April 14, 2008

Do they make baby-proof flat irons? Pregnancy rumblings have grown louder than a wailing tot in a toy store for newly betrothed squeezes Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz.

The only hiccup in their rumored shotgun wedding plans? Wentz denies he and Simpson are currently on the stork's delivery route.

According to OK!, the remodeled starlet, 23, and the Fall Out Boy bassist, 28, who announced their engagement last Wednesday, are in the family way, with the alleged ankle-biter expected to arrive in October.

They are as "perfect for each other as any two people could be," a confidante gushes to the mag. "They don't spend a minute apart if they can possibly avoid it and are over the moon about the baby."

The insider says Simpson and Wentz are hoping to tie the knot in Santa Barbara, Calif., by the end of May, with the bride possibly kitted out in Vera Wang.

"Ashlee would like to walk down the aisle before she's showing," asserts the source, "although she's very cute the way she's always checking out her belly now and asking everyone, 'Am I showing yet?'"

But stories of Simpson's supposed navel gazing have left Wentz scratching his immaculately coiffed head.

"There is a witch hunt for people to be pregnant whenever they get engaged in Hollywood," he says in an e-mail to MTV News. "This is all news to me. I can't wait for the story about how I'm really in a gay relationship and this is all just a cover ... I mean really, this is crazy ... I mean, we're engaged, that's true, and happy about it."

Ashlee sported a form-fitting dress at the Kids' Choice Awards on March 30.

When asked to reiterate that he was indeed denying that Ashlee is knocked up, Pete said, "Yeah."

For now, Ashlee and Pete's rep remains mum on baby burblings.

"We are thrilled to confirm their engagement and congratulate this happy couple," their mouthpiece tells Us, which also reported the pregnancy news. "Beyond that there is nothing to say."

On Feb. 27, Simpson dismissed reports she had an eyeliner-ringed bun in the oven, scoffing on Fuse TV, "No, I'm not pregnant."

And she showed no hint of a bulging midsection in a body-hugging dress at the Kids' Choice Awards a month later.

Still, if the bundle of joy whispers turn out to be true, Ashlee, whose new album and clothing line conveniently debut on April 22, would join the ever-swelling list of stars who are preparing for a visit from the stork, including Angelina Jolie, Gwen Stefani, Jessica Alba, Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lynn Spears.

As for Simpson's big sis Jessica, she's expressed delight over her future brother-in-law, rhapsodizing to People, "Pete is an incredible soul. They naturally bring out the best in each other. I couldn't be happier."

Next: Gerard Butler's Dog of a Cameron Diaz Denial