Jen and Zac Affleck have officially been married for six years.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star, 25, took to Instagram Stories on Feb. 12 to reflect on their relationship milestone, sharing snapshots of her and Zac from their maternity shoot as they recently announced they were expecting their third child exclusively to PEOPLE.
“Getting married at 20 and having three kids by 25 has taught us so much along the way,” she wrote on her Instagram Stories. “When we first met, there were so many obstacles preventing us from tying the knot. We came from two different worlds, had no life experience, no established careers and no plan. But one thing we knew for sure was that we loved each other.”
“Despite moments of doubt, we always return to the reasons we got married in the first place,” she continued. “We faced so much together, including identity crises, becoming young parents… starting med school and best of all, joining a reality TV show during one of the most sensitive, stressful and chaotic times in our lives 😂,” she added, referencing the first season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
Elsewhere in her Instagram Stories, she also directly addressed haters online who have criticized her relationship with Zac. “While some may think I wasted my twenties, I feel quite the opposite,” she explained. “Now with our third baby on the way… I know if we can get through the past year, we can get through anything.”
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On Feb. 11, the couple announced that they were expecting their third baby exclusively to PEOPLE. Jen told PEOPLE that the news came as a surprise to the couple. “I was a few days late, and while it was a surprise, we both had a feeling there was another baby waiting for us,” she said. “We were very excited, there were a lot of emotions after a very crazy year!”
While the pair don’t know the baby’s sex yet, Jen shared that she has “a strong feeling it’s a girl,” adding that she’s “dreamed about this little girl for a while now.”
Their new arrival will join their son Lucas, 19 months, and daughter Nora, 3, who were “beyond excited” to learn they were getting a new baby in the family.
Throughout the first season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, fans got a glimpse into Jen and Zac’s married life and while many made assumptions about their relationship, Jen explained to PEOPLE that the season “took a toll, not only on my marriage but also on my mental health.”
“It’s been essential for our relationship and mental health to keep our journey private until we’re ready to talk about it,” she said.
While the couple have been filming for season 2 over the last few months, Jen shared that the process has been “mentally draining” and her recent pregnancy has only added to the pressure.
“Pregnancy is already incredibly challenging both mentally and physically, and with everything else I was juggling, there’s no doubt this has been my hardest pregnancy yet,” she continued. “However, those moments, along with carrying this baby, have helped me realize what truly matters most. I’ve learned that help and resources are available if you seek them. This journey has profoundly changed me and shaped the person, mother, and friend I aspire to be.”
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