Nelly and Ashanti Share How Life Has Changed After Welcoming Son Kareem: 'He's a Blessing' (Exclusive)

"I'm insanely in love with him," Ashanti tells PEOPLE of her almost 4-month-old boy, who was born on July 18

Ashanti and Nelly attend the 2024 Baby2Baby Gala on November 09, 2024
Ashanti and Nelly on Nov. 9, 2024. Photo:

Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage

Ashanti and Nelly are reflecting on their first months together as parents.

While attending the 2024 Baby2Baby Gala in Los Angeles on Saturday, Nov. 9, the singer, 44, and her husband, 50, opened up to PEOPLE about welcoming their first baby together — son Kareem Kenkaide Haynes, or KK, as they fondly call him.

According to the couple, Nelly is still getting plenty of sleep while the "Baby" singer jokes that she really isn't.

"It's amazing," Ashanti says of having KK in their lives. "He's a blessing. He's an angel. My life is amazing right now. I'm super blessed, so happy. I'm insanely in love with him."

Reflecting on how the nearly 4-month-old's personality is emerging, Ashanti adds that he definitely "has daddy's temper."

"When the bottle isn't ready — oh, man," she says.

Ashanti and Nelly attend the 2024 Baby2Baby Gala on November 09, 2024
Ashanti and Nelly attend the 2024 Baby2Baby Gala in Los Angeles on Nov. 9, 2024.

Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage

Saturday's gala — which featured a performance from Nelly — honored Baby2Baby's 13th year providing basic essentials to millions of children living in poverty across the country. Other attendees included Ayesha Curry, Ciara, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Julie Bowen, Katy Perry, Nicole Richie, Paris Hilton and the night's honoree, Charlize Theron.

Nelly and Ashanti first announced that they had welcomed their baby in August via Instagram, where Ashanti showed off her postpartum body.

In the carousel of photos, Ashanti also shared a video of herself in a blue robe, telling the camera, "Four weeks postpartum. You have no idea what this body can do."

A rep for the couple later confirmed to PEOPLE: "Ashanti and Nelly welcomed their baby boy, Kareem Kenkaide Haynes, on July 18, 2024. The proud and happy parents are so in love with KK!"

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The Grammy Award winners first announced they were expecting their first child together in another Instagram video shared in April on Ashanti's account, in which she filmed her mom Tina Douglas' reaction to finding out about the pregnancy.

The clip showed Ashanti getting ready for a performance when her mom entered the room and asked how much more time she needed. "Uh, I'm gonna need about nine months," Ashanti answered, prompting her mom to look shocked.

Ashanti and Nelly attend 3rd Annual Birthday Ball for Pierre "P" Thomas in 2023
Ashanti and Nelly in 2023.

Paras Griffin/Getty

The singer also shared the news with Essence soon after, revealing not only that she was pregnant, but that she and Nelly were engaged.

"This new year of my life is such a blessing full of love, hope and anticipation," Ashanti told the outlet. "Motherhood is something I have looked forward to, and sharing this with my family, fiancé and loyal fans, who have been so supportive of my career, is an amazing experience."

The pair tied the knot on Dec. 27, 2023, according to documents obtained by PEOPLE in June.

Nelly is already dad to son Cornell III (who goes by Tre), 25, and daughter Chanelle (who goes by Nana), 30. The rapper also adopted and raised his niece Sydney and nephew Shawn after his sister Jackie Donahue died of leukemia in March 2005.

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