Stroller Derby

Pregnancy, childbirth and raising children is not what it used to be. I'm very happy to report that women and the human race as a whole have at least evolved to being to celebrate pregnancy, pregnant shapes and motherhood. We have come a long way baby from the smocked hidden days of the 1960's and before. It was a great cover up that has thankfully fallen by the wayside for bearing it all in a celebration of the baby bump. A BIG thank you to Demi Moore for bearing it all for the Cover of Vanity Fair (shot by Annie Leibovitz in 1991) magazine while pregnant with daughter Scout LaRue. It sparked controversy at the time but has since become a symbol (to me) of female empowerment.

In fact, pregnant with my first daughter Kaleigh Rain I had a nude maternity photo shoot done. I enjoyed every minute of it both in protest of conservative, generic maternity shoots and in pure celebration of my current state.

Since Demi many magazines have jumped on the baby bandwagon featuring both nude and non-nude celebrities mothers-to-be on their covers and in the pages of their magazines. I find the female form, while pregnant to be this beautiful juxtaposition of elements; so beautiful, strong, fragile, powerful and vulnerable. It is a wonderful state of being which ends in the "pain with a purpose" stage that would bring ANY MAN to his knees! BRAVO LADIES!

The great divide between celebrity and non-celebrity has been bridged via reproduction. We literally have common ground with the women that are idolized, revered and followed. Pregnancy and childbirth brings a human quality to these women that cannot be felt through the pages of a magazine or through the television. We all have the same struggles of morning sickness, weight gain, labor, delivery (in all it's forms), shitty diapers, barf and all of the other wonderful things that come with motherhood. I don’t drive a Bentley or carry a Birkin but I efficiently change diapers and could hold my own in a stroller derby with these women any day of the week!

HA HA!

The celebrity mothers are also inspirational as Chic mammas who have snubbed the track pant and make being pregnant a fashion statement all in its own.

Here are some of my favorite fashionable mammas in various states of motherhood. (CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE!!!)

An honorable mention must be made to the MAJOR MAMMA of 3 Kimora Lee Simmons Hounsou for keeping it real with her fans a posting a photo of her in the hospital in labor to her twitter account and announcing the following (Via @OfficialKimora)

"It's time !! No turning back! At hospital in labor right now!!"

"Having contractions now! Ooo- wee! It's like WHOA!"

She also documented the birth of her son Kenzo Lee in a Style Network special and in an episode of "Kimora Life in the Fab Lane" that chronicled her journey from hospital arrival in labor to his delivery. A very intimate look from the outside. Thank you Kimora for sharing that special time with the world.

The moral of my blog is that keeping in line with the trend setting mammas I am announcing my own reproductive news. My husband David and I are expecting our second child in the spring!!

My news comes on the heels of 2 of my favorite ladies: P!NK and Rachel Zoe who both announced this week that they are also expecting.

P!NK made her announcement on the Ellen show AND tweeted this to her followes: "ok tweethearts: here's my own personal official whatever...... Carey Hart knocked me up and i don't know how to tell my dad. what do i say?"

She also tweeted this WISH: "My wish for this pregnancy, besides a healthy happy baby, is for the paparazzi to LEAVE US ALONE and let me gain my weight in PEACE"

Rachel Zoe ROCKS a Gianfranco Ferre gown and a baby bump! She tweets this yesterday: "Hey everyone! I want to officially confirm to my loyal friends and followers that I am pregnant!..."

Bravo mamma’s to be! Hang on for the craziest, life transforming ride. A real motherhood metamorphosis.