Zachary Levi, the beloved Shazam! star, recently made a life-altering announcement. He and his girlfriend Maggie Keating are expecting their first child together. This momentous event was shared via Instagram on December 6th, accompanied by an ultrasound photo and a heartwarming picture of them on the beach.

Zachary's Long-Held Dream of Fatherhood

In the caption, Levi opened up about how becoming a father is a dream come true. He revealed that the desire to be a dad has been with him since he was a child. "I've always felt that call on my life. This desire in my heart," he wrote. "A strange feeling of incompleteness by not having that level of love and responsibility in my journey. That the best years of my life would be on the other side of finally being a father."With this dream in mind, Levi took action. He began working on himself last November, acknowledging that a "shift" was needed before he could be "ready for the blessing of something so special and the responsibilities that come with it."During his journey, Levi was intentional about loving himself more and focusing on his physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. He knew that these aspects were crucial in preparing for this new chapter.

Meeting Maggie and the New Chapter of Life

Eventually, things started to "manifest for the better," and Levi met Maggie Keating. He described her as "a wonderful woman on the same journey of self-discovery and love, ready to step into a new and amazing chapter of life with me."Levi's 1.4 million followers are excited to welcome "our little bambino" into the world. However, they still don't know the baby's sex. Levi playfully said, "But I'll be stoked out of my mind either way." He even asked fans to send baby name suggestions, adding, "Keep 'em original, but not TOO original. We don't need them being bullied more than their theater-nerd father."

Dealing with Controversy

Levi's announcement came after his She Loves Me costar Laura Benanti accused him of using Broadway costar Gavin Creel's death to push his "political agenda." After Creel's death from a rare form of cancer in September, Creel suggested during an Instagram Live that he died as a result of the COVID vaccine. Benanti said Levi's remarks could help his career in the "Christian, faith-based TV and film" realm, adding, "He's going to be a huge f—– star in that realm. He's going to make more money than he ever has. It makes me nauseous, but also a little bit, like, 'I told you, motherf——.'" PEOPLE previously reached out to representatives for Levi but did not immediately hear back.Levi's story is a reminder that life is full of unexpected twists and turns. From the joy of becoming a father to the challenges of dealing with controversy, he is navigating through it all with grace and determination.