Allison Kuch and Isaac Rochell Haven't Lived in the Same Place for More Than 8 Months. Now They're Building a Forever Home (Exclusive)

The couple opens up to PEOPLE exclusively about their lives being parents to 11-month-old daughter Scottie

Allison Kuch and Isaac Rochell are ready to settle down.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the defensive end and social media creator, both 29, shared their plans for the future, after welcoming their now 11-month-old daughter, Scottie Bee, and navigating Rochell’s entry into free agency in November 2023.

The couple explains that, without a commitment to a team, they’ve focused on family life this year — including raising their daughter, renovating their California home and building their careers as content creators. As they haven't lived in the same place for more than eight months during the course of their relationship, they’re excited to finally have a home to call their own.

"We're just excited to wake up in the morning and hang out as a family, make coffee and cook pancakes in the kitchen that we designed," Kuch says. "Honestly, it’s been a pretty smooth process, aside from the waiting game."

"It's not a massive house," Rochell adds. "It’s a reasonably sized home, so we really had to take advantage of every single square inch. California houses aren’t that big, but we really wanted to create an indoor-outdoor vibe. We live in California; we’re an active family with dogs and our daughter, who will be running around by the time we move in."

Related: Allison Kuch and Isaac Rochell Reveal Reality of 'New Phase of Life' as NFL Player Considers Retirement (Exclusive)

Kuch shares that one of her favorite features of their new home is an outdoor shed they’re transforming into their daughter’s playroom. "Honestly, it looks like a mini house, and I'm really excited for her to have friends over and create so many memories in there," she says.

Rochell was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017 after playing at the University of Notre Dame — where he first met Kuch, a Michigan State University alum, at a house party. He notes that while being a free agent isn't ideal, the timing couldn’t have come at a better moment.

"Every single year over the past 11 years has been structured around the football schedule," he explains. "Now, that’s all gone. It’s been difficult navigating this new phase of life, but we’re trying to stay optimistic and ready for whatever comes next. For us, it’s about making the most of this time."

"We have a daughter, and if someone told me, 'Hey, you might not get signed, but the worst-case scenario is that you get to spend a lot of time with your daughter,' I’d say 'Okay,' " he adds.

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During this time, Kuch has also come to appreciate the importance of asking for help, pointing out the negative stigma surrounding moms seeking assistance.

"I don’t know why, but accepting help — especially when it comes to your kids — is something a lot of parents struggle with," she says. "Isaac and I have done it all on our own up until now. We don’t have family nearby, and our circle of friends is small. Recently, we realized we were kind of drowning, so we’ve started accepting help. But there’s this negative perspective around it, and I think breaking that barrier is really important."

Isaac adds, "So many people think we have a nanny 24/7 or that we’re constantly leaving her with someone. But they don’t really know what’s going on behind the scenes. And honestly, that’s part of the reason we don’t share her online. People will make assumptions no matter what, and it just feels healthier to keep her offline."

With their new home taking shape, the couple shares that they’re also thinking about expanding their family. A few months ago, Rochell would have said he wasn’t ready for more kids anytime soon, but now that their daughter is almost a year old, he’s open to the idea.

"I have the itch," he says.

"I definitely want siblings somewhat close in age just because I had that, and I really loved it," Kuch says. "I still hang out with my siblings to this day and call them all the time for their advice. So I definitely see that in our future. Now, is the future near? I don’t know."

"But hopefully, we’re blessed enough to have another child, however many more," she continues. "You learn a lot with the first one, and I think Scottie will be the cutest big sister."

Until then, the couple is focusing on their daughter, Scottie, and her upcoming first birthday. For the celebration, Kuch wants to keep things nostalgic.

"I think we all see those huge influencer birthday parties, and I always thought I’d want to do that too," she says. "Her birthday will definitely be a big celebration, but I just want it to feel authentic, not like a 'production' — I know that sounds weird. I want it to be very ‘us,’ because sometimes things get overproduced for social media."

She adds, "No matter how big or small the celebration is, it’s crazy that it’s already been a year. I’m just so excited to celebrate this little girl we’ve come to know. Her personality is the cutest thing ever, so we’re looking forward to it."