Ashanti and Nelly revealed in April that they were expecting their first child together. The R&B singer confirmed the good news in an Instagram video.
From concealing her baby bump with oversized jersey shirts to now confidently showcasing it on and offstage, Ashanti’s journey to motherhood is a testament to her growing confidence and the joy she feels about her pregnancy.
As she prepares to embark on her journey of motherhood, Ashanti shared an exclusive glimpse with her 8.5 million Instagram followers today, May 16, into how her loved ones celebrated her over the intimate Mother’s Day weekend.
Last month, Ashanti opened up to Essence about the significant milestones in her life, including her first child with her longtime boyfriend, Nelly, who is now officially her fiance.
She disclosed that her pregnancy and engagement with Nelly were “an amazing experience.”
For this year’s Mother’s Day, the multiple Grammy winner posted several adorable pictures with Nelly and other family members to mark the occasion. In one of them, Ashanti is wearing a black-and-white dress, while Nelly is wearing a grey sweatsuit, as the happy couple poses poolside.
“This Mother’s Day was so special,” the songstress began her caption. “Having our families together as we are about to embark on such an incredible journey was amazing. Wishing all of the amazing Moms and Moms a beautiful Mother’s Day/Pre-Mother’s Day!!!!! 😆😆😆😆❤️🙏🏽🥳 #grateful 🙏🏽🥰 yeah yeah I know I’m late… it was so much food I got distracted 🤣🤣 Ps… I only had 1 plate tho 🤣🤣👀.”
While this is Ashanti’s first child, Nelly is already an experienced father. He has a daughter, Chanelle (also known as Nana), 30, and a son, Cornell III, 25, who goes by Tre. Nelly’s journey as a father began tragically when his sister Jackie Donahue, then 31 years old, passed away from leukemia in 2005. Since then, he has been a pillar of support, raising his niece Sydney and nephew Shawn as his own.
