day, the wrestler, baseball player and golfer appeared to stay up late to watch the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays after 18 innings during game 3 of the 2025 World Series — a tie for the longest World Series game in history.
On Tuesday, October 28, Maci shared a post with a letter that could be used for school to explain why kids may be tardy for class. “It turned into quite a late night, and sleep eventually won out over the morning alarm,” the note read in part. “Thank you for your understanding. Go Dodgers! Go Blue Jays!”
Last month, Maci shared additional photos from her family photo shoot. In addition to posing with her husband, Taylor McKinney, the Teen Mom: The Next Chapter star also made memories with ex
“Seeing the kids smile makes it all worth it! ☀️ #family #familyvacay #coparenting #goals #dreamscometrue,” Maci wrote via Instagram on September 4. “ @briannamerrittphotography you’re a talented queen .”
Fans first met Maci and Ryan, 37, in 2009 when they appeared on MTV’s 16 and Pregnant
. Cameras rolled as the high school students welcomed their first child together.
Although the couple went their separate ways — and briefly struggled to coparent peacefully amid Ryan’s substance abuse issues — cameras continued to capture their journey in becoming a modern, blended family on MTV’s
In fact, Maci was able to attend Ryan and Amanda’s baby shower before they welcomed a daughter named Presley in February.
‘Teen Mom OG’ Tots in Before and After Pics: How They’ve Grown!
“I think it’s naturally on its own time, we’ve been able to build a solid foundation,” Maci exclusively shared with Us Weekly in January. “Everything is going really well and I kind of feel like the audience deserves to see this.”
While MTV has yet to announce a new season of Teen Mom, Maci continues to be proud of the man Bentley is becoming. Regardless of whether cameras are rolling or not, the Chattanooga, Tennessee, resident is grateful to have raised a good son.
“He’s the best,” she told Us in April 2024. “It’s just his ability to show up for other people and be there for other people. He’s the same ole Bentley, just maybe a little taller and maybe a little deeper voice.”
The RHONJ star and reigning Traitors champ announced her engagement to longtime boyfriend Paulie Connell after nearly five years of dating. The couple shared the exciting news with PEOPLE, revealing that Paulie popped the question at a place that holds special meaning for them — the Apple Store in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey — where they first met.
“I could have proposed on a yacht in Greece. I could have rented a grand hall, invited 400 people and asked her to marry me with fireworks in the background. But that’s not who we are,” Connell told
While his comments sound heartfelt and romantic, Bravo fans were quick to notice that the Dublin native’s “not in Greece, no fireworks” line sure sounds like a subtle dig at Louie Ruelas — who famously proposed to Teresa Giudice with a grand fireworks display during their luxe trip to Greece back in 2021.
Connell’s emphasis on humility and simplicity contrasts sharply with Louie’s headline-making extravagance — and fans didn’t miss the irony. After all, both couples hail from the Real Housewives of New Jersey
universe, where grand gestures (and drama) are practically a love language.
Still, Dolores and Paulie’s engagement sounds like a genuine, down-to-earth moment between two people who’ve taken their time to build something real. Dolores, 54, told
The proposal itself caught Dolores completely off guard — she thought she was headed to an interview, not a proposal. “He started saying these sweet, beautiful things to me out of nowhere and I was like, ‘Paul, are you okay?’ And then I realized he was proposing,” she joked.
From the Apple Store to BravoCon — this RHONJ couple is proving that romance doesn’t need fireworks or Greek yachts to shine.