Joanna Gaines Is a Mother of 5 & Got Emotional as Her Son Left Home — She Hinted at More Kids

• Joanna and Chip Gaines have five children but are thinking of having more.

• Joanna cried at the thought of her kids leaving the nest.

• In the early stages of their romance, Joanna did not want to go on a date with Chip.

TV personality Joanna Gaines expressed sadness about her children growing up too fast. Her oldest child is said to leave the nest soon for college.

Interior designer Joanna Gaines and her husband, Chip Gaines, have been married for eighteen years. The two are known as a celebrity couple and have worked together to become a household name.

The HGTV stars started with their "Fixer Upper" series on the network and transformed the program into a home empire with a business complex in Waco, Texas.

In addition, the power couple released multiple books together. They have their own Target home accessories line and an entertainment network.

Chip and Joanna first met in 2001 at her family's automotive shop. Chip visited the store one day - owned by Joanna's dad -and saw their family photo. That was when he fell for her and knew she was the one just by seeing her in the photograph; he said:

"I knew I'd marry her one day just by the picture on the wall."

Chip went to the shop several times until he eventually met Joanna while she was working in the office. She said upon meeting, they "hit it off immediately."

Things did not go as planned when the two went on their first date. They revealed in their memoir, "The Magnolia Story," that Chip was 90 minutes late to pick up Joanna, who was ready to cancel. However, she changed her mind after he said something to convince her otherwise:

"I still don't remember what he said that convinced me to walk out the door with him. He didn't even have a plan for our date. He said, 'So, Joanna, where do you want to eat?' He didn't apologize for being late, either. He had so much confidence."

The TV presenter said that it did not matter that Chip did not apologize for being late. There was something that she liked about him still. Within a year of dating, he asked for her hand in marriage in 2002 and went about it secretly.

Chip told Joanna they were going to an event and made a detour to a shopping center, where he got down on one knee. After that, the lovebirds headed into a jewelry store to get an engagement ring designed.

The happy couple celebrated their engagement with dinner where the bride-to-be's parents, younger sibling, and Chip's parents were "waiting to celebrate our engagement with us."

The couple walked down the aisle a year later, on May 31, 2003, in Waco, Texas, at the Earle Harrison House. It is a mansion where Joanna shared that it looked similar to where they had their first date.

The newlyweds purchased their first home the same year they tied the knot. While busy flipping houses, Joanna and Chip decided to do the same with their own and remodeled it following their honeymoon.

"All I could remember is the smell. The house was bad. Chip did all the construction," the Kansas native told Pop Sugar once.

In May 2013, Joanna and Chip shot to superstardom when their TV show, "Fixer Upper," became a success, having garnered 1.9 million viewers in its debut. She said it was a dream come true and that it was more than she had ever imagined:

"I always dreamed of the idea of television but never thought it would have to do with design or renovations."

Becoming a powerhouse worked for her and her spouse business-wise and helped shape their marriage into a solid one. Chip once told Access Hollywood that he and his wife were in it for the long haul when asked whether he had thought of giving up on his union.

"I mean, throwing in the towel is not something that, honestly, ever even comes to mind. Divorce or leaving one another is not an option for us," said the New Mexico native.

The reality star noted that he and Joanna have gone through some tough times and that although they are "not perfect," they are "in it forever."

Chip & Joanna Are Parents of Five Kids

Joanna and Chip welcomed their first child, son Drake in May 2004 and their second child, daughter Ella Rose in October 2006.

The pair had their second son, Duke, in May 2008, and their second daughter Emmie Kay arrived in February 2010. The couple's youngest child is their son Crew, whom they welcomed in 2018.

A source told Closer Weekly that "being good parents" was important for Chip and Joanna and that they ensure they spend enough time with their brood.

The family of seven "always" have their meals together and have family game nights. In addition, the husband-and-wife duo has "bedtime stories" for their kids, whom they also encourage to pray.

The Gaines household has strict rules. The kids always have to get their homework done before anything else then comes playtime after. For entertainment, they are not allowed access to "computers after 6 p.m." and no "phones or TV" during particular hours of the day. "We want to teach our kids that life happens outside of these devices," the mother of five once said.

Meanwhile, the doting dad, Chip, revealed that he and his wife instilled good values in their children and were "intentional" about it.

The father of five shared that he noticed the kids have taken what they taught them and put it into the world.

The couple's eldest child is Drake, who loves being around the family. He has also shown interest in his mom and dad's TV stints, particularly the production side.

Joanna once revealed that her eldest daughter was more "like" her and believed she would "follow" in her footsteps and dabble in many things when she grows up. "She wants to cook, be a lead designer, and have a donut truck," said the proud mom.

Chip and Joanna's third child, Duke, prefers keeping a low profile, unlike his siblings. According to his mom, Duke likes selling vegetables and eggs with his younger sister, Emmie.

Although Emmie is the youngest daughter, she also takes after her parents and loves cooking and baking. Her mom divulged that "she was determined to make up her own cookie recipe."

Chip and Joanna's youngest child is Crew, who often features in their social media accounts. "He's my little sidekick," said the doting mom who revealed little Crew accompanies her to "work" daily and to her "meetings."

With a reality show, Joanna and Chip's kids have already been exposed to their fame. However, that also comes with safety concerns. A prime example was when the couple's son, Duke, was separated from his dad at a flea market by a crowd.

Chip described the encounter as "disturbing" because he struggled to reach his son, and although he tried to communicate with the fans, it became overwhelming.

Joanna Gets Emotional about Becoming an Empty Nester in Future

Besides handling popularity, Chip and Joanna's eldest son Drake will soon leave the nest to go to college. She opened up about the milestone in a personal essay for "Magnolia Journal," and said she had mixed feelings about it:

"Soon, our eldest son, Drake, will be leaving home for college. In the grand scheme of heart-breaking things, this one comes with a lot of gratitude and excitement."

Joanna mentioned that their "family dynamic" would be different after Drake leaves home, "and that can feel like a loss of its own."

On October 20, 2022, the loving parent expressed sad emotions in an Instagram post when her daughter Ella turned sixteen, writing:

"My sweet girl turns 16. I'm trying my darndest not to cry like a big mama baby when she drives off by herself tomorrow."

Joanna once showed her uneasy feelings about her kids growing up when she posted side-by-side images of Crew as an infant and him in the present day alongside a caption that read: "Just pretending this FOUR-year-old is still a baby."

Chip Wants More Children

In October 2019, the reality star revealed that her husband has hinted at having more children. Chip expressed that his love and fondness for Joanna keep growing so much that he wants to have more kids with her.

He said he could picture Crew having another younger brother or sister and him "being like, 'I love this woman!'" Meanwhile, Joanna joked: "When I'm 50, Chip's going to want more kids," adding:

"Just know this is going to be the headline forever, 'Jo's pregnant again!'"

Joanna admitted that she also loves being pregnant and "giving birth." Meanwhile, she and Chip added another project to their empire and opened a boutique hotel in Waco, Texas, in 2021.

Joanna announced the couple's new venture on social media and the Magnolia blog. Their brand includes a restaurant, shops, an online store, and a realty company.