Hey Mama!

The phenomenal Bea, her beautiful daughter, Zawi and Diego, her adorable pooch.

If you are pregnant or know someone who is, this is your lucky day. I am offering super cute, amazingly soft 100 % cotton T-shirts from my maternity T-shirt line 'bellies by calista' at a discounted price of $35 for two or $20 for one (they usually retail for $25 for short sleeved and $30 for long), through May 20th. Just email me and we can sort out shipping details.

For ONE lucky reader though, you get a free maternity T-shirt. All you have to do is either send me a picture (covered or uncovered) of your baby bump (past or present) OR tell me what havoc pregnancy has wreaked on your body (misery loves company) or how GREAT it has made your body (in which case you won't win, cause I totally hate you. Just kidding.) Note: I will post the picture and or letter on the blog, so it should be tasteful.

Good Luck and Happy Mama's Day!

PP

D-Day??

So it's my EDD today. 'Expected Due Date' for the non-moms out there. And nada. Wow, it seems second babies come early for everyone but yours truly. But I will remain positive. And grateful. For I have been truly blessed with a complication free pregnancy. Mild morning sickness, no high blood pressure/pre eclampsia issues, no out-of-the-ordinary aches and pains, no swelling - I am still wearing my wedding and engagement rings with no trouble and all my shoes. I still look good - if I do say so myself- for a 40 week pregnant woman. I mean, I have the 'pregnant moon face' a bit, but hey, at least I'm still walking upright. Yes, the standards have been lowered, people.





Everyone says I should walk more to induce labor, but we all know that you can walk ten miles, drink all the Castor oil available in your local 'Rite Aid', eat spicy tacos all day, have sex 24-7, etc etc etc and the baby will come when it wants to and not before. Unless you're trying to say that all overdue women are nonathletic, bland food eating, frigid women, that hypotheses, holds no water. But I did venture outside for a romp in the snow with my 'hunnybunny', cause he asked so sweetly, "Mama go outside, play in snow, pweeez???". Now, how could I say no? Besides, just in case there is any truth to the 'get moving- have a baby' thingy, I was not about to miss out. No Siree Bob. So there we are, basking in our last day as Mama and only child. You will always be my first baby, but never again the only one. Awww, bittersweet. Good thing he has no clue. And God help us all.
p.s. if I don't post for a while, then I'm probably having a baby.

Breaking News! Nicole Richie & Christina Aguilera...

...were NEVER pregnant! There. I said it. Got that one off my chest. I mean, granted my statement hasn't the slightest empirical or scientific or even 'close friend' gossip credibility, and it is, admittedly borne out of EXTREME bitterness, but I just REFUSE to believe that not only did these gorgeous twig thin girls with 'pretend' baby bumps, look all glowy and pose NUDE (gasp) while pregnant, they had their babies before me!!! It's a conspiracy, I tell you. I wish them stretch marks and a thousand hemorrhoids for having the audacity to show me up. Just kidding. Well, a little, I guess.
As I am home and a tad bit bored, I decided to come up with a list of things that one should have to feel even a little human post partum.

Number One

is definitely, comfy, yet cool clothes. Take it from me, you will NOT be skinny when you come home from the hospital, so you might as well wrap your mind around it now. You will look at least 6 months pregnant, so plan to dress accordingly. Unless of course you are Nicole Richie. And then, that may not be a good thing, but I digress. In the first picture that's me, modelling one of my fun maternity Tshirts from my own line 'belliesbycalista" The website is still being worked on, but the Tshirts are available for sale directly from me. I have a long sleeved separate shirt cos it was cold and I chose not to wear the long sleeved version for some insane reason.

Number Two

Something to hold that deflated, wrinkly balloon like thing that your stomach will be after birth. Take it from a veteran mom, you will need all the support you can get. In many cultures, including mine, we bind the belly tightly until you almost pass out, and then bind it some more. No kidding. I was sucked into the slightly more civilized version by another celeb Brooke Burke. She has the most awesome abs I have ever seen and she has three kids! Working on kid number four right now. Anyway, she has the overpriced corset thing called 'Tummy Tauts' on her website http://www.babooshbaby.com/ which I bought. Of course, after I bought it, I found a million and one cheaper belly thingys on amazon.com. Plus, factor in the fact that Brooke's amazing figure probably has little to do with her belly wrap and more to do with, I dunno, her personal trainer, personal chef, good genes and what not, but I own it, nonetheless, and if doesn't work, you bet you'll be hearing from me.

Number Three

Something for your blotchy complexion and swollen capillary glands. Now I know you're thinking that I am over exaggerating, but I'm just being honest. Noone ever looks great after delivery- you just don't! What with being swollen from all the iv's, all the trauma takes its toll and you are literally "To' up from the flo' up" as they say. So even if the rest of you is not looking that great, you can at least give yourself a 15 minute facial courtesy of Clinique, so that you don't look crazy in those obligatory first photographs. I had to learn that one the hard way, trust me.

Number Four

A present for the new 'big brother' or sister, if it applies. This is necessary for your sanity, when the big brother starts freaking out at the hospital or tries to bite the baby. Even if your little one is an 'angel', it's just nice to have a little something for him. This 'new baby' thing is life changing for everyone.

Number Five

'Push Present' for the new Mother. I just heard about this new phenomenon sweeping the labor wards across America and I LOVE it! Reward the mother for the 'lease' of her weary uterus and the harrowing labor she is about to or has already gone through. It can be anything, but we prefer designer purses. Meet my new baby in fifth photo. WHAT???

Lastly, a few random pictures of things I think you should see, like my uber cute packaging for my maternity T shirts. Chinese food take out cartons! Oh, clever, clever, me! And there's another T shirt design in black. I know, I have to figure out this picture posting thing. I can't seem to rotate the pictures or get them into any kind of order, it's insane. But I will get better, just keep on reading. And commenting. Oh and tell your friends. :-)

Forever Pregnant...

So here I am, 39 weeks 3 days pregnant, convinced that I will be 'with child' forever. This baby is not coming out - like EVER. I am afraid to leave the house, as everyone, from my toddler son's teachers to the random cashier at 'Cosi's" is asking, "You haven't had that baby yet?". Uh... no, obviously. And it's KILLING me! If only I felt that labor was imminent. You know, contractions, pressure, occasional back labor... Nada. So, forever pregnant, but still fabulous. At least that's what I keep telling myself.

But on to my new maternity leave/parenting/fashion blog. I know you must be thinking 'Prada's in The Milk?', 'The Prada Principles', whaa? I know, I know, but I just love that movie "The Devil wears Prada" and I adore fashion and I wanted something that didn't scream just MOM, but conveyed my fashion forward state of mind but would also pique the interest hopefully of fashionistas mamas everywhere - so what better than Prada and Milk? "This Mama Wears Prada" just seemed too easy. But for the record, I don't own ONE Prada item- my clothes horse hubby does, not sure if it counts - but I figure it's a state of mind, if you know what I mean. No? That's okay, you'll 'get' me later.