Matthew Lawrence; Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas.Photo: Jim Smeal/Shutterstock; Amy Sussman/Getty

“It’s such an interesting story. Joe and I were commiserating about this plan that we had to have children together … when we were growing up,” he said of older brother Joey Lawrence. “And I missed the first go around and now he’s starting a new family and I was thinking, ‘Man, it’d be great if we could do it again, when I didn’t have the chance to raise a family together.’ "
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Matthew Lawrence and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas.Enchanted Branding & PR

Speaking of the TLC singer, Lawrence added that she’s “an amazing person.”
“She’s already a mother, she has an incredible son. I respect so much as to how she’s raised him,” he said of Chilli’s son Tron, 25, whom she shares with ex Dallas Austin. “She’d be an incredible mother again and I’d be incredibly lucky but that’s way in the future.”
Earlier this month, Lawrence toldEntertainment Tonightthat he and the singer, 52, have a “game plan” to begin their family.
“My life is in complete bloom right now. I get to spend time with an amazing woman like Chilli,” he added. “I’ve never gotten to be able to experience that kind of relationship before. She’s really, really special.”
Lawrence and Chilli became involved romantically just ahead ofThanksgiving2022 after they were previouslyphotographed on a beach in Hawaiithat August. News of their relationship came just over three months after Lawrence and exCheryl Burkefinalizedtheir divorce afternearly three years of marriage.
Chilli’s longtime rep Christal Jordan confirmed her client was dating Lawrence in January in a statement to PEOPLE, saying, “I’ve been with Chilli since 2005 and I’ve never seen her this in love.”
source: people.com