NEED TO KNOW
- Jesse McCartney and Katie Peterson are expecting a daughter, their second baby together
- The couple is already parents to 16-month-old son Archer, who spent time in the NICU
- Peterson is more than 15 weeks pregnant, and the couple has not chosen a first name for their little one
Jesse McCartney and his wife, Katie Peterson, are getting ready to become parents to a baby girl!
The “Beautiful Soul” singer, 39, and Peterson, 38, exclusively revealed to PEOPLE that they are expecting a daughter. The couple, who are already parents to 16-month-old son Archer, say they “couldn’t be happier” about expanding their family.
McCartney joked that after welcoming their first child, he was secretly hoping for a girl the second time around. “Once we had the most amazing boy, and I could check that off the list, I remember telling Katie, ‘I’ll love this baby no matter what, but like…if it’s another boy, we may be going for three,’ ” he shared.
Peterson, meanwhile, said she is excited to embrace life as a girl mom after spending the past year and a half in “boy mom mode.” “It’s crazy to think about boys and tutus, but I am so ready,” she said. She added that their daughter will bring “the perfect balance” to their family and admitted she is especially excited to see McCartney take on his new role as a girl dad.
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The couple is also looking forward to seeing their 16-month-old son, Archer, step into his new role as a big brother.
“Archer is going to be an incredible older brother,” McCartney says, noting that he has already noticed signs of “compassion, sensitivity and patience” in his son. With a laugh, he added that Archer also loves putting food in his parents’ faces — a habit that, according to McCartney, proves he already knows how to share!
“I cannot wait to see the two of them together,” adds Peterson. “Archer is such a sweet and gentle soul. I know he’ll be very loving towards his little sister. He’s a big kisser too, so I’m sure she’ll be covered in drool.”
Peterson says she’s just over 15 weeks along and already has a few plans for their daughter’s nursery. However, the couple hasn’t yet decided on a name.
“I think we’re pretty set on her middle name in honor of my grandmother, but we would love some first name suggestions!” she explains.
McCartney admits that choosing a name for their daughter may be more difficult than expected.
“It’s funny. When we were having a boy, it felt like all we had were girl names,” he says. “Now that a girl is coming, we’re second-guessing all of them. It may be the only girl I ever get to name, and if that’s true, it’s the most important naming left in my life. So, you know, no pressure.”
The singer also says becoming a father to Archer has made his life “unquestionably” better. He admits he no longer spends time thinking about what life was like before becoming a dad.
“The everyday things that were once ordinary or mundane are now these hugely special moments because we get to watch him discover them,” McCartney says. “The greatest part about being a dad is becoming a kid again.”
For Peterson, motherhood has been an equally rewarding adventure. “It’s been the most fun adventure ever,” she says of raising Archer. She describes him as a happy, easygoing little boy who has overcome a difficult start in the NICU.
“You would never know. He’s a true fighter and lover of all things — mom, dad, trucks, food and animals,” Peterson says. She also loves how talkative he has become, adding, “You can’t say anything without him chiming in. I just listen to him talk all day.”