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Retired soccer star Alex Morgan, 35, is gearing up for an exciting new chapter as she prepares to welcome a baby boy into her family. Speaking with PEOPLE, Morgan shared how she's embracing her transition from professional athlete to full-time mom.
Reflecting on her journey with her daughter Charlie Carrasco, now 4, Morgan opened up about the challenges of balancing motherhood and her athletic career. "Having my daughter almost five years ago, it felt at times like a really isolating experience and also felt like I was figuring it out on my own in a lot of ways," she shared.
© Getty ImagesMorgan emphasized the importance of supporting moms in sports, where parenting often feels like a solitary journey. "It's a really, really difficult job just being in the sports world…making the decision to be a mom while also being an athlete or coach," she said. "Talking about it more is the first step to creating a situation where athletes and coaches and sportswomen feel accepted with kids or not."
Lessons Learned for Baby Number Two
Morgan's experience as a mom has influenced her approach to baby number two. This time around, she focused on practical items for her registry. "I feel like this time around I wanted to make sure that I had enough, I know this sounds weird, but car seats for my vehicle, my husband's car, my dad who lives close by," she explained, highlighting the importance of preparation and convenience.
Morgan also adjusted her registry strategy after realizing she overstocked on diapers during her first pregnancy. "I felt like I actually didn't go through all of the newborn or size one diapers that I thought I would the first time around."
© Getty ImagesA Memorable Gender Reveal
Morgan and her husband, Servando Carrasco, chose a private and intimate gender reveal with their daughter. "We actually just had our nanny blow up black balloons with white paint in them, and then one of the balloons had either pink or blue paint," Morgan said. When blue paint splattered on the ground, the family celebrated the news of their baby boy.
"We were extremely ecstatic," she shared. Morgan's daughter, Charlie, is incredibly excited about her new role as a big sister.
Big Sister Excitement
"She wants to kiss my belly every day, say hello to baby brother every morning, and say good night to him every night," Morgan shared. "She always wants her hand on my belly to feel him… She'll be my little helper when taking care of baby boy."
© Getty ImagesWith her family expanding and her passion for supporting moms in sports, Morgan is enthusiastically stepping into her next role.
Alex Morgan and Servando Carrasco first crossed paths at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2007. After college, both pursued their professional soccer careers. Alex quickly rose to fame as a forward for the U.S. Women's National Team (USWNT). Servando began his Major League Soccer (MLS) career, playing for several teams, including the Seattle Sounders, Houston Dynamo, and L.A. Galaxy.
In December 2013, Servando proposed to Alex in Manhattan Beach, California. On December 31, 2014, Alex and Servando tied the knot in a romantic New Year's Eve ceremony in Santa Barbara, California.
