Josh Duhamel, the actor best known for his roles in the ‘Transformers’ franchise and ‘Las Vegas’, has welcomed a new addition to his family. The 53-year-old and his wife, Audra Mari, 32, have announced the arrival of their second child together, making Duhamel a father of three. He shared the happy news on Instagram on Saturday, May 16, revealing the newborn girl’s unique name alongside a series of photos. “Rocca de Leon Duhamel our baby girl is here,” he wrote in the caption.The carousel included polaroids of the newborn sleeping, Duhamel holding up a celebratory bottle of champagne by her bassinet, and the couple posing together. Other shots showed two-year-old son Shepherd meeting his new baby sister for the first time, and the infant snuggling against Mari’s chest in the hospital.
Josh Duhamel’s excitement about becoming a girl’s dad
Ahead of welcoming Rocca, Duhamel had spoken openly about his excitement while appearing on the comedy ‘Preschool’, telling fellow new dad Derek Hough that he “cannot wait to meet her.” “I don’t know what to make of it. I’m just so — I cannot wait to meet her,” he said. “And I think there’s something about dads and their little girls. It’s different, you know?”Mari had first revealed her pregnancy in an Instagram carousel of black and white photos showing off her baby bump. In one image, she sat in a bed with her legs crossed, wearing a half-buttoned top with her stomach exposed. In another, she beamed as she looked down to cradle her belly. “Adding a little girl to our story. We can’t wait to meet you,” she captioned the post.
Josh Duhamel on fatherhood and his growing family
Duhamel and Mari are already parents to son Shepherd, 2. The actor is also father to 12-year-old son Axl, whom he shares with ex-wife Fergie. Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE in August, Duhamel reflected on being a father to two sons and what he loves most about parenthood. “I just love being a dad. I love every single milestone,” he said.He also spoke about the distinct personalities of his two boys. “My wife’s father is a big car guy and a collector of cars, and I think that Shepherd is very much like his grandfather,” he told the outlet. “He just loves cars, and all he wants to do is get up in the seat and just pretend like he’s driving.” Axl, on the other hand, has different interests entirely. “He’s more about soccer and basketball stats. But that’s the beauty of genetics. They all come out a little bit different,” Duhamel added.With Rocca now here, the Duhamel family of five is complete, and by all accounts, her arrival has been celebrated with open arms.