Ben Higgins Says Wife Jessica Clarke Has ‘Fought' to Keep Their Relationship Fresh During Pregnancy

Ben Higgins and Jessica Clarke's relationship is going strong as they prepare for their next adventure: parenthood.

Higgins, 35, spoke to PEOPLE exclusively at his baby shower on Thursday, Dec. 5. During the conversation, the former Bachelor star praised Clarke, 29, who is due in February, for working to keep their relationship healthy amid her pregnancy.

"It's credit to my wife [and] her energy levels," he tells PEOPLE exclusively. "Even though I know she's tired, she still has fought to keep our relationship healthy and fresh."

Higgins then shared that his relationship with his wife hasn't significantly changed since they found out they were expecting, noting that they still go to the movies and plan date nights.

Related: Ben Higgins Says Being a Girl Dad Is ‘Frightening,’ But He's ‘Excited’ for ‘Tea Parties’ and to ‘Let Her Paint My Nails’ (Exclusive)

Higgins also revealed that their nursery is completely finished — but only because he knew he might "panic" if he waited too long.

"I did it. My mom came out and helped me with it and then Jessica helped me finish it," he recalled. "It's done. It's ready. The crib's set up, the chairs in there," adding, "As soon as I found out my wife was pregnant, I started working on it because I knew I'd start to freak out a little bit towards the end and I want to have that done before I started to have panic attacks. So it's done now."

While the nursery may be complete, the star shared that the reality of fatherhood hasn't fully set in yet.

"Does it feel real? Yes. But at the same time, no, because my wife is the one [who is] pregnant. I work from home and she works at an office. So she comes home sometimes at six o'clock and she walks around the corner. I'm like, 'Whoa, you're pregnant. I forgot that today. ' "

The couple has also fallen into a sweet nighttime routine, with Higgins sharing that, "So every night — this is what Jessica does — she pulls her shirt up and I [lay] my head on the belly and I [talk] to the baby girl inside of her belly. And we both have similar dreams and hopes and fears and things that I speak to her about."

"And then our dog, Waylon, lays his head every night and he falls asleep on her belly or near it," he continued. "And it's the craziest, coolest thing because he's never been that dog. He's never been a cuddly dog. And he literally just rolls up and he gets so close and so sweet to her."

Related: See Ben Higgins and Wife Jessica Clarke's Caribbean Honeymoon Photos: 'Most Romantic Week'

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As for their upcoming holiday plans? The pair are set to go to Breakers resort in Palm Springs for a babymoon and then head to Florida to spend Christmas with their families.

" ... Our babymoon and this Florida trip I think will be kind of the icing on the cake before we chill out and we really nest," he said, adding, "And we're really going to nest. We're going to hang out at our house for weeks before the baby's born, and I'm excited for that period of time.

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