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Dec 17 2011 11:00 AM ET
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Baby Girl On the Way for J.R. Martinez

Gabriel Olsen/FilmMagic

He nabbed a mirror ball trophy on Dancing With the Stars last month, but the biggest and best prize is yet to come.

J.R. Martinez tells PEOPLE exclusively that he and girlfriend Diana Gonzalez-Jones are expecting their first child in May.

“We found out just last week it’s a girl and we are over the moon,” Martinez, 28, says.

“Diana has a little baby bump now and it’s the cutest thing ever. With the holidays coming up, this is the biggest and best gift we could get.”

The Iraq war vet and Gonzalez-Jones met when he landed a role on All My Children in 2008. At the time, she was working as an assistant to the soap’s executive producer.

The two became close friends, but it wasn’t until last year that the pair decided to take their friendship to the next level.

“We were so good as friends that romantically, we just clicked right away. There was no adjustment period,” Gonzalez-Jones told PEOPLE earlier this year.

Impending fatherhood “is sinking in” Martinez says, admitting that he can’t believe all of the good things that have happened in the past year.

“2011 has been full of a lot of surprises and opportunities and ultimately, a lot of blessings,” says Martinez. “Diana and I were just asking ourselves, ‘How is 2012 going to top 2011?’ Well, we have our answer!”

– Monica Rizzo

Comments (23) + Add a comment

Congratulations! I’m sure the baby will be beautiful. Undoubtedly she has been blessed with wonderful parents!

- K on

Such wonderful news! He is an unbelievable man, and I’m sure this will extend into parenthood.

- RKF on

I’ve never heard of him before but it looks like he’s had a tough ride. It’s always lovely to see how life goes on and how some are able to approach it and keep on going.

- Hea on

There is no other word for this news: awesome! Congrats to them- so great!

- kendrajoi on

Hea, he was injured while serving his Country in the war..

- Simone on

That is wonderful news! Congrats to him!

- Holiday on

Oh yay!!! Congrats JR!!! AW I adore him he seems like such a wonderful genuine guy!

- AmandaM on

This is the most wonderful thing I’ve read all day. Congratulations!

- Corrie on

He seems like an awesome guy. He’s having a great year! Very surprised about the double standard, though….no one has made a comment about them not being married, but are so quick to say it on some other boards. I guess if the person is likeable, it’s ok…

- emily on

By far my favorite birth announcement ever! J.R. is such a hero, he deserves this! Congrats J.R. and Diana!

- Taylor on

Awesome! congrats to them!

- Shelley on

I thought he was into guys ? Didn’t know he was dating a woman.

Congrats on the baby either way, though.

- megan on

So very excited for the two of them! A child is a blessing to anyone, and I have a feeling these two will be fantastic parents. Best of luck to the family!

- Harley on

Wonderful news to hear. Loved J.R. on DWTS and have great respect for him. He is one of America’s true heroes.

Best wishes to them both on a healthy baby girl.

- Paige on

I am over the moon excited for them!!!! What a great year it has been!

Hea, he also was on a daytime soap opera that just ended All My Children and he just won the most recent season of Dancing With the Stars, which is how everyone knows him. He has the best smile, great personality and is so inspirational!

Megan, just curious…..why did you think he liked guys?

Mary

- Jillian on

Simone – Yes, I read the article but thank you for clarifying. It’s sad he had to go through that.

- Hea on

Congratulations JR and Diana! I couldn’t be happier for you!!!

- Brianne on

emily- I noticed, that too. And nobody is commenting about he and his gf “moving too fast” either…Even though other celeb couples who announce pregnancies after only being together for a year or so get bashed left and right for it (unless the woman is in her late 30s or early 40s, when waiting isn’t exactly fesible!). Double-standards run rampant on this site, that’s for sure!

- Anonymous on

Exactly Emily and Anonymous.

- J on

I saw a photo of him before he was burned and he was a handsome man. The baby is likely to be beautiful.

- Moiraz on

Moiraz, you said, he WAS a handsome man??? He still is!! I hope that’s not what you meant. He has discussed this at great length.

- Jillian on

There is always a second change for everybody. Just have faith to the to the Man above.

- mindy on

I love JR, what a wonderful role model he is for so many people. I can’t wait to see their baby girl! I’m she will be gorgeous with those parents :)

- katie on

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