Mariah Carey & Nick Cannon Welcome Twins

April 30 is double the pleasure for Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon. Not only did they welcome twins, but the couple celebrated their third wedding anniversary, too!

Carey, 42, delivered the babies Saturday at 12:07 p.m. EST at an undisclosed hospital in Los Angeles. Carey's representative, Cindi Berger, confirmed the births to The Associated Press, saying the baby girl was born first, weighing 5 lbs., 3 oz., and was 18 inches long; her brother was next, at 5 lbs. 6 oz., and was 19 inches.

And it was just as Cannon, 30, predicted. "I'm not trying to be a psychic, but we renew our vows every year so ... It's probably going to be in the hospital this year. I can feel it," Cannon said Thursday when he guest-hosted The Talk. "We got the minister coming in, so this gown will not be a wedding gown, but a hospital gown."

Berger tells PEOPLE "she's doing great" and they were listening to Carey's "We Belong Together" after the children were born. "I spoke to both of them and they are both completely overjoyed."

Asked if the birth was planned to coincide with her anniversary, she said: "No, not even Mariah could plan that."

"Nick was very nervous and Mariah was completely calm. Mariah thought it was another soft labor and Nick was driving her to the hospital and she very calm and the music was blasting," she added. "When they walked into the hospital, [Nick] was going the wrong way and they nurse redirected them to go the maternity ward, and I said to her, 'that's right out of I Love Lucy,' and she laughed."

Could Mariah Carey Deliver Her Twins Friday?

Mariah and husband Nick Cannon could be parents very soon.

Hollywood baby bump watchers are whispering that the singer is scheduled to undergo a C-section at an L.A. area hospital on Friday.

Life & Style: Mariah's Relaxing Retreat

A ready-to-pop Mariah Carey escapes on one last getaway before the arrival of her twins

Mariah Carey is the first to admit her pregnancy hasn't always been easy. Rushed to the hospital several times with premature contractions and on partial bed rest for months, the singer has faced the biggest challenge of her life trying to go full-term with twins.

But just days before welcoming a boy and girl, the mommy-to-be got the breather she needed: a babymoon at Terranea Resort in Palos Verdes, Calif. "Basically it's an excuse to do something decadent before the babies arrive," Mariah tells Life & Style. "Because I've been grounded in LA for five months — which is longer than I've been in one place for a very long time — going to the spa resort for a getaway, or babymoon, was really fun and therapeutic."

Nestled on 102 lush oceanside acres that afford daily dolphin sightings — "the setting is so indescribably beautiful," says Mariah — Terranea provided a breathtaking backdrop for playing rousing games of Taboo and Catch Phrase with her pals, nibbling on tasty treats from the Spa Café and indulging in as many relaxing spa treatments as possible. "As my fans know, I love the ocean, and I love dolphins. But I never dreamed I'd be sitting fireside in a copper tub watching schools of wild dolphins passing by throughout the day!" gushes Mariah.

Pregnancy Paradise
Her favorite treatment? Watsu water-massage therapy! "It really helps to relieve the pressure on your back, which is monumental when you're pregnant with twins!" Mariah says. "The therapist actually does the massage in the water while supporting your back — it's amazing. There are so many more activities and treatments that I'll be able to do here once I'm mobile again. I'm looking forward to coming back."

But first, Mariah and hubby Nick Cannon have important family business to attend to: They can't wait to meet the twins and see their adorable faces for the first time. "It's been so hectic around our home," admits Mariah, who's had her hands full decorating the newborns' nursery. "I'm literally counting down the days till we meet the babies."

Her Last-Minute Fix
Kicking back and relaxing wasn't Mariah's only reason for taking a babymoon — essentially, the singer's been homeless during the last weeks of her pregnancy! Indeed, finding a place to sleep became imperative after Mariah decided to renovate her and hubby Nick's bedroom in LA before the babies' arrival. "It was such a letdown to come into our bedroom after staring at the gorgeous ceiling mural that Marnie Vollenhals had painted in the babies' room," Mariah explains to Life & Style. "So maybe it's a bit over-the-top, but I decided to call David to re-create Marnie's magical orangey clouds and gold stars in our bedroom."

Nick Cannon Talks Mariah, Twins on Ellen

Watch Nick Cannon on Ellen DeGeneres, where he talks about preparing for the birth of his twins and having huge respect for Mariah Carey.

First up, Mariah Carey is due, like, any second! And while Nick Cannon says they've been saying it for awhile, there is a sense of urgency in his voice. Ellen asks the obvious question about why Nick is there if Mariah can give birth at any moment... he assures her that they are ready to go. He says they have their bags packed and exclaims, "I'm ready!"

Ellen asks if he'll be in the delivery room and Cannon says "I'm not too good with hospitals," saying he can't handle blood but maybe he could be assigned his own nurse. Cannon says "Hospitals make me feel weird," noting that he can't even watch doctor shows, while Mariah can watch them and eat at the same time!

Cannon shares that Mariah is "cool, calm and collected" about the babies' arrival, adding "I have a new found respect and admiration for my wife, seeing what a woman goes through... that's incredible... I could never do it... She's got two humans inside of her!"

Ellen has gifts for Nick and Mariah, including a variety of items to make her feel beautiful after she has the babies.

Mariah Paints Pregnant Belly for Easter

On her Twitter, Mariah posted a picture of herself with her pregnant belly painted yet again, this time to celebrate Easter. Check out the photo to the right.

Life & Style: Mariah's Baby Joy!

MARIAH'S BABY JOY!
Life & Style - May 2, 2011 Issue
A ready-to-pop Mariah Carey invites Life & Style inside her babies' lavish nursery

Soon, Mariah Carey won't be the only one wailing high notes at home. The singer's been experiencing contractions for weeks, so she and husband Nick Cannon are hurriedly baby-proofing their luxe Bel-Air, Calif. estate for the imminent arrival of their twins, a son and a daughter. The couple have a lot of space to cover — and they're giving Life & Style an exclusive first peek at the newborns' breathtaking nursery.

"I wanted to create a beautiful, tranquil, cozy environment for the babies," Mariah tells Life & Style in an exclusive interview. "Everything matches, but pieces are individualized to celebrate the twins as separate entities."

Separate — but equally glam! Here, Mariah opens up about the twins' distinct personalities, what it will be like for the kids to grow up as Carey-Cannons and how the mom-to-be can't wait to not be pregnant anymore.

Is it safe to say you're in full-on nesting mode now?
After hearing so much about "nesting," I've developed a severe loathing for the word — but honestly, I have to admit that's exactly what I'm doing! Designing the LA nursery with Gail Sedigh of AFK Furniture and world-famous decorator Mario Buatta was so challenging because I had such specific ideas I wanted implemented. I feel like I'm bringing two individuals into the world, so I wanted to do more than cookie-cutter styles in blue and pink.

Do you have a favorite detail in the room?
Well, the most personal contribution I made was the ceiling (see page 40). It has orangey-pink clouds in a blue sky with golden stars twinkling. It's based on two songs I wrote that are fan favorites: "Underneath the Stars" and "Close My Eyes." Sometimes I just sit in the nursery and stare at the ceiling because I love it so much. To me, it symbolizes wanting my children to dream as big as possible and to let their imaginations be unbridled.

How do you plan to instill those values in the kids?
By encouraging them to be who they are as individuals. I don't want the babies to have expectations placed on them just because they have celebrity parents.

Have you gotten advice from other famous parents?
Actually, I've been trying not to seek too much advice. Everyone has their own experiences. You can read books about pregnancy or raising twins, but at the end of the day, you can never predict what life has in store for you. You can't study how to be the perfect mom — that's not reality. You just have to try as hard as you can, pray and use your life experiences to guide you through every situation. Just love them unconditionally.

What kind of mom do you think you'll be?
Being a mother is probably the hardest job in the world. I feel like, in a lot of ways, children come into the world to teach us. It's going to be a delicate balance between raising them around glitz and glamour and keeping them grounded. One thing I'm sure of is that I'll be grateful for the twins every day, no matter what.

Do you already have an incredible bond with them?
I've been carrying them for long enough, I should hope so! But seriously, you can't help but feel a bond. They're a part of you.

Was there a specific moment you knew you were ready for motherhood?
You just know when you know. I think this is happening at just the right moment in my life.

How will your life change once the twins arrive?
It already has! Being pregnant with twins prepares you for anything that could possibly come your way in life. I know once they're here we'll get little or no sleep, but we're used to that. It seems like the main thing is to be prepared for anything — expect a lot of surprises. I imagine they'll change and enrich our lives in so many ways forever.

Will you hire nannies?
I'm working with a baby nurse I met through a good friend. She's very knowledgeable, and I am so grateful to be able to have that kind of help, especially in the beginning.

What do you imagine your first night home with the babies will be like?
Very busy!

Do they already have distinct personalities?
The girl responds to certain songs when I play them, which is hilarious to me. She'll start kicking when I play the Clark Sisters' "You Brought the Sunshine." And every time I put on my song "Fantasy," featuring ODB, she moves around a lot. Our boy seems more mellow and relaxed.

What do you call them?
It's Baby A and Baby B — that's how the doctor describes them. Then it turned into "dat boy" and "dat girl," and, as my fans know, we typically refer to them as "dem babies."

How soon after the birth will you head back to work?
I'll take it day by day. I need to be able to spend time at home to bond with the babies first. Plus, I can't even leave my puppies at home for a day without missing them — so I can't begin to imagine the separation anxiety I'll experience when I'm away from my own babies for five minutes! But believe it or not, I never stopped working, even while on bed rest. It's been therapeutic.

Have the twins inspired you musically?
Everything I go through as a woman influences me creatively. Naturally, this experience has made me feel more creative than ever. Tony Bennett actually came over to record a duet in my guest bedroom. He joked that he doesn't usually record with trios — me and the twins in my belly! It was hard to sing pregnant, but I'm glad to have that memory. I also wrote a charity record called "Save the Day" with my friends Jermaine Dupri and Randy Jackson that will be on my new album, coming soon. The next two releases — the babies! — are the most important to me, though.

Are you going to miss being pregnant at all?
A multiple pregnancy can be difficult — but it's all worth it. If anything, I'll remember the incredible feeling of having them kick inside me. But I'm ready to have my body be my own again. Plus, I miss wearing heels — I couldn't wear them now if I tried!

Will your family be complete at four?
It would take a much stronger person than me to go through this again! I have so much more respect for other women now. So I feel doubly blessed to have such a perfect start to our family. Everybody dreams of having a boy and a girl. Being pregnant with twins is beautiful and indescribable — but I'm ready to be done. We're almost home.

Inside Mariah Carey's Nursery!

Soon, Mariah Carey won't be the only one wailing high notes at home! Mariah and husband Nick Cannon give Life & Style an exclusive first peek at their newborns' breathtaking nurseries--one in their luxe Bel-Air, Calif., estate and the other at their NYC apartment! Both rooms are filled with comfy chairs, plush stuffed animals and the parents-to-be's personal touch!

"I wanted to create a beautiful, tranquil, cozy environment for the babies," Mariah tells Life & Style in an exclusive interview. "Everything matches, but pieces are individualized to celebrate the twins as separate entities."

Separate -- but equally glam! "Designing the LA nursery with Gail Sedigh of AFK Furniture and world-famous decorator Mario Buatta was so challenging because I had such specific ideas I wanted implemented. I feel like I'm bringing two individuals into the world, so I wanted to do more than cookie-cutter styles in blue and pink." And dad Nick agrees. He wanted the twins' side-by-side cribs accented with pink and green bedding instead of the traditional pink and blue.

Mariah's favorite part of the twins' LA nursery? The cloudscape, star-speckled ceiling. "The ceiling has orangey-pink clouds in a blue sky with golden stars twinkling. It's based on two songs I wrote that are fan favorites: 'Underneath the Stars' and 'Close My Eyes,'" Mariah tells Life & Style. "Sometimes I just sit in the nursery and stare at the ceiling because I love it so much. To me, it symbolizes wanting my children to dream as big as possible and to let their imaginations be unbridled." Mariah also incorporated her favorite winged insects, butterflies, into the nursery and super-soft stuffed-animal lambs, what the singer endearingly calls her fans.

Mariah has also been busy coordinating a nursery for the twins at her NYC apartment. "I prefer the East Coast schooling over the West Coast," Nick tells Life & Style. "But there are other things that come into play, like work."

While Mariah has enjoyed her pregnancy, she and Nick are certainly ready for the arrival of their son and daughter! "Being a mother is probably the hardest job in the world. I feel like, in a lot of ways, children come into the world to teach us," Mariah says. "It's going to be a delicate balance between raising them around glitz and glamour and keeping them grounded. One thing I'm sure of is that I'll be grateful for the twins every day, no matter what."

For the full gallery of photos inside Mariah's nurseries, pick up the new issue of Life & Style, on newsstands nationwide Friday!

Mariah in UK's OK! Magazine

Mariah Carey: Nick Reads Stories To My Tummy
(UK) - April 19, 2011

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon share their joy and excitement with the world in advance of the imminent arrival of their twins with a new set of photographs...

With her unique talent and signature vocal abilities, Mariah Carey commanded the world's attention when she made her musical debut as a teen in the '90s. In less than a decade she emerged as one of the most popular and widely acclaimed talents in music. As a singer, songwriter and producer, Mariah Carey has been recognised with the most prestigious accolades in the industry including five Grammy Awards, eight American Music Awards, Billboard's Artist Of The Decade Award and numerous World Music Awards, including the World Music Award for World's Best Selling Female Artist Of The Millennium.

As the best-selling female artist of all time, with over 250 million records behind her and as one of the media's biggest stars, Mariah Carey – who has been hailed as the most exciting woman in the world – has continuously raised the bar and set the standard of excellence within the music industry worldwide. Outside of her music career, Mariah recently received awards and great critical acclaim for her role in the film Precious, she has also launched her own perfumes with Elizabeth Arden and a footwear range in the US.

Mariah's husband, multi-millionaire Nick Cannon, has also achieved big success in his career. Known as one of the hardest-working men in showbiz, Nick launched his career in Hollywood in his teens and went on to become an actor, comedian, rapper and music producer. Nick is currently the host of America's Got Talent, CEO of Nickelodeon's TeenNick and host of his own breakfast radio show.

Together, Mariah and Nick have become America's new power couple, and in these new exclusive photographs, taken by photographer and friend of the couple Kristofer Buckle, they share their happiness and joy in advance of the arrival of their twins, a baby boy and a baby girl...

You're looking radiant! Are you feeling ready to have the twins now?
Mariah: Thank you. I am beyond ready! [Laughs] On a serious note, I am so excited to meet our babies and I am looking forward to being a mother. This is truly a blessing for Nick and I.

How did you feel when you learned you were having twins?
I was elated, surprised and a bit overwhelmed.

In the images you look wonderfully healthy – what has your approach been to your diet and exercise?
As far as exercise, I love the water. I always have. I was swimming daily until the doctors advised me to limit my activities. There will be time for that afterwards! People that know me call me a mermaid because I love the water so much, be it an ocean, lake, water park, even a river or a creek. I'm actually in the bathtub right now!

Has your appetite changed – can you share any thoughts on any surprising or humorous cravings?
In the beginning of my pregnancy, I was cooking almost every day but I can't be on my feet that long any more, so that's a wrap for now. It's funny, with this being the one time in my life that I can actually eat what I want and indulge any craving, I thought I would have taken advantage of it. But in my case, I haven't had much of an appetite at all, due to the babies taking up so much room in my belly. I do make sure I get my daily meals, vitamins, but mainly stick with small portions of fruit and protein. Every now and then I have a toasted marshmallow as dessert.

How have your preparations for their imminent arrival been going – have you been able to get their room ready? And you said recently that you can almost tell their personalities already! Are you excited to be having a baby boy and girl?
The preparations have been going great! We've just completed the LA nursery and are in the process of getting the New York nursery set. It's been so much fun designing their rooms. Oh yes! You can tell the personalities a bit. In viewing our ultrasounds, our boy is all ready like Nick, like: 'Here I am, take my picture or don't,' and our girl is coyly facing the other way, like: 'No pictures,' waiting for a proper debut. [Laughs] I took some ultrasound footage of them in the womb that I think they'll definitely find interesting later in life. Having a girl and boy at the same time couldn't be more perfect.

Are you close to choosing names for them both? What sort of inspiration will you take to choose their names?
We've had names picked out since we first met, believe it or not. We go back and forth, but want to wait until we meet them.

Tell me about how Nick is feeling – you said he's been incredibly supportive! Is he as excited about the birth? Do you think he will be a hands-on dad?
Nick is so excited about being a father. He already has this natural talent with children, they take to him right away. He's so nurturing, loving and fun. He definitely will be a hands-on dad. He already reads stories to my tummy.

What are you looking forward to once they arrive?
For starters, I'll be happy when they get off my bladder! [Laughs] Also, it will be nice to breathe when they get off my lungs – but honestly I'm just looking forward to bonding with them outside of my tummy! It's a whole new beginning and I am so beyond excited about it.

And how do you plan to spend the first weeks and months as a family?
Hopefully, Nick will take a bit of time off. [Sighs heavily, shakes head, rolls eyes and laughs] As I like to say, he's the hardest-working man in show business, so that's great, but I'm like: 'Alright already, take a break, stay put.' [Said while having a mild contraction] This is one of the few times in my career that I've actually taken it easy, sort of. I am looking forward to spending quality time with the babies and Nick and that's our plan.

Mariah Featured in French Gala Magazine

The French magazine Gala, in its Issue 931 dated April 13, has published Mariah's OK! pictures and a translation of the interview.

Mariah & Nick Cover UK's OK!

Mariah and husband Nick share their joy and excitement with the world in advance of the imminent arrival of their twins in exclusive photographs... and also express their joy in a revealing interview about the impending birth of their baby twins in this week's issue of OK! magazine.

Be sure to grab your copy!

Mariah: A glimpse into her babymoon getaway

Life & Style was a butterfly on the wall during Mariah Carey's babymoon at an exclusive oceanside spa, where Mariah relaxed and reminisced about the journey of her pregnancy with her close friend, young multimedia maven B. Scott.

Mariah tells Life & Style about how B. Scott has helped her be glamorous while she anxiously awaits the arrival of her twins!

"I was being bleak. I was totally uninspired to glam it up for the baby shower. Thank God B. Scott came over and found a vintage Cavalli dress in my closet," Mariah reveals to Life & Style.

The beautiful photos taken that day would not have happened without a push from Mariah's pal. "'My Mimi must have this moment!'" Mariah says B. Scott told her that day. "'I can't sit back in good conscience as your good gay fairy god-sister and let you neglect the glamour, darling. Remember who you are! LOL"

"I'm so grateful to have you here with me," Mariah told him, "keeping me festive during this pregnancy."

Mariah and B. Scott became friends during Mimi's sold-out Memoirs tour, on the heels of her multi-platinum number one single Obsessed. They instantly bonded when they did a touching interview, which dealt with many issues such as their mutual bi-racial backgrounds. B.Scott has since gone on to interview Jennifer Lopez, Chaka Khan, Jamie Foxx and many other celebs. Check out his website here!

Exclusive: Mariah on 'Babymoon' and Nude Photos

If you've seen Mariah Carey lately, you know the pop diva is about to pop! Mariah and hubby Nick Cannon are expecting twins next month. But before she gives birth to "dem babies" as the adorable couple refers to them, Carey spoke with "Life & Style" magazine about her babymoon and posing nude. Check out ESSENCE.com's exclusive excerpt of her "Life & Style" interview.

Mariah on how she came to take a babymoon: "A friend told me that before she had her son, she took a babymoon, which is something I'd never heard of before. Basically, it's an excuse to do something decadent before the babies arrive! I'm pretty sure most moms-to-be out there understand what I mean when I say that after a while of being pregnant, you start climbing the walls and just want to get out of the house. So I went to an amazing spa on the ocean with a couple of friends and, of course, Cha Cha and the puppies."

Mariah reveals intimate details of her fabulous babymoon: "Since at this point I have to really take it easy, we played board games like Taboo and Catch Phrase, ordered spa food and got as many spa treatments as possible!" (The foot massage was the best part.) "They had a method of getting the circulation going in my feet. Which slightly diminished the Sasquatch moment we're dealing with right now. lol!"

On being thrilled that she's capturing this moment in her life, nude: "I am so glad we took these pictures as a keepsake and a reminder of this time in my life. Right now I'm counting down the days 'til we meet the babies."

Finally, Mariah's hairstylist, Randi Peterson, revealed how this wasn't a typical photoshoot for the diva: "[It] wasn't your typical high-glam shoot. Mariah was able to stand up only for intervals of about 2 to 4 minutes per shot, when normally she'd be on her feet all night. I know she wanted to document this for her babies and fans, but they should know it wasn't easy."

Mariah Covers Life & Style

MARIAH'S TWIN BLISS
Life & Style - April 18, 2011 issue
Ready to pop, Mariah Carey's enjoying her last days of pregnancy

With a music career spanning more than 20 years, Mariah Carey has posed for her fair share of portraits. But none has been as personal or emotional as these exclusive belly-baring snaps. Mere days away from welcoming her first and second child, Mariah proudly showed off her pregnant body to Life & Style. "I was feeling very vulnerable about taking pictures at all right now, but then I didn't want to miss this opportunity to document this once-in-a-lifetime experience," she tells Life & Style. "My ultimate goal was to share this incredibly personal moment with my true fans."

And the twins – a boy and a girl – were clearly ready for their close-ups. "The babies were kicking almost the entire time; it was unbelievable," Mariah recalls. "Especially the girl – clearly she's a diva in training! We didn't start shooting until 1:30am because I was in the hospital from the night before until the day of the shoot with contractions five minutes apart!"

Indeed, although Mariah's not due for another few weeks, the twins could be making their grand entrance sooner rather than later. Contractions sent Mom to the hospital on March 27, and on April 1, hubby Nick Cannon fooled his radio listeners into believing his wife was in labor. "The false alarms definitely scared me," reveals Mariah. "I am super excited to meet them, of course, but I really am trying to keep the babies in as long as possible because ultimately what's most important is their health. It's getting harder everyday physically. But they say you forget all of this once you see the babies."

Prepping for babies
In the meantime, Mariah's gone into full-on nesting mode. Back pain and swollen ankles be darned, she's making sure the nurseries at her homes in NYC and LA are stocked with the latest (and glammest) clothes, books and toys, including life-size giraffes from friends Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne and toys from pals Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles.

"I've been in our LA home exclusively for the past five months, and for a person with my typical lifestyle of traveling, touring and promoting – literally never in the same place for more than a week at a time – it's a big adjustment," she says. "It's difficult perfecting a nursery for twins, especially when they're a boy and a girl, because you have to get creative with the color palette and designs."

Also on the mom-to-be's last minute to-do list? Getting her six beloved Jack Russell terriers used to the idea of having newborns invade their territory. Despite false reports that the couple sent their pooches to a shrink to prepare them for babies, Nick tells Life & Style that he and Mariah are planning to carry a baby doll around the house to see how the dogs react.

The exercise offers just a brief glimpse of the mommy magic to come. "As a mom, Mariah's going to be so nurturing," says Nick. "Everyone knows how much she loves animals and how much she loves her fans, so just imagine that times infinity."

Of course, all that love could lead to spoiling their son and daughter – but Nick will do his best to rein in Mariah. "I feel like I'll have to be the one who's like, 'Okay, there is no reason for you to have a cell phone at 5 years old," says Nick. "Mariah is much more of a free spirit, so the kids will probably get more out of her."

But Dad shouldn't be so sure of his role as disciplinarian. Before they've even flashed their puppy-dog eyes or adorable pouts, the twins already have him wrapped around their tiny fingers. "The girl is a lot more active – she's always kicking Mariah and moving around," Nick says excitedly. "I'm pretty sure she gets that hyperactivity from me! And the boy is always making his presence known on the ultrasounds. We've got one outgoing one and one super-active one."

The boy is also outweighing his sister – which is good because he'll need all the strength he can get if Nick's dreams for him come true. "I'm a huge martial arts and boxing fan," he says. "To be able to share that with my son will be incredible."

Mom Mariah, however, is less eager to put labels on the kids. "Even before we announced it was twins, I was trying to keep everything gender neutral," she reveals. "I didn't want to impose an identity on them too soon."

Happy family of four
For now, Mariah's simply reveling in her twin bliss. More than any other release during her storied career, the drop date for Mariah's greatest work of art is her most anticipated. She's ecstatic to begin life as a perfect – and complete – family of four.

"Now I have so much respect for mothers everywhere, especially those who've had difficult pregnancies or given birth to multiples," Mariah tells Life & Style. "We need to have Mother's Day once a week!"

Mariah Shows Bare Pregnant Belly in Life & Style

Mariah Carey has posed for her fair share of portraits, but none has been as personal or emotional as these exclusive belly-baring snaps. Mere days away from welcoming her first and second child, Mariah proudly showed off her pregnant body to Life & Style.

"I was feeling very vulnerable about taking pictures at all right now, but then I didn't want to miss this opportunity to document this once-in-a-lifetime experience," Mariah exclusively tells Life & Style. "My ultimate goal was to share this incredibly personal moment with my true fans."

And the twins -- a boy and a girl -- were clearly ready for their closeups.

"The babies were kicking almost the entire time; it was unbelievable," Mariah tells Life & Style. "Especially the girl -- clearly she's a diva in training! We didn't start shooting until 1:30 a.m. because I was in the hospital from the night before until the day of the shoot with contractions five minutes apart!"

Indeed, although Mariah's not due for a few weeks, the twins could be making their grand entrance sooner rather than later. Contractions sent mom to the hospital on March 27. But for now, Mariah and soon-to-be-dad Nick Cannon are simply reveling in their twin bliss! And Nick says he is more attracted to his wife than ever. "I thought I couldn't love Mariah more," he tells Life & Style. "But I have a whole new appreciation and admiration for her."

Mariah adds, "Now I have so much respect for mothers everywhere, especially those who've had difficult pregnancies or given birth to multiples. We need to have Mother's Day once a week!"

For all the exclusive photos of Mariah showing off her baby bump, pick up the latest issue of Life & Style, on newsstands nationwide Friday.

Nick Cannon Is Having Naked-Picture Regrets

Is Nick Cannon having second thoughts about the artistic nude pictures he and pregnant wife Mariah Carey took together?

"My children are going to have to see these pictures," Cannon said on his radio show, Rollin' with Nick Cannon, Tuesday morning of the photos, which he intends to display in his house. "It's a little weird."

"It's a little nasty," he continues. "I mean, have you ever seen your parents naked?"

While Carey, 42, hasn't been shy about showing off her pregnant body publicly – she recently Tweeted a photo of her painted stomach – Cannon, 30, says the photos were intended to be reminders his wife's pregnancy. Now, though, modesty is setting in.

"When they get older and their friends come over," Cannon says of his children, "they will see the pictures and say, 'Your daddy's butt naked.' "

Adds the father-to-be: "I don't want my naked booty out there for everyone to see!"