John Howard is looking forward to babysitting duty

Aussie Prime Minister, John Howard has confessed that he and wife Janette are looking forward to babysitting duties later this year, when daughter Melanie Howard-McDonald gives birth to her and husband Rowan McDonald‘s first child in September.

Will you take time out to babysit?

“You bet I will be – we’d be very happy to do it.”

Source: The Advertiser

Sarah Murdoch on: her boys, the paparazzi and more children!

TV host, model and breast cancer ambassador, Sarah Murdoch spoke to In Style this month about her boys: husband, Lachlan Murdoch and sons, Kalan, 2 1/2 and Aidan, 1, as well as her time filling in as co-host of Today, whilst Jessica Rowe was on maternity leave.

Sarah enjoyed the challenge of breakfast TV but missed being with her boys;

“I really missed the mornings with them. I’d be sitting on set thinking,’Oh, they’ll be waking up now and having their breakfast,’ and that felt weird. I didn’t really get to see Lachlan very much. He’d get home from work, we’d do the dinner, bath and bed routine, and rather than having our usual glass of wine I’d have to say, ‘No, I’ve got to go to bed.’”

She would like to continue TV work but it needs to fit around her family;

“It’s the hours needed [on set] that’s important. I never thought that I’d be able to have children, so I don’t want to miss out on their lives now.”

The couple spent four-and-a-half years trying to get pregnant and suffered several miscarriages;

“When you’ve been trying for that long, you just start to get your head around the fact that you may never have children. I did consider adopting, yes. I think Lachlan would have been okay with adoption, but I don’t think he was was at the same stage I was at. He was still thinking it would happen, while I was already thinking of looking at other options.”

It was finally discovered that an underactive thyroid was causing the repeated miscarriages and once that was treated, babies Kalan and Aidan followed in quick succession.

During Sarah’s first pregnancy she met labour-pain management specialist Juju Sundin with whom she co-authored the book Birth Skills;

“She taught me all about the pain of childbirth and how to arm myself to get through each contraction. I went in to have Kalan and not once was I scared. I went through 16 hours and, yes, it’s awful pain, but it’s not sick pain. You’re equipped to handle it. Lachlan was there, he did the last class with me and learned all about the techniques. So when we gave birth it was like we both did it, 50/50. We’d gone through this crying and laughing and screaming and lying down quietly together and at the end when this baby was born, it was just fantastic.”

Lachlan is a hands-on father;

“Lachlan is an amazing with the kids. He changes nappies, he does it all – he’s really good.”

The public interest in her family is hard for Sarah to deal with;

“I really hope my boys can have normal lives here in Bronte. The only thing that bothers me is all these paparazzi photographers. I keep saying to myself one day it’s going to get boring – me at the park with the kids. How many times can they photograph it?”

Sarah and Lachlan may even add to their brood;

“It would be nice to have a girl.”

Source: In Style, July issue, pg 23-29.

Danielle Spencer takes Charlie & Tennyson to the park

Aussie actor, Russell Crowe‘s wife Danielle Spencer took sons, Charlie, 3 1/2 and Tennyson, 1, to Centennial Park in Sydney yesterday, with the help of her nanny mother, who held Charlie’s hand. We haven’t seen Tennyson out with the family in so long — he definitely has grown!

Thanks to Liz for the correction!

Source: Ben Symons/Tito Media, images used with permission

Click KEEP READING to view two more images and Tennyson’s stroller info!

Another bub on the way for Victorian Deputy Premier Rob Hulls

Newly elected Victorian Deputy Premier, Rob Hulls has revealed that he and wife Carolyn Burnside are expecting their fourth child on October 7. The couple have sons Jack, 4, and Nicholas, 18 months and Rob has a daughter from a previous marriage.

Rob credits fatherhood as providing him with experience to balance work and family;

“As a father of three, with another baby due on the 7th of October, I’ve certainly learned a fair bit of the pressures of trying to manage work and also life balance with such a young family.”

Source: Herald Sun

Tiffani Wood shares her post-baby fitness regime

Aussie singer, Tiffani Wood met with Woman’s Day to discuss her post-baby fitness regime after giving birth to daughter, Lillian Adel on April 18. Tiffani admits she gained 21kg during her pregnancy and is currently 70kg and now wants to lose about 10kg.

Tiffani had big chocolate cravings during her pregnancy;

“I was checking pregnancy magazines, making sure I wasn’t putting on too much weight, but in the end I did go over a bit – due to eating chocolate. I’ve always loved it, but during pregnancy my cravings exploded.”

She hopes to shed her baby weight in time for summer;

“I was really surprised by the change in my body shape. I have a muffin top, and no matter what I wear, it’s hanging over everywhere. My goal is to wear a bikini and look good in summer. That’s probably every girl’s goal and I want to be toned and healthy.”

Tiffani is doing low-impact cardio workouts at the gym and walking around her local park;

“I’ve started at a gym that has a childcare centre. My partner Neil [Cummins] and I go down for an hour-and-a-half, four days a week. For the first six weeks I’m doing gentle cardio to get my fitness back – treadmill, walking, low-impact stuff.”

It can be difficult to maintain a gym routine with a new baby, but she’s made it a priority;

“Sleep-wise it can be hard to stay motivated, we’ve got to get her organised too.”

Tiffani isn’t dieting but has cut down junk food – although the couple still enjoy a weekly treat;

“We have ‘treat Thurdays’ where you can have anything. Every other day we cook healthy meals at home. We also keep low-fat frozen meals, so if we don’t have time to cook, we don’t fall back on takeaways.”

She also wants to be a positive role model for her daughter;

“I want to be a good role model for her, and not have her see me eating fast food and think, ‘Mum, chippies’.”

Tiffani hopes to be an example to other mums that you don’t have to lose all the weight in a matter of weeks;

“I do think celebrities provide an unrealistic image for weight loss, they probably have nannies to help them – maybe that’s the key to their success.”

Source: Woman’s Day,July 30 2007, pg 58.

Click KEEP READING to view three images of Tiffani working out.

Isla Fisher & Sacha Baron Cohen at Courteney Cox’s BBQ

Pregnant Aussie actress, Isla Fisher and fiancee Sacha Baron Cohen spent a sunny afternoon at a low-key barbecue get-together at American actors Courteney Cox and David Arquette‘s Malibu home on Sunday July 29. Isla is reportedly seven months pregnant with the couple’s first child.

Source: Daily Mail and Popsugar

Amanda Blair dicusses her pregnancy and fertility issues

FiveAA radio presenter and Sunday Mail columnist, Amanda Blair announced on air earlier this month that she is expecting her third child on January 15, with husband Michael Farquharson. In her column this week, Amanda discusses her realisation that her choice to hold-off motherhood (to focus on her career) may have resulted in her being unable to conceive, due to various factors such as her age. Amanda also admitted after giving birth to son Sidney, 3, she “was hooked” on having children and daughter Ginger, 1, quickly followed, as she feels motherhood was “something I was clearly put on this earth to do.”

“I never thought I’d be a mother of three – in fact, I never thought I’d be a mother. I thought I’d be less Julie Andrews and more Julia Gillard. That crushing ache for a child just wasn’t there. On my 35th birthday my mother-in-law (a doctor) and frustrated grandmother-to-be said: “Well, darl, happy birthday – your chance of conceiving is now half what it was when you were 30.” “Crikey!” thought I – and did a bit of research. Turned out, if I did nothing and waited till I was 40, my chance of conceiving would be halved again.

The fact is, we as a species are actually swimming against an unfavourable tide of statistics. The Business and Professional Women (South Australian chapter) has launched the ThinkFertility project. The group woke up to the fact that its own members display a surprising lack of knowledge in the area of popping out kids. As a result they’ve launched a public awareness program, built around postcards and brochures that pose questions such as “Planning a family? Or planning to wait?” and “Grandchildren, when will you have yours?”

Did you know, for instance, that at 40 a woman’s miscarriage rate is 50 per cent? That a woman is born with all the eggs she will ever have? And that 1 in 6 couples are infertile?

Thanks to our glorious Treasurer, we already know Australia needs more people to sustain economic growth. Surveys also show that most couples want two or three kids – but most end up with one or none at all.

But wait – what about IVF? Well, the chance of a healthy woman conceiving during an IVF cycle is highest before the age of 35. The success rate declines with age and is just 10 per cent by the time she’s 40.

The fact is, IVF can’t fix old eggs. And let’s not forget that IVF is emotionally traumatic and financially draining. And it’s not all down to us women. Male fertility declines from 35 and genetic material in sperm deteriorates with poor lifestyle.

But why, you might ask, am I banging on about this now, what with the baby I’m currently carrying for Peter Costello? Well, it’s like this. I was 35 when I had an epiphany as well as my first child. To my utter amazement, it was better than anything I’d ever done. And I was hooked. But then I looked at my birth date and, while there’s no regrets for enjoying a child-free life for so long, I realised that I’d limited the amount of time available to me to indulge in something I was clearly put on this earth to do.

So, rather than leave it to fate, I had to undertake a program of strategic shagging that would only leave eight to 10 months between birth, breast feeding and next ovulation cycle.

Anyone looking at my calendar scrawled with excitable symbols would have thought I was planning to invade Poland. As far as my husband Michael was concerned, romance was out the window, not to mention spontaneity: the clock was ticking.

As it happens, undertaking a breeding schedule like I was a heifer entered in the Royal Adelaide Show is not necessarily the ideal way of family management.

Sure it’s great that the kids are all close in age and my nappy phase only lasts for about five years. But I hadn’t anticipated the toll on my body. Some days I’m literally hobbling like the old woman who lived in a shoe. And I was utterly shocked when my obstetrician told me my age made me borderline for needing an amniocentesis – and that’s a 1 in 300 lottery of causing miscarriage.

But this is nothing. I know three women who waited to conceive, thinking they needed to pay off the mortgage or climb a little higher on the corporate ladder. Tragically, they’ve found themselves among that 1 in 6 statistic, unable to have children. Of course, not every woman wants to be a mother, and I’m not advocating that motherhood is the be-all and end-all. But information is power and choice.”

Source: Sunday Mail

Jessica Rowe admits suffering from postnatal depression

Former Today co-host and contestant for the upcoming series of Dancing with the Stars, Jessica Rowe has admitted she suffered from postnatal depression after her daughter, Allegra Penelope, 6 months, was born in January. Jessica who is married to 60 Minutes reporter, Peter Overton spoke to New Idea about her strong love for her daughter and her recovery.

Jessica loves motherhood;

“It’s the first time I really knew what they meant by heartstrings. I feel this invisible thread connecting Allegra and me forever. It’s this incredible pull. It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I look at her and think she’s a miracle. It makes me quite teary thinking about it.”

After four IVF attempts, Allegra was a miracle for the couple;

“It was a magical experience. Petey wanted to deliver our baby and his first words as he placed her on my chest were: ‘It’s a girl.’ The birth was fantastic. It was really empowering. I remember when she was just five cells. I prayed like mad that this little embryo would grow into a baby and I now look and marvel at her.”

Luckily Jessica realised where the depression could lead and sought help quickly;

“I suffered postnatal depression – not for long, but I did have it. At first I didn’t want to acknowledge it. I knew I wasn’t right and that it was more than being sleep deprived. I pushed it away for a few days. Then I thought: ‘No, I’ve got to talk to someone,’ and I’m glad I did. I saw my beautiful obstetrician who arranged for me to see a wonderful psychiatrist. I remember talking to her and sobbing. It’s funny but from the first appointment with her I felt enormous relief. I knew I was going to be okay. If I hadn’t done that, my recovery process would have been so much longer.”

Jessica discusses how IVF may have affected her diagnosis;

“It’s not known what triggers postnatal depression. It can be sleep deprivation, family history, hormonal changes or all those factors. Many mothers experience it, especially those who’ve had IVF. You’ve already gone through so much and you don’t cut yourself much slack. I was getting very anxious. I felt out of control. I worried about everything, like whether she’d get a cold – but beyond normal levels. I also had problems breastfeeding. I felt ashamed ‘How could I feel like this when I finally had this beautiful treasure?’ It’s hard to fess up to. Fortunately I got help and it was just a blip. Allegra was six weeks old and I suffered for a month before I began feeling more like myself. Then suddenly I remember feeling like I was breathing fresh air again.”

Whilst Jessica was on the IVF program she started a new job as Today co-host – however she was not well received by the public and was continually taunted – and was even voted most annoying person on TV in a newspaper poll. Although her struggle to conceive was far worse than her career troubles;

“It’s just that I was going through it all at the same time. IVF is an emotional roller-coaster. You desperately want a child. Everywhere you look, you see a baby. What was painful was people would day:’You better hurry up you’re running out of time,’ and I’d want to strangle them. You’re doing everything in your power to have a baby and you’re going through the injections. The hormones make you feel emotional and vulnerable. I likened it to this bubble of hope inside me. Sometimes the bubble of hope would be really small and sometimes I’d allow it to get bigger.”

Jessica and Peter would love more children, but being a parent has made her life perfect. Peter once said all he wanted was:

“That photo on a fridge with a dad in the bubble bath, holding his child. If we had more children that would just be extraordinary, but if we don’t, we don’t mind. I feel my life is complete. I just couldn’t wish for anything else. If someone asked: ‘Is there anything you’d like more in your life?’ I’d day: ‘No, I’m happy.’ People go through far more hard times than me – it’s just that mine was public. I love to have a laugh and being as happy as I am now. I’m a mum and that helps me laugh the longest and the loudest.”

Source: New Idea, July 28 2007, pg 8-11.

Bondi beach fun for the Jackman family

Aussie actor, Hugh Jackman and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness had fun playing with children Oscar, 7 and Ava, 2 at Bondi beach on Saturday July 28.

Source: Just Jared

Click KEEP READING for three more images.

Josh and Jo Francou welcome third son

Former Port Adelaide AFL player, Josh Francou and wife Jo welcomed their third son — Benjamin via a caesarean birth on Monday July 23 at the Ashford Hospital, weighing 3.23kg. Benjamin is little brother to William, 3 and Oliver, 18 months, who have had different reactions to meeting their new sibling;

“William’s been great and can’t wait to get him home. Oliver just thinks he’s a little doll.”

The couple knew they were having another boy and Josh agreed they may have thee future AFL players on their hands;

“We’ve got the centreline sorted out.”

Source: The Sunday Mail, July 29 2007, pg 111.

Lauren Newton expecting first baby

Lauren Newton, TV presenter and daughter of TV great Bert Newton has announced that she is 12-weeks pregnant with her first baby, with swimmer husband, Matt Welsh. Lauren said yesterday;

“It is just fabulous, we are very excited. It is such an exciting time and Mum and Dad are obviously over the moon.”

Lauren is due in January with Bert and wife Patti‘s first grandchild and they are thrilled;

“It’s fantastic news, as for Patti, we haven’t been able to stop her jumping up and down. Lauren is a wonderful person married to a bloke Patti and I love. The one thing you can be sure of is that the baby will have sensational parents.”

The picture is of the parents-to-be at the Phantom of the Opera premiere in Melbourne last night.

I posted a rumour last week that Lauren could be expecting, after she was spotted shopping with Patti at baby boutique Coochi Coo — well it turns out this rumour was true!

Source: Herald Sun

Matthew Primus welcomes second daughter

Former Port Adelaide AFL player and current Assistant Coach, Matthew Primus became a father for the second time yesterday, with wife Melissa giving birth to Holly Jessica at 11.30am, weighing 4.22kg. Holly is a little sister for the couple’s daughter Skye, 15 months.

Matthew said in February, when they announced Melissa was expecting again;

“We’ll definitely have our hands full! (But) we always wanted to have them close together.”

Source: The Advertiser, July 28 2007, pg 33

Gavin Wanganeen focuses on educating indigenous children

Former Port Adelaide AFL captain, Gavin Wanganeen has signed up to be part of the Red Dust Role Models program which, is aimed at educating children about healthy eating, exercise and making the right lifestyle choices. Gavin who is pictured at home with children, Mia, 7 and Tex, 3, recently returned from a week in central Australia in the Warrakurna community and is planning a trip next month to the Daly River community of Nauyiu in the Top End;

“A lot of the areas we go to are very remote and the biggest problem is boredom, they haven’t got much out there . . . and you can understand why it’s so tough. If we can just bring those positive messages with us – health and exercise and education messages – if it affects only a few of them then it’s well worth it but we expect it to affect more of them than just a few.”

Source: The Advertiser

Isla Fisher at Hot Rod premiere

Pregnant Aussie actress, Isla Fisher attended the premiere for her new film Hot Rod at the Mann’s Chinese Theatre in LA, on Thursday July 26. Isla who is reportedly seven months pregnant, walked the red carpet without her fiancee Sacha Baron Cohen.

Source: palpatine2002/Celebutopia

Click KEEP READING to view three more images.

Rachel Griffiths on her children’s antics & travel experiences

Aussie actress, Rachel Griffiths (Brothers and Sisters) recently spent three months back in Australia on holidays with her husband Andrew Taylor and children Banjo, 3 and Adelaide, 2. Rachel appeared on Rove on July 1 and shared some funny anecdotes about her children and discussed their travels around the country.

You can watch the entire interview below but I have written a transcript of the family-related highlights.

Rove: I hear you lost you Golden Globe — have you found it?
Rachel:“Yeah I found it but my three-year-old broke it, so I had to take it back to the society of the Golden Globe – the Hollywood Foreign Press. I can’t believe I blanked on that. They’ve assured me they will mend it.”

Rove: How did it break?
Rachel:“I think my boy was having a tantrum and picked it up and threw it (laughs) It’s on a higher shelf now – it’s actually very heavy, I reaslised that it could be seen as a weapon [Rove adds: for a small child] … used as a weapon. It’s a small child against another even smaller child!”

Rove:You’re here in Australia for holidays?
Rachel:“I’ve had an amazing time, it’s been beautiful to bring my family back and travel the countryside. We drove from Sydney to Melbourne in the car, like that great rite of passage [where] the two kids go whhaaaaaa in the back of the car for six hours on the Hume [highway].”

Rove:Why did you drive?
Rachel:“Just for old time sake – see the countryside, I really miss the landscape – and I was insane!”

Rove: You know what you should have done – gone to see the Pasha Bulker [a large cargo ship beached off of Newcastle after heavy storms]. When was the last time you took Banjo and Adelaide to see a giant red ship … just stuck … doin’ nothing!
Rachel:“…but we did take the train, we took the Ghan from Adelaide all the way to Darwin. It was one the greatest holidays I’ve ever had and the kids had a beautiful time.”

(I have to confess I taped the show when it originally aired so I could make a transcript — but never got around to watching it! So after I found the interview on You Tube I decided to post the story!)