Vanessa Lachey Talks Officially Changing Her Name; Wants Three Kids With Nick Lachey

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Vanessa Minnillo,Nick Lachey,Parenting,‘Access Hollywood Live’,Couples,ABC,TV

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Access Hollywood
Vanessa Minnillo smiles on Access Hollywood Live on February 22, 2012

FIRST PUBLISHED: February 22, 2012 6:01 PM EST

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

Vanessa Lachey has officially left her maiden name, Minnillo, behind (after tying the knot with longtime beau Nick Lachey in July), and the “Winter Wipeout” host says her husband was completely supportive if she didn’t want to take his last name.

“We talked about it and he was so sweet. He said, ‘You know, if you don’t really want it, I understand,’” Vanessa told Billy Bush and Kit Hoover on Wednesday’s Access Hollywood Live. “But I said, ‘Would it mean a lot to you if I took it? Because I’m old fashioned and I want to.’ And he said, ‘What guy wouldn’t want their girl to take their name fully?’

“He didn’t push me,” Vanessa – who is now legally Vanessa Joy Lachey – added.

Now that the couple shares a last name, are they working on adding to the Lachey family?

“I heard you want three [or] four kids?” Billy asked.

“Three is the magic number,” Vanessa said. “We would love to, ultimately, just have them be happy and healthy, but if I had a choice, I’d have two or three boys, then a girl.”

“Is there a timeline?” Kit asked.

“I think once you set a timeline you start driving yourself crazy,” Vanessa answered. “At some point, you just kind of have to say what’s meant to be will be and it’s not for lack of us trying! It’s part of the fun of being a newlywed.”

The 31-year-old former “Total Request Live” host said having children is at the top of her and Nick’s goal list.

“We both probably want kids more than we want anything else in life. We cannot wait to be parents and that to me is probably one of the most exciting things about him,” she told Billy and Kit. “I know I’ve got a great partner to help me raise kids and he’s going to be an awesome dad. So hopefully, God willing, I can give those to him soon.”

Catch the new Mrs. Lachey in action on “Winter Wipeout” — Thursdays at 8/7c on ABC.

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