Chloe Maxwell discusses motherhood

TV Personality/model, Chloe Maxwell chatted to Essential Baby about the ups and downs of motherhood. Chloe has a son, Max, 10 months with her fiancee, rugby player Mat Rogers and is expecting her second in September. She also has two step-children, Jack, 10 and Skyla, 7 from Mat’s previous relationship.

What has surprised you the most about becoming a mother?

“My patience. It was non existent before!”

Do you miss anything about your life prior to having children?

“Not really I am very content.”

What is the hardest part about being a mum?

“Sleep deprivation”

How has your relationship with your partner changed since becoming parents?

“We have a stronger bond and really work well together as a team. We are now less focused on ourselves as a couple and more focussed on ourselves as a family.”

What advice do you have for new mothers or mothers to be?

“Don’t panic! Stay calm and your baby will be. Also, if you are easily frightened do not go to antenatal classes. The doctors and nurses know what they are doing, you dont need to. I believe too much knowledge can cause unnecessary stress in this situation.”

How has your attitude to work / career changed since becoming a mother and how do you manage the juggle of family and work?

“I am still very passionate about being a working - Mother and Luckily my career has mirrored my life. I can affiliate myself with fantastic family friendly brands such as Ovaltine Max for milk and Colgate Palmolive pure Cashmere. I have also been working closely with Champion to develop my own range of athletic wear that will be perfect for working Mums. Not to mention I am extremely lucky to have a wonderful Mother and Grandmother (who is 80 mind you), who volunteer to look after Max at the drop of a hat, so things seem to have fallen into place quite nicely.”

What do you think about “me” time? Do you practice it, preach it or have you resigned yourself to the fact that you will have to play catch up later on - and how do (or would) you spend your leisure time?

“Haha whats that? occassionaly when Mum or Grandma watch Max, Mat and I will go for lunch or something but I guess I have resigned to the fact that Max, Jack and Skyla are a part of me or us now so naturally we include them in everything. I had enough me time before I met my partner and dont see it as such a great loss. When you make a decision to have kids you should be ready to share your life with them I think.”

What kind of “Australia” do you hope for your children’s future?

“One thats liberal minded without prejudice of any kind”

Source: Essential Baby

Max Barry’s chats about his family

Australian author, Max Barry whose second novel Company has made it to Number 2 on Amazon.com’s bestsellers list, is a virtual unknown in Australia. But Max who is married to Jen and has a daughter Finlay, 2 is back home in Melbourne and says;

“I’ve had the most amazing marriage and have an incredible baby girl.”

Even though Finlay is only 2, she already learning how to operate technology!

“[She] has now worked out how to turn the computer on or off.”

Source: Who, July 2 2007, pg 56-7.

Lille prinsesse pre-christening update

The 10 week-old daughter of Crown Prince Frederik and Aussie-born Crown Princess Mary of Denmark will be christened tomorrow at Fredensborg Palace Church, north of Copenhagen, at 11.30am - 7.30pm Australian time. During the christening her name will be revealed for the first time. It’s Danish tradition to have four names for example the couple’s 20 month-old son is named Prince Christian Valdemar Henri John.

The most likely names for the little girl are Margrethe (after Frederik’s mother, the current Danish Queen), Ingrid (after Frederik’s-grandmother, the late Swedish-born Queen Ingrid who died in 2000) or Henrietta (after Princess Mary’s mother, who died of a heart condition in 1997)

“Online betting company Bet24 had the odds 1.05-1 on Margrethe, 1.10-1 on Henrietta, and 1.15-1 on Ingrid.”

Princess Mary’s sisters Jane Stephens and Patricia Bailey, who live in Hobart, and her brother John Donaldson, from Western Australia, will not attend the christening. But her father, John Donaldson, who now lives in Denmark where he works as a mathematics lecturer at the University of Aarhus, will be there. Jane said;

“The family hopes everything will go well on the day, and we will be at home thinking about them on Sunday.”

She is expected to wear the family christening gown, also worn by Prince Christian, made of lace and ordered for the baptism of Prince Christian in 1870.

Lille Prinsesse’s christening will be a low-key event compared to ‘hype’ surrounding Prince Christian’s christening in January 2006. A spokeswoman from the Danish Royal Court in Copenhagen said;

“It would be fair to say that Sunday’s event will be much smaller than Christian’s.”

Hobart-based honorary vice-consul for Denmark, Judy Benson, agreed.

“It’s obvious there is not the excitement attached to the first-born, who is heir to the throne behind his father. There is just not quite the same hype as the first time.”

The Tasmanian government have gifted Lillepigen with a custom-made white gold and red enamel charm bracelet, which was sent this week via express post to Denmark.

Source: The Courier Mail
Christening Gown Photo Credit: Danish Royal Watchers

Katie ‘Jordan’ Price & Peter Andre’s daughter arrives

British model/author Katie ‘Jordan’ Price and her Aussie singer husband, Peter Andre welcomed their third child and first daughter via a caesarean birth, on Friday June 29 at 8.49 am weighing 6lb 13ounces. The baby girl, whose name hasn’t been released yet is a sister for Harvey, 5 and Junior, 2. A spokesperson for the couple said;

“Peter Andre and Katie Price are happy to announce the birth of their first daughter. They are absolutely over the moon with the new addition to their family and delighted to have a sister for Harvey and Junior - it is a dream come true! Both Katie and the baby are healthy and happy, and will be spending the next few days resting in hospital.”

Source: The Sun

Naomi Watts visits Brentwood Country Mart

Actress, Naomi Watts visited the Brentwood Country Mart in Los Angeles on Thursday June 28, where she stopped for some lunch and indulged in more furniture shopping. By the looks of it her baby bump hasn’t ‘dropped’ yet so she may still have a few weeks to go, but considering it’s summer in LA - she must be feeling uncomfortable!

More Images Added

Source: Perez Hilton
Additional Photo Credit: Terminator/Celebutopia

The Hewitt Family on: marriage, raising Mia and travelling the world

Tennis star, Lleyton Hewitt and his TV actress wife, Bec Hewitt sat down with The Australian Women’s Weekly this month to discuss their strong two-year marriage, raising their gorgeous daughter, Mia, 20 months, how parenthood has positively changed them and travelling the globe for Lleyton’s tennis career. The Hewitt’s are undoubtedly Australia’s most famous and well-documented family - so to gain such a personal insight into their life is wonderful. They also posed for these beautiful pictures with their daughter Mia - the pictures were obviously taken some time before May as Bec has recently dyed her hair dark brown! Here are the family-related highlights from the article:

Bec comments on how great Lleyton is as a father;

“Lleyton is such a great dad, you couldn’t find a better father, or one who loves their daughter as much. He is so hands-on with her. He comes home from training and, as he walks through the door, Mia runs to him, yelling ‘Dad! Dad!’ It’s beautiful. And he’s always making her laugh. He’s the same as a husband. My phone calls are greeted with, ‘And hows my beautiful wife?’ It’s wonderful to know that you’re so loved.”

Mia’s birth was a special moment for both Lleyton and Bec;

“Mia being born was one of the most amazing things that either of us could go through. She’s something we both created, that no one else could create. Every time I see her, I think about how incredible it is. [Bec adds] Even now we look at her and think, ‘Oh my God, we made her.’ We are so proud. We don’t know what life would be like without Mia. We think, ‘What on earth did we do with ourselves before she came along?’ ”

Mia is definitey her mother’s daughter!

“She’s bubbly, she’s always happy. She’s always smiling and running around, excited. She’s a chatterbox. All these things Bec is. For me, it makes me proud to see that.”

Bec’s dad Darrel Cartwright is full of praise for Lleyton as a father and husband;

“He’s absolutely besotted with Mia, he adores her. You can see it in the way he moves around her, the way he watches her, the way he picks her up - everything about it. She’s his little girl and there’s nothing more important, except Bec. You couldn’t get a better father or husband than Lleyton. He treats Bec so well. They bounce off each other and, truly, they seem as though they were made for each other.”

Even though Lleyton’s career requires him to travel - it is important to them that they be together;

“Marriage is a partnership, that’s why Bec and Mia travel with me so much, because we just couldn’t stand to be apart. [Bec adds] I miss him if I’m not around him.”

Bec and Mia are a constant part of Lleyton’s entourage and luckily for the couple, Mia adapts easily to new places and people;

“We’ll be walking through an airport and every second, Mia will be saying, ‘Hi’, she talks to everyone - shop assistants, at the park - she’s just a chatty little thing who talks to anyone. She adapts easily to new places. She can sleep anywhere, I guess because she’s grown up waking up in a new place every week. She’s a little angel to travel with, but people often ask if I get homesick. Well, not really - my home is where my family is, so as long as I’m with Lleyton and Mia, it doesn’t really matter. In the times we’re away, she changes so much. She says new words. On the last trip she got six teeth!”

Bec is a hands-on mother;

“We don’t have a nanny and we made that decision because I want to be with Mia as much as possible. I would rather be the one responsible for her - besides, I miss her too much if she’s not with me. [Lleyton adds] I love that Bec’s bringing Mia up day in, day out. That means a lot to us as a family. Bec teaches her letters and counting. I couldn’t be prouder of her as a mum - and it makes it better for me to know Mia’s in good hands.”

The couple would also like more children - but not right now;

“We’d love to have more children and we will, but the timing must be right. So we probably won’t plan anything for the next couple of years. For now, travelling with one little one is more than enough.”

Bec says that their commitment is much stronger than when they married in 2005;

“Our lives together couldn’t be better or happier and that’s the truth. It’s funny, we’ll be on a flight and the flight attendants will say, ‘We love being around you two - we can feel the love’. We get comments like that all the time. We feel as though we’ve known each other forever. It’s as though we have never known anything different. And that’s how it has always been between us. We believe that we were destined to be together.”

Source: The Australian Women’s Weekly, June issue, pg 20-8.
Additional Photo Credit: AWW

Naomi Watts at LA studio

There certainly is no slowing down for heavily pregnant Aussie actress, Naomi Watts! who headed into a studio in Los Angeles on Wednesday June 27. Her and fiancee Liev Schreiber’s first baby is due July/August.

Source: Hello

Kate Ceberano could be pregnant with her second child!

Singer, Kate Ceberano caught up with The Australian Women’s Weekly this month to have a quick chat about her new album Nine Lime Avenue and her plans for another baby. Kate is married to fellow musician Lee Rogers and has a daughter, Gypsy, 3.

What’s your idea of perfect happiness?

“Waking up to see my husband’s face and my daughter, Gypsy’s little tumble of curls on the pillow.”

Would you like to have another baby?

“That would be great and judging by the way my breasts feel right now, I could well be pregnant! And I wouldn’t be at all fussed about it, although it’s hard work bringing up babies after 35 [Kate is 40].”

Source: The Australian Women’s Weekly, July issue, pg 87.

Elle Macpherson and Aurelius Cy in Notting Hill

Former Aussie Model, Elle Macpherson and her youngest son, Aurelius Cy, 4, were spotted out and about in Notting Hill, London on Tuesday June 26. Elle also has a son Arpad Flynn, 9, with her former partner Arpad Busson.

Source: Terminator/Celebutopia

Isla Fisher out and about

Pregnant Aussie actress, Isla Fisher was spotted out and about earlier in the month. Isla and her comedian fiancee, Sacha Baron Cohen are expecting their first child later this year.

Source: New Idea, June 23 2007, pg 107.

Ben Dark and family at Mossman Park

‘Getaway’ TV Presenter, Ben Dark posed for photos with his partner, Paula Reid and their son, Digger, 3 at Mossman Park in Cairns, Queensland yesterday. Unfortunately a part of the watermark is covering Ben’s face in the second photo.

I can’t decide if the name Digger Dark is cool or cruel? Leave a comment with your thoughts!

Source: Chris Scott/Newspix

Naomi Watts goes furniture shopping

Pregnant Aussie Actress, Naomi Watts was spotted shopping for furniture at H.D. Buttercup in Culver City, California on Friday June 22, apparently she spent almost two hours browsing through the store. Naomi’s fiancee Liev Schreiber announced earlier that she is due on August 2 - but judging by her size I would be VERY surprised if she made it to then.

Source: Daily Blabber

Frederik, Mary & Christian stroll Fredensborg Palace Park

Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, his Aussie-born wife Crown Princess Mary, their son, Prince Christian, 20 months and their dog Ziggy strolled around Fredensborg Palace Park last week. Fred had fun with Christian by pushing the stroller ahead - allowing it to wheel by itself - before catching up to it! I have made some screenshots of their walk but you can watch the full video clip here (click the picture of the palace). Their two month-old daughter, who will be christened on Sunday, didn’t join them.

Christian rides in his Baby Jogger Performance 20″ Single stroller, available online for $360. I wonder when their daughter gets older if they’ll walk their children in a double stroller?

Source: Her & Nu

Oscar Jackman: I LOVE BOWEN

Actor, Hugh Jackman’s son Oscar, 7, had fun on the set of ‘Australia’ playing in the mud and running with friends on Sunday June 24 whilst announcing his love for the Queensland regional community of Bowen, where he has been living whilst Hugh has been filming ‘Australia’. Oscar who broke his arm last week admitted earlier in the month that he wants to move to Bowen.

Oscar wears Croc Cayman Kids shoe in Chocolate, available online for $25.

Source: Cameron Laird / Rex Features via IBL

Tasmania gives Mary’s Princess a bracelet

Aussie-born Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and her husband Crown Prince Frederik’s daughter who was born on April 21 2007, will be christened on Sunday July 1, so the Tasmanian government (Mary was born and raised in Tasmania) have organised a white gold and red enamel bracelet to made to honour the occasion. The bracelet was made by jeweller Diane Allison and features the red and white colours of the Danish flag depicted in tiny white-gold apple seeds and nine red hearts. The bracelet will be publicly exhibited in Hobart’s Parliament House until tomorrow afternoon, when it will be rushed by special courier to Denmark, in time for Sunday’s ceremony.

Tasmanian premier Paul Lennon said of the bracelet;

“This is a beautiful piece of jewellery that will always remind the Princess of her strong Tasmanian heritage. Diane Allison has done an exceptional job designing and creating this delicate piece, which will be sent to Denmark with the best wishes of all Tasmanians.”

Source: The Mercury