Olivia Over The Moon - New Idea

The mum-to-be would love her March baby to be a boy

The news that she was expecting a baby has sent Olivia Newton-John over the moon.

Olivia, who's just turned 40, says she was thrilled to bits when she and husband Matt Lattanzi were told they will be having a little brother or sister for two-year-old Chloe in mid-March.

We've wanted another baby, says Olivia. Of course we'd like a boy but we'll take what comes as long as the baby is healthy. We're overjoyed.

Friends of Olivia say the entertainer has been advised to slow down a little because she is now 40 and she doesn't want to risk losing her second child. Only a handful of close friends knew she was preg nant as she was cautious about making an official announcement.

However, she made a point of telling Chloe that there would be an addition to the family.

Olivia is promoting her new album The Rumor and since she became pregnant she has definitely eased up doing her interviews for the album over the phone from her Malibu ranch, instead of running around the country or flying from city to city.

The album, in fact, reflects the changed emphasis of her life. Songs cover subjects varying from ecology to AIDS, to single parenting to role reversal. They're the sort of subjects working mums like Olivia are often concerned about but very few end up writing songs about!

Olivia has lots of energy, says her publicist Pam Rosenbaum, and although she's pregnant she'll never become idle She's fine and couldn't be healthier. She's very much involved in running her business. She was at the opening of her 18th Koala Blue store in San Jose, California, the other day, although she may not make it to the Tokyo opening of the store some time in February. But you never know with her.

The pregnancy doesn't surprise friends and family. Just a few weeks ago Olivia admitted she was trying hard to have another baby because motherhood and having Chloe was the most thrilling and fulfilling thing in my life changed me. I can't express in words what Chloe's birth meant to Matt and me.

At the moment my daughter is definitely number one, and I try to fit everything else in around her and our family life. I waited a long time to have children, and now that I have it's just too precious to waste, Olivia says firmly.

I didn't record for more than three years. I looked after Chloe myself I refused to have a nanny or anything until this year when I had to have one for the travelling.

Olivia admits that in her early 30s she'd gone through difficult times, but she adds: Now I'm in a great marriage and I feel I'm coming into the happiest and most productive period of my life.

Matt is several years her junior. They met during the filming of Xanadu where he was a stand-in for Olivia's co-star in the dancing sequences. There were inevitable snide remarks from the press when they got together.

They didn't bother me so much as the fact that I had these rather conventional hang-ups about relationships, and my parents divorced when I was 10. so I really didn't want to get married. We were friends first before romance ever came on the scene, Olivia says.

We lived together for about five years before we got married four years ago. It has been so much better being married - though I couldn't define exactly why. After having had a child with Matt, 1 know we are right together.

She has virtually cut out concerts, because she didn't want to leave Chloe in Malibu and didn't want to trek her around the country. Her album is selling well and her recent TV special about Australia received big accolades.

Despite movies and TV and millions made from records, she insists that her greatest achievement was starting a family. The family gets priority. I have had the career- twice - but this is bit more important.

I was always apprehensive about it until Chloe came along. But motherhood is great. Chloe is a joy and Matt is a fantastic father. We think two kids would be just perfect.

Although she's well on the way to her second shot at motherhood, Olivia isn't looking too pregnant. She's wearing looser clothing and recalls that last time she was pregnant she didn't put on weight until late in her pregnancy.

Friends, however, are quietly nagging her about easing up on her business and work schedule.

One says: Pregnancy in your 40s is not as easy as it was in the 30s but Livvy is jumping around like a teenager, she's so delighted.

By Ivor Davis

Photo captions: Olivia at 40... has been advised to slow down a little.
Matt Lattanzi and two-year-old daughter Chloe, who is the top priority.