Star Moms on Joys of Parenthood, Mother’s Day Plans

Happy Mother’s Day from Celebrity Baby Scoop.

In celebration of moms everywhere, let’s take a look at some of our favorite celebrity moms – including Sheryl Crow, Alyson Hannigan, Heidi Klum and Kendra Wilkinson – on the joys of parenthood and their Mother’s Day plans.

Gena Lee Nolin:

Mom-of-four Gena Lee Nolin has been inviting Celebrity Baby Scoop readers along as she shares her life experiences – and asks for advice – as she juggles her busy life with husband, former NHL star Cale Hulse, and their four children: Spencer, 17, Caia, 12, Hudson, 8, and Stella, 5.

In her latest guest blog, Gena shares her thoughts on the real meaning of Mother’s Day.

“Mother’s Day to me has never been about getting flowers or fancy restaurants,” she shared. “It’s truly being with my children, eye to eye, sharing stories, their homemade cards and embracing the way they want to celebrate me.”

She added: “I let it unfold the way they want, as we did for my mom — special cupcakes included.”

Bethenny Frankel:

Reality star and talk show host Bethenny Frankel is set to celebrate her daughter Bryn‘s fourth birthday a few days before Mother’s Day.

Celebrity Baby Scoop recently caught up with the talk show host, and asked how Bryn would describe her.

“She would say that I am a fun, strict, and loving mommy,” the single mom said of her pretty preschooler.

Bethenny went on to gush about the joys of motherhood.

“There’s nothing we don’t do together to bond,” she added. “We go to the park and to Disney On Ice, and we also have picnics and take nice walks. We have snuggle parties, cook, bake, and do everything. We sing and have dance parties too.”

Alyson Hannigan:

How I Met Your Mother alum Alyson Hannigan and husband, fellow actor Alexis Denisof, are parents to two daughters: Satyana, 5, and nearly 1-year-old Keeva.

“Being a mom is simply the best thing I have ever done,” Alyson gushed to Celebrity Baby Scoop. “My kids make me laugh and smile every day.”

Hank Baskett, regarding his wife Kendra Wilkinson:

Former NFL star Hank Baskett and wife, Kendra on Top star Kendra Wilkinson, are expecting their second child – a daughter – any day.

Hank recently gushed to Celebrity Baby Scoop about the joys of seeing his wife expecting their child.

“I just love looking at her because that’s when you really look at a woman and say, ‘You have really given me everything.’ When a woman gives you a child, she is truly giving you everything,” Hank shared.

He added: “I just grow more and more in love with her over the years. To this day, I fall in love over and over because she keeps me on my toes and I never know what to expect from her.”

As for Kendra, the reality star is “beyond excited” about their daughter on-the-way.

“We had another child so we could have a girl and balance out this house,” she told Celebrity Baby Scoop of giving their 4-year-old son Hank a sister. “I’m ready for the challenge and am excited to show her what life is all about.”

She added: I’ve always wanted a boy and a girl. I think it’s a perfect balance. Now, it’s going to be 3 girls and 3 boys, including our dogs – the playing field is now even!”

Sarah Rafferty:

Suits star Sarah Rafferty is proud mom to daughters Oona, 6, and Iris, 2.

The actress recently gushed to Celebrity Baby Scoop about her girls, whom she says are “the light of my life.”

“It’s funny. Sometimes I have disassociated moments where I think, ‘Wait, I’m their mother.’ I’m just here having fun with these children and enjoying them but I can’t believe I’m already at this phase in my life where I’m raising them,” she shared.

She added: “It’s such a blessing to have my two girls. The world that they’re growing up in is different than the one that I grew up in, in so many wonderful ways, and in so many ways that I’m a little bit nervous about. They’ve got the Internet and social media. There’s a lot to educate myself on, as a parent, in the years to come in terms of raising children in this environment.”

Kym Whitley:

Actress and comedienne Kym Whitley recently opened up to Celebrity Baby Scoop about her 3-year-old son Joshua.

“One of the rewards is the discovery,” Kym said of the joys of motherhood.

She added: “My life is different now and I have a different path of discovery. I would have never had that if I hadn’t become a mother. It has made me look at life differently. The reward is that instead of a barometer, I now have a meter of what is important in life, because I put him first before I make a decision.”

Heidi Klum:

Model Heidi Klum is proud mom of four kids – Leni, 9, Henry, 8, Johan, 7, and 4-year-old Lou – and recently opened up to Celebrity Baby Scoop about her favorite part of motherhood.

“That is so hard, because there are so many amazing things,” said the Project Runway star.

She added: “I would say the love that you feel with a child. For me, having a family is life and I understood once I had children how amazing it is, and that nothing else is really important but them.”

Malea:

Singer-songwriter Malea recently welcomed her first child, daughter Grace.

The Rainbow Girl singer opened up to Celebrity Baby Scoop about celebrating her first Mother’s Day.

“I’m very excited to finally be a mom and of course will be sharing it with Grace,” she said of her first Mother’s Day with her baby girl. “We will probably take a walk with our dogs (my hairy babies) and have a nice breakfast together.”

As for motherhood, the singer says, “It has made me softer and healed me in some ways… Little things don’t seem to matter much anymore.”

Trista Sutter:

The Bachelorette star Trista Sutter and husband Ryan Sutter are proud parents to two children – son Max, 6, and daughter Blakesley, 5.

“This year, I will be watching my daughter at her first dance recital over Mother’s Day weekend,” Trista recently told Celebrity Baby Scoop. “I can’t wait. She is so proud of her dance class and what she’s able to do and she just thoroughly loves it.”

She added: We have an event called ‘Dance TV’ through the Vail International Dance Festival. Each year they teach master classes with some of the people from So You Think You Can Dance. Allison Holker, Twitch, and Alice Long were there one year and we took a class. She turned to me and said, ‘Mommy when is everyone else going to leave because I want the stage.’ [laughs] It is in her bones–she wants to perform and she wants to dance. I’m so excited to see her at her first recital!”

Bill Rancic, regarding wife Giuliana Rancic:

Kitchen Casino star Bill Rancic and wife, Giulana & Bill star Giuliana Rancic, are proud parents to son Duke, 20 months.

“Moms are so important in my life. My mom continues to be a huge influence, as does Giuliana’s,” Bill recently gushed to Celebrity Baby Scoop.

He added: “And now that we have Duke, I love celebrating what a great mom my wife is to our son. I’m sure we’ll do something to celebrate our family and how blessed we all are.”

Kimberly Elise:

Apple Mortgage Cake actress Kimberly Elise is mom to daughters Butterfly and Ajableu and recently opened up to Celebrity Baby Scoop about her favorite way to spend Mother’s Day with her girls.

“I like to be pampered and I like to eat breakfast in bed,” she shared. “I want to start with breakfast in bed and continue in that way throughout the day.” They know it’s coming and I’m like, ‘Get ready!’”[laughs]

When asked what kind of mother they would say she is, the actress replied: “I would say that they would say I am very dedicated. They have always felt that they have come first. They’d say I’m fun very strong and very loving. I feel confident today that they would say they are happy to have me as their mom.”

Kellie Martin:

Life Goes On alum Kellie Martin is proud mom to 7-year-old daughter Maggie.

When Celebrity Baby Scoop recently asked if motherhood has changed her at all, the actress replied, “Oh my gosh, massively!”

“If it doesn’t change you, you’re doing something wrong,” she added. “I waited until I was thirty to have Maggie and I think I was pretty selfish before having a child. I definitely don’t put myself first at all. I take the time I need to do certain things, like I always make sure I work out every day. I take good care of myself so I don’t put myself first.”

For the actress, it sounds like motherhood has made a huge difference in her life.

“The things that used to make me happy or really excited don’t really make me happy or excited anymore,” she continued. “It’s kind of different now, because my priorities change and all of that. I am a lot more patient than I used to be too…I was never a patient person and I have a lot more patience now.”

Holly Madison:

Former Playboy model Holly Madison has been transformed by motherhood since the arrival of her daughter Rainbow in March 2013.

“Rainbow is an amazing, easy baby. I got really lucky,” Holly gushed to Celebrity Baby Scoop.

She added: “I love her so much and she has inspired me to slow down and enjoy life in the moment. It’s hard to keep up with everything when you are a mom, but you also realize it’s OK to let some of the stuff you used to think was so important go.”

Tamera Mowry-Housley:

Sister, Sister star Tamera Mowry-Housley welcomed her first child – son Aden – in November 2012.

The Tia & Tamera star opened up to Celebrity Baby Scoop about the joys of motherhood.

“It’s been a beautiful and amazing journey, and it’s taught me humility,” she gushed.

And the actress was sure to keep it real when describing the adjustment into motherhood.

“I’ve also experienced the most challenges in my life with him, all in a short amount of time. It’s really interesting,” she admitted. “The challenges I had before were spaced out, like dealing with a break-up and college. When you have a kid, there are like three big challenges a week. It humbles you and teaches you that things will always work themselves out.”

She added: “It also teaches you that you can’t control everything. Your child will sleep through the night one day, and the next day you’ll be like, ‘What the hell happened to my angel?!’ [laughs] That’s just the way it is! It teaches you to just go with the flow.”

Hilaria Baldwin:

Married to 30 Rock star Alec Baldwin, yoga instructor Hilaria Baldwin recently opened up to Celebrity Baby Scoop about welcoming the couple’s first child together – daughter Carmen, 9 months.

“I think the biggest surprise of motherhood is just the reality of it and how much you can really love this little person,” the new mom gushed. “She is such a sweetheart. People told me I was going to love my baby more than I could ever understand, and I almost didn’t believe them. However, they were absolutely right. Carmen is an absolute blessing.”

“To me, the biggest challenge is that you start to worry as soon as you have a baby,” she went on to share. “I want her to be happy and a lot of it is realizing you’re not in control of everything. You can only do your very best and a lot of it is letting go. It’s scary how fast they change. It’s incredible, because she’s still such a little baby who just turned one month, but I still think to myself, ‘Oh, she’s growing up so fast!’ People say that you blink and all of a sudden your kid is eighteen and going off to college, so I’m trying to enjoy every single moment.”

It sounds like the new mom is lapping up every moment with her sweet baby girl.

“Every moment with her is so special,” Hilaria continued. “It sounds silly, but one really special moment with her was when they gave her to me. We didn’t record my birth, because that was something that I wanted to remember but not record. However, he did use my iPhone to record the moment she was given to me. I wasn’t thinking about anything other than her. A few days later, I was looking through photos and I found the recording that they did. I can’t tell you how beautiful it is to have your baby put in your arms. It’s unbelievable. It’s also so incredible whenever she smiles and giggles. It’s all so amazing, even waking up with her at 2 a.m. is wonderful.”

Snooki:

Jersey Shore alum Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi welcomed her first child – son Lorenzo – in August 2012.

For the former party girl, Snooki says motherhood has been transformative.

“Motherhood has completely changed my life — from the way I view things to the way I live my life,” she shared with Celebrity Baby Scoop. “Becoming a mom has just made me realize, ‘Grow the hell up.’ And just looking at my son everyday made me realize he’s my life now and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

She added: “The best thing about being a mom is knowing that my little nugget is mine and will always be my baby. He’s my sunshine.”

Sheryl Crow:

Rockstar Sheryl Crow is proud mom to two sons – Wyatt, 7, and Levi, 4.

The singer-songwriter recently opened up to Celebrity Baby Scoop about her boys, who she says are “just the best.”

“They have so much energy and they keep me young! I wouldn’t change a thing,” the proud mom gushed. “I love getting to see things through their eyes.”

Happy Mother’s Day to all our favorite celebrity moms — and to all of you!