Jo Dee Messina Expecting First Child, a Baby Boy
 Tony R. Phipps/WireImage |
Jo Dee Messina is pregnant — and it’s a boy, she tells PEOPLE exclusively. Although taken aback with the good news — "We knew we wanted to have kids, but we just said, whenever it happens, it happens. And it happened!" — the country star is settling into a baby groove.
“I am in my third trimester now. We were both surprised at first. It’s such a lifestyle change. But then we’re like, ‘Wow we’re going to be parents!’”
The singer, 38, who celebrated her one year anniversary with husbandChris Deffenbaugh, 28, last week, had been in the midst of a weightloss regimen when she found out the news. Realizing her weight wasn’tgoing down on schedule, “I took a test, and of course, I found out Iwas pregnant,” she says, adding that she’s “right on target” with herweight gain now, after just over six months of pregnancy.
“I’vegained about 11 lbs., which is good. I’m staying really fit. I run 30minutes a day and weight train for an hour, 5 days a week. This is allbaby!”
She’s in such good shape, Jo Dee even plans to run a five mile raceon Thanksgiving day. “I’ll be 8 months pregnant and running,” laughs Jo Dee, who hopes to be back in shape and ready to shoot the video forher song “Unmistakable” just six weeks after giving birth. “It shouldbe interesting!”
As will touring with a newborn baby on board when Jo Dee hits theroad next year. “I will take him on tour with me, but I’m like, how doyou do that?” Jo Dee says. “How do you do the bus? Who rides where?Band? Crew? Family? What safety devices do you need? I might grab oneof the other singer moms like Sara Evans or Martina McBride and say, ‘Help me!’”
For now, Jo Dee and Chris are busy preparing for their new arrival.Chris, an "amazing" woodworker, has built their son’s crib and put upcrown molding, but the couple hasn’t gone on any shopping sprees yet.
"Wepaintedthe room — chocolate brown, with one wall pale green and one with asquare design on it. We got new carpet. We haven’t started the whole,’Let’s go to the store and buy tons ofstuff’ yet, though. Everytime I think about it I get overwhelmed."
Source: PEOPLE
