Dannii Minogue - Who Magazine's Most Beautiful - capturing the beauty of a first time pregnancy. Just come back & see me when you are up to #3...

Back in the mid-eighties, every Aussie teenage girl wanted to be Dannii Minogue.

With her big 80's teased hair, funky 80's fashions, singing and dancing up a storm on a Saturday night on Young Talent Time - who didn't want to be Dannii? My sister and I would copy the hair and fashion and sing along with the songs. When Dannii got a perm, we got a perm. If Dannii teased her fringe, we teased our fringes. If Dannii wore a braid, we wore a braid. Why, if Dannii jumped off the Harbour Bridge we would probably have given that a go too.

So now in my late thirties I find myself pregnant at the same time as Dannii - pretty much due around the same time. However, as I sit in my jim jams, feeling bloated & exhausted with bags under my eyes, I am a far cry from emulating 2010 Dannii, even if I tried. Voted this week as Who Magazine's Most Beautiful, deservedly so, Dannii is a perfect poster girl for how attractive a pregnant woman can be - even with the help of a stylist, a bit of lippie and a beautiful dress. Regardless, she looks absolutely fantastic. But then, all first time mum's are beautiful - they have that "glow" you always hear about in pregnancy books. Pregnancy is a beautiful thing - and don't get me wrong, take away all the yucky stuff, I love being pregnant - however I would like to see if Dannii feels just as beautiful after a couple of pregnancies. I must admit, the novelty does tend to wear off just a little. Let me elaborate....

Given that it is her first child (oh, and the fact that she is a super hot pop star!), she has the edge over me anyway because she only has herself to consider, and I do recall when I was pregnant with Gigi that I was all about pedicures and manicures and coffee with friends and running my own business - because it was all about me. I can say that unashamedly because it was fun having everyone make a big fuss over you. I bought all the pretty over sized clothes and dresses, had my hair done and wore lots of makeup. Hubby and I even went on one of those so called babymoons - a weekend away just for the parents-to-be, lots of pampering and massages and good food and quality couple time. Enjoy it while you can, I say, because the second time around, people are less fussed because they figure you have been there, done that, plus you have a cute little toddler to chase around after and it is all about them now. I had sold my business and was alot more casual in my approach to pregnancy - still wore the pretty, billowy dresses and wore a little bit of makeup but did less of the mummy pampering - had the odd pedicure and wore my hair in a ponytail 80% of the time because a trip to the hairdresser with a two year old was all too hard. As for a weekend away, meh, who had the time or the energy or the inclination.

Now I am heading towards the business end of pregnancy number 3 and it's basically just going through the motions this time around. I have a signature pair of loose, stretchy pants, several plain, longline tee shirts in bigger sizes, a range of scarves and a couple of layered cardis and that is pretty much it for me. I am down to a smidge of foundation (mainly to cover and fill wrinkles), but having said that, I always wear blush and lipstick as a rule. Depending on time or if I am in the mood to be bothered, all my other makeup is simply gathering dust in the cupboard. I went for a hair cut the other day and my hairdresser was shocked at how long it was - and funny, I can't remember when I last had a hair cut. You see, this time around we are talking ponytail 99% of the time..

Now don't get me wrong, frock me up, shave my legs, do my hair and makeup and send me to a ball and I would guarantee you I would have a good time and I would have that "pregnancy glow" but for now, I am more than happy to curl up on the lounge with my little chickadees, who love mummy just as she is, and leave the glamour shots to Dannii. But seriously, congratulations Dannii - you have worked hard and I am really happy that you will get to experience motherhood as it is really the best thing in the world and I am sure you will look just as fabulous next time around x

seed Autumn/Winter 2010 in store plus special offer on shipping within Australia until 13th March 2010

seed Autumn/Winter 2010 is in store now, with a special offer of free shipping within Australia only until Sunday. As Katie Holmes' baby boutique of choice whilst in Australia, seed has both a beautiful kids line as well as a practical and chic women's wear line called seed femme. They have some beautiful textured scarves on sale so with my burgeoning belly, I think I am gonna stock up!

2 Pink Lines.....

It is with great joy that I can announce that I am 13 weeks pregnant! Our much longed for third baby is due late July and we are so thrilled! It has been a very long, hard journey to get here as I have had alot of health complications in the past 3 years that have hindered our progress in getting pregnant but after 3 unsuccessful cycles of IUI, we took a break in October to consider our options and though I was told it would be very unlikely I would fall pregnant naturally, my little miracle happened and we did just that - finding out on my 39th birthday which was the best present ever! There will still be extra ultrasounds and tests required to ensure the safe arrival of our baby but in the meantime, I look forward to enjoying my pregnancy and sharing my experiences with you. I will be continuing with gigi+lulu but I am also creating a new blog - Baby, One More Time, which will be a diary of my pregnancy in my own words and I look forward to talking about my experiences with IVF/IUI, life after an abnormal pap smear and cone biopsy, the fun things that Gigi & Lulu say about my growing tummy and generally just documenting my experiences for my children to read one day. Once again, thank you for your ongoing support and I hope you enjoy my new blog as well x x x
PS: It is a little grainy but above is a photo of our little jellybean, giving us a little wave at my 10 week scan

Yummy Mummy - Camila Alves in Yumi Kim

Sick of the boring tent dresses that you see in maternity boutiques? Yes, you know the ones - those that could house a three ring circus underneath in colours so blah, you would blend in on a rainy day? My policy was simple when I was heavily pregnant during the warmer months - NO TENT DRESSES! Instead, I was a big fan of the babydoll dress, as well as strapless, elasticized dresses that grew with my tummy. In particular I had a hot pink Charlie Brown strapless dress that I practically lived in. While browsing around the web this week, I came across this photo of Matthew McConaughey's partner and baby mumma Camila Alves - what an absolutely stunning dress! It's from NYC designer Yumi Kim - the Woori Dress in Watercolour

Now THAT'S what I call a Yummy Mummy!

Looking absolutely stunning in this evening gown with her ever so subtle baby bump, supermodel Heidi Klum attended the "The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion" Costume Institute Gala Ball in New York City on Monday at the Met. This is my new favourite maternity evening gown, closely followed by Kimora's gown we showed you in February. Like I would ever go anywhere to where it.... : )

Next time I need a dress for an awards ceremony whilst pregnant, I will be giving Kimora Lee Simmons a call ...

I just love, love, love this maternity evening gown by A Pea in the Pod Collection, as worn to a Grammy's party by model & Baby Phat designer Kimora Lee Simmons. It is a stunning colour and very flattering for a mum-to-be. Beautiful & elegant for a glowing Kimora. So if you are looking for something to wear to the Oscars next week, try Kimora at Baby Phat - "as new, worn once..."