Earlier this year, the Little Big Town family expanded by one more when Karen Fairchild and Jimi Westbrook welcomed their first child, son Elijah Dylan, on March 5. "They are head-over-heals in love with that baby boy," bandmate Kimberly Schlapman tells The Boot. "They are great parents. I always knew they would be. They've wanted to be parents for a long time. My heart just explodes, literally, with joy. I get really emotional when I think about it. It was something that they desperately wanted, and they have a little angel baby now. He's precious."

Luckily for Jimi and Karen, they've been able to watch Kimberly and Phillip Sweet fall into the role of parenting with their own children to help prepare them for the unexpected. Kimberly and her husband welcomed Daisy Pearl into the world July 27, 2007, and Phillip's wife gave birth only five months later to their daughter, Penelopi Jane, born December 27, 2007.

"The girls are just best buddies ... and worst enemies when it comes to sharing toys," Kimberly says with laughter. "When you get two two-year-old's wanting the same toy ... that's going to be a problem! [more laughter] They adore each other. This morning when we got off the bus, my husband came to pick me up, and Daisy saw Penelopi. She said, 'Oh! I forgot to tell Bop-Bop [her name for Penelopi] that I would love her for the ever!' The two of them have just been best little buddies since their first few weeks of life."

When it comes to Elijah, Kimberly notes that the girls have taken well to a new little person traveling down the road. "They just eat him up. We had to teach them their boundaries because they're always wanting to touch him and poke him. They adore him."

Each of the Little Big Town babies has remained on the road with their parents from the beginning -- in most cases with both mom and dad. "If I had to leave my family and go do my job like some many people have to do, I would be in a constant stage of sadness," Kimberly says softly. "I'm just so grateful that we are in a place where we can bring our family along. I don't think I could do it if I had to leave my family behind. I love being onstage and seeing Daisy and my husband out watching us and her dancing. It fills my heart up!"

Little Big Town and all the babies have hit the road for the summer with Sugarland on the Incredible Machine tour which kicked off this past weekend. Little Big Town's fourth studio album hits stores August 24. The album's lead-off single, 'Little White Church,' is currently inching its way toward the Top 10 on the country chart.

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