BUZZ MOM OF THE MOMENT

Model Mama Wise words: “If you don’t accept yourself and your body, no one else will,” says . The formidable actress and style icon, who is now also a baby-clothing designer, shares her motherhood mantras with American Baby.

King is due with baby #2 this month!

by PATTY ADAMS MARTINEZ • photographs by COLIENA RENTMEESTER WARDROBE STYLING MICAELA BY ERLANGER FOR THE WALL HAIR GROUP. DEREK BY YUEN FOR STARWORKS. MAKEUP ADAM BY BREUCHAUDMANICURE FOR TMG. MICHELLE BY SAUNDERS FOR CELESTINE AGENCY. ON JAIME: DRESS AND SCARF CALVIN BY KLEIN. RING JENNIFER BY FISHER.

APRIL 2015 9 AMERICAN BABY BUZZ MOM OF THE MOMENT

in your belly. Why not put on things “Don’t hide anything that are tighter, flashier, or more or suck in your fun? Wearing formfitting clothes belly!” says King. totally counteracts that voice inside of us that says, ‘Ugh, I just want to lie down all day and sleep.’ I feel it’s really important to feel good about yourself, and fashion is part of that.”

What should an expecting Q mom have in her wardrobe? “A cute wrap dress is good because you can wear it after pregnancy as well. I love the maternity clothes from Hatch and A Pea in the Pod because they can also be used after you have the baby, and I’m all about not wasting things.” (King also loves a good pair of maternity jeans and will be modeling a new line called Luxe Essentials Denim, by A Pea in the Pod, beginning this month.)

How did you pick the babies’ Q godmothers? We know won the honor for your first, and will be godmother to this new baby. “I asked myself, ‘God forbid anything happened to me, would she take care of my child as if he were her own? What kind of morals would she instill? Will she be backup support if for any reason my child doesn’t want to come to me for something?’ I looked for giving people whom Through social media, you’ve care of the nutrition for yourself I admire, and those two give more Q encouraged women, especially and your child. So don’t let other than anyone I’ve ever met.” pregnant ones, to love their body. people get you down, and don’t put Why is that message important? other women down either.” What was the most surprising “I know what it feels like to be Q thing you learned during body-shamed. People have made You have such amazing style! your first pregnancy, with comments about how I’m too thin and Q What are your best fashion James Knight [now 22 months old]? need to eat a sandwich. I’ve seen it tips for pregnant women? “Finding out that my job [starring happen with other pregnant women “Most either go boho and wear long, on Hart of Dixie] considered my in this business too—we’re either too flowy dresses like they’re going to pregnancy a disability. I was like, ‘I thin or put on too much weight. But the beach, or they throw on can’t take three months off without every woman’s body is different, and sweatpants because they feel like getting paid. I have a child to you don’t know what’s going to crap. To me, pregnancy is the support.’ I went back to work after happen to yours. One friend of mine ultimate symbol of womanhood, six weeks. It was really difficult gained 55 pounds when she was beauty, and sensuality, so make it a trying to navigate that. I realized I pregnant, while my sister gained 30. celebration of creating life. You don’t was living in a world that so many All that matters is that you’re taking have to hide anything or try to suck other working moms are living in.” ON JAIME: TOP AND PANTS ROSIE BY ASSOULIN.CUFFS STANMORE. BY

AMERICAN BABY 10 AUGUST 2015 BUZZ MOM OF THE MOMENT

If friends offer to help with Q a new baby, what’s the thing King Shops the Baby Aisle you would appreciate most? “Bring over food so I don’t have to cook. “For infant shoes, I really love the Or watch the baby sleep while I cute Freshly Picked moccasins.” take a shower. Those little things $45–$60;­ FreshlyPicked.com make a huge difference!”

What’s the best advice you Q received as a new mom? “Sleep when your baby sleeps. Even now that James Knight is older, I know that if I’m tired between 10:30 a.m. and noon, I can lie down and “I have a Fisher-Price take a nap when he’s napping.” tub with a sling built in, so there’s no “Alba Botanica’s Very Emollient What’s one thing you worrying about the Bath & Shower Gel in Midnight thought you’d be strict Q newborn slipping. It’s Tuberose smells great to me, about but you’re not? so brilliant!” even when I’m pregnant and “I thought I’d be one of those parents $30; ToysRUs.com sensitive.” $9.50; Whole Foods who’d say, ‘No screen time!’ But James Knight plays all day and then at night we might let him watch a little bit of Frozen or : The “James Knight had reflux, and Dr. Brown’s Natural “Sapling Child is an Clone Wars. Like me and my organic brand I admire, husband [director Kyle Newman], Flow Bottles were a lifesaver for us.” $15 for so I designed a collection he’s obsessed. He can’t speak in full three; Target.com for them.” $25 each; sentences yet, but he can do Darth SaplingChild.com Vader, Yoda, and R2-D2 voices.” (King also voiced several characters in The Clone Wars series, and her “The Miracle Blanket Shower Hug baby shower for James Knight had is a wrap that supports your a Star Wars theme.) breasts while you’re showering. It’s for the weeks right after birth, What do you love most and it prevents breasts from Q about the baby stage? aching when they’re heavy and “I love every part of it! Probably full.” $30; MiracleBlanket.com because of how long it took me to get pregnant—seven years—and all that I went through with endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome.” her splurge!

What’s your biggest lesson “For our new Q from little James Knight? “He does not hold on to hurt feelings, baby, we picked so he’s given me a get-over-yourself out the beautiful attitude. Now when something Vienne crib bothers me, I think, ‘I should be like James Knight and get over it in two by Restoration seconds.’ Parents can really learn Hardware.” from kids about letting go. Every $1,250; RHBaby time I look at my son, he makes me want to be a better person.” AndChild.com COURTESY OF BRANDS.

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