Moms & Babies

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Aug 16 2009 06:00 PM ET
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Catt Sadler on the Upside of Single Working Motherhood

John Shearer/WireImage

As a single mother-of-two and co-host of the Daily 10 on E!, Catt Sadler has her work cut out for her — literally! While “there is guilt” in heading out to cover a red carpet event and leaving sons Austin, 8, and Arion, 4, in the care of others, Catt tells Cookie there is an upside as well, and it is one she learned first-hand. “My mom was a single working mother,” the 33-year-old television personality explains. “She explained to me the benefits of our kids being exposed to different caregivers and having multiple, varied experiences…versus being so attached to just ‘Mom.’”

“She was right. Both of my kids are very social and well-adjusted. I think that is, in part, because they don’t live in a protective little bubble at home with just me.”

Describing the boys as “total hams” who love making mom sing show tunes at bedtime, Catt says a typical Saturday morning involves “pancakes, bacon and fresh fruit followed by lazy play in the backyard.” The boys collect snails while Catt sips her coffee, and the attire is super casual! “The longer Austin and Arion can stay in their jammies, the happier they are,” she reveals. It can’t always be bliss, of course, and Catt — like so many moms — singles out a flight as her most frazzled mom moment. “Austin was almost 2, and we were flying home from Vail, Colorado,” she recalls. “He had gotten an ear infection while on our trip.”

“The plane ride home caused him so much discomfort and pain [that] he cried inconsolably the entire flight. No matter how much rocking or walking up and down the aisle, the poor guy couldn’t get comfortable. I’ll never forget the stares and glares from the other passengers.”

Hopefully the boys have matured into happier travelers, for Catt has big plans for their future. “I wish I had traveled through Europe for a good year to live, work, and play [before having kids],” she explains. “I spent a week in Barcelona a few years ago, and I am dying to return. I can’t go back in time, so my goal is to pack up the kids and take them with me!”

Austin and Arion are Catt’s children with ex-husband Kyle Boyd.

Source: Cookie

– Missy

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Aug 16 2009 03:00 PM ET
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Snuggle Mez Infant Car Seat Snuggler

One luxury baby product I’ve always coveted was the fashionable infant car seat cover. Didn’t have one for either of my sons, so when my daughter was born, it was a must.

Snuggle Mez ($98) isn’t a infant car seat cover, though. It’s actually a little sleeping-bag like cover that fits easily over your car seat and keeps baby snuggly warm and shaded inside. Plus it has a matching blanket attachment to pull over the hood of the baby bucket for when you want the baby to keep sleeping.

When not in use, the blanket rolls up easily and hooks into the Velcro straps on the back. The Snuggle Mez also has a hook on the outer bottom to attach a pacifier or toy or even your car keys. It unzips easily to allow you to buckle and unbuckle the baby as well.

Mine is the Gracey – a funky black, pink, and white Pucciesque design that coordinates perfectly with my black-and-white plaid baby seat. The outside is 100% cotton, the inside is that otherwordly softness of minky. All the available prints are attractive, and suit any mama with a range from bright bolds to subtle shades.

Use discount code Celebrity15 at Snuggle Mez for a 15% off through January 1, 2010.

– Alix

Note: Car seat manufacturers and car safety experts advise against using after-market products while driving with car seats.

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Aug 16 2009 12:00 PM ET
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Alyson Hannigan and Satyana Roll With It

Andrade/Perkins/Pacific Coast News

An upbeat Alyson Hannigan takes her beverage to go Thursday while taking 4-month-old daughter Satyana on a stroll through Santa Monica, Calif.

The How I Met Your Mother actress was back at work this week, baby and husband Alexis Denisof in tow — the show has set up a nursery for the new mom.

Next up? Preparing for the Emmy Awards next month. Alyson, 35, has narrowed her dress choices down to two, and will be making sure they cover all they need to.

“This year, [my goal] is to make sure the boobs stay in,” she jokes. “I have boobs now! They’re my new accessory. I want to make sure they stay in and they stay dry.”

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Aug 16 2009 09:00 AM ET
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Lisa Kudrow Struggles With Setting Boundaries for Son

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

In her new movie Bandslam, Lisa Kudrow portrays the mother of a teenage son, and although her son in real life — 11-year-old Julian Murray, with husband Michel Stern — isn’t yet in high school, the 46-year-old actress says she’s already envisioning what lies ahead.

The biggest unknown of all? How mother and son will handle the high school dating scene! “My son is a little young,” Lisa notes in a new interview with PARADE. “We’ll see what happens after puberty, but he’s not there yet.”

“I think I’ll be a cheerleader for his girlfriends, though. I can’t imagine him bringing home someone horrible.”

The role of a protective mom felt “real and honest” for  Lisa, who says she identified with a character who “really keeps an eye on her son.” There is a fine line between smothering and nurturing, however, and it is one Lisa admits she has crossed from time to time. “I’ve been trying to be a little more structured and have rules and boundaries for my own son,” she says.

“I’ve gotten better at it. But, I’d say my husband takes care of the discipline in our house.”

Bandslam is in theaters now.

Source: PARADE

– Missy

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Aug 16 2009 06:00 AM ET
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Heidi Klum Looks Forward to Bouncing Back After Baby

Matt Sayles

Heidi Klum is always up for a challenge! In conjunction with her fall pregnancies comes the live taping of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, and the 36-year-old wastes no time regaining her runway figure. Her secret, however, remains under wraps — even for Heidi herself! “I’ve never really had any special girdle machines or anything like that,” she tells Access Hollywood.

“For me, it’s really healthy foods, exercising, playing with the children, going to the park. Normal things.”

While the mother-of-three — with her fourth on the way — refuses to follow a diet plan, she says that she is always on the go. “I also do not sit on the couch with my feet up and eat one potato chip bag after the next and one burger after the next.” A strong believer in the idea that women should “do a little bit of everything” when it comes to staying fit, Heidi finds the best time to shed the pregnancy pounds is immediately following baby’s birth. “I never really put a lot of pressure on myself, but for me personally…I feel like if I drag it out too long, I’m not going to do it,” she says.

“So for me it works to kind of get back into shape, afterwards, I feel great. I can put my normal clothes back on and it makes me happy, and it’s worked so far.”

Her positive attitude is one that she carries all throughout the pregnancy. Heidi — who delights in great flea market finds — is reluctant to limit herself to strictly maternity wear in order to accommodate her growing bump, but admits finding clothing that still fits can be a struggle! “Don’t ask me what’s fashionable right now. I’m happy I can find something I can fit in,” she explains. “I try to go off the beaten track and find things that aren’t maternity lines…I try to find things that are a little more fun and not so basic, since I do a show about fashion.”

Heidi and her husband Seal will welcome their daughter in mid-October. They are already parents to Leni, 5, Henry, 3 ½, and Johan, 2 ½. The sixth season of Project Runway premieres August 20th at 10 p.m. on Lifetime.

Source: Access Hollywood

– Anya

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Aug 15 2009 06:00 PM ET
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Kelsey Grammer Encourages His Kids to 'Figure Out' Life

Richie Buxo/Splash News Online

More than a year after suffering a severe heart attack while in Hawaii, Kelsey Grammer is feeling “fantastic” once again. “Honestly, never better,” he tells the Celebrity Baby Blog during the ABC TCA press day. That said, the actor is hesitant to make his big return in Hollywood; His concerns in returning to his career aren’t health-related, however, but rather family focused. “I’m always concerned about going to work now because I’ve established such a connection with my family that’s different than it used to be when I was on Frasier,” he says.

“I started the family then and in the last five years I’ve spent a lot of time with them. So I find that more precious than I did before…it’s very important that the work not really intrude on that. So it’s a weird balancing act again.”

Fortunately, Kelsey is not alone in the industry as his eldest daughter Spencer, 25, also has a hand in acting. While the doting dad is quick to praise his daughter’s performance on the ABC family show Greek, he admits he never expected any less on her part! “I always knew she’d do well,” he shares, adding that he encouraged her to chase her dreams which eventually prompted Spencer’s move to New York. “I want people to follow their own dreams and figure out their own lives,” Kelsey explains.

“If she’d had been an astronaut I would’ve been happy.”

Although she no doubt receives tips from her father, Spencer has also taught her dad a life lesson or two along the way! “I’m thankful that I was never a teenage girl,” he jokes. “That was my chief lesson from my daughter.” On a more serious note, Kelsey is extremely “proud” of her, but laughs that parenthood, even with a child her age, is still a work-in-progress.”I have learned that it is gratifying and satisfying to offer a life to someone, a child, and watch them grow up and to see them come to fruition and flourish,” he notes.

Spencer is Kelsey’s daughter from his marriage to Doreen Alderman; He is also dad to Greer Kandace, 17, with Barrie Buckner, and Mason Olivia, 7 ½, and Jude Gordon, 5 this month, with his wife Camille Donatacci.

– Anya with reporting by Scott Huver

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Aug 15 2009 03:00 PM ET
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Sparkle in a Tinker Bell Light Up Dress

The Tinker Bell Light Up Dress ($35) from JAKKS Pacific can inspire girls to think happy thoughts and believe in the power of their talents, while the beautiful green dress magically lights up!

– Danielle, suburban NJ mom to extremely girly-girl Anya, 3 ½, with a baby boy due Thanksgiving 09, believes that it’s worth investing in good gear

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