Congratulations are in order for Days of our Lives alum Jen Lilley (ex-Theresa Donovan), who is expecting a baby with her husband, Jason Wayne, next year.
The actress shared the exciting news with People, enthusing that she will need a bus after the arrival of the little one, who will be joining the couple's adopted children, five-year-old Kayden and three-year-old Jeffrey, as well as their biological daughter, two-year-old Julie, this spring.
"Julie was planned, but this was definitely a surprise," says Lilley, who was on her way to Canada to film her new TV movie, Royally Wrapped for Christmas, when she began suspecting she was pregnant.
"I don't know what it is with me, but I honestly will know like day after conception; I'm very aware of my body," she says. "I felt very pregnant and I thought, 'This is very weird.' I was excited, but also it was so strange. I was in this long customs line in Canada waiting for my work permit, and I'm texting my husband and our nanny via group text, 'I think I'm pregnant right now?'"
Lilley reports that her children are just as excited as she and Jason are about the unexpected family member.
"Kayden and Jeffrey very much understand," Lilley says. "It's also been super helpful to kind of start talking to Kayden a bit about adoption, which has been great. Because he says, 'So when I was in your belly,' and I'm like, 'Okay, let me talk to you about that.' So, it's been a really wonderful introduction to explain adoption to him. That's been awesome and he's really excited."
Lilley is looking forward to her due date, which is in May of 2022, but in the meantime, she's keeping busy with promoting Royally Wrapped for Christmas, which is set to premiere on GAC Family on Saturday, November 27. She is also fundraising for her second annual Christmas Is Not Cancelled toy drive, which aims to donate 20,000 toys to Toys for Tots this year.
Jen Lilley played the role of DAYS' Theresa from 2013 to 2016 and again for a few months in the early summer of 2018. She also briefly filled in for Kirsten Storms in the role of General Hospital's Maxie Jones from 2011 to 2012.
Since leaving daytime, Lilley has gone on to become a staple of the Hallmark Channel with credits like A Little Daytime Drama; Snowkissed; USS Christmas; Paris, Wine and Romance; Winter Love Story; and Mingle All the Way.
For more from Lilley about her second pregnancy, check out People's full story here.
UPDATE (November 29, 2021): In a fun Instagram post, Jen Lilley reveals that she and her husband now know the gender of their bun in the oven. "It’s a girl!" the actress enthuses, adding that she’s open to name suggestions because "according to Jason, we’re 87% committed to a name I was pretty sure was 99%!" So, be sure to let Lilley know what you think she and Jason should name their new daughter in the Comments section below!
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