Anneliese van der Pol and Johnno Wilson, best known for playing an on-screen couple in Disney Channel’s Raven’s Home, are expecting their first child together, a baby girl due this October.
The real-life couple, both 40, revealed the exciting news in a joint announcement, confirming they are preparing to welcome their daughter later this year. Van der Pol, beloved for her role as Chelsea Daniels on That’s So Raven, says she was overwhelmed with joy during their gender reveal.
“We’re having a girl! I have two sisters and I could not be happier to bring another girl into the sisterhood,” van der Pol told People. The moment was marked by a golf ball reveal, which burst into pink powder when Wilson took a swing. “I didn’t realize how much I wanted a girl until he swung and it went pink,” she added.
While the couple now eagerly anticipates parenthood, they admit starting a family wasn’t always part of their plan.
From No-Kids Pact to Parenthood
Van der Pol and Wilson said they originally bonded over a shared decision not to have children, focusing instead on travel and their careers.
“We were the couple that said we would never have kids,” van der Pol explained. Wilson added, “We had the kids convo early on and agreed, let’s just focus on career and travel. I highly recommend checking in with each other every few years.”
That shift in perspective came last summer, when both realized they were more open to becoming parents at 40 than they had been six years earlier. The pair had even scheduled a fertility consultation, only for fate to intervene.
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“The day before our IVF appointment, I realized I was late,” van der Pol recalled. After taking a pregnancy test and seeing two lines, she canceled the appointment and surprised Wilson by placing the test on his pillow. “He started crying. What a baby,” she joked.
A Smooth Pregnancy Journey
So far, van der Pol says the experience has been surprisingly positive, even amid the common pregnancy symptoms. With plenty of family and friends offering support and advice, the couple felt prepared for the road ahead.
“Most people set my expectations low by saying it would be really hard,” she said. “But thankfully, I’ve had a really wonderful pregnancy.”
Wilson, who currently stars in Season 2 of Peacock’s Twisted Metal, agreed. “Since a lot of our friends and family have kids, we were prepared for anything.”
Van der Pol shared that one of the more surprising moments came when she first felt their baby move around the 17- to 20-week mark, a moment known as “quickening.”
“That really made us excited to meet this little one,” she said. “I think we have another dancer on our hands.”
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Fan Reactions
Fans of That’s So Raven and Raven’s Home have taken to social media to celebrate the news, expressing excitement and nostalgia over van der Pol’s journey into motherhood.
“Our Disney legends are giving birth. We are growing up so fast.” one user wrote on X.
Our disney legends are giving birth
we are growing up so fast pic.twitter.com/xLPAD9Yach— W (fan account) (@live4ga) June 30, 2025
“She looks so pretty! So happy for you Chelsea girl!” another fan shared.
she looks so pretty! so happy for you chelsea girl!
— michelle pfizer 🍉 (@arshdhillonk) June 30, 2025
