Ben Higgins and Jessica Clarke.Photo:Jessica Clarke Higgins/instagram
Jessica Clarke Higgins/instagram
Ben HigginsandJessica Clarke’srelationship is going strong as they prepare for their next adventure: parenthood.
“It’s credit to my wife [and] her energy levels,” he tells PEOPLE exclusively. “Even though I know she’s tired, she still has fought to keep our relationship healthy and fresh.”
Higgins then shared that his relationship with his wife hasn’t significantly changed since they found out they were expecting, noting that they still go to the movies and plan date nights.
Ben Higgins and Jessica Clarke at the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball in 2023.Jesse Grant/Getty
Jesse Grant/Getty
Higgins also revealed thattheir nurseryis completely finished — but only because he knew he might “panic” if he waited too long.
“I did it. My mom came out and helped me with it and then Jessica helped me finish it,” he recalled. “It’s done. It’s ready. The crib’s set up, the chairs in there,” adding, “As soon as I found out my wife was pregnant, I started working on it because I knew I’d start to freak out a little bit towards the end and I want to have that done before I started to have panic attacks. So it’s done now.”
While the nursery may be complete, the star shared that thereality of fatherhoodhasn’t fully set in yet.
“Does it feel real? Yes. But at the same time, no, because my wife is the one [who is] pregnant. I work from home and she works at an office. So she comes home sometimes at six o’clock and she walks around the corner. I’m like, ‘Whoa, you’re pregnant. I forgot that today. ' "
Ben Higgins and Jessica Clarke.Jessica Clarke Higgins/instagram
“And then our dog, Waylon, lays his head every night and he falls asleep on her belly or near it,” he continued. “And it’s the craziest, coolest thing because he’s never been that dog. He’s never been a cuddly dog. And he literally just rolls up and he gets so close and so sweet to her.”
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source: people.com