'He
couldn't be happier. Eddie really is a family man and loves all of his
children, so he's so excited about having another one on the way,' a
source close to the entertainer exclusively told Daily Mail Online.
Murphy
fathered five children - Bria, Myles, Shayne, Zola and Bella - ranging
in ages from 26 to 13 with his ex-wife Nicole Murphy, whom he divorced
in 2006 after 22 years of marriage.
The
'Dreamgirls' star also had three children outside of the marriage – a
son Eric, 26, by Paulette McNeely; a son, Christian, 25, by Tamara Hood;
and a daughter, Angel Iris, 8, by former Spice Girl singer Melanie 'Mel
B' Brown.
'Even
though he has eight children by four different women, they all come
together on holidays and for sporting events and hang out at his mansion
as one big blended family.
'All
of the children love each other dearly and the women, having all moved
on with their own relationships, co-exist very well together,' the
source said.
Murphy started dating the Australian model Butler in 2012, following his breakup with HLN anchor Rocsi Diaz earlier that year.
Following
his divorce from his wife, Murphy also dated 'Access Hollywood' anchor
Shaun Robinson, 'Entertainment Tonight' correspondent Nischelle Turner
and former Pussycat Dolls member Melody Thornton.
'It's
no secret that Eddie has a way with the ladies and dated around. From
the early days of being with Whitney Houston, he's always loved
beautiful high-profile women who had their own thing going on.
