Vanessa Minnillo and Nick Lachey cover Parents magazine

NEW YORK, May 12 (UPI) -- Vanessa Minnillo and Nick Lachey appear with their 20-month-old son Candem on the June cover of Parents magazine.

In their interview for the magazine the couple discussed how they manage to keep their marriage alive as they raise a toddler. Minnillo, 33, explained that establishing a routine that allows her to spend time alone with Lachey has been a huge help. For the couple, that time begins when the little one goes to sleep at around 7:30 p.m.

"We put on some music or a favorite TV show, pour a glass of wine, have dinner -- that's our 'alone time,'" Minnillo said. "That's why it was so important to us to establish Camden's sleep schedule right out of the gate. I had six different moms telling me, 'Get him on a routine; you will thank yourself later.'"

Lachey, on the other hand, told Parents that Minnillo's maternal side makes her "even sexier."

The couple -- who wed only six months before becoming pregnant with Camden -- also discussed the importance of having their "honeymoon period" before tying the knot.

"I knew the man I was going to marry was not only a great man, a good friend, and a family guy, but he was going to respect and treat me well and be an amazing father and role model to our children. That's Nick," Minnillo said of Lachey.

(Parents)