PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Patrick Kennedy says his wife Amy Petitgout is pregnant with his first child.

The former Rhode Island congressman tells The Associated Press he and his wife are thrilled with the prospect of expanding their family. He says they’ll wait until the child’s birth to find out its gender.

Kennedy says the pregnancy is the latest big change to his life since he left office in January after deciding not to seek re-election. Kennedy married Petitgout last summer at the Kennedy family’s Cape Cod compound. Petitgout, a middle school teacher from Brigantine, N.J., has a young daughter from a previous marriage.

Kennedy is a visiting fellow at Brown University and has campaigned to boost brain research.

He is a son of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts and a nephew of President John F. Kennedy.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.