Giants quarterback Eli Manning and wife Abby are celebrating the birth of their first child, a daughter named Ava Frances.

The baby girl was born on Monday, weighing in at 7 pounds, 4 ounces, according to reports.

Manning told of his excitement at the prospect of fatherhood at the Super Bowl. Sources said the NFL star and his 26-year-old wife, who live in Hoboken during the season, have “bought another apartment on their floor in order to expand it into the baby wing.” They had reportedly been busy over the past few weeks preparing for the arrival of little Ava Frances at their other home in Oxford, Miss. A rep for Manning declined to comment last night.

It’s a girl!

Sources say that New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning and wife, Abby, are expecting a baby girl this spring.

The NFL star and Abby, who live in Hoboken, NJ, during the season, have been busy preparing for the arrival at their other home in Oxford, Miss.

It was first reported last October that the couple were expecting their first child. Eli is also expected to be in Dallas for this weekend’s Super Bowl, the source added. A rep for Manning declined to comment.

His wife, Abby, is expecting their first child, and sources say they are “so happy and excited.” Eli, 29, and Abby, 26, who have been married for 2½ years and live in Hoboken, are now preparing for the spring birth.

A source said, “They are both so happy and excited. Eli is being very protective of Abby, as it is still early days. Very few people know because Abby is only a few months along and isn’t really showing yet.”

College sweethearts Eli and Abby, who met in the spring of his junior year at Ole Miss, married on the beach at the One & Only Palmilla in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, in April 2008.

In May of last year, Eli and Abby announced they would bankroll a new birthing center for natural childbirth and holistic care at now-closed St. Vincent’s Hospital.

Manning said at the time, “We wanted to make it a special place to bring new life into the world.” He added, “We’re enjoying being married right now. There’s no exact plan, but we do plan on starting a family in the future.”

This past August, he said of his relationship with Abby: “I think a marriage, if you get the right one, it definitely works well, ’cause you can stay focused on your job . . . She’s there to support me, and just try to lift my spirits.”

He said Abby is close to his family, particularly his mother, Olivia. “My mom and her are great friends, and they talk through the week and they hang out,” he said.

“In some ways, we have similar personalities, where she is laid-back . . . but she kinda knows when to get serious and when to be hard on me or keeps me in a straight line, which I like,” Manning said.

A spokesman for IMG, which represents Manning, declined to comment.

Ladainian Tomlinson of the New York Jets, Eli Manning of the New York Giants and Diddy

Jennifer Lopez and Mark Sanchez

Olivia Munn and Marisa Miller

Jennifer Lopez with Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans

Eli Manning of the NY Giants and Taylor Lautner

Tom Arnold and Brian McKnight

Chace Crawford and Ed Westwick

Mark Sanchez of the New York Jets and Eli Manning

Marisa Miller and former NFL player Warren Moon

Michael Clark Duncan

Boxer Evander Holyfield

Former NFL player Eric “Big E” Ogbogu

With his wedding to Abby McGrew set to take place Saturday, super private Super Bowl XLII MVP Eli Manning spoke to PEOPLE earlier this week, and though he was fairly mum on his big day ahead – and even tried walking away when the subject came up – he did let slip a few clear hints about who’d be there and the beach-side setting where the ceremony would take place.

“It’s coming up, yeah,” Manning, 27, told PEOPLE at New York City’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on Monday, when he was celebrated by Big Brothers, Big Sisters as their Sports Honoree of the Year.

But when it came to telling about what’s “coming up,” the shy guy said, “I don’t think I’m allowed to.”

Did he mean his fiancée would wring his neck? “Exactly,” he replied before he tried to turn away.

Still, when asked if it would be a big family day – reports have said only relatives and close friends had been invited, and McGrew’s father also said the affair would be strictly “private” – Manning responded, “Oh yeah, definitely, close friends and family.”

And, PEOPLE asked, would there be a little bit of sand involved? “Maybe,” he said.

Family Matters
As this week wore on, it’s been revealed that the Manning-McGrew nuptials are expected to take place on the white sands of the exclusive One&Only Palmilla resort, in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where the couple and their guests have been frolicking since Thursday.

At the Waldorf, Manning made it clear how important his family is to him, and introduced older brothers Peyton and Cooper to the crowd – even though, “when I was younger,” he admitted, “I was the punching bag. Cooper was always at my side. He was older than Peyton so he used to beat up Peyton, and Peyton would look for someone to get his revenge on and he obviously came to me.”

Still, he said beforehand to PEOPLE, “I’ve been blessed to have two loving parents and two big brothers to give me support and guidance and love in my life.”

Eli Manning said ‘I do’ to his college sweetheart, Abby McGrew, in a sunset ceremony on the beach in front of the Sea of Cortez Saturday.

Manning, 27, and McGrew, 24, exchanged vows on a platform in the sand as waves crashed over rocks behind them at the One&Only Palmilla in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, reports the New York Daily News.

The bride, in a strapless white gown with gold embroidering, carried white roses and walked down the aisle to an altar covered in pink wildflowers.

McGrew was attended by six bridesmaids in champagne-colored gowns and Manning and his six groomsmen wore khaki suits.

Earlier in the week, Manning hinted to PEOPLE about the private event, saying only that it would definitely involve close friends and family – about 60 loved ones flew to Mexico, according to reports.

Manning’s parents, Archie and Olivia, and his brothers, Cooper and Peyton, were among the guests, who were taken to the nuptials in golf carts.

“Welcome to one of the most beautiful weddings I have ever presided over,” the minister said to begin the evening, according to the News. The ceremony took about 15 minutes and a reception followed on the beach.