This coming year is going to be a big one for Jamie Lynn Spears. The actress/singer shared on Instagram Christmas Eve that she and husband Jamie Watson are expecting a baby in 2018.

The baby is the first for the couple, who married in 2014, and joins 9-year-old big sister Maddie (whose dad is Spears' ex-fiance Casey Aldridge). Spears did not say when the new arrival is due, but she did take time to express her overwhelming joy. "Looks like we are starting off 2018 with another big milestone...sooo happy to announce that Maddie is FINALLY going to be a big sister," she gushed in her caption to the sweet family photo.

The 26-year-old also gave fans some idea of what she has in store professionally as well as personally. "2017 was filled with some of the biggest challenges of my life, as well as some of the biggest blessings, so I made a choice to lay low this year to focus on truly becoming my best self as a person and as an artist. During that time, I continued working on my music and telling my story, which has created some of my most honest work and I CANT wait to share that with you all very soon. 2018 is going to be filled with many milestones both personally and professionally. I appreciate each of you for your patience and support through it­ all. 2018 has a lot coming, so GET READY...."

Spears has plenty to be thankful for this year: In February, Maddie was badly hurt in an ATV accident, but thanks to quick work from first responders, recovered and celebrated her 9th birthday in June. Spears credited the accident as shaking her musical aspirations up again, and it sounds as if she's been keeping that in mind all year.

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