Christmas is always a little extra special for the Lachey family.

However, the birth was a complicated one, as he was born 10 weeks premature following an umbilical-cord prolapse — and was later hospitalized when hecontractedrespiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

“I’m excited. He actually knows he’s turning three this year, so this year we’re going to have his first birthday party,” the actress says.

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Now that little Phoenix attends preschool and has seen his older siblings, brotherCamden John, 7, and sisterBrooklyn Elisabeth, 5, celebrate their birthdays, he asked his mom to throw him a party — with a special theme request!

“He said, ‘Am I having a birthday party?’ Because he’s seen his bigger brother and sister and he’s been to some [classmate’s parties],” the proud parents shares. “And I’m like, ‘Yes, Bubba, what do you want?’ He goes, ‘pancakes and donuts with sprinkles!’ And I’m like, all right. He’s like, ‘And syrup.’ I said, ‘Okay buddy.’ ”

“So, we’re going to do a breakfast the Saturday before Christmas,” she adds.

Vanessa and Nick Lachey with their three kids.Vanessa Lachey/Instagram

Vanessa Lachey

The star admits that she’s just as excited as her son for the celebration, because she loves “to throw a good party.”

“So any reason for me to do that, and I was surprised, we sent out the invites and I was like, ‘Look, if nobody comes, at least we have our little family and a couple of friends.’ But the whole class is, I think with the exception of one,” she tells PEOPLE.

WATCH: Nick and Vanessa Lachey Share The Evolution of Their Love Story

Vanessa Lachey/Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrTEnbwnIFC/Vanessa Lachey/Instagram

“We always love doing family traditions during the holidays, but I think they become even more special because Phoenix was born on Christmas Eve,” she says. “I just love being home with the family. Honestly, it’s go, go, go all year, and it’s really nice that everything shuts down over the holidays.”

“And we’re really lucky this year that we get family,” she adds, explaining that of Nick’s brother,Drew Lachey, and his family will be visiting. “We’re excited to have them here because when we used to live next to each other in Cincy [Cincinnati], we always had Christmas together.”

source: people.com