Let me start this off by saying how incredibly touched I was by all of the support I received after my last blog.

My breastfeeding struggles have been the hardest part of mommyhood and it really helped me to read all of your comments and suggestions. I also loved hearing from those of you who are going though the same thing — it’s nice to know I’m not alone.

Thank you for not judging me and for reminding me that no matter what Elliotte is being nourished and is healthy … and that is all that matters.

How is it possible that I already have a 10-week-old? You guys weren’t kidding around when you said it goes by fast! It truly feels like yesterday that I was doing jumping jacks on my bed and eating crazy pregnancy salads trying to induce labor. (None of that worked, by the way.)

Two and a half months in and I think I’m finally starting to get my mojo back. (By mojo I mean I’m now brushing my hair and showering on a daily basis … HUGE improvement!)

Elliotte and I are now starting to have somewhat of a routine and just like every mom told me, it all gets a little easier every day. That being said, I think I apologize to my daughter at least once a day as I explain to her that I’m still new at this and she needs to bear with me!

A few weeks ago we had our very first public poop explosion. In my perfect world, I just assumed that my little lady would save the epic debacles for the privacy of our own home.

Of course, the restaurant we were eating at had no changing table in the bathroom, so Elliotte and I high-tailed it out to my car and we changed her poopy pants on a very busy Los Angeles street. Super glamorous, right?

As she lay there confused as to why she was naked in the trunk of my car, I whispered to her, “I’m sorry baby, Mommy has no idea what she’s doing.”

I’ve decided that having a sense of humor about such events is the only way to get through it all. Last week at Mommy and Me, I split my jeans open as I excitedly sat down on the carpet ready to sing “The Wheels On The Bus”. Hoping no one would notice, I gracefully took a swaddle blanket out of my diaper bag and placed it on my lap.

I looked over at Elliotte and gave her a wink, letting her know that this new mom disaster moment was our little secret.

My self-esteem mojo is still a work in progress to be honest. (Did I mention I split my maternity jeans last week?) This in-between phase of still wearing your pregnancy clothes while longing for your former self wardrobe is pretty miserable.

Obviously I knew that my tightly pulled pregnancy stomach wasn’t going to be toned and perfect once the baby was born, but one could only hope that the uncomfortable belly band I wore for six weeks would at least produce an ab or two. (Jessica Alba … I give you and your post-baby bikini major credit!) I’m pretty sure (okay … I’m 100 percent sure) that my relationship with the bathing suit is now forever changed.

Last week my friend (and fellow new mommy) Lindsay Sloane and I hosted a party benefiting Baby Buggy. We got a bunch of our mom friends together for a fun afternoon of spa treatments and manicures and everyone donated a box of diapers or wipes to help families in need of baby essentials. Baby Einstein and Quinny sponsored the event and there was even a fun play area for all of the little ones to hang out in.

It was such a great afternoon! I was going to post a picture but Lindsay and I agreed that we both look a little too sleep-deprived to share!

A lot of you have been asking me when I plan on going back to work. That is a question I don’t have the answer to just yet. The thought of leaving Elliotte all day and handing her off to someone else while I’m shooting is a tough pill for me to swallow.

I know that she will only be this little peanut for a little while longer and I just don’t want to miss a moment. I also know that eventually I will need to pull myself up by my bootstraps and get back to work. So working moms and dads of PEOPLE.com, tell me … how do you do it? How do you find the balance between your children and your career?

I look forward to hearing from you all — leave a comment below or send me a Tweet @marlasok.

– Marla Sokoloff

Greetings from baby land!

Sorry for the delay in updating you all — apparently, finding the time to write a pregnancy blog is way easier than finding the time to write a blog about your newborn!

As some of you may or may not know, my daughter Elliotte Anne Puro was born (after a brief 30 hours of labor) on February 8th at 8:05 p.m. weighing in at 7 pounds on the nose.

Words cannot express my complete and utter love for her. I know every parent says this, but she’s absolutely perfect!

For nine months, I feared labor and delivery. The unknown of it all literally kept me up at night. Much like pregnancy, I was faced with another event that I had zero control over.

The worst part for me was waking up every morning wondering if today was the day. Towards the end, I felt like I was sitting around (because I was too uncomfortable to really go anywhere!) waiting for my entire life to change.

I’m happy to report that now that I’m on the other side — it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Yes, it was long and sometimes crazy painful — but once they placed my baby girl on my chest … it was all a distant(ish) memory.

To be honest, the whole experience felt like a fun adventure. Everything from watching the contractions rise and fall on the monitor to staring at my sweet husband asleep on a cot while I ate a cherry popsicle at four in the morning to curb my hunger.

I will never forget that surreal feeling of arriving to the hospital as a twosome and leaving a family. I will also never forget the “Holy moly!” feeling of arriving home with this new little person that wholeheartedly trusts you and assumes you know what the heck you are doing!

I’m slowly adjusting to the exhaustion that being a new parent brings. For the first two weeks I was running on adrenaline and hormones, and now my body is starting to catch on to the fact that sleep is no longer a part of our daily regimen.

I’ve tried to sleep when she sleeps, but that’s easier said than done. I always feel like there’s so much emailing/phone call returning/cleaning up to do. (For example: I’m able to write this blog because she’s napping as I type this!) Although I must say, one of my favorite things in the universe is when we nap together and she falls asleep on my chest. Heaven!

The only part of mothering that has truly been difficult for me (so far) is breastfeeding. I know this topic is something that many of you may find controversial but I want to talk about this because I know that I’m not the only mom out there who has wrestled with this issue.

We are now five weeks into Elliotte’s life and it’s something that I’m still really struggling with.

My milk production came in quite low and after weeks of trying to find our groove, most feedings end with both of us in tears. I’ve been taking milk-producing herbs, drinking special tea and saying lots of prayers to will this to happen, but each day I simply do the best I can.

With the help of an amazing lactation consultant, we have designed a plan that combines breastfeeding with breast pumping as well as supplementing. This way I know exactly how much food she is getting. At the end of the day, she needs to eat and that’s what’s most important.

I had no idea that something as simple as feeding my daughter would cause both of us so much stress and heartache. I keep setting little goals for myself and Elliotte. I know that since we made it to one month we can make it to three months and then to six … and so on!

The next goal I’m setting is to lose those pregnancy pounds I had oh so much fun putting on! (Rest in peace, late night trips to Baskin-Robbins.)

I just signed up to receive delivered meals from Freshology so I don’t even have to think about eating healthy. It’s been so convenient having delicious healthy food in my fridge that I can quickly grab while Elliotte is napping.

Hopefully this will stop people from asking me how far along I am. (Yes I’m looking at you, lady at the mall. Not nice!)

Thank you for letting me share my mommy journey thus far! As usual, I would love to hear from you so leave a comment or send me a Tweet @marlasok.

– Marla Sokoloff

Marla Sokoloff delivered a daughter, Elliotte Anne Puro, at 8:05 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8 in California, her rep confirms to PEOPLE exclusively.

Baby girl weighed in at 7 lbs. and is the first child for the actress and husband Alec Puro.

“Mom, dad and baby are happy as can be and completely in love with each other,” Sokoloff, 31, tells PEOPLE.

Lots of hugs and congrats to the new parents!

Hello everyone!

Hope you all had a fantastic holiday season. My husband and I stayed in town and laid low. We watched movies, ate, slept, ate, spent quality time with friends and family … and then ate some more.

The official countdown is in full effect … I cannot believe that in two weeks time I will be a mommy!

In the grand scheme of things, these nine months went by pretty quickly. Yes, there were weeks that seemed endless and yes, I’m currently complaining about my feet swelling up like balloons and the general discomfort that comes with the end of pregnancy — but all in all the journey has been one that I will never forget. Dare I say … I’m even looking forward to doing it AGAIN?!

Everyone keeps telling me to enjoy these final moments of solitude, but I just want to jump to the part of pregnancy that comes with a baby already!

My four best friends threw me the most perfect baby shower a few weeks ago. It was a beautiful brunch and was so flawlessly planned I don’t think I could have done it better myself! I was so overwhelmed by the generosity of all who attended — we pretty much got everything we could possibly need for our little one, and then some.

I truly don’t think I could have made it through pregnancy without the help and advice of my mommy friends who had babies before me. Everything from baby gear to stretch mark cream — my friends were on it!

So, before I leave you to step into the baby bunker (don’t worry — I’ll be back to update you post-baby), I decided to leave you with a list of my pregnancy must-haves. Please enjoy and feel free to pass along to other mamas!

Favorite Maternity Store: A Pea in the Pod

One stop shopping for all of your changing body needs. I purchased everything from underwear to my little(ish) black dress that I wore to my baby shower (see above photo).

Favorite Maternity Jean: J Brand — Mama J Skinny Jean

These jeans are by far the most comfortable and flattering jeans that I could find. They don’t have a panel on the belly (which I never found to be very comfortable) — instead they have side elastic panels that grow with you so you don’t need to buy multiple sizes.

Favorite Before, During and After Dress: Anything by Rachel Pally

Rachel Pally makes the most comfortable and flattering dresses for women no matter what size you are. I’m wearing one in the nursery photo below. Her gorgeous creations got me through three weddings during my pregnancy and I know I will wear them again post-baby and beyond.

Favorite Body Pillow: My Brest Friend 3-in-1 Body Pillow

This pillow has all the support you need, complete with a wedge for your growing belly. Trust me, this wedge will save your life as your bump gets bigger and heavier!

Favorite Pregnancy Memoir: Exploiting My Baby by Teresa Strasser

I personally LOVED this book. Informative yet beyond hilarious and didn’t scare me the way some of the other books did. You’ll want to be best friends with Teresa by the end of it!

Favorite Pregnancy Book: The Pregnancy Test by Dr. Emily Sikking and Melissa Heckscher

I mentioned this book in my first blog post, but I wanted to give it another shout out. I can’t even tell you how many times I referred to this pregnancy guide. Saved me a few phone calls to my doctor — who actually wrote this book. Great for expectant fathers too!

Favorite Stretch Mark Cream: Basq Advanced Stretch Mark Butter

Great for preventing stretch marks before and after pregnancy. My favorite thing about this cream is that it isn’t greasy and absorbs quickly so I can put my clothes on soon after using it. Smells yummy too!

Favorite Breast Cream: Novena Organic Beauty Breast Cream

Yea you heard me … I’m talking breast cream! Those little/big guys are susceptible to the same marks as your belly, so you can’t abandon them! This one is my favorite because it’s odorless and paraben-free.

Favorite ‘Faux Glow’ Makeup: Benefit Benetint

For those days when your “pregnancy glow” just isn’t happening. I put this rose-scented liquid on my lips and cheeks and instantly look and feel refreshed.

Favorite Hydration Buddy: Lifefactory Glass Water Bottle

This thing didn’t leave my side! It’s super important to stay hydrated when you’re pregnant and this bottle is the perfect portable size. I also love that it’s glass so there’s no icky plastic taste to my water. On days that I was feeling extra crazy, I would add lemon or mint to fancy it up.

I hope you find this list helpful — feel free to add to it and share in the comments section. Maybe my next list will be my favorite baby items?

Until then, you can follow me on Twitter @marlasok or catch me in The Chateau Meroux, which is out now on DVD.

Xo,

– Marla Sokoloff

Actress and musician Marla Sokoloff is set to welcome her first child – a girl – at the end of this month. The mom-to-be tells Celebrity Baby Scoop about her latest flick, The Chateau Meroux, a romantic comedy about California wine country available on DVD Tuesday, January 3rd.

The Practice alum also opens up about feeling “pretty good” in the home stretch of her first pregnancy, her excitement to become a mom, and her low-key birth plan: “I’m not one of those pregnant women who have a 40-page birth plan ready to go.” Continue reading about Marla’s first pregnancy, her hopes for a natural birth, and her new flick.

CBS: Tell us about your new film, The Chateau Meroux. What do you like best about this film and your role?
MS: “I play Wendy, a city girl who struggles with both her professional and personal life. She gets a giant wake up call when her estranged father suddenly passes away and leaves her his winery. She is obviously very unprepared for this responsibility so she’s undecided on what to do with this newfound business. There is also a sweet love story element to it so there’s a lot going on. Oh and I get to kiss Barry Watson which is a big plus. It’s available on DVD on January 3rd.”

CBS: You’re in your third trimester of your first pregnancy! How are you feeling?
MS: “I feel pretty good! Sleeping isn’t really happening anymore but other than that I’m happy.”

CBS: When are you due?
MS: “End of January.”

CBS: You’re expecting a girl! Do you have any names picked out?
MS: “We do but we’re keeping it a secret. We love the name so much and came up with it super early and just decided to not allow any opinions weigh in. Our families are starting to get a little bitter about it.”

CBS: Do you have a birth plan? Are you hoping for a natural birth? Are you planning a hospital birth/home birth?
MS: “My birth plan is simply getting her out safely! I’m not one of those pregnant women who have a 40-page birth plan ready to go. One of my best friends had it all planned out then wound up having an emergency C-section, so you really never know. I’m really trying to go with the flow the best I can in every capacity of pregnancy. Not to say I’m being flippant about the process – I’ve definitely thought about it and educated myself on labor and delivery. I trust my doctor 100% so that is also giving me the confidence to take this on without added anxiety.

I plan on delivering in the hospital and would LOVE to tell you that it will be a drug free experience, but I don’t think that’s in the cards for me.”

CBS: What are you most excited about in becoming a mom? Do you feel ready?
MS: “I’m most excited to hold this little girl! I dream about it all day long. Every time I walk into her nursery I feel so emotional because I just can’t wait for her to get here. I feel as ready as I can be. I’ve never done this before so I have no clue what being ready entails. But whatever it is, I’m super excited for it.”

CBS: What did you do for the holidays? Did you stay close to home in case baby arrived?
MS: “[Stayed] in town for sure and just [spent] time with friends and family before we disappear into the baby bunker.”

CBS: Do you plan to take a maternity leave? What’s up next for you after baby arrives?
MS: “I hear the first 3 months are super intense and the most trying, so I will most likely get through that phase and then get back to work. If something were to come up sooner I of course would be happy to do it. I will just need a minute to get back to my fighting weight!”

Well hello there, third trimester!

Just when I thought this pregnancy was moving slower than molasses, week 30 seemed to appear out of nowhere! It feels like just yesterday I was dying for my belly to turn into an actual baby bump and now I feel as if I’m venturing out of the cute preggie phase and catapulting into the just plain GIANT phase.

This phase can be dangerous territory for your friends and family. They will still tell you how beautiful and glowy you are — yet the guy in the checkout line at the market will say, “Holy moly — you are ready to pop!” or my personal favorite: “Wow! Are you expecting twins?”

Now that the official countdown has begun, it seems like there are a million and a half things to do before our little one arrives. Our office has now been converted to a pretty pink (yes PINK!) nursery and most of the furniture is starting to arrive.

Even though my husband was very anti-pink from the get-go — the giddy look on his face when he saw it freshly painted will forever be etched in my mind.

Putting her room together has been my favorite part so far — to think it’s currently an empty space filled with baby essentials, and in just a few weeks there will be this new little person living in it. Truly a surreal and awesome feeling!

Sleeping is starting to become a wee bit uncomfortable and from what others tell me, it will only get worse from here on out. (And then it becomes non-existent right?)

Yes, I purchased the favorite pregnancy pillow that everyone swears by and to be honest — we have developed a pretty intense love/hate relationship. I’m either lugging it around the bed or I wake up in the middle of the night only to find it on the floor.

I just can’t figure out how to make this relationship work! My poor husband is really looking forward to putting my new sleeping partner in storage until the next go round.

I must say, one pregnancy plus that I will surely miss is the kindness of strangers. People open doors for me, hold elevators, and even let me cut in line in the ladies room! Definitely a nice little perk!

As our checklist got shorter, I realized that we forgot to plan the newly popular babymoon getaway. How many of you decided to take one before having your first child? It was something that I was kind of on the fence about, but I knew one last vacation with my husband would be such a fun thing to do.

I truly hate to fly, so we decided to drive to Santa Barbara for a few days of relaxation and spa treatments. It was absolutely perfect. We took those cliché long walks on the beach and got couples massages and I watched as my husband drank fine wine. (And by watched, I mean drooled.)

It was the perfect way to spend our last Thanksgiving as a twosome — next year will be sweet in such a different way and I just can’t wait for it.

Would love to hear about how you got ready for baby or how you spent your babymoon if you went on one! Send me a Tweet @marlasok.

– Marla Sokoloff

The moment I found out I was pregnant, I instantly felt different. Not physically different but mentally, I was in a newfound headspace. My brain was completely consumed with thoughts of BABY. (Let’s be honest — I had major baby brain way before that little stick told me I was pregnant!)

I knew our lives were going to change drastically, and I truly loved the thought of it. I walked around all day with a giant smile on my face, knowing I had this exciting secret.

The first four months were (thankfully) uneventful. I didn’t even have one second of morning sickness or nausea. I had the Preggie Pops and the Sea-Bands standing by, but they were never needed. (Ladies, don’t kill me — I have no idea how I got out of that one!)

I assumed the next few months were going to be filled with stretch mark and weight gain worries … when my pregnancy took a scary turn.

Around 17 weeks, I got a call from my doctor saying some of my second trimester blood work was looking a bit abnormal. Knowing that lots of women get a “false positive” on these tests, I tried to remain calm until further testing was done. (By calm, I mean hysterically crying until we got to the doctor’s office.)

The next morning, my husband and I sat in the genetic counselor’s office discussing our “options” if the test was in fact positive for a serious birth defect. They were throwing out everything from spina bifida to Down syndrome.

I was completely crushed. I was already so attached to my little girl. She has a name. I talk to her, I sing her songs … she has to be okay.

After a detailed ultrasound, our doctor recommended amniocentesis to investigate further. In that moment, I started to remember reading about amnios in all of my baby books. Wait — didn’t they say the needle was seven inches long?!

I squeezed my husband’s hand for dear life and prayed it would be over quickly. (The amnio wasn’t my favorite activity of all time — but I recommend closing your eyes and breathing as if labor has already started to ease the pain.)

As the nurse wiped the betadine off of my belly, I started to feel like I had been punched in the gut. My positive attitude that I tried so desperately to hold on to went flying out the window and was replaced with complete and utter fear.

The next few days were spent on the couch covered in tears. I literally couldn’t function. The thought of something being wrong with our baby was just too unbearable to even think about. The only thing in the world that I wanted was for this little girl to be okay. Nothing else mattered.

After 10 agonizing days, our amnio results came back showing a perfectly healthy little girl. The abnormal blood work was, in fact, a false positive. I took my first deep breath in almost two weeks and then returned to my oh-so-familiar state of hysterical crying. Only this time, they were happy tears.

Being pregnant has officially turned me into a worrywart. My first worry was, “Can I get pregnant?” The next was, “How can I keep baby safe in there?” The list can go on … if I allow it.

The complete lack of control hasn’t been easy for this control freak. Every day, I try my best to be calm and stay present — prenatal yoga has definitely helped me with that. I know that this little scare is just the first of many parent tests that we have coming our way!

Whenever I start to panic or veer off track, I feel her little kick in my belly, and I know that’s her way of saying, “Mom relax … everything is going to be okay.”

Thanks for letting me share my story — would love to hear yours as well! Leave me a comment below (I’ve been reading them all!) or send me a Tweet @marlasok.

– Marla Sokoloff

I’m so happy to hear that everything is a-ok with Marla and baby! Thank you for sharing your story with us, Marla!

Lightning Entertainment, the Santa Monica-based sales, production and distribution company, announced today that it has acquired international sales rights in all media to seven new completed theatrical feature films and will debut the new slate at the upcoming American Film Market. All seven titles will have their first market screenings at AFM, with three key titles making their World Premiere debut: BRAKE, COLUMBUS CIRCLE, and WRATH.

The announcement of the new lineup is part of the company’s ongoing drive to acquire and develop high profile titles that will satisfy demand across all distribution platforms both internationally and in the United States, where the company is expanding its presence as a domestic all rights distributor. For three of the films, BLOODWORK, THE REVENANT and BOY WONDER, Lightning has acquired worldwide distribution rights and will be releasing them in the US through their domestic distribution label, Lightning Media. In the US, Lightning is continuing to expand its extensive reach via its direct VOD and digital release platforms, which it combines with traditional theatrical and home entertainment channels.

The new films span a number of genres from horror to comedy and feature top international stars including Stephen Dorff, Michael C. Hall, Lucy Liu, Selma Blair, Amy Smart, and Giovanni Ribisi.
“We’re incredibly excited to bring this slate of films to AFM for our buyers,” said Robert Beaumont, President of Lightning Entertainment. “The reinvigorated marketplace is looking for compelling stories and cast driven theatrical feature films that will appeal to global audiences and we aim to satisfy that buoyant demand.”

Source

The story is timeless. It is about loving someone more than anything else. It is about giving up something you love for another person. It is about true love. It reflects the true meaning of the season, which is not about material objects but about caring for someone else even more than you care for yourself.

Marla Sokoloff is adorable as Della. She’s a sparkling character who discovers true love then loses it, only to find it in the end.

This movie is family approved by the DOVE foundation which searches out faith and family films.

* Gift of the Magi DVD
* Studio: Vivendi Entertainment
* Running time: 85 minutes

The DVD will be released on October 18, 2011 and you can pre-order it today at Amazon.com!