Michael Phelps and Pregnant Wife Nicole Reveal Sex of Baby No. 4

Michael Phelps and wife Nicole Phelps will soon be diving into life as a family of six.

After the Olympic swimmer and the former Miss California announced they're expecting their fourth child, she revealed the sex of the baby—telling Today.com they're expecting another son this February.

"I would have loved to have a daughter for Michael so he could have that father-daughter bond that I experienced growing up," Nicole told the outlet in an interview published Nov. 1. "But I strongly believe you're given what you're supposed to have, and I'm really excited to have another boy."

The little one will join big brothers Boomer, 7; Beckett, 5; and Maverick, 4.

"Sometimes it's difficult when people say, 'Oh, you need that girl,'" Nicole continued. "I'm like, 'No, I really don't.'"

Michael and Nicole first shared the baby news on their seventh wedding anniversary—informing fans in an Oct. 30 Instagram post that they're expecting their "4th Phelps" in 2024 and posting a picture of her cradling her baby bump.

As the 38-year-old recalled to Today.com, she found out about the pregnancy after going to the doctor for headache pain and informing the physician her period was due to start two days prior. When the doctor told her to take a pregnancy test just in case, she continued, she remembered thinking, "'There's no way.' And now here we are."

While Nicole said Michael was thrilled from the get-go, she noted it took her "some time to process" the pregnancy—sharing she's happy but knows the demands of parenthood. 

"Listen, I'm a mom and I know how much work that it takes," she said. "I personally believe in pretty much sacrificing two years of my life to this new baby. But we are so excited. I don't even want to call him a surprise because he is wanted. He's the bonus we didn't know we needed."

And the model and the gold medalist aren't the only ones looking forward to adding a new member to their team.

"The sweetest thing is how genuinely excited the boys are to meet their brother," she added. "Having four boys will be crazy but wonderful."

While the Phelps' baby won't make his debut until 2024, here's a look back at stars who welcomed little ones in 2023.

The country singer and his wife welcomed their third child—son Cohen Ace James—on Sept. 27, five months after announcing their breakup. 

In October, Jimmie's rep told People that the couple—who also share daughters Naomi and Zara—"decided to work on things together and are still together." 

The Bachelor in Paradise couple announced Sept. 23 that they welcomed their first child, a baby boy named Benson Lee Jacobs Kufrin.

Yer a mom, Ginny! The Harry Potter alum gave birth to her baby on Sept. 19. 

"Say hello to Elio Ocean Wright Lococo," she wrote in her son's birth announcement. "We’re all healthy and happy."

Fun fact: Little Elio shares the same birthday as Emma Watson's Hermione Granger character!

The model gave birth to her first child with the NFL star on Sept, 19. Named Capri Summer Godchaux, the baby girl joins older sisters Cali and Cassie, who Chanel shares with ex Sterling Shepard.

The TikToker and her husband Jonas welcomed their second child, a son named Oliver, in September.

The Vanderpump Rules alum and her husband welcomed their second child, son Messer Rhys Clark, on Sept. 7.

The Ray Donovan star became a girl dad on Aug. 27 when he welcomed baby girl Hazel Bee with Taylor Neisen. Liev is also dad to teenage sons Kai and Sasha with ex Naomi Watts.

Love all around! The retired tennis champion and the Reddit co-founder welcomed their second daughter, Adira River Ohanian, in August.

The two announced Aug. 19 that the week prior, they welcomed their third child, a baby girl.

The actress-turned-designer welcomed her first child—a baby boy named Otto—with her husband earlier this year, multiple outlets reported on Aug. 14.

The Ultimatum star and her boyfriend welcomed a baby girl on Aug. 9.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum and her fiancé welcomed daughter Elodie Mae Book on Aug. 8. The baby girl joins big sister Eliyanah, as well as Diana's adult kids Innis and Eneya from her previous marriage to Roger Jenkins.

Fifteen months after welcoming son RZA with the rapper, the "Umbrella" singer gave birth to the couple's second child, Riot Rose, on Aug. 1, according to a birth certificate obtained by E! News.

The Hills: New Beginnings star and the surfer welcomed their first child—a baby girl named Honey Raye Jenner—on July 29.

The Bachelor in Paradise couple announced the birth of their second child July 23.

The model gave birth to her second baby with businessman on July 11.

The tennis champion and her rapper boyfriend welcomed a baby girl named Shai in early July.

The rapper and her wife welcomed their first child together, a baby boy named True Legend Harris-Dupart, on July 6.

The Game of Thrones couple have welcomed their second child and first daughter, multiple outlets, citing the actor's rep, confirmed July 3.

The pro surfer, who famously lost her arm in a 2003 shark attack, announced June 30 that she and husband Adam Dirks had welcomed their fourth child and first daughter, Alaya Dorothy Dirks.

After a decade-long fertility journey, the longtime couple welcomed daughter Athena Alexandra via surrogate on June 23.

The Olympic swimmer and the real estate agent welcomed their third child together, baby girl Georgia June, on June 21, according to Us Weekly.

The Ginny & Georgia star welcomed her first child with husband Matt Ziering in June.

"My whole world just got a whole lot sweeter. And smaller," she wrote on Instagram June 18 alongside a photo of their newborn. "Welcome my little love."

The Duck Dynasty alum and her husband welcomed their second daughter, Haven, in May 2023. She joined big sister Honey James, 2.

The Dancing With the Stars pro gave birth to son Jet Carson McAllister, her second child with her husband, on May 13.

After suffering a stillbirth and a miscarriage, the Selling Sunset star and her husband announced on May 11 that they had welcomed their rainbow baby, a daughter named Emma Reign.

The Below Deck alum announced she welcomed her first child, a baby boy named Sullivan Cay, on May 5.

The Dancing With the Stars pro shared on May 4 that she and her husband had welcomed their second daughter together.

Bruce Willis and Demi Moore became grandparents on April 18, when their oldest daughter welcomed daughter Louetta Isley Thomas Willis with her musician boyfriend.

On April 11, the Bling Empire star announced the expansion of her own empire by sharing that she and her boyfriend had welcomed a baby girl.

(E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family).