CBB Exclusive: Melissa Joan Hart’s pregnancy journal: The home stretch
Together with actress Melissa Joan Hart, 31, we bring you the second-to-last installment of her pregnancy column. Yes, we know we said this would be the last, but we have extra outtake images to share and Melissa had more to say, so the final column will actually be going up next week! Here, she discusses her belly getting in the way, the nesting instinct, fear of labor, "homework" from her OB, and Mason.
Melissa is now in her 37th week of pregnancy. Click below for the entry, including images from our exclusive photoshoot!
As mybelly grows to uncontrollable sizes, I am reminded of all the funny andridiculous things pregnant woman can’t do. I can no longer climb on thecounter to reach the high plates, fit in most of my maternity shirtswithout my belly hanging out, and most embarrassing is that I can nolonger fit into a booth at a restaurant.
Let’s not forget tying myshoes, or squeezing out of the car if I park too close to the one on myside. I constantly feel like a science experiment just trying to figureout my way through the new conundrums that perplex my daily life!
Click below for the rest of Melissa’s musings and her and Mason’s CBB photoshoot.
Thenesting instinct is unreal right now, but I am holding off a few moredays before I let that take hold and lead me through my day. I have beentoo busy to even think of all the things I haven’t done to welcome thisnew little one home yet.
Between my career, which has been unbelievablyoverwhelming during this pregnancy and writer’s strike, strangelyenough, and Mark’s new album release, Grammy nomination and releaseparty I threw for him … it is a huge understatement to say wehave been busy.
Add a little boy who hit the terrible twos literally theday before his birthday and a huge 30 pound belly with a kickboxerinside and you can understand why I am on my last legs!
The fear oflabor has now snuck in, especially after my first experience was a fullblown battle with all kinds of scars to prove it. But when my husbandthought my need to try a different approach and give hypnobirthing ashot was a hoax and asked our doctor what she thought, she sowonderfully explained to him how around 35 weeks the fear is completelynormal and real for me. I swear only a woman could understand!
So Ihave been given homework to help move this baby along and hopefully have him or her born in the next few weeks; primrose oil, birthing balltime and of course, the tried and true attempt of sex to progress thelabor!
Hoping that this will work wonders and we can welcome our new baby homein about 2 or 3 weeks, I am now going to go into crazy nesting mode. Turning off thephone, locking the door to anything that isn’t involving fun,socializing, or sterilizing!
As I think of the near future and shake atthe thoughts of both breastfeeding and potty training at the same time,I know more than ever that I have to enjoy these last few days with thebaby neatly wrapped in my belly and my little Mason whose world isabout to change forever! I can’t wait to see what a wonderful bigbrother he will be, but I also feel guilty for moving him from onlychild, to eldest child. But then I always knew I would have a bigfamily, just as I had, because there is nothing better than closesiblings to enjoy your life with.
M & M & m.
Photos copyright Jennifer Parris/Gabbeli Photography, shot exclusively for CBB in late January. Useelsewhere is prohibited. Hair & makeup by Douglas Martucci.
Mason is drumming away on a First Act Discovery 8 Piece Junior Drum Set ($129.99). It’s a professional quality drum set for children includes a 16" bass drum, 10" mounted tom drum, 10" snare drum, 13" floor tom, a 10" mounted brass cymbal, and a hi-hat stand with 10" cymbals. First Act is a professional-level musical products company. Their First Act Discovery line is for created for children. They have a new line of infant and toddler instruments coming out later this year.
Click here for the previous entries to Melissa’s pregnancy journal for CBB.
- Posted on Feb 14, 08 at 9:00AM
- Permalink
- 33 Comments
February 14th, 2008 at 9:15 am
precious just precious melissa is stunning shes so pretty with belly or not.. but right now shes glowing shining just like the sun i love every picture she takes of her, her son or her belly! congrats to this beautiful family and hope its a girl!
February 14th, 2008 at 9:34 am
Wow! Those pictures are amazing. I especially like the ones in the yellow top outside. I feel so lucky to see the tickling on the bed. Like a glimpse into their lives. Happy Valentine’s Day!!
February 14th, 2008 at 10:11 am
She looks absolutely radiant!! She didn’t get as big with this pregnancy as she did with Mason. I just hope she has a healthy delivery and baby. Good luck Melissa and an early congrats to you and your lovely family!
February 14th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Oh how familiar it all is. I remember experiencing so many of the same fears and feelings of guilt right before I had my second. But lucky for me, labor was easier the second time around, and after seeing my two precious babies together, I wouldn’t trade anything for the world! It’s a wonderful thing to be able to give your child the gift of a sibling. Our kids are 19 months apart, and have a very close bond. I love seeing them together.
I wonder if this baby too will have a name that starts with an “M”? It’s all very exciting, advanced congratulations to the whole family!!
Sarah’s note: No, he or she won’t. Click the link at the bottom to see Melissa’s other posts — she talked about it in her last journal entry.
February 14th, 2008 at 10:58 am
She looks radiant in that yellow sweater! And the pictures of her with Mason are absolutely adorable.
I love how honest she is – I wish she’d continue the column!
February 14th, 2008 at 11:19 am
She seems so cool and sweet! Her family is gorgeous!
February 14th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Thanks for sharing your experience! You seem like a wonderful person (very pretty too) and I’m sure your kids are lucky to have such a great and caring mom.
I’ve always thought Mason was the cutest little boy. He makes me want to have a boy and I’m a die-hard little girl person.
Here’s to your next little one being a cutie like big brother!
February 14th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
hypno birthing was my saving grace! you’ll do great.
February 14th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
I love how she signed it, “M, M & m”… That’s cute! And she and Mason look great. I love the shot of him banging the drums with his wooden spatulas.
February 14th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
WOW I LOVE all the photos!!! Great job Jennifer. Mason rocking out with the spoons is my favorite, and also the first one of Melissa in yellow with the sun over her.
I totally know where she’s coming from about the belly. Mine was completely in the way the last 4 weeks. I wished I could move it!
I did primrose oil too and it really helped to soften my cervix, my midwife said. I hadn’t heard much about it before, so it’s interesting to hear Melissa mention it!
I am also worried about having a second child and ‘displacing’ my son. I ideally wanted to space my kids 3 1/2-4 years apart, but I am 39 now and my son is 17 months, so we’ve been seriously considering starting to try again soon, since it took us so long to conceive last time. I’m deathly afraid of getting pregnant again right away and having the kids so close though. But we would, in a perfect world, like 3 kids, so I really need to just get over it and get moving so I don’t regret things later…
Anyway, excellent column. I really enjoy Melissa, she’s so open and honest.
February 14th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Mason is SO cute. Love that smile!
February 14th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Does anyone know what brand that yellow sweater is?
Melissa looks stunning! I wish her all the best. Mason is a cutie.
Sarah’s note: Melissa says, “FYI, the sweater was from the teen section in Target. I think it was $15 back in the fall/winter when I was first growing!”
February 14th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Great photos! Mason is adorable, I can’t wait to see the new baby!
Thanks for the interview Melissa!
February 14th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
I just had my second boy and the older one was 17 month old when he became a big brother. He can be really sweet sometimes and kiss his brother. And sometimes he is so jealous and he tries to hit him and throw his toys at him.
It’s going to be fun to see how they get along when the little one can walk around and play.
February 14th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Yellow is your color Melissa!! Mason is just too adorable, terrible two’s and all! You’re gonna do terrific Melissa.
February 14th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
That yellow sweater is darling, anyone know the brand? MJH looks so pulled together and fantastic, she could fool us that things are hectic right now
February 14th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
I was just reading an article on poeple.com and I think it’s obvious that Melissa is having another boy. She mentions that they’re going to put the baby in Mason’s old room because “it’s very neutral” and then she goes on to refer to Mason as their “first son.”
February 14th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Is she still not telling the sex of the new baby? I read an article on people.com where she referred to mason as her “first son”. So, maybe it is another boy.
February 14th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
People Magazine’s website quoted an interview in which Melissa has referred to Mason as their “first son,” so maybe Baby #2 is a boy?
Here – http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20178107,00.html
February 14th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
She seems like such a sweetheart. And Mason is literally the cutest kid. I think they are having another boy. Her husband said that this baby was more active than their “first son” in the article on People.com. Might be a slip-up, might not.
February 14th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
she looks just amazing!!!
February 14th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
I love her columns! She is so refreshing and sweet. Her family is gorgeous, can’t wait for a birth announcement in the coming weeks!
February 14th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
I think she’s a great mom and I think the pics are beautiful. I don’t know if it’s any indication, but Mark said this to People: The baby’s been way more active than our first son. So wonder if it’s a boy now.. thought it might have been a girl, but first son is way more specific than first child..I guess we’ll find out soon. She’s gorgeous and I’m so happy for them.
February 14th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Oh, yay! One more to go. I was a little bummed for this journal entry, knowing it would be the last. I have loved reading Melissa’s thoughts throughout this pregnancy.
I agree with all the previous posters about her looking stunning in that yellow sweater. Yellow is definitely her color.
I can so relate to the booth thing in restaurants. I could not believe the number of times when I was near the end of my pregnancy and the host/hostess would take us to a booth that had only inches of room. I would just stare at the booth, look at the teenager who had no clue, and ask for a table.
February 14th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Mason is cute. I think it’s another boy for her.
February 14th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
I think that she is having a boy. in a interview I just read on people.com Mark talked about how active this baby is, saying that he was much more active than his “first son”. I might be reading too much into it. Time will tell.
February 14th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
I have always loved Melissa. She seems so down to earth and is a wonderful mother. I hope the delivery goes smoothly. I don’t have any kids but I am a RN nursing student graduating in May and I want to work in labor and delivery. I can’t imagine how much fear a woman has when she gets closer to her due date. But Melissa can get through it! Mason is such a beautiful little boy. I know this next baby will be beautiful as well! Congrats Melissa and Mark!
February 14th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
I don’t know if Melissa reads these remarks or not? She had said once before in an entry that she had read what people have said about her being fat and how pregnancy gives you a out card. I completely agree..and I also think you have an out card for the first few months to a year afterwards.
ANYWAYS!! Congrats to all of them and Melissa needn’t worry. I had my first c-sectioned and second vaginal and third c-sectioned. She will sail through and be just great, and Mason will be a great big brother.
February 15th, 2008 at 9:25 am
love the yellow top she’s wearing! I’m thinking this baby will be a boy too.
February 15th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
It IS nice to hear a celeb. (esp. one i ADORE!) talking about normal life things! I worried so much about adding a 2nd child, and when I seen how wonderful it was and how loving my daughter was to my son, we ended up adding a THIRD! I can’t wait to hear what MJH has, and I wish her all the best in the upcoming weeks! She is such a sweet person!
February 18th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Congratulations on educating yourself to bring your second child into the world in a more peaceful, gentle, calm manner with HypnoBirthing! I did it with my first child seven years ago and had such a wonderful experience that I became an instructor of the method. Now I’ve been honored to help hundreds of couples birth their babies respecting their wishes to have a natural, NORMAL and better-natured birth for the mom and the baby!
February 22nd, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Wasn’t the second part of this article supposed to be up this week..or did I miss it?
Sarah’s note: Yes, but Melissa is running behind. It’ll be next week.
February 25th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Can you tell me where Melissa got Mason’s quilt from. I am looking right now for my son a quilt and the one in the photoshoot would be perfect.
Thanks
Fi
Sarah’s note: Pottery Barn Kids Lucas quilt.