Since Jessica Simpson and her fiancé Eric Johnson welcomed their daughter Maxwell Drew on May 1, “life has completely changed,” Simpson, 31, tells PEOPLE exclusively.

“From how I sleep to what I think about, Maxwell has definitely taken over everything!”

In this week’s issue, Simpson and Johnson give an exclusive interview, plus share the first photos of their little one, who’s inherited her mom’s eyes and her dad’s calm demeanor.

“We stare at her all the time,” says Simpson. “We can’t get enough!”

But becoming new parents hasn’t been without its hardships. Recovering from surgery — Simpson delivered via c-section — isn’t easy, she says, and nursing, which she does throughout the day, has become “a full-on job.”

Still, “It’s the worst if I have to pump and give Eric a bottle to give her,” says Simpson. “I miss holding her and having that closeness.”

For more exclusive details about Maxwell’s first few weeks at home — plus all the details of her birth, Simpson’s plans for a wedding and more children and first photos of the new family — pick up this week’s issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.

– Lesley Messer

When Jillian Michaels set out to adopt a child, she knew she was in for a long journey that would be painful at times. But witnessing her partner Heidi Rhoades deliver their son, Phoenix, earlier this month was unbearable.

“The whole thing about Phoenix being born was hard,” says Michaels, 38, who opens up about her new family in the latest issue of PEOPLE.

Initially, Rhoades had planned on natural childbirth. But after 27 hours of labor, doctors informed the petite mom-to-be that they would have to deliver the baby via cesarean section. A helpless Michaels could only stand by and offer support.

“Watching her was awful,” Michaels says. “You can’t relieve the person. You can’t do it for them. You just have to stand there and watch.”

But soon after the 9 lb., 22-inch baby boy was delivered in the wee hours of May 3, Michaels sprang into action.

“Because I had the c-section, she had to jump in and do everything with Phoenix,” Rhoades, 31, tells PEOPLE. “She’s an amazing mom.”

Four days after Phoenix’s arrival, Michaels left on a flight to Haiti to bring home her daughter Lukensia.

“We were both sobbing hysterically,” says Michaels, who will legally adopt Phoenix, while Rhoades will legally adopt Lu. “Our son was only four days old, but our daughter needed to come home.”

For details on Michaels’s new life as a mom and to see more images from our exclusive family photo shoot, pick up the June 4 issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.

– Monica Rizzo

She’s here — albeit a little early!

Jenna von Oy and husband Brad Bratcher welcomed daughter Gray Audrey on Monday, May 21 in Nashville, the actress confirms to PEOPLE exclusively.

“Brad and I are, of course, ecstatic she’s here and we are madly in love with her already. It’s truly unimaginable how quickly she wrapped us around her little finger!” von Oy, 35, tells PEOPLE.

“We are exhausted, but enjoying every moment of it, as every moment she’s doing something new and memorable.”

Baby girl was born at 4:51 p.m., weighing 7 lbs., 6 oz. and measuring 18 inches long. “I unexpectedly ended up with a c-section three weeks early — will explain all in next month’s blog!” notes von Oy.

Gray arrived not only with “quite the personality,” but with a full head of hair, too.

“She has an incredible amount of hair! So much so, that the hospital nurses washed it, brushed it, and put a bow in it on the first day!” the new mom reveals. “We know kids a year old who don’t have half the amount of hair our daughter had at birth!”

As for the couple’s name choice, von Oy shares that she and Bratcher have “loved ‘Gray’ for a long time. We were just so drawn to it, we knew early on that it was the right one.”

– Anya Leon

Known for her sweet vocals and joyful personality as a season 7 finalist on American Idol, Brooke White has a bundle of joy of her own.

White, 28, gave birth to daughter London, her first child with husband Dave Ray, on Thursday, May 24 at a Los Angeles-area hospital.

“Baby London is here,” an ecstatic Ray tells PEOPLE. “Our girl came in at 6:41 p.m. and is 8 lbs., 12 oz.!”

Mother and daughter “are both healthy as well,” Ray adds.

According to Ray, the name London is a nod to his parents and family, who are all from England and specifically the London area.

Both Ray and White visited there two years ago and fell in love with the city. Also important — White is fond of the nickname ‘Londy.’

“We’re so excited,” White told PEOPLE in January.”By the time the baby’s born, we’ll have been married eight years. I met Dave when I was 19 years old and we’ve been together a really long time, and we’ve always wanted to be parents.”

A year ago, White made her acting debut in the FOX TV movie Change of Plans. This year, she continued to record music with writing partner Jack Matranga as the duo Jack and White. Their latest EP, Undercover, will be released May 29 on iTunes.

Fans can follow White’s baby adventures on her blog, Brookie Babble.

Courtesy Brooke White

– Cynthia Wang

Thanks for welcoming our celebrity blogger, Lisa Loeb.

Currently expecting her second child in June, the musician, 44, and husband Roey Hershkovitz are already parents to daughter Lyla Rose, 2.

In addition to her number one single “Stay (I Missed You),” Loeb also had hits with “Do You Sleep” and “I Do.” In the years since, she’s recorded two children’s albums, written a kids book, done voiceovers, developed an eyewear line and started the nonprofit Camp Lisa Foundation.

She can be found on Facebook and on Twitter @lisaloeb.

In her most recent blog, Loeb writes about how she’s handling her final month of pregnancy – and needs your tips on sleeping well these last weeks.

I’m happy to announce that I got over the cold! I played five energetic concerts, plus did a great in-store book signing and mini sing-along with lots of families in attendance at the Whole Foods in Folsom, Calif., and a TV appearance in San Francisco, thanks to some of your hot and sour soup remedy suggestions.

While I was out there on stage — figuring out how and where to rest my guitar near, but not on my pregnant belly — my family had a fun weekend in Los Angeles. Now I’m home again, home again, jiggity-jig.

I can’t believe the baby’s arrival is coming so soon. Especially through that head cold and cough, I was reminded of how important it is to take care of myself, as a mom and as a pregnant person and just as a person.

To keep myself together, I exercise regularly, doing strength training twice a week with a knowledgeable trainer. I also walk most days. When it’s not too hot or cold and not too much pollen in the air, even a 30 minute walk outside clears my head, fills my lungs, and warms up my body for more stretching and foam rolling when I get home.

I wish I had time for tai chi, Pilates, ballroom dancing and hiking, but realistically, what I already do seems to do the job. I think it’s important that scheduling not make you more stressed out than you need to be. And, being pregnant, I always make sure the baby’s health is key — if the doctor says to slow down or stop, then I do, but I always ask if I can stretch or do light walking.

I also eat well, as mentioned before. (I can’t get through a blog without mentioning eating … like the radicchio, kale, yellow pepper, parmesan cheese, cucumber, avocado salad I just ate for lunch with some pasta and tomato sauce and yes, more cheese.)

I’ve also been trying to keep on top of doing other things to keep my body in check. I get regular prenatal massages to keep the blood flowing and stress out of my jaws and legs and wherever else my body decides to keep it.

I love the HelloMellow body butter that one of my massage therapists created! There are a variety of scents, and I prefer the delicious citrus ones. That also keeps the stretch marks away … I think using lotion right out of the shower does it too, pregnant or not.

A visiting aesthetician from Dallas, Renee Rouleau, recently treated me to a facial here in Los Angeles. She explained that often pregnant women’s faces become more splotchy with hyperpigmentation. I use sunscreen on my face and body daily, but she gave me some soothing gels, light scrubs, and products to use in conjunction with the moisturizers, cleansers, and other products I normally use as well as some heavy duty masques during the facial, which were really relaxing while they did the job of adding more moisture and clarity to my face.

Although my main focus for staying healthy during pregnancy is getting enough sleep, I’m excited about the new baby, and sometimes during my many trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night, I end up having a little more trouble going back to sleep.

I’m thinking about what lies ahead: the addition of another little family member, the logistics of the nursery, tying up loose ends with all the projects I’m currently working on, and getting another glass of water — which also might be tied to getting out of bed all night.

Graciously, Wendy Bellissimo has offered to help with our nursery. Known for her wonderful baby linens and design, we’re turning my office/guest bedroom into the baby’s new room and I can’t wait to see what direction we’re going to choose. At least I’m in good hands! I’m a very lucky mom.

Hope all of the mothers out there had a great Mother’s Day! If anyone has suggestions for sleeping through the night at this point in my pregnancy, I’m all ears!

– Lisa Loeb

Jillian Michaels knows what it takes to get results in the gym. But she had no idea what was in store for her when she began the arduous task of trying to adopt a child two years ago.

The former Biggest Loser trainer — who brought 2-year-old daughter Lukensia home from Haiti just days after partner Heidi Rhoades delivered son Phoenix on May 3 — says despite feeling “despondent” at times throughout the process, she had hope that things would work out.

Michaels initially applied for adoption in 2010 through the Democratic Republic of the Congo. After waiting more than a year for a referral, the trainer learned that some of her paperwork was about to expire. If Michaels wanted to continue with the process, she would have to reapply.

It was then that she learned Haiti had children up for adoption.

“Adoption is a calling,” Michaels, 38, tells PEOPLE. “There is something in you that can’t be denied. You just know in the deepest part of your being that you are meant to find this little soul and guide them through life.”

As a teenager Michaels was diagnosed with endometriosis, a medical condition where tissue that normally grows inside the uterine walls instead grows outside the uterus. It often affects fertility but, she says, “at that time in my life, I didn’t even think I would want kids as an adult.”

It wasn’t until she was in her mid-30s that she “felt the calling to adopt. The adoption process was not a simple or easy one,” she explains. “There were moments where I was starting to think it was not going to work out.”

But Michaels says the wait was all worth it.

“That moment of getting Lu out of Haiti and the wheels of the plane touching down in New York … she was an American citizen after two years,” Michaels recalls, tears welling in her eyes. “It was a heavy moment.”

For details on Michaels’s new life as a mom and to see more images from our exclusive family photo shoot, pick up the June 4 issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.

– Monica Rizzo

It’s a girl for Erica Cerra!

The Eureka star, 32, and husband Raffaele Fiore welcomed daughter Talia Serafina Fiore on Monday, May 14 at at 9:54 p.m., her rep tells PEOPLE exclusively.

Baby girl weighed in at 5 lbs., 12 oz and is 20 inches long.

“We have been blessed with the most perfect little ‘peanut’ — her nickname from my father, since she is so small!” Cerra tells PEOPLE.

“I thought I was in love with her when she was in my belly, but I am so much more in love now that she is actually here, in my arms. I can’t stop staring at her, she is so beautiful and happy. We couldn’t have asked for anything more!”

The actress, who has also appeared on The L Word, married her high school sweetheart in November 2010. The couple reside in Vancouver.

– Sarah Michaud

Thanks for welcoming celebrity blogger, Jenna von Oy!

Best known for her roles as Six on Blossom and Stevie on The Parkers, von Oy is also a musician who has released two albums and is set to publish a book, The Betweeners.

She’ll next appear in Lukewarm, slated for release this spring.

von Oy, 35, wed Brad Bratcher on Oct. 10, 2010, and resides in Nashville with her husband and five dogs.

They expect their first child, a girl, in June.

You can find her on Twitter @JennavonOy.

I pride myself on providing you with an engaging (and hopefully amusing) read each month, and the past three blogs have come very easily for me … which was more than likely apparent by the number of words I managed to cram into each one of them. (Don’t be fooled by that last comment. This installment is equally long, so brace yourself!)

Up until now, the ideas have flowed so naturally, it was as if they’d been waiting impatiently to come out. This month? Not so much. Now, it seems the only thing waiting impatiently to come out is my daughter, who is quite the mover and shaker lately despite her ongoing spatial challenges.

I’m fairly certain my new friend, Baby Brain, has truly nestled in, and has opened the door to welcome his cousin, Writer’s Block.

At the risk of offending both of my guests, I’m not a big fan of either of them. Thanks to their antics, words seem to be leaking out of my head faster than I can type them. You will find that I’m all over the place with this month’s blog, vaulting from one concept to the next with reckless abandon.

I recall my friend, Cindy Alexander, once mentioning that she had trouble writing music while she was pregnant with her twins. Well, Cindy, now I sympathize! Perhaps being scattered is a side effect of being so close to giving birth? There I go again, blaming it on the baby. It’s just too easy!

Allow me to introduce the following vignettes, regarding some of the things I’ve been tackling lately…

“Birthday” — The Curse Word of the Month.

Truthfully, my 35th birthday slipped my mind until my husband and parents reminded me of it. I’m well aware that it comes on the same day every year (May 2nd), so I really shouldn’t have been surprised that it was on the horizon. But let’s be real, I’ve been slightly preoccupied lately! If I could skip May entirely, and miraculously find myself in the throes of June, I would be thrilled.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not the birthday itself that requires avoidance. In fact, I wasn’t apprehensive about turning 35 in the least. As my grandmother used to quip, “You are only as old as you feel.” Well, I feel like I’m 25 years young and ready to conquer the world! It’s just that I’m so darned excited to meet my little girl in June; May has me feeling like I’m stuck at a perpetually red traffic light.

There’s so much to look forward to next month! I’ve written a lullaby that I can’t wait to sing to my baby face to face (though she already receives a belly serenade every morning), she has a closet full of adorable clothes that are begging to be worn, and there’s a nursery that feels downright lonely without her.

As zany as it sounds, I’m even looking forward to going into labor, though I’m the first to admit I’ll be retracting that statement the moment the contractions begin. But I digress…

Brad and I at our baby shower/BBQ – Lila McCann Photography

The “Shower” That Wasn’t.

Before you think I’m ungrateful … I don’t actually think a baby shower equates to blasphemy. I mean, who can possibly complain about being thrown a party where everyone shows up with gifts and love? Certainly not me. It’s a blessing, to say the least, in whatever form it may take.

That said, I cannot say I’m terribly beguiled by the traditional baby shower. It isn’t that I frown condescendingly upon those of you who enjoy tea with your girlfriends, serving pink and white Jordan almond pouch party favors, or battling each other in a festive game of baby shower bingo. More power to you!

It’s just that none of those things quite fit my personality. I prefer a more low-key approach in the celebration department, I suppose. The thought of having folks win a prize for correctly guessing the number of inches my belly has grown, or playing “pin the dirty diaper on the baby’s bum,” is enough to make me break out in hives. And I already have enough going on with my body right now, thank you very much! (See the last segment of this blog for more on that.)

Putting on a brave face while opening presents in front of our closest friends makes me cringe. I simply can’t fathom cooing over frilly dresses, nipple creams and Diaper Genies … it turns out that’s where I draw the line on my acting chops.

(For the record, this is not a new concept for me. I felt similarly about our wedding as well, and opted out of such things as the bouquet and garter tosses, as well as the bridal party dance. Even our cake cutting was relatively subtle. I guess I’m not terribly comfortable being the center of attention in that aspect.)

Brad and I enjoying our BBQ – Lila McCann Photography

So, for our shower, Brad and I opted to have a coed celebration… or as Brad fancies calling it, “BBQ, Babies & Beer.” (Which, I realize, tends to sound a bit ominous, depending on how you phrase it … Rest assured, we have the best of intentions!)

I’m elated that society seems to be a bit more accepting of our coed plans than I initially thought it might be. After all, we do live in the South, and sometimes tradition prevails here. I defend our coed choice with this: my poor husband has helplessly seen me through nine months of retching, 4 a.m. binges, displaced hormones, breastfeeding classes, and the obligatory, preparatory talk of infant poop. He should, at the very least, be honored at some fun festivities before he is catapulted into the throes of Daddy-hood!

As for me? I couldn’t be happier about the laid-back feel of a BBQ. It’s exactly what the doctor ordered, especially since it means I was able to get away with wearing a sundress and flip-flops. Let’s be frank, at eight months pregnant, my desire to dress up is about equivalent to my desire to run a marathon in the Sahara Desert donning a space suit. A casual atmosphere suits me just fine!

Very dear friends of ours, JD and Brittany, generously offered to throw our celebration at their home. Since Brittany shares my fondness for planning, and thoroughly enjoys channeling her inner Martha Stewart, we couldn’t have asked for better hosts! Needless to say, they truly outdid themselves. (They weren’t the only ones — check out the photo of the baby booty cupcakes my friend Amanda made!)

Baby booty cupcakes – Lila McCann Photography

I am incredibly moved by their love and support, and we are blessed beyond belief to have them in our lives. Our little girl doesn’t know it yet, but she is surrounded by some phenomenal people who will teach her what love and friendship truly mean. I’d like to think she’ll have some gifts to give them in return …

As one of our friends so eloquently put it, “The enjoyment is in being a part of this new life coming into the world. It’s about sharing a little piece of making her into the person she will be, and playing a role in helping her to grow up.”

Such a neat thing to hear from a friend, because it makes you realize you aren’t the only one invested in your child’s future … It truly does take a village!

The Nursery: Pink Is the New Black. Sort Of.

Based on my career trajectory, I realize the outside perception of my life might be that it is a bit on the glamorous side. However, my husband and I live a very non-Hollywood lifestyle here in Nashville. We opt to be relatively “no frills” people.

When it came to constructing our nursery, like many of you out there, we couldn’t afford to just go out and buy whatever struck our fancy. We’ve been trying to diligently stick to a budget (sometimes easier said than done), and we began a baby fund early on to help us out with expenses.

I have such an affinity for design, it was tough for me to bear the thought of not being able to set up the nursery as I’d envisioned. Lending my art direction to the baby’s room has been a huge part of entertaining my nesting instinct. Not to mention, it has helped to distract me in a positive way! (At this point, I’m trying to keep myself as busy as possible, so the time goes by a little faster. Boredom is my arch nemesis!)

In order to satisfy the artistic hunger in me, we worked really hard to find creative ways to set money aside for my “pet project.” The result? Our nursery was built on a lot of love, along with the overwhelming generosity of our family and friends.

Brad’s mom bought us our crib, his sisters sent us all kinds of goodies that their kids no longer needed, and friends called every now and then with a “Hey, I’ve got a package of newborn diapers for you… can I drop them off this afternoon?” (Thanks, Lila!!)

I can also attribute my child’s already full closet to friends and family. My best friend, Lisa, sent us a box of gorgeous clothes her daughter has outgrown, and our friends Tyler and Holly gifted us with her very first pair of shoes — vintage leather baby boots! I’ve included a photo so you can swoon.

Vintage baby boots – Karan Simpson for Mimosa Arts Photography

Let me just say, if my baby is the best-dressed kid this side of the Mason-Dixon line and a clotheshorse by the age of two, I have my girlfriends to thank!

As for the nursery design, and much to the surprise of my friends and family, I actually chose black, white, silver and … wait for it … PINK! I know this comes as a shocking revelation, based on my aforementioned aversion of said color.

It turns out I’ve gone soft on my anti-pink stance, and discovered I don’t mind a bit of fuchsia here and there. I also think it’s somewhat unavoidable when you are having a baby girl, so if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em! That said, no one’s making a mad dash to go buy ruffles and lace, or turn our house into a Pepto Bismol-colored explosion.

As a side note, since I thoroughly believe God has a sense of humor, I’m starting to wonder if my daughter is going to bleed pink, and constantly ask to wear princess dresses, tutus and tiaras. It would serve me right!

For your viewing pleasure, I’ve included a photo of the nursery, so you can see some of my design handiwork. It doesn’t show the entire room, but you get the idea … And before any of you get nervous about the crib bumpers in the picture, and wax poetic about the dangers they pose, please note that a lot of that stuff is there for current “cute-factor” photographing purposes, and isn’t necessarily sticking around.

Brad and I are doing our due diligence in researching everything possible, and then we are trusting our instincts at the end of the day… which is one of the key facets of parenting, in my book!

Our nursery! – Karan Simpson for Mimosa Arts Photography

My “Almost-a-Mother’s Day”

So, I was on the phone with my mom in April, discussing plans for her May visit. (She and my dad drove up to Nashville for the BBQ…) She brought up the fact that there was a lot to celebrate in the short amount of time they were here, between our “shower,” my birthday, and Mother’s Day. To celebrate the latter, she suggested that the four of us go out to a nice dinner on the Sunday night after our party.

It happened that my husband, who RARELY has a night out on the town, had asked if I would mind him seeing the Levon Helm concert that same evening. Sadly, Mr. Helm passed away before the concert took place so this didn’t wind up happening, but I’d emphatically said, “YES! By all means, go!”

Brad has spent the last eight months being so concerned about getting home to take care of me, he hasn’t had much time to relax. No complaints from my end; he’s an amazing husband! But I worry he hasn’t taken enough time out for himself, which is also important, so I was seriously pleased at the prospect of him attending a concert he was over the moon about. (I’m no dummy. Pretty soon, going to a concert will be about as realistic as having tea with the Tooth Fairy.)

Knowing my parents would be understanding, especially since the concert was a one-night only event, I told my mother that Brad might not be able to join us for our Mother’s Day extravaganza. Her comment? “Well that’s okay if he isn’t there, you aren’t a mother yet anyway.”

Really? REALLY?? Good ol’ semantics deals a painful blow. Until the baby is born, I’m not technically a mom, it’s true. But I really beg to differ on this one. In my opinion, you become a mom the moment you start putting yourself second to the tiny human in your belly. You’re a mom when you begin tailoring your diet, remembering to take those prenatal pills, and adjusting your savings account to budget for a future college fund.

I also figure the two months of “praying to the porcelain god” earned me the right to celebrate Mother’s Day this year — even if my daughter isn’t due for a few weeks yet. Can I get an amen?

Belly aches, Blemishes and More Bizarre Symptoms

Pregnancy sure brings about some strange little bodily idiosyncrasies! I’d heard of all of the typical ones: swollen hands and feet, lower back pain, heartburn. The list is never-ending. But there were also a few things that snuck up on me.

Do you recall the Nyquil slogan that declared, “The nighttime, sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy head, fever so you can rest medicine”? Well, pregnancy rendered me a “Full-time toilet-worshipping, dislocated rib-sporting, strange-little-rash-in-places-I-can’t-mention toting, carpal tunnel-bearing, breaking out like a schoolgirl, all so I can have a baby” kind of woman.

And who knew my right hand would go completely numb? Since I haven’t been able to feel my fingertips for over a month, I’ve burned myself on several occasions … I keep forgetting that I can’t properly sense temperature!

Mind you, I’d prefer not to think that acknowledging these maladies is equivalent to complaining. They are all, unquestioningly, worth it — I’ve embraced every one. But I also feel that keeping them a secret does all of us a bit of a disservice.

I’m delivering on that promise of honesty that I vowed in my introductory blog, and I’m unwilling to pretend my pregnancy has been the model of perfection. I’m no martyr, and I want you to know that I’ve had my share of uncomfortable moments during this adventure too!

Of course, you may be one of those rare women who had no issues whatsoever, and this segment doesn’t strike a chord. But if you were put through the wringer during your pregnancy, you are not alone. Everyone reacts differently, and let’s face it, shouldn’t we expect our bodies to protest loudly when our insides are being shoved aside to make room for the mini-human?

I’m comfortable saying that, despite any temporary pain or discomfort, I have absolutely ADORED being pregnant. Sure, I could give or take some of the side effects, but I never expected to get out of this experience without making concessions or enduring some mild malaise.

At the end of the day, I know my body was made for this process … these German hips were definitely made for birthin’! I hope you’ve been able to, or will be able to, look back on your pregnancy with fond memories, regardless of any aches and pains. Just remember, it all leads up to a little miracle!

On that note, I’m signing off. As always, please feel free to leave me a note here on PEOPLE.com, or send me a message via Twitter. I love hearing from you all!

Until next time (which might involve me typing while changing diapers…),

– Jenna von Oy

There’s a baby on the way for actor Eric Ladin!

The Killing star and his fashion designer/stylist wife Katy are expecting their first child this winter, his rep confirms exclusively to PEOPLE.

“Katy and I couldn’t be happier, we have always wanted to be parents,” Ladin, 34, tells PEOPLE.

He jokes, “Now what the hell do we do?”

In addition to his current role as Jamie Wright in the AMC series, Ladin has also appeared in Mad Men, Big Love and
Generation Kill.

The Killing airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on AMC.

– Anya Leon with reporting by Michelle Tan

]]> http://celebritybabies.people.com/2012/05/23/the-killing-eric-ladin-expecting-first-child/feed/ 6 Anya http://celebritybabies.people.com/2012/05/23/jillian-michaels-adopts-daughter-lukensia-welcomes-son-phoenix/ http://celebritybabies.people.com/2012/05/23/jillian-michaels-adopts-daughter-lukensia-welcomes-son-phoenix/#comments Wed, 23 May 2012 12:30:35 +0000 Sarah http://celebritybabies.people.com/?p=161776 ]]> Andrew Macpherson

As a trainer on The Biggest Loser, Jillian Michaels was known for dishing out tough love to contestants.

But these days, she’s doling out tickles and hugs to her 2-year-old daughter, Lukensia – whom she recently brought home from Haiti after a lengthy adoption process — and the newborn son, Phoenix, that partner Heidi Rhoades gave birth to on May 3 in Los Angeles.

“We’re swimming in babies over here,” Michaels, 38, gleefully tells PEOPLE in its latest issue.

In an exclusive at-home interview and photo shoot, she discusses the two-year journey that led her to her daughter and reveals an incredible twist of fate: Rhoades, 31, delivered their son the same week Michaels finally brought their daughter home.

The instant family has made for long days and nights for Michaels. But she insists she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I don’t even answer email. I don’t have time to care about anything else,” she notes. “I want to be really present and enjoy all the nuances of their growth and development. I don’t want to rush any of it.”

For details on Michaels’s new life as a mom and to see more images from our exclusive family photo shoot, pick up the June 4 issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.

– Monica Rizzo