Parenting

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Motherhood has given Ashley Jensen “a real respect for womankind,” the 40-year-old actress tells the Independent in her first interview since welcoming son Francis ‘Frankie’ Jonathan, 5 weeks. “Giving birth is amazing, and such a great leveler.” She elaborates,

“It doesn’t matter who you are — whether you’re Mrs. Beverly Hills with your botox, or someone living in a caravan in Idaho. You both go through that.”

Likewise, most moms will find themselves bleary-eyed and shell-shocked by the rigors of caring for a newborn and Ashley has been no exception. Conceding that she’s “stumbling from day-to-day,” Ashley — who is breastfeeding — singles out “getting to grips with feeding and not sleeping” as the hardest parts of motherhood thus far.

Setting up a routine has been beneficial, however. “It’s very all-consuming,” she notes. “I had to feed him before I came out, which is why I was a little bit late, even though he wasn’t really due for a feed.” She candidly adds,

“And now I’m worried about whether my breasts are going to start lactating! You can’t be away from him for too long.”

Already back on the set of Accidentally on Purpose, her new CBS sitcom, Ashley says that the transition to working motherhood was made easier by the network and by her costar Jenna Elfman. “I’ve got a dressing room so I can take my little boy in with me,” Ashley points out. “And it’s great on set because Jenna is pregnant too. She’s about to have her second child in March.”

While Jenna’s pregnancy was written into the show, Ashley — who worked up until the week before Frankie’s birth — says hers was not. “It was a case of hiding behind a series of giant handbags and flower arrangements,” she says.

When asked whether she and husband Terence Beesley have considered the possibility of Frankie growing up with an American accent, Ashley jokes: “That is a worry, lets face it.” She goes on to note, however, that baby boy will “probably have a mixed-up accent anyway,” citing her Scottish and Terence’s English heritage. The observation leads her to reveal,

“One of the biggest changes for me has been that I have started thinking about the future more. You have to. If we do stay in LA, we were thinking that perhaps he could go to the French School, which is a great school with a European influence. But then we thought, ‘Hang on, he’s only four weeks old!’”

Source: Independent

– Missy

Just how much does Michelle Branch love pie? “I was thinking of tattooing the crust recipe on my arm,” she laughs. This treat is a combo of a Gourmet crust recipe and a filling from New York City’s Buttercup Bake Shop, which Michelle whips up with the help of daughter Owen Isabelle, 4, sometimes tweaking the taste with different fruit butters (a purple sweet-potato butter will turn the filling pink!).

“You can’t go wrong with apple pie,” says Michelle, 26, who calls baking her “zen escape” and wants to open a bakery in Nashville someday. “If you eat it for breakfast with ice cream, you’ve got your fruit and your dairy for the day!”

Rob Howard for PEOPLE for use on CBB

Click below for the recipe and more photos of Michelle and Owen!
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Jill Johnson/JPI

While hosting a Winter Wonderland-themed charity event for Feeding America at her California home recently, Alison Sweeney said she hoped son Benjamin Edward, 4 ½, and daughter Megan Hope, 10 months, would someday learn from her charitable example.

“I look forward to volunteering at a food bank on Thanksgiving, and I plan to introduce my children to the idea of giving back as soon as they’re ready,” the 33-year-old actress tells BabyCenter.

“It certainly helps me keep my problems in perspective. I want that same clarity for my children.”

Together with husband David Sanov, Alison said she’s also teaching the kids that animals are just as deserving of their help. “Both of our dogs come from shelters, and we explained to Ben how we wanted to take care of them and welcome them into our family,” she explains.

When asked how she maintains such a balanced childhood for Ben and Megan given their mom’s fame, Alison admits”that’s a tough one.” She adds,

“I don’t think anyone’s figured it out 100 percent. You just do the best you can. Being aware of the advantages you have and helping your children understand their good fortune is probably half the battle. Also, setting a good example. Making sure you, as parents, are being good role models is key.”

Alison says that a good place to start is having your child volunteer in the community. “It’s something you can do together, and teaches them the importance of giving back,” she notes. “I remember when I first realized some kids didn’t get presents on Christmas. It’s a scary thought as a kid, but doing something proactive such as gathering toys for orphanages can really bring you together as a family.”

Click below to read about Alison’s Thanksgiving plans.

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The past year has shaped up to be quite the eventful whirlwind for Parminder Nagra! Not only did she and her longtime boyfriend James Stenson finally tie the knot in January, the couple welcomed their first child together — Kai David Singh — last May.

“Newlywed, newly mother,” she laughs while talking with Celebrity Baby Blog during the 7th Annual Bag Ladies Luncheon.

Life as a new mom has taken its toll on the former ER actress, who admits that after spending six months at home with her baby boy, she has only just begun to put her “feet back in the water” when it comes to her career. And, according to Parminder, for good reason! “Really, I’ve been so exhausted and he is still not really sleeping through the night,” she shares.

As a result of Kai’s midnight festivities, catching up on shut-eye has become top priority for Parminder.  “Sleep when the baby sleeps,” she advises.

“It’s really difficult to do ’cause you’re like, ‘Maybe I can catch up on this.’ Before you know it, he’s woken up again. I read that and my mother-in-law helped me with that as well. My first five weeks she was out helping us. Thank God she was there.”

With the new family of three settling into their routine, a favorite pastime for the mother-son pair has become quiet moments bonding over baby books. “I love reading him Dr. Seuss,” she reveals. Confessing that she never grows tired of the series, which includes all of the classics, mama says she may be into it more than baby!

“I think I’m enjoying it maybe more than he’s enjoying it. It’s so much fun to read,” she raves. “They’re just amazing. Absolutely timeless. Total genius.”

Elated with first-time motherhood, Parminder notes that the addition of baby has been, for the most part, a smooth transition. “It’s great. He’s so much fun,” she says, adding that one of Kai’s latest milestones includes “giggling a lot now” thanks to the family’s furry friends!

“Our dogs seem to amuse him which is quite funny.”

– Anya with reporting by Nina Tyler

Christopher Peterson/BuzzFoto/FilmMagic

Music is understandably a frequent theme in the Tennessee home Keith Urban shares with wife Nicole Kidman, and in a new interview Keith says that husband and wife often share a duet! “I love singing with her at home,” the 42-year-old country crooner shares. “It’s quite nice.”

As for whether or not the couple — married since 2006 — will make it official and record a song together, Keith admits it’s not “out of the question,” but adds, “we sort of do our own things professionally.” A daddy-daughter duet could be in the works, however! Keith boasts that Sunday Rose, 16 months, has “got some pipes!”

“They’re loud, you know! I think so. I think she sounds quite musical. Sit her at the piano and play and we mash the keys together.”

Looking forward to the holidays, Keith says that he’ll keep things simple with his New Year’s resolution. “Just to keep choosing love truly,” he reveals.

Source: PEOPLE; OK!

– Missy

Alpha/Landov

While everyone loves the idea of celebrity dads Ben Affleck and Matt Damon enjoying an occasional playdate with their daughters, Matt says that it is yet to happen. “We’re on different coasts,” he pointed out recently to OK!

Chatting from the premiere for the History Channel’s new documentary The People Speak, Matt said that his family — who recently relocated to New York City — would be heading back to Florida for the holidays. He added that he hoped his political activism would someday rub off on daughters Alexia, 11, Isabella, 3, and Gia Zavala, 15 months.

“The tagline is that Democracy is not a spectator sport,” he notes.

“That’s what I would want, more than anything, my kids to take away. This country is about participation, activism, understanding the history of the country, understanding your place in that history, being involved and being a productive part of the American experience.”

The 39-year-old actor credits “good communication” for his happy marriage to wife Luciana, and says that parenthood has been eye-opening as well. He jokes,

“I never knew I could function this well with no sleep. That was a realization.”

Ben is dad to Violet Anne, turning 4 next week, and Seraphina Rose Elizabeth, 10 months, with wife Jennifer Garner.

Source: OK!

Seth Browarnik/Startraks

While her ex-husband Chris Robinson will soon be experiencing with a newborn once again when he welcomes his second child in early 2010, Kate Hudson says her days in the baby phase — at least with their son Ryder Russell — have officially ended. “He’s a boy, the baby has become a boy,” she concedes to Extra.

The moment of truth for the actress came when she noticed Ryder’s reluctance as she kissed her son goodbye each morning. “Now I get at 6, already, he’s like, ‘Mommm, stop!’ Kissing is a little…Kissing him in front of his [friends], he’s starting to be like, ‘Mommm…’” Kate laughs.

According to Kate, her son’s heart has even been captivated by another woman: none other than her Nine costar Penélope Cruz! “He goes, ‘I saw Penéolope in the lobby today.’ And I went, ‘Penéolope?’” she laughs in regards to her son’s mispronunciation.

“I would see him look at Penélope and you could see that he definitely recognized what a beautiful woman she is.”

However, at the end of the day, Ryder only has his mama in mind when it comes to quality catch-up time. “I think it’s the last fifteen minutes of the day before he goes to bed that’s the best time,” Kate admits.

“You talk about things and he will fight sleep so he’ll just come up with crazy stories and wants to talk about things he wants to do. That’s my favorite part.”

Source: EXTRA

– Anya

Jackson Lee/Splash News Online

About 50 guests came out over the weekend to celebrate Heidi Klum and Seal’s son Johan’s 3rd birthday at their Los Angeles-area home with a train-themed party.

The model and her musician husband dressed in overalls and conductor hats along with the rest of their brood, which includes daughter Leni, 5 ½; son Henry, 4; and newborn daughter Lou Sulola, 6 weeks.

“They really got into the spirit of the whole train theme,” says a source. “They always have so much fun together as a family.”

Guests were greeted at the house by red, blue, green and yellow balloons decorating the driveway, and once inside rode on a mini-choo-choo train in the backyard. A clown also entertained the kids.

Heidi, who gave birth to Lou six weeks ago, looked “fantastic,” according to the source — just as she did last week during her surprise trip down the runway at a Victoria’s Secret show in New York.

– Sara Hammel with reporting by Pernilla Cedenheim

Jordan Strauss/FilmMagic

As Robin Thicke gets ready to become a father, he can check one item off his to-do list: the baby’s name.

“We like Julian if it’s a boy and Isabella if it’s a girl,” he told PEOPLE Saturday while hosting at The Bank nightclub in Las Vegas.

Robin’s wife, Paula Patton, is due with their first child in May.

“My wife is good,” he said, “I’m just trying to make her as comfortable as possible and hopefully nature will take care of the rest and give us a healthy baby.”

Though this is his first, he’s gotten plenty of advice. “The best advice I’ve got was I’ve been told just to enjoy this moment and it’s the most special time in your life. It can seem stressful and worrisome, but it’s the best time and we’re excited.”

– Mark Gray

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When she auditioned for a role opposite George Clooney in the new film Up In The Air, Vera Farmiga was four months pregnant, and by the time she was hired she was eight months along.

In a new interview with the Los Angeles Times, the 36-year-old actress — now mom to Fynn, 10 months — says that expectant motherhood was beneficial to the part in more ways than one.

Citing a certain “empowerment that birth brings,” Vera admits she was “feeling very womanly” when the film was made. “All of a sudden, I had breasts and they had purpose,” she notes before adding that there were drawbacks as well. Vera elaborates,

“On one hand, yes, in normal, non-hormonal circumstances, I would have an easier time clicking in to the character’s suave coolness, sensuality and confidence. Focus was difficult. When your milk comes in and you know your child is hungry, and you’re wearing a silk shirt and you’re staring at George Clooney doing his close-up, having to interrupt and say, ‘Hold that thought!’ And go do that.”

The scenario presented itself “many times,” Vera admits. “If you look at it again, you can probably see angles when I contort my bosom and my torso just to disguise what was really happening,” she explains.

Still, Vera says she harbors no regrets about the timing.

“Truly, I’ve never felt more womanly than at that time in my life. And that probably added to the performance in delicious ways.”

Fynn is Vera’s first child with husband Renn Hawkey. Up In The Air hits theaters December 4th.

Source: Los Angeles Times

– Missy