Savannah Guthrie returns to 'Today'

"It's so great to be back and to see everybody," said a smiling Savannah Guthrie, as she returned to the Today show set after 12 weeks of maternity leave.

(Guthrie actually put in an appearance on Friday's Halloween extravaganza in a Mom Jeans spoof with Meredith Vieira and Jenna Bush.)

Guthrie said baby daughter Vale was home with her husband, Mike Feldman.

"How did that alarm clock feel?" asked Matt Lauer.

"I'm used to a 3 a.m. alarm but it sounds more like a baby crying," she said.

As video showed mother and daughter at home in the early days of the baby's arrival, Guthrie said, "too much of that Vale video and you may have some water works this morning."

Celebs also shared well wishes for the new mom.

In a diary of her motherhood moments, Guthrie shared stories of Vale rolling over, the struggles with the car seat, learning to give her a bath and more of the usual new-parent things.

When asked how she has changed, she said, "I feel basically like myself, but hopefully a little bit better. Softer. More patient. Kinder. Gentle."

And at one point, she said, "I'm just overjoyed."