BumpNews

Read Toni Braxton’s Autism as Punishment for Abortion comments in Context (Autism History INFOGRAPHIC)

Posted on May 23, 2014

Today, news accounts of singer/reality TV star Toni Braxton‘s soon-to-be-released memoir “Unbreak My Heart” is creating debate of a quote over whether God was punishing her for a past abortion by giving her youngest son, Diezel autism.

As the New York Daily News reports, inside the book, she explains how 10 years ago she got pregnant while taking the intense acne medication Accutane which has the side effect of causing birth defects in children born to women taking the drug. Braxton, who currently stars with her sisters in the WETV show Braxton Family Values, said she aborted the baby but later added she would’ve ended the pregnancy anyway out of convenience. She was dating at the time her then-boyfriend Keri Lewis who she later married and bore two sons for Diezel Ky and Denim Cole.

“I was suddenly faced with a choice I’d never thought I’d have to make,” she wrote. “Amid my major misgivings about abortion, I eventually made the gut-wrenching decision… In my heart, I believed I had taken a life — an action that I thought God might one day punish me for. … My initial rage was quickly followed by another strong emotion: guilt. I knew I’d taken a life… I believed God’s payback was to give my son autism.”

Some are calling her all sorts of names for what appears to be a horrible thing to say for several reasons, among them (for people of Faith) (1) that it infers that God is not forgiving and is a punishing entity; and (2) that a child with autism is a curse to their parents.

With no judgment on Braxton, it is fair to assume that there are people out there who have thought that struggles to conceive a child or other birth related trauma or problems may have been a punishment from a higher being. As Braxton stated, it is an “odd” admission but she was being open and candid about her beliefs and feelings at that time based on the strict Christian upbringing and her personal faith systems, however flawed it may have been or is perceived as being.

She is being lambasted for saying openly in her book something that many women yesterday, today and tomorrow may say or wonder to themselves, perhaps privately. Let’s not kid ourselves.

Second, she did say later on in the interview and book that she eventually got educated about autism and changed her way of thinking.

People evolve in thought and behavior and reading her words out of context without taking into account that they are part of a growth in understanding is unfair to Braxton.

The only other thing that may be a little bit more off-putting is the fact that she appears to be an anti-vaxxer in that she mentions that her son only began to show signs of having autism after getting a vaccination. Meanwhile, there is a deadly form of measles rampant worldwide from anti-vaxxer offsprings going around contaminating the population.

To help more understand, check out Masters in Special Education’s latest infographic that breaks down simply the history of autism from past to today. Pass it along.

Source: Masters-in-Special-Education.com

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Celebrity

Tamar Braxton-Herbert Reveals she Had a Recent Miscarriage on last episode of BFV

Posted on April 2, 2017

On this week’s episode of WETV’s Braxton Family Values that aired this past Thursday, March 30, Tamar Braxton-Herbert revealed to her sisters that she suffered a miscarriage.

The episode was about the singer’s attempts to have a second child using IVF treatment. [Watch a clip about it here of Tamar discussing the challenges of IVF with her husband Vince Herbert.]

“You know, I didn’t tell nobody because it was very very new. Well, maybe, like, a week before I went to Atlanta, I found out that I was pregnant,” Tamar told her older sister, Toni Braxton, who erupted in excitement over the news. “Congratulations! You’re pregnant!”

But then Tamar added that she “was” expecting a child to Toni’s shock. It’s a heart wrenching moment when she realizes that her sister lost her baby early in the pregnancy.

“I’m sorry, Tay,” Toni replies after realizing that her sister just told her she suffered a miscarriage. You can catch a teaser here:

You can watch the entire episode on WETV if you are on certain cable networks. Find out HERE!

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Celebrity

A Lot Of Our Faves Were Nominated for Grammys

Posted on December 7, 2018

The nominees for the upcoming February 10, 2010 Grammy Awards were released and a bunch of the celebrity recording artists that have been “bump watched” or otherwise featured on this blog were nominated.

Congrats! Here are the categories and the nominees!

Best Rap Album:

Invasion of Privacy — Cardi B

Best Pop Vocal Album:

Meaning of Life — Kelly Clarkson

Beautiful Trauma — Pink

Best Urban Contemporary Album:

Everything Is Love — The Carters

Best Rap Album:

Invasion of Privacy — Cardi B

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

“Fall in Line” — Christina Aguilera featuring Demi Lovato

“Girls Like You” — Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B

Best R&B Performance

“Long as I Live” — Toni Braxton

“Summer” — The Carters

Best Rap Performance

“Be Careful” — Cardi B

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Celebrity

Celebrity Halloween 2018 Costumes (PHOTOS UPDATED)

Posted on October 31, 2018

Every year, celebrities go above and beyond to give superb portrayals for Halloween. This year did not disappoint. Here is a quick rundown of my faves including some from our Bellyitch Bumpwatch alums like Ciara, Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Jaime King and more.

Kylie Jenner recreated the Barbie in a box. It was one of several costumes she wore this season. She went as a Butterfly in a mommy and me photo with her daughter and as a Victoria Secret Angel group costume with her sisters. (see below)

The winner might be Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner killed as Gomez and Morticia Addams complete with Thing on his shoulder! Best hands down in my opinion this year!

oh I think Heidi Klum as Princess Fiona and Tom Kaulitz as Shrek as is up there too!

Alicia Keys went over the top but in a good way as a Ninja. I mean, she had her entire costume as part of a movie poster and all with the credits including her children and husband.

Beyonce paid homage and tribute to Lil Kim last year and this year, she went with another icon: Toni Braxton. She dressed as the pop crooner’s cover album for “Another Sad Love Song.”

Actress, former model Jaime King dolled it up as Joan of Arc at Just Jared’s Halloween party presented by Carls Jr.

Ciara‘s costume portrayal of Black Panther heroine Nakia from Black Panther is 10X Levels Up! She did Wakanda right!

Crazy Rich Asians actor Harry Shum Jr. was boss as Eric Draven from the 1994 film The Crow,!

I wanted to go as Ariana Grande this year but I don’t think anyone did her better than Kourtney Kardashian did!

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend killed as Queen Elizabeth the II and Prince Phillip.

Winnie Harlowe as RuPaul

Bella Hadid and the Weeknd dress as Beetlejuice and Lydia when going to Heidi Klum’s Halloween party on October 31, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jackson Lee/GC Images)

Padma Lakshmi at Heidi Klum’s 19th Annual Halloween Party as The Black Swan

Kat Graham at Heidi Klum’s 19th Annual Halloween Party presented by Party City and SVEDKA Vodka (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Heidi Klum)

Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson as Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwazzeneger in “Twins”

Kelly Clarkson as a penguin and Jennifer Hudson as Catwoman

The Kardashian/Jenner girls were blessed to have Victoria’s Secret loan them actual angel wings so they can dress as true Angels for Halloween.

My fave is Kourt’s because she is tiny and the oldest

Bethenny Frankel could have joined the sisters because she too dressed as a Vicky Sec angel this year.

The Ladies of The Real TV talk show dressed up as iconic TV talk show hosts. Tamera Mowry-Housley was Tyra Banks. Jeannie Mae went as Ellen Degeneres. Loni Love dressed as Oprah Winfrey and Adrienne Houghton as Sally Jessy Raphael.

The TODAY show traditionally go all out for Halloween. This year, I was thoroughly impressed by Al Roker and Dylan Dreyer dressed as Marty McFly and Doc Brown From Back to the Future.

Kelly Ripa is usually a show stopper wearing a variety of looks and costumes each Halloween with her hosts throughout the years, Regis, Michael Strahan and now with Ryan Secrest. They did a bunch of 80s TV show characters this year. She did it up as as Vicki the Robot From Small Wonder.

The two of them portrayed Jeannie and Major Nelson From I Dream of Jeannie.

And one of my fave shows: Laverne and Shirley‘s Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeney.

Seacrest came out in a small model car like the one Ricky Stratton From Silver Spoons owned and drove in the opening sequence to that show.

Kelly Ripa, Ryan Seacrest, and Art More as a modern twist on the Friends Cast.

I loved Disney Channel stars Jenna Ortega and Asher Angel as Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson. I asked my husband to go as this duo to a Halloween party we were going to and he said no. Boo!

Monica is another celebrity that puts a lot of work into her Halloween costume every single year. She dressed as Johnny Depp‘s portrayal of the Mad Hatter.

Sarah Michelle Gellar looked hot as as Harley Quinn.

Adrienne Bosh could barely be made out in her Halloween Insta share as a Ghoulish Ghost.

One of my faves because of how close to the original it was is Madison Pettis from Nickelodeon‘s Cory in the House as Coachella Beyonce

Also loved Gwen Stefani as Sally From Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Speaking of which! Gabriel Union did a great job dressing as Stefani in No Doubt’s “Just a Girl” video before heading out to her birthday party.

No. Doubt. @gwenstefani
A post shared by Gabrielle Union-Wade (@gabunion) on Oct 27, 2018 at 3:19pm PDT

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Celebrity

She Picked Her Baby’s Sex in IVF then Felt Punished When Born with A Birth Defect

Posted on January 15, 2018

I love the Real Housewives series on Bravo TV though I am not always up to speed on the seasons and the newer members. I was catching up with the latest season of the Beverly Hills housewives series of the franchise when I got introduced to Teddi Jo Mellencamp Arroyave. (Yes, her dad is John Cougar Mellencamp. *swoon*)

The gorgeous blonde seems down-to-earth and has a 5-year olf daughter, Slate and 3-year old son, Cruz, and a hunky security company owner husband Edwin Arroyave. During a couple dinner date hosted by Dorit Kemsley and her husband Paul “P.K.: Kemsley in an early episode, Teddi and Edwin share about the guilt they endured over their son’s health following their decision to select his gender.

After getting pregnant easily the first time, they struggled the second time and turned to IVF for help. During the process, they had 12 embryos fertilized and all but one was female. Edwin wanted a boy, perhaps given they already had a daughter at the time, so they rejected the overwhelming majority of available fertilized embryos to implant the only male egg.

Their son was born with two healthy instead of three aortic chambers and as a result, may have lifelong challenges though he is quite healthy now and the prognosis seems good that he will live a good life. It started out pretty horrific.

“We had a really scary delivery with Cruz,” Teddi relayed during the episode, explaining that Cruz wasn’t breathing when he was born. “They put him on me and one of the nurses was like, ‘He’s not okay, Code Blue.’ And I was just sitting there, and he wasn’t breathing.”

As docs rushed in to attend to their baby, Edwin immediately connected the trauma to his decision to pick the baby’s sex.

“I just remember my sisters were in the room and they’re crying. [Teddi’s] crying. I was like, ‘Holy crap,’ ” he said. “I was just praying like, ‘Lord, give me one more chance. I’ll never do this again.’ ”

He was referring to the selecting of the baby’s sex during in vitro fertilization.

“I made sure it was a boy,” he told the Kemsleys. “I kept saying, ‘I want the boy, I want the boy.’ ”

The couple sincerely expressed regret and felt they were being punished for picking their child’s gender (or sex) when they could have just been grateful for whatever God gave them. I am presuming this. Not putting words in their mouth.

“I’m his mother. My job is to protect him, and that little bit of me who felt like I was selecting something — I choose for him to be a boy, God didn’t choose for me — it’ll always make me feel a little guilty,” Teddi said.

“IVF is one of the hardest things you can go through as a woman,” she added. “One of your biggest jobs is to make babies and when you can’t, you feel sad cause you’re not able to make your baby. And you also feel sad cause you feel like you’re failing.”

You guys know I have an institutional memory and so the disclosure and exchange reminded me a bit of Toni Braxton who revealed in her book that she felt that God punished her for a previous abortion she decided to have in the middle of her then-sizzling hot career. Her son Diezel has Autism. She since went on to explain that her un-evolved notions at the time have changed, after a lot of backlash.

It is not uncommon as I, personally, know women who had fertility struggles and said they felt they too were being punished for an abortion they elected to have when younger. It is a touchy subject.

The ethics of selecting a child’s gender came into play publicly among another celebrity lately. Chrissy Teigen revealed that she felt her first child should be a girl because she wanted her husband, John Legend, to have a daughter. She also got blasted for expressing her decision.

In any event, I have no opinion on the matter other than I am happy that people are being open about these very sensitive issues beause someone out there can relate and perhaps can benefit from hearing and seeing these topics actively and candidly being aired.

Bravo! (Pun intended)

Photo: Jorge Bautista

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Daytime Emmy Red Carpet where Neutral and Sheer Reigned

Posted on May 1, 2017

Yesterday was the Daytime Emmy Awards held at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, California.

You can find a list of winners here!

Doing our usual red carpet scope out of the moms we have featured before on the blog, we saw the neutral and sheer trend still reigning strong.

Tamera Mowry poses for a portrait at “Portraits by The Artists Project Sponsored by Foster Granton” during the 44th Daytime Emmy Awards on April 30, 2017.

In a surprise shift from her usual conservative dress, Tamera Mowry-Housley showed out in a blush jeweled with pearls Tony Ward ball gown with nude tulle overlay and a sheer peekaboo top. Okay Tamera! We see you stepping out of your comfort zone.

Not suprisingly embracing her curves was her co-host on her FOX syndicated show The Real Adrienne Bailon, who also went with neutral tone in a one shoulder curve-hugging. Love!

Jeanne Mai wore white and she, Loni Love and the entire cast posed backstage for a cast photo as part of the “Portraits by The Artists Project Sponsored by Foster Granton” all looking spectacular!

Their old co-host Tamera Braxton-Herbert, who was let go from the show this season, also looked amazing in a neutral tone ball gown as well. She infamously announced days before the show her plans to join the ladies of the cast had they won.

We didn’t get to see that awkward moment (given how devastated Tamar looked in The Braxton Family values airing of her reaction to getting fired and her unfollowing any friend who guest appeared on the show since).

Aisha Tyler‘s show The Talk won their category. She was joined by our other Bumpwatch alum, Sara Gilbert on stage.

Oh and Toni Braxton was there looking fab in black!

Her sis Tamar tried to help fluff her dress but ended up revealing a little extra leg and thigh action. Not that Toni is a stranger to the high slit dress.

Tamar’s dress from Steven Khalil‘s store was spectacular on its own.

View this post on Instagram
….nothing but gown. thank you so much @steven_khalil for this beautiful ornate garment. ?✨#Emmys2017 #iCONtips #TamarBraxton #Fashion #Style
A post shared by iCON Billingsley. (@icontips) on Apr 30, 2017 at 8:52pm PDT

We also spotted one of our OG (original) Bumpwatch mom’s Garcelle Beauvais.

Courtney Mazza accompanied her TV host hubby Mario Lopez as well.

Photos: Starcast, Getty, Instagram, StarPlaza

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Celebrity

#PhilandoCastile and #AltonSterling: Celeb Moms Who’ve Spoken Out About Killings

Posted on July 8, 2016

Tonight, we’ve reached a tipping point in America as several Dallas police officers were killed during a rally to protest recent police shootings. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of those men and women who put their lives at risk daily to protect and serve.

Here is a rundown of what sparked the rally followed by solidarity messages from celeb women we’ve featured on the blog:

Within 48 hours, two black men in “concealed weapon license to carry” states exercising their rights to have guns in their pockets were nonetheless shot and killed by police officers. Both killings, one execution style and the other in front of a 4-year old child during a routine traffic stop, has sparked outrage.

Alton Sterling was selling CDs outside of a grocery store in a high crime neighborhood and exercising his Second Amendment rights as an American, carried a weapon to protect himself. Someone reported to the police that Sterling had it out waving at people and after scuffle with the officers who arrived at the scene and eventually took Sterling down, another took out his revolver and emptied a couple of rounds into Sterling’s body before falling off the man’s chest and shooting a few more shots. The store owner and another eyewitness filmed the shootings on their smartphones and circulated it on social media. The outrage has been swift.

That same night, another man, Philando Castile, was driving with his girlfriend Diamond Reynolds and her 4-year old daughter in the backseat when he was pulled over for a busted tail light. Diamond turned on her Facebook Live and shared the incident as it happened with her followers on the social media site. The world was witness to the moments immediately after one officer shot him as he reached into his pocket to pull out his driver’s license as asked to do so by the officer, per Reynold’s account. The officer can be overheard on the video saying “ignorance”.

As with other past police killings of unarmed black men and boys, many parents have been shaken by the incident especially parents of young black boys. In social media, many have expressed fear that when their children grow up, they will be seen as menacing threats simply for being in the skin they were born in and could be the next hashtag.

I know personally, I’ve talked to my kids again as my husband and I do periodically throughout their lives to make sure they are aware what they need to do to escape a possible police encounter alive. My father in law is a retired veteran police detective and my husband’s uncle was a police officer. We fear for the lives of blue and believe Blue Lives Matter as well, but at the same time, we are frightened by the pattern of brutality among some officers.

To Kiyan ? #philandocastile #altonsterling ??
A photo posted by LaLa (@lala) on Jul 7, 2016 at 1:36pm PDT

We checked in on several of the celeb moms we’ve profiled on the blog before and noticed that some of them spoke out about the shootings in social media.

Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Kristen Bell, Olivia Wilde, Kelly Clarkson, Kelly Rowland, Tamera Mowry-Housley, Tia Mowry, Jenna Dewan Tatum, Tamar Braxton, Ellen Pompeo, busy Philipps,Eva Marcille, Phaedra Parks, Rasheeda, Yandy Smith,Toni Braxton, FAntasia, Brandy all shared posts and Kim Kardashian West and Vanessa Simmons rt’d others.

Here is a roundup of their shares, excluding Monica Brown’s who posted an excerpt of Reynold’s graphic video:

Click the link in my bio to go to Beyonce.com. Turn our anger into action. A photo posted by Beyoncé (@beyonce) on Jul 7, 2016 at 12:42pm PDT

Praying for a more peaceful world for our children and our children’s children. ?? A photo posted by Kourtney Kardashian (@kourtneykardash) on Jul 7, 2016 at 8:44pm PDT

We are all equal in the fact that we are all different. We are all the same in the fact that we will never be the same. We are united by the reality that all colours and all cultures are distinct & individual. We are harmonious in the reality that we are all held to this earth by the same gravity. – C. JoyBell C. We must fix this… Racial injustice is not ok. #altonsterling #philandoCastile A photo posted by tameramowrytwo (@tameramowrytwo) on Jul 7, 2016 at 11:40am PDT

My heart is heavy Illustration by- @nichollekobi
A photo posted by tiamowry (@tiamowry) on Jul 7, 2016 at 5:51am PDT

We can’t be silent… I don’t care what you call me… I won’t be silent
A photo posted by Ellen Pompeo (@ellenpompeo) on Jul 7, 2016 at 7:25am PDT

….what’s the excuse this time? This is ridiculous! Sad, ANGRY, and disappointed in a system that is suppose to protect…NOT kill.
A photo posted by kellyrowland (@kellyrowland) on Jul 6, 2016 at 9:55pm PDT

ENOUGH already!!!! When does this nightmare end? #philandocastile #BlackLivesMatter #PoliceBrutality A photo posted by PHAEDRA (@phaedraparks) on Jul 7, 2016 at 3:09pm PDT

‘Strange Fruit’ Billie Holiday. I keep hearing that song. No more. #FalconHeightsShooting #AltonSterling #PhilandoCastile #BlackLivesMatter
— Jaime King (@Jaime_King) July 7, 2016

NO. I DONT WANT TO WATCH. I WANT IT TO STOP.
A photo posted by Busy Philipps (@busyphilipps) on Jul 7, 2016 at 9:29am PDT

OUR Fathers. OUR Brothers. OUR Sons. When will this end? I am heartbroken.
A photo posted by Fantasia? (@tasiasword) on Jul 7, 2016 at 7:40am PDT

#live
A video posted by Nia Long (@iamnialong) on Jul 7, 2016 at 5:04pm PDT

You are probably going to see this picture a lot today. I hope you do. Baton Rouge cops killed 37 year old #AltonSterling, father of 5, in front of a store where he was selling CDs. The owner of the store told @nydailynews that he openly allowed #altonsterling to sell his CDs in front of his store. #AltonSterling was the 154th black person killed by police this year(to date) Hands behind his back. Shot 5 times. There is a video. I don’t know what can be done but something needs to be. We are better than this. #altonsterling
A photo posted by Busy Philipps (@busyphilipps) on Jul 6, 2016 at 6:30am PDT

This. Is. Cray….. At some point we gotta STAND together? A photo posted by Taytay❤️ (@tamarbraxton) on Jul 6, 2016 at 10:34am PDT
We need to make a difference. #AltonSterling ? prayers to his family & to every other family who’s ever suffered these tragedies. Only thing we can do is be the difference. Use our voices and come together. #Onelove Have a good night and stay prayed up.
A photo posted by Christina Milian (@christinamilian) on Jul 7, 2016 at 1:30am PDT

A photo posted by Rasheeda (@rasheedadabosschick) on Jul 7, 2016 at 9:41am PDT

It is truly tragic when a vicious few turn a peaceful protest into a bloodbath. Horrific and sad. #nomoreviolence
— olivia wilde (@oliviawilde) July 8, 2016

Accountability is key. This is way past ridiculous. This is scary, & real, & it’s murder either way you look at it. https://t.co/TYTQnffr8q
— Kelly Clarkson (@kelly_clarkson) July 7, 2016

A photo posted by kristen bell (@kristenanniebell) on Jul 7, 2016 at 8:20pm PDT

Praying for a more peaceful world for our children and our children’s children. ??
A photo posted by Kourtney Kardashian (@kourtneykardash) on Jul 7, 2016 at 8:44pm PDT

A photo posted by Alicia Keys (@aliciakeys) on Jul 7, 2016 at 5:21pm PDT

“Even with videotaped evidence of police destroying black people, many freedom-living Americans unconvinced of a systematic problem” #RIPAltonSterling #RIPPhilandoCastile I am Truly heartbroken ? As a mother of 2 young growing black men, I am devastated! This has to stop!
A photo posted by Toni Braxton (@tonibraxton) on Jul 7, 2016 at 9:23am PDT

Stand up, speak up. Stop Killing Us!!!! #blacklivesmatter
A photo posted by Eva Marcille (@evamarcille) on Jul 7, 2016 at 4:22pm PDT

#blacklivesmatter
A photo posted by Eva Marcille (@evamarcille) on Jul 7, 2016 at 3:10pm PDT

#altonsterling I am just heartbroken today for his family. We need change. ?
A photo posted by Jenna Dewan Tatum (@jennaldewan) on Jul 6, 2016 at 4:21pm PDT

#philandocastile A photo posted by Rasheeda (@rasheedadabosschick) on Jul 7, 2016 at 9:45am PDT

A photo posted by Rasheeda (@rasheedadabosschick) on Jul 7, 2016 at 11:10am PDT

And this is our reality…… A photo posted by Rasheeda (@rasheedadabosschick) on Jul 7, 2016 at 11:09am PDT

#ENOUGH ?????? #altonsterling??
A photo posted by @garcelle on Jul 6, 2016 at 5:47pm PDT

So I was advise to take my last two post down and edit my comment to protect my family that is behind the cement walls. I will not take my post down but I will edit my comment. Let’s stick together people. Rise above together. ✊? #Repost @tamikadmallory with @repostapp ・・・ #Repost @angelo_pinto_ ・・・ “I just want to thank them for being here, for teaching me to focus on comprehension over career, and that they made sure I learned what the schools were AFRAID to teach us.” – Jessie Williams (2016 BET Awards Humanitarian Award Speech) #woke #independenceday #altonsterling #blacklivesmatter #policebrutality #spilledink #axwell #meditation #skrillex #afrojack #tiesto #davidguetta #asap #blvck #beentrill #muse #ootd #jamaica #PerformanceArt #hypebeast #rastafari #unity #rasta #wutang #philly #afropunk #philadelphia
A photo posted by Yandy Smith-Harris (@yandysmith) on Jul 6, 2016 at 5:33pm PDT

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The 5 Destinations I think You Should Consider for Your Babymoon

Posted on February 4, 2016

Much is said about the importance of new parents getting a babymoon in before the delivery of a newborn, especially for first time parents who may be woefully unprepared for the drastic and dramatic shift in their lives to come.

I don’t believe they were en vogue when I was first pregnant, but if I could go back in time and do it again, these would be my top 5 destinations and why:

La Jolla Cove, California– This quaint Orange County city is an absolutely fab place to get away to for several reasons. It’s near the water and provides a wonderful place to have a late evening picnic or to watch the sun rise or set. It boasts a generous amount of day spas for getting a pregnancy massage or a couple’s massage. It has lovely restaurants, boutique shops and brand name exclusive shops along the main boulevard. It’s moments away from bustling down town San Diego where you can find a live band in any genre playing at the varying pubs, clubs, nightspots and hangouts there. Highly rated. I loved going there on my one year wedding anniversary and would highly recommend it as a baby moon destination. If I could live my life over again, I’d apply to get into the University of San Diego which is near this town. Yeah. I love this area that much.

Las Vegas, Nevada- You wouldn’t ordinarily think this is a wonderful place for a pregnant woman to go especially since many people smoke at the various casinos that litter that town. However, to the contrary, there is a variety of entertainment options offering from Cirque du Soleil to Vegas show girl caberets to world class concerts from music industry legends. Prince, Toni Braxton, Celine Dion and others all headlined major nightly shows there. Even if you go there for a weekend, you’re bound to take in a lot of sights and entertainment. And every time I go, I notice a brand new “it” hotel to supplant the one that was the hottest only a few years prior. Don’t sleep on Vegas as a baby moon option. You can’t get knocked up twice. So what happens in Vegas can stay in Vegas.

Saint Marteen and Saint Martin, West Indies. This twin island which is a Dutch property to the South and French one to the north provides visitors all the pleasures of vacationing in Europe but with the extra plus of being in a warm tropical hotspot surrounded by water. The few times I’ve visited, I was able to escape to the the North and take in the villas of the French side or walk into a bakery and greeted by the shopkeeper telling me “Bon Soir” just as if I were in Nice. I could also appreciate the wonderful international flavor of its multicultural population. Locals speak over 8 different languages and as you walk from one block to the next you are bound to hear people talking in different tongues. On the Dutch side, there is gambling and haggling. St. Maarten is known as one of THE best places to get a deal on jewelry. Then for an added bonus, for the fee of the price of a tiny ferry, you can take a day trip over to the even tinier island of Anguilla, a famous and often visited getaway for many A-list celebrities because of how secluded the villas and rented mansions are. It’s a great place to go to really get away and loaf on a quiet beach. Love Love it

Paris, France – It’s not called the city of love for nothing. The museums, cultural sights, restaurants and shopping make this an ideal destination for any occasion. It may be a long while after baby comes that you will be comfortable either traveling with a baby, small child or children or okay leaving the kids for a Paris trip. While you have the opportunity, it may be a great time to take this sojourn across the ocean and to Europe.

Local Bed and Breakfast – Because not everyone has the budget, time away from work option or interest in traveling too far from family or the doctor or delivery hospital while pregnant, taking advantage of a quick weekend getaway to a nearby inn, bed and breakfast or hotel could do! There are sometimes specials on sites like GroupOn, LivingSocial and other sites that can be taken advantaged of and it saves the cost of car rental and air flight. You can plan to catch a play, movie or head to a local lounge or nightclub in the day and then order in, watch movies, chill by the hotel pool and vege at night. It’s a great option for those who already have kids and want some quiet time alone.

All these options are wonderful for mom and for dad who may have had to deal with an irritable, irate and demanding wife for nearly 9 months. Getting away on a baby moon gives couples that time to reconnect and rededicate their love one last time before the restless nights begin with a new baby!

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Celebrity

30+ Celebrity-inspired Costumes

Posted on October 4, 2015

Take a stroll back to Halloween 2014 and check out all the celebrity -inspired Halloween costumes of the past, some celebrity parents and their kids, and some celebrity-inspired costumes such as these two babies dressed as Beyoncé and Jay Z in front of the portrait of Mona Lisa as during the couple’s Paris visit this fall.

Meanwhile, the actual Carters went as The Jacksons, Janet and Michael.

Kim Kardashian, Kanye West and North West inspired this duo’s costume. Fun!

The Real Kim and North paid homage to Vogue editors with Kim dressed as editor in chief Anna Wintour, North as editor-at-large Andre Leon Talley and friends dressed as the creative director who decided to put Kimye on the cover Grace Coddington with another toddler dressed as designer Karl Lagerfeld.

Nicole Richie and daughter Harlow and son Sparrow as some of the 101 Dalmations.

Invanka Trump and her little Monster, on Joseph.

Tiffanie Amber Thiessen and her family of unicorns, including daughter Harpe and hubby Brady Smith.

Here are Rachel Zoe‘s boys, Kaius and Skyler as Pirates of the Caribbean’s Captain Jack Sparrow.

And later with the whole family in a Peter Pan, Pirate Fantasy theme.

Eva Marcille‘s baby girl Marley is a cupcake. Sweet!

Molly Sims as Snow White and son as Batman.

Not celebrating Halloween but dressed up was Tamar Braxton-Herbert‘s son Logan as an astronaut.

Jenni “JWoww” Farley’s little girl, Meilani, is a bumble bee.

And later as a family of monkeys and fiance Roger Matthews as the banana.

Melissa Joan Hart and fam in a Star Wars theme.

It’s Mason Disick.

And later with the whole fam with Penelope dressed as a skunk and mom Kourtney Kardashian as a cat

Vanessa and Nick Lachey and son Camden in a Peter Pan family theme. Loving the bump!

Holly Madison‘s glam squad did an excellent job converting her it Queen Elsa from the movie Frozen!

Toni Braxton‘s boys Diezel and Denim dressed as a ninja and an alien?

It’s Hilary Duff and son Luca!

Love Vanessa Simmons‘ fashion rabbit ears. It’s Fashion.

TODAY‘s Meredith Vieira, Jenna Bush Hager and new mom Savannah Guthrie as Mom Jeans.

Garcelle Beauvais and her twins boys Jax and Jaid as death and the grim reaper, spooky!

Tamara Mowry Housley‘s son Aden and cuzzo as cowboys.

Tez Palmer and new baby, son Bodhi.

The ladies of The Real including two of our Bellyitch BumpWatch alums, Tamara Housley as an astronaut and Tamar Herbert as a ballerina.

Kim Zolciak Biermann‘s brood were super cute too especially Kaia as an adorable bunny.

Kroy Jr with brother Kane.

Kash and Kroy Jr.

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5 More Ways to Prepare for an Unexpected Pregnancy

Posted on July 26, 2015

HuffPo republished a recent piece from Go Girl Finance on 5 things you should do if you become unexpectedly pregnant.

It includes a well-thought out list from a woman who learned she and her spouse would be getting a new arrival they did not plan for.

Her advice included things like make sure you have adequate insurance, start saving, cease splurging on frivolous items and be mindful that children don’t need the best, so just be frugal.

From a financial standpoint, this is great advice. However, from an emotional standpoint, especially for a woman who is not committed yet to the person she winds up pregnant with, the preparation will require additional steps.

Here is what I will add:

1. Seek support immediately from a close family member, friend, clergy, therapist, close neighbor, psychic, or whomever you feel close enough to or comfortable with discussing things like an unplanned pregnancy.

You don’t want to rush into anything like abortion, adoption, solo-parenthood or forced commitment with a person you don’t want to stay committed to without being able to process and talk out your concerns and feelings.

Going through it all in your head is not a good idea because your feelings and thoughts will change and adjust hourly, if not daily. This is a highly emotional time. Also, due to your pregnancy, your hormones will be all over the place.

2. If you decide to end the pregnancy or go through the pregnancy and then put up your child for adoption, spend a little extra time getting counseling for the psychological short and long term effects of those decisions as they will stay with you for the rest of your life. They may haunt you when you least expect it years into the future so be aware and prepared to process feelings associated with an abortion or adoption when they crop again later.

Further, different states have different laws. You need to know what you can and cannot do. Also, Religious people will have separate feelings to deal with as well, based on their beliefs, moral and religious codes and upbringing.

I have friends who face a little infertility or later give birth to a child with a disability who have blamed it on a past abortion they had. Even Toni Braxton wrote in her autobiography that she felt having a son with autism was punishment from God for having aborted a child early in her career because it wasn’t convenient.

3. If you decide to go through with the pregnancy, make sure you have emotional and financial support from family and close ties. You cannot go it alone, especially if you decide to not continue with the relationship with the man for whom you are pregnant. Pregnancy and parenthood are majors life altering undertakings.

4. See the steps from this HuffPo piece and secure healthcare and mind your finances. If you are in school still or have a low to moderate income job, do some research into what supplemental income, food or healthcare support may be available to you. The U.S. Government will cover unwed teens and their children under Medicare and the new Healthcare law (euphemistically called “Obamacare”) expands coverage to other low-income adults. Find out when the enrollment period is and get covered.

If you are in school, you will need to make plans for taking exams if they interfere with your due date and when you return, you’ll have to now work in childcare when you’re in class. You may have to forgo night or evening classes depending on your support options.

5. If you and your partner are committed, sit down and start mapping out plans for future, including division of labor and how your pooled income will be spent. Make sure you still put aside even $25 or more each paycheck for your own personal fund so you have some independence and a modest safety net just in case things go south. It’s best to be prepared than simply move forward on hope and a prayer for a good outcome.

Also, check out your job’s human resources manual to see what your rights are and if you have a female co-worker who has had a baby before, see if you can have lunch with her and ask her what to expect.

Being mindful and prepared is the best way to go into an unplanned pregnancy.

Image: HuffPo

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