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Woman baffled by mother-in-law’s insane ask over baby name

<p dir="ltr">A woman has gone head-to-head with her mother-in-law over the name she has chosen for her unborn child. </p> <p dir="ltr">The pregnant woman took to Reddit to share her unusual predicament, explaining how her mother-in-law has demanded she change the name of her baby. </p> <p dir="ltr">The soon-to-be mum shared how she recently had dinner with her husband’s family, where she decided to reveal the baby’s gender and name. </p> <p dir="ltr">She had been keeping the information secret, but with only a few weeks of her pregnancy left, she decided to share the happy news that she was having a baby boy and had chosen the name Shawn for her son. </p> <p dir="ltr">But not everyone shared her happiness over the moniker, as her mother-in-law went pale with shock and demanded she choose a new name. </p> <p dir="ltr">“My in-laws got quiet for a moment before asking if there were other options we'd considered. Apparently, Shawn is the name of my 17-year-old sister-in-law Ashley's former bully who tormented her [for years],” the pregnant woman explained on Reddit.</p> <p dir="ltr">While she empathised with her in-laws, she didn’t want to change the name as it was the only one her and her husband agreed on for their son. </p> <p dir="ltr">She also explained that she hadn’t known about the family connection when they picked the name, and hadn’t picked it out of any malicious intent. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We took forever to pick a name,” she said. “Shawn is the only one we could agree on.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The dinner party soon ended after the argument began, but the mother-in-law didn’t back down, sending the expecting mum demanding messages.</p> <p dir="ltr">“She texted me and my husband again to ask us to find a new name for Ashley's sake.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Would I be the a**hole for not wanting to change it? We were only able to agree on it a few weeks ago.”</p> <p dir="ltr"> Commenters were torn over the subject, with many rushing to the pregnant woman’s defence, saying she can pick whatever name she wants for her son. </p> <p dir="ltr">“My spouse and sibling have the same name. Somehow, you just compartmentalise it,” one shared.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I feel like if a new baby in my family shared a name with my bully I'd just adapt,” another wrote. “After all, Shawn is a VERY common name, so I can't freak out every time I hear it and survive in this world.”</p> <p dir="ltr">However, a select few sided with the mother-in-law, sharing how stunned they were that the couple couldn't find enough compassion to pick another name.</p> <p dir="ltr">One person said, “I understand the difficulty of finding a name that feels right, but for me, after learning this, Shawn would quickly become another name that didn't work. It's only been decided on it for a few weeks so I'd just go back to the drawing board.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Outpouring of support for baby girl after Bondi tragedy

<p>The heart-wrenching events that unfolded during Saturday's Bondi massacre shook not just Sydney, but all of Australia. Amid the sorrow and shock, however, there emerged a glimmer of hope and solidarity as Australians united to support the victims, particularly a nine-month-old baby girl named Harriet, who became a symbol of resilience in the face of tragedy.</p> <p>Harriet, the daughter of Ashlee Good, tragically lost her mother in the Bondi Westfield shopping centre attack perpetrated by Joel Cauchi. Ashlee, described by friends and family as a radiant presence, lost her life while heroically protecting her beloved daughter from the assailant's violence. The infant, Harriet, sustained stab wounds and was rushed to Sydney Children’s Hospital in critical condition. Thankfully, she has since been stabilised and moved out of ICU, but remains under close medical care.</p> <p>In response to this harrowing ordeal, the Australian community swiftly rallied together, demonstrating an outpouring of compassion and generosity. Within a mere three days, a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/Ash-Good" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe campaign</a> surpassed its initial goal of $100,000 by raising over $535,000 for Harriet's support. The fundraiser, initiated to alleviate the financial burdens faced by Harriet and her father, Dan, garnered support from both loved ones and strangers alike, reflecting the nation's collective grief and determination to provide solace in any way possible.</p> <p>The sentiments expressed within the fundraiser encapsulated the profound loss felt by those who knew Ashlee and the unwavering commitment she had to her family.</p> <p>"Our hearts were broken beyond comprehension as we learned of the tragic loss of our beautiful friend, Ash, in the stabbing attack at Westfield Bondi Junction on Saturday afternoon," it reads. "<span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Ash was a ray of sunshine and positivity in every aspect of her life and died a hero saving her little girl from the most unspeakable evil.</span></p> <p>"We have been overwhelmed by requests from loved ones and strangers wanting to support Dan and Harriet as they face life without their beloved Ash. Being a mother to baby Harriet and partner to Dan was Ash’s whole life. Her love and commitment to them was evident to all who knew her.</p> <p>We are united in our devastation that her bright future was cut short in this way. Her beautiful and warm spirit, drive and energy inspired us all."</p> <p>Ashlee's radiant spirit, her boundless love for her daughter and partner, and her selfless act of sacrifice resonated deeply with all who encountered her.</p> <p>The profound impact of the Bondi massacre extended beyond the immediate victims, as the entire nation mourned the loss of innocent lives and grappled with the senseless violence that shattered a community. The victims, including Yixuan Cheng, Pikria Darchia, Dawn Singleton, Faraz Tahir, Jade Young, and Ashlee Good, were remembered not just as statistics but as individuals whose lives were tragically cut short.</p> <p>The makeshift memorial at Bondi Junction served as a powerful symbol of remembrance and solidarity, adorned with an abundance of flowers and heartfelt messages from those touched by the tragedy. Friends and family of Ashlee Good gathered at the memorial, finding solace in the outpouring of support from their community.</p> <p>As the healing process begins, the ongoing support for Harriet and her family serves as a testament to the strength of community bonds and unwavering compassion. </p> <p><em>Images: Nine News</em></p>

Caring

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"Incredibly relieving" update on baby injured in Bondi stabbing

<p>The youngest victim of the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/family-of-bondi-killer-break-silence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stabbing spree</a> at Bondi Junction Westfield is in a stable condition after her mother, Ashlee Good, 38, died protecting her. </p> <p>The nine-month-old underwent emergency surgery to save her life after being stabbed and on Monday morning NSW Health Minister Ryan Park confirmed that her condition has improved from critical to serious but stable. </p> <p>“I speak on behalf of the entire nation who held its breath over the weekend that (the) young nine month old girl who went to Sydney Children’s Hospital is now in a serious, stable condition,”  he told 2GB. </p> <p>“So she’s come down from critical.</p> <p>“There is a chance over the course of the next day that she’ll be moved on to a ward. Now that is incredibly relieving, I think, for our country." </p> <p>Her mother, was among was among the six people killed by Joel Cauchi, 40, during the attack. </p> <p>After they had been attacked, Good thrust her young bub into the arms of a bystander. </p> <p>A man and his brother helped take care of the baby until help arrived. </p> <p>"The mum got stabbed and... came over with the baby and threw it at me and [I] was holding the baby," the man told <em>Nine News </em>at the time. </p> <p>The man's brother told the publication: "He helped with holding the baby and trying to compress the baby and same with the mother.</p> <p>"We just kept yelling out to get some clothes, get some shirts and just help us to compress and stop the baby from bleeding.</p> <p>"With my brother holding the baby so well and really compressing, I think the baby's fine."</p> <p>Good was the daughter of former Australian Football League player Kerry Good, who played for North Melbourne. </p> <p>On Sunday, her family shared a statement thanking everyone for their support and paid tribute to the two men who "cared for our baby when Ashlee could not".</p> <p>“We appreciate the well-wishes and thoughts of members of the Australian public who have expressed an outpouring of love for Ashlee and our baby girl," they said. </p> <p>Good has been <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/royals-issue-heartfelt-statement-after-bondi-attack" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remembered</a> as "a beautiful mother, daughter, sister, partner, friend, all-round outstanding human."</p> <p>According to the NSW health minister, the condition of the eight victims who remain in hospital varied from critical to stable.</p> <p><em>Image: news.com.au/ Sydney Morning Herald</em></p>

Caring

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Mick Fanning's baby joy

<p>Mick Fanning and his fiancee Breeana Randall have announced the birth of their daughter Lyla Skye Fanning. </p> <p>The Aussie surf legend took to Instagram on Tuesday to share the joyful news with a picture of their newborn bub and the simple caption: "Lyla Skye Fanning 4/4/24." </p> <p>Lyla has Arabic and Hebrew origins and means "night" or "dark beauty". </p> <p>The couple first announced they were expecting Lyla last December and share son Xander Dean, who was born in August 2020. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C5hVlXsyqV4/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C5hVlXsyqV4/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by @breeanablue</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Friends and fans were quick to congratulate the couple in the comments. </p> <p>"Congratulations!!!! Omg she’s so precious," commented surfer Alana Blanchard, with three red heart emojis. </p> <p>"❤ Congratulations!!" added surfer Stephanie Wilson. </p> <p>"This is amazing! Welcome to the world 💛" wrote the offical <em>Wiggles</em> account. </p> <p>"Welcome beautiful Lyla Skye. You are perfect & so so loved. Also that birth date is magic," added one fan. </p> <p>"Welcome to the world beautiful little Lyla. You really lucked out on the family front. We adore you already 💛" added another. </p> <p>The happy news comes just two weeks after the two-time world champion's family was struck by the tragic death of Fanning's brother Edward.</p> <p>Edward died at the age of after contracting an infection while working as a surf guide in Madagascar. </p> <p>Fanning shared his devastation in an emotional tribute shared on social media at the time. </p> <p>"Ed, love you my brother," he began the post.</p> <p>"You taught me so much over the years about everything that life could deal up. The good and the bad you were my teacher. You introduced us all to surfing, the joy and freedom of riding a wave.</p> <p>"The meaning of going to the ends of the earth to find waves to following a passion in the belief that surfing could be that ultimate job. As the years went on you would fall in and out of the ocean but your pure talent would always shine through. To where you ended up in teaching kids the joy of riding a wave. With out you I’m not sure what the world would of made of me so Thank you.</p> <p>"Ed you had the biggest heart and were too loyal for your own good. Always sticking up for the underdog and caring for those who needed help. You gave everyone everything you had, and if you didn’t have it you’d still give it to them."</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Hero shopkeeper uses shoelace to help deliver baby in carpark

<p>A Cheap as Chips discount store worker in Logan has been praised as a hero after helping a couple deliver their baby in the carpark behind a 7-Eleven service station. </p> <p>Sharyn Daley thought it was just another day at work on Friday, when a man ran into her store asking for a towel because his partner had gone into labour.</p> <p>She quickly sprung into action and helped with a successful delivery before paramedics arrived. </p> <p>“(All I could think of was) just survival. Someone needed help. So, you just rush and do what you can and instincts take over,” she told  <em>Sunrise</em> hosts Nat Barr and Matt Shirvington. </p> <p>“Dad was in shock. I sort of asked him to get the little toddler out of the back seat and occupy her — she was panicking.</p> <p>“But after he got his toddler out, I could concentrate on mum and telling her baby is OK."</p> <p>Daley added that when the baby boy came out he was somewhat discoloured — so, she began squeezing his arm and rubbing his head.</p> <p>“Mum was very quiet. She introduced herself. I introduced myself. And she just kept saying, ‘is baby OK, Is baby OK?’ I said ‘Yes, I’m patting him hard and stimulating him to get more oxygen in. That’s all’.”</p> <p>She then grabbed a shoelace to tie off his umbilical cord and used her sock to grab the placenta. </p> <p>Paramedics arrived shortly after.</p> <p>Daley, who is a mother-of-three and a grandmother to one, said that she had previously helped deliver puppies, which may have helped her. </p> <p>“I think it may have (helped) a bit — with tying off the cord — and things like that. (But) keeping mum and bub and dad calm. That was my first priority,” she said.</p> <p>She also added that she wanted to help the young family get started. </p> <p>“I would love to speak to them,” Daley said.</p> <p>“Courtesy of Cheap as Chips where I work. We have a cot, a change table, a mattress and a beautiful big hamper for them to help them get started,” she said.</p> <p><em>Image: Seven</em></p>

Family & Pets

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"Help name our baby!": Peter Andre's extraordinary plea

<p>In a move that would make even the most seasoned reality TV stars proud, singer and TV personality Peter Andre and his doctor wife, Emily MacDonagh, have left the world scratching their heads in anticipation.</p> <p>No, they haven't announced a new album or a TV show. They've done something far more thrilling – they've welcomed their third child into the world... without a name!</p> <p>Now, don't get us wrong – people give birth to nameless babies all the time. But in a plot twist worthy of a daytime soap opera, Andre and his wife have turned to their loyal Instagram followers for help. Because, you know, who needs baby name books when you have a horde of social media enthusiasts at your disposal?</p> <p>In a heartwarming post, the "Mysterious Girl" crooner shared a precious snapshot of MacDonagh and their latest addition, writing that the tiny little bub is "just minutes old". Forget about sleepless nights and diaper changes; the real dilemma here is what to call this bundle of joy.</p> <p>"We feel so overwhelmed right now," Andrew wrote. "So happy to welcome our beautiful girl to the family.</p> <p>"Mum and daughter are doing amazing. Born Tuesday 2nd April 2024, 7lb 3oz and thankfully very healthy.</p> <p>"Baby has been spoilt with cuddles from Junior, Princess, Amelia and Theo who are all in love with their new little sister. As parents, we couldn’t be happier.</p> <p>"Only thing is…. She has no name yet. Help!"</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C5Tn_DcIo8M/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C5Tn_DcIo8M/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Peter Andre (@peterandre)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Cue the floodgates of creativity opening wider than ever. With a whopping 1.8 million followers, Andre essentially unleashed the ultimate brainstorming session on the internet. And we can only imagine the spectrum of suggestions pouring in – from the classic to the quirky, and everything in between.</p> <p>"April (Obviously)," wrote one very keen contributor. "Daisy (April’s birth flower). Ariel (from the April horoscope, Aries). Avril (meaning April in French). Blossom (because it’s common in April). Pascal (a French name meaning ‘born on Easter’). Lily (after the Lily of the valley flower that blooms in April in the UK). Diamond (April’s birthstone). Raine/Reign (after April’s showers). Iris (from the Greek meaning ‘rainbow’). Moses (in reference to Passover). Israella (also in reference to Passover)."</p> <p>"Did you know Melissa means honeybee in Greek and is also the name of a Greek goddess…. Just letting ya know cos I think it’s a pretty cool name 👀😂💖," wrote another fan whose name is, you guessed it, Melissa.</p> <p>Other fans kept it more straightforward. "Connie or Beatrice ❤️."</p> <p>As we eagerly await the grand unveiling of Baby Andre's name, one thing is for sure – this little one is already making headlines, and she doesn't even have a name yet.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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First photo of new royal baby revealed

<p>Prince Christian of Hanover, 38, and wife Princess Alessandra, 35, have welcomed their third child - a baby girl. </p> <p>Princess Alessandra gave birth in February but they have kept details private, until recently when they shared the first photo of their newborn on Instagram. </p> <p>"Welcome to the world Alexia. Three weeks ago you came to complete our family. We love you infinitely," the princess captioned the photo. </p> <p>Princess Alessandra posted a photo of her newborn daughter's tiny fingers wrapped around her hand, with her gold wedding band visible.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C4D7MRIN_4i/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C4D7MRIN_4i/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Sassa (@sassadeo)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Marie-Chantal, Crown Princess of Greece, was among the first to congratulate the couple in the comments with a bunch of heart emojis. </p> <p>Prince Christian and Princess Alessandra tied the knot in 2017 in a civil service in London. </p> <p>They then held a lavish ceremony on the 16th of March 2018 at Basilica of San Pedro in Lima, Peru.</p> <p>Many other royals attended the wedding including Britain's Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, Greece's Crown Prince Pavlos, Princess Maria Olympia, and Princess Philipos, and several members of the Monegasque royal family.</p> <p>They welcomed their first children, twins Nicolas and Sofia, in 2020.</p> <p>Prior to her royal life, Alessandra was originally a model from Peru.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

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Inside Home and Away star's joyous baby shower

<p>Former <em>Home and Away</em> star Melissa George has some joyful news to share with her fans – she's expecting her third child!</p> <p>The 47-year-old actress, who now resides in France, recently celebrated this exciting milestone with a joyous, fun-filled baby shower surrounded by friends and family.</p> <p>Dressed in a chic white T-shirt and cardigan that beautifully accentuated her baby bump, George radiated happiness as she revealed that she's expecting another son.</p> <p>The baby shower was a sight to behold, adorned with blue and white balloons, and featured adorable blue cookies with the sweet message, "Melissa's baby boy".</p> <p>In photos shared from the event, George can be seen delightfully displaying her baby bump while holding up the cute cookies and pulling a funny face. A friend captioned the images, capturing the magic of the afternoon spent celebrating this beautiful moment.</p> <p>Although George has not disclosed the identity of the father, she shares her two older sons, Raphaël and Solal, with her French ex-partner, Jean-David Blanc.</p> <p>Reflecting on motherhood in the past, George as expressed profound gratitude: "Having children, for me, will go down in my life as the greatest, most victorious, thing I've ever done."</p> <p>She added: "Adopting, however you do it, when you have that baby in your arms, it's the greatest thing in the world."</p> <p>Having risen to fame on <em>Home and Away</em> before making her mark in Hollywood with notable roles in films like <em>Triangle</em>, <em>The Amityville Horror</em>, and <em>30 Days of Night</em>, George continues to embrace life's adventures with grace and joy. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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Mother bans in-laws from seeing her baby after they go against her wishes

<p dir="ltr">A woman has banned her in-laws from seeing her newborn daughter after they “betrayed her trust” and directly went against her wishes. </p> <p dir="ltr">The new mum shared the story to Reddit, as she explained why she was cutting contact with her husband’s parents after they pierced her child’s ears without their knowledge or consent. </p> <p dir="ltr">“My husband is from a culture where it's not uncommon to pierce baby girls' ears and his mother started pestering me about getting my daughter's ears pierced a few days after she was born,” the 32-year-old mum began. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I made it clear that I would not be doing that, and that I'd be waiting until she's old enough to ask for it herself. We live in my country where piercing a baby's ears isn't common at all.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The new mum's world soon came crashing down after the baby spent a weekend with her grandparents, before she went back to her parents red in the face and screaming. </p> <p dir="ltr">“My mother-in-law was looking after her over the weekend and decided to pierce her ears without my knowledge or consent.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“When I saw this I threw a fit. My baby was crying in pain, and I actually took her to the doctor to get their advice on whether or not to take them out.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The doctor advised the parent to take the earrings out as they were irritating the baby, but the issue didn’t end there. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I decided at that moment that my mother-in-law and everyone else on that side of the family (except for my sister-in-law, who's on my side about this) is going to have no alone contact with my daughter ever again - or at least until she's a teenager.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“My worry is that she'll do the same thing again, and to be frank, she's lost my trust entirely. I told her that if she had a problem with that, I'd report what she did to the police.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The husband of the baby girl reluctantly sided with his wife over the issue, despite saying it wasn’t a big deal and suggesting everyone move on from the incident.</p> <p dir="ltr">The story prompted a mixed response online, with some people saying the woman was overreacting and should work towards rebuilding trust with her in-laws.</p> <p dir="ltr">Others, however, had the opposite opinion, with one person saying, “Forget rebuilding trust, I'd be having them charged with assault.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Another person said, “They mutilated a child and they knew it was against the parents wishes. These people have serious problems. Not that I'd press charges, but getting holes poked in someone else's kid is a huge thing.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

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How baby boomers are benefiting from Australia's "worst financial mistake"

<p>A financial expert has explained how baby boomers have remained largely unscathed by the ongoing housing crisis in Australia. </p> <p>ABC finance guru Alan Kohler described the crisis as Australia's "worst financial mistake", as Adelaide has now become the country's second least affordable city. </p> <p>The South Australian capital, which has long been known as one of the more affordable places in the country to live, has skyrocketed in price, as the median price for houses and units in Adelaide was $721,376 in January, which is 7.9 times higher than the state's average full-time salary of $91,026.</p> <p>"There are a couple of things that might surprise you: Adelaide became the second, least affordable Australian city last year," Mr Kohler explained.</p> <p>"Adelaide has just taken over from Hobart in second place."</p> <p>"What's going on: put simply, incomes in Adelaide, Hobart and Brisbane are not keeping up with house prices, which are being pushed up by fast-rising population and by first-home buyers."</p> <p>Mr Kohler, a baby boomer, noted that when he and his wife bought their first home in Melbourne for $40,000 in 1980, he was earning $11,500 as a journalist, meaning his home cost just 3.5 times his income before a mortgage deposit.</p> <p>"When my wife and I bought our first house in 1980, the average house price was 3.5 times average income," he said. "Now, it's 7.5 times and rising."</p> <p>"That didn't have to happen: it's Australia's worst, economic mistake."</p> <p>Mr Kohler said parents were increasingly propping up the mortgage deposits of first-home buyers, as first-home buyer subsidies from the federal government only pushed up property prices.</p> <p>"Despite rising prices and crushing interest rates, first-home buyers were the fastest-growing type of borrower," he said.</p> <p>"The Bank of Mum and Dad coughing up early inheritances and politicians showering them with grants and concessions, desperate to appear to be doing something about affordability while actually making it worse."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock / ABC</em></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px; min-height: 0px; letter-spacing: -0.16px; font-family: graphik, Arial, sans-serif;"> </p>

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Robert De Niro shares rare photo of baby daughter

<p>Robert De Niro has shared a rare photo of his adorable 10-month-old daughter Gia, while opening up on their unusual family dynamic for the first time. </p> <p>The 80-year-old acting legend welcomed baby Gia with his girlfriend Tiffany Chen in 2023, making the adorable infant De Niro's seventh child.</p> <p>The sweet photo delighted fans, with the picture showing the proud dad cradling his daughter and resting his cheek on her head, while the baby smiles for the camera.</p> <p>De Niro doted on his daughter in a new interview with <em><a href="https://people.com/all-about-robert-de-niro-and-tiffany-chen-daughter-8386466" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People</a></em> magazine, saying, “She’s such an adorable baby. So sweet.”</p> <p>The actor also laughed about the unusual dynamic within his family after welcoming his seventh child at age 79.</p> <p>“The kids all get a big kick out of her. The grandkids even. She’s their aunt — [and] they’re about to be teenagers!” he said.</p> <p>In addition to Gia, De Niro is also father to Drena, 56, Raphael, 47, twins Julian and Aaron, 28, Elliot, 25, and Helen, 12.</p> <p>He has four grandchildren, including Drena’s son, Leandro, who tragically died from an accidental overdose in 2023 at the age of 19. </p> <p>Speaking with <em>AARP</em> in January, De Niro became emotional talking about the newest addition to his family. </p> <p>“Everything that I’m consumed with or worried about just goes away when I look at her,” he raved. “It’s wondrous.”</p> <p>He also gave a glimpse into his home life with Chen, 45, and baby Gia while speaking to <em>The Guardian</em> last October.</p> <p>While addressing his age, he candidly explained that he has stepped back from doing “the heavy lifting.”</p> <p>“I’m there, I support my girlfriend. But she does the work,” he stated. “And we have help, which is so important.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Youtube / Courtesy Robert De Niro / Yahoo Canada</em></p>

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Ash Barty's first photoshoot with baby boy

<p>Ash Barty and her adorable seven-month-old son are the faces for one of Australia’s most iconic competitions this year, the BONDS Baby Search. </p> <p>“We’re so excited to be a part of the 2024 BONDS Baby Search," the tennis champion said. </p> <p>"The past six months has been filled with so many firsts – including baby Hayden’s first photo-shoot – so it feels like the stars lined up for us to be the faces of this year’s comp.”</p> <p>The seven-month-old is the spitting image of his mum, as he smiled for the cameras. </p> <p>This comes just days after Barty opened up on her experience of motherhood in an interview with <em>Body+Soul</em>.</p> <p>“I was very lucky to be able to watch my sisters raise their two kids, so I think I was always sensitive to how hard but also how rewarding it is,” she said.</p> <p>“But it’s a completely different ball game when it’s your own child. It’s relentless – it’s 24/7 – but it’s so rewarding and, honestly, it’s the best thing that I’ve ever done. I think it’s incomparable to being an athlete.”</p> <p>Established in 2005, BONDS Baby Search is an annual celebration of Aussie families and their babies - offering families the chance to win $30k as well as daily cash prizes of $200.</p> <p>There are three age-based categories: Newborn 0-6 months, Baby 6 months-2 years, and Toddler 2-3 years, with winners set to receive $10,000 each. </p> <p>Entries open on February 6 and will close on Wednesday, February 21 with winners to be announced on the 29th of February. </p> <p>“What better way to celebrate another year of Baby Search than teaming up with a cultural and sporting icon. The excitement is definitely real over here at BONDS,” BONDS marketing manager, Christie Madsen, said.</p> <p><em>Images: Nic Morley/ news.com.au</em></p>

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The Block billionaire welcomes baby boy

<p><em>The Block</em> billionaire Adrian Portelli has shared the news of the birth of his first child. </p> <p>Portelli, also known as 'Lambo Guy' for his love of luxury cars, announced that his girlfriend, Karlie Butler, had given birth to a baby boy, whose name has yet to be revealed. </p> <p>Posting a series of photos with his son on Instagram, he wrote, “Welcome to the world little man.”</p> <p>Speaking to the <a href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/confidential/adrian-portelli-welcomes-baby-boy-into-his-billionaire-brood/news-story/1e2e44db324011e7a280dc862c5a89ea" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-tgev="event119" data-tgev-container="bodylink" data-tgev-order="1e2e44db324011e7a280dc862c5a89ea" data-tgev-label="entertainment" data-tgev-metric="ev">Herald Sun</a>, the 34-year-old revealed his partner gave birth to their son on Monday January 29th. </p> <p>“He was four days over ... it’s an amazing, overwhelming experience,’’ Mr Portelli told the publication.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2vhCz-yrFS/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2vhCz-yrFS/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Adrian Portelli (@adrian_portelli)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Mr Portelli, who purchased three houses on this year’s <em>The Block</em>, made headlines in November after revealing he gifted Ms Butler an Aston Martin as a “push present” before she gave birth to their son. </p> <p>He said the luxurious car was “well deserved for putting up with me”.</p> <p>Mr Portelli is worth a reported $1 billion and is known for his eye-watering spending.</p> <p>During last year's season of <em>The Block</em> in Victoria’s East Hampton, the billionaire businessman snapped up three of the five houses on offer, spending a total of $12.4 million.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

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Young and the Restless star’s baby girl hospitalised

<p>In a deeply emotional and concerning post, popular American soap actor Jordi Vilasuso has reached out to the public, seeking prayers for his baby daughter Lucy, who is currently battling respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and a partially collapsed lung.</p> <p>The <em>Young and the Restless</em> actor, along with his wife Kaitlin, has been candid about their family's struggles, and their latest plea for support has left fans and followers deeply moved.</p> <p>The distressing update was shared by Jordi on his social media platforms, as he revealed the harrowing journey Lucy has been through. The post detailed the rapid deterioration of Lucy's health, from the initial diagnosis of RSV to her subsequent hospitalisation due to difficulty breathing. The situation took an unexpected turn for the worse, with Lucy being moved to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) due to a partially collapsed right lung.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2iurRXvfQ4/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2iurRXvfQ4/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by KAITLIN VILASUSO (@kaitlinvilasuso)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Jordi's heartfelt words reflected the gravity of the situation: "Last night, things unexpectedly took a turn for the worse and she was moved to NICU w/ what the doctors described as a partially collapsed right lung. I am still struggling to believe this as I type."</p> <p>The accompanying photos paint a poignant picture of Lucy's tiny form surrounded by medical equipment in the NICU, evoking empathy and concern from those who have followed the Vilasuso family's journey.</p> <p>Kaitlin, also sharing updates on her Instagram Story, posted a video of her sister, actor Bailee Madison, spending time with Lucy while the couple's older children, Riley and Everly, received attention. In the video, Kaitlin expressed gratitude for the support, captioning it: "My angel of a sister loving on Lucy so we could love on our big girls for a few."</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2sn8nLS2-B/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2sn8nLS2-B/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by KAITLIN VILASUSO (@kaitlinvilasuso)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>As the Vilasuso family faces this challenging time, the outpouring of love, prayers and healing energy from fans, friends and fellow actors has been significant. Bailee Madison, taking to her own Instagram Story, thanked everyone for their support, saying, "love and prayers and healing energy coming" for her niece.</p> <p>This heartbreaking situation comes after the couple's announcement of Kaitlin's pregnancy in September 2023. The journey to this point has been marked by adversity, as the couple had previously experienced the loss of two children during pregnancy. Kaitlin underwent a surgical procedure called a cerclage, a delicate intervention aimed at preventing further losses by temporarily sewing the cervix closed with stitches.</p> <p>The Vilasuso family's openness about their highs and lows has endeared them to many, and as Lucy fights for her health in the NICU, the couple is once again relying on the support of their community to pray for a miraculous healing for their precious daughter.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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First photos of new royal baby emerge

<p>Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg is every bit the proud grandmother as she took to Instagram to share photos of the newest royal family member, Prince Balthasar Felix Karl. </p> <p>Prince Balthasar is the third child of Prince Felix and his wife Princess Claire, and the Grand Duchess' seventh grandchild. </p> <p>"What a great joy the arrival of Balthasar, our seventh grandchild, born on January 7 in Luxembourg," she captioned the series of photos. </p> <p>The Grand Duchess, 67, was pictured with a huge smile on her face as husband Grand Duke Henri, 68 cradled Prince Balthasar. </p> <p>In another photo, Prince Felix and Princess Claire are pictured with their older children Princess Amalia, 9, and Prince Liam, 7, with Prince Balthasar fast asleep in his mother's arms. </p> <p>The third photo shows Grand Duchess Maria and Princess Amalia posing on the hospital bed as the Grand Duchess cradles her grandson. </p> <p>The Grand Duchess ended the series of photos with two pictures of her grandkids holding their new baby brother.</p> <p>The birth of Prince Balthasar was announced on Monday in a statement which read: "The newborn Prince will be named Balthasar Felix Karl. He weighs 3.220 kg (7lbs 1 oz) and measures 50 cm.</p> <p>"Prince Balthasar and Princess Claire are in perfect health."</p> <p>The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess share five children – Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, Prince Felix, Prince Louis, Princess Alexandra and Prince Sebastien.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Kochie's brutal message to Baby Boomers

<p>David Koch has shared his brutal thoughts on the housing crisis and rising interest rates, claiming millennials have been dealt the "short end of the stick", while boomers have been spared. </p> <p>The former <em>Sunrise</em> host, who is now the Economic Director at Compare the Market, said young borrowers are copping the brunt of rising interest rates and soaring inflations. </p> <p>“If you bought your home in early 2022 under the pretence that interest rates would stay low for longer, you’ve now been lumped with the short end of the stick,” Mr Koch said.</p> <p>He went on to say young people had difficulty generating any decent savings due to record rental prices and cost-of-living, and those that can scrape together a deposit on a home now face onerous interest charges.</p> <p>Recent data from Compare the Market found homeowners who bought their homes at the peak of the market in early 2022 were far worse off compared to those who bought three years earlier. </p> <p>Those who also bought property before the Covid lockdown have also benefited from a rise in their equity, as property prices have significantly increased over the past four years.</p> <p>Kochie said the repayment hike as a result of rising interest rates was a "tough pill" for young Aussies who had no time to accrue a strong savings buffer.  </p> <p>Given these factors, Kochie said many Aussie baby boomers have been spared the pain of rising interest rates.</p> <p>"Meanwhile, a lot of mature Australians have missed this pain altogether after selling their properties at the peak and having reaped the benefits over more equity for years," he said.</p> <p>"A lot of mature Australians have been shielded from the rate rises, and it's already widely believed that their spending drove inflation."</p> <p>A recent report from CommBank iQ found that baby boomers spending on luxuries appears to be further fuelling Australia's inflation crisis as millennials are forced to cut back on essentials.</p> <p>This goes a long way to explaining why the current cycle of interest rate rises are not dampening inflation as expected, as the new big spenders are older people who own properties outright and are therefore unaffected by rate rises.</p> <p>Boomers are are going on holidays and dining out more often, while millennials, battling higher rents and mortgage repayments, rare being forced to reduce their spending to cope with the worst cost of living crisis in a generation.</p> <p>Koch said, "It's time policy-makers should be asking: how could the pressure be more evenly spread?"</p> <p>Aussie baby boomers have long claimed that they had to make the same sacrifices when they were buying their first homes, given the home loan rate in 1989 to 1990 was at 17 per cent, compared to today's six per cent variable rates.</p> <p>However, Kochie debunked this claim, saying current house prices are far higher when measured against average salaries, and that level was only accelerating, far outpacing wages growth.</p> <p>"Back in the 80s, the average cost of an Aussie house was $70,000, now it's $700,000 - ten times more expensive," he said. </p> <p>The financial guru explained how in the 1980s the average salary was $19,000, compared with $94,000 in 2023.</p> <p>"So in the 80s, the price of a house was four times the average person's income," he said.</p> <p>"In 2023, it's eight times the average Aussie salary."</p> <p>Kochie urged mortgage holders hit with higher repayments to call their banks and explore whether refinancing to a lower-rate loan is possible. </p> <p>"We urge people in mortgage pain to reduce the interest on their repayments as much as possible by shopping around for a better deal," Koch said. </p> <p>"When every dollar counts, 2024 should be the year of the new lender."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Compare the Market </em></p>

Money & Banking

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Huge news for baby "Methamphetamine Rules"

<p>Three months after ABC journalist Kirsten Drysdale <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/why-an-abc-journalist-named-her-newborn-after-an-illicit-drug" target="_blank" rel="noopener">named her newborn</a> after an illicit drug, her son now has a new name. </p> <p>In September, Drysdale was investigating the limits of the naming registry for her show <em>WTFAQ</em> on the public broadcaster, in which audience members asked "What can I legally name my baby?" </p> <p>At the time, Drysdale wasn't getting a clear answer from the registry about the boundaries of naming a child, so decided to take matters into her own hands. </p> <p>"We thought, what is the most outrageous name we can think of that will definitely not be accepted?” Drysdale told <em><a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/current-affairs/abc-journalist-kirsten-drysdales-wild-name-for-newborn-son/news-story/c4568f521ee9cfb5b68179a84667d92b#xd_co_f=YTM5MzVmOGQtNTY4My00NWE1LThjNDctMTUxMjJlNjVhMWNj~" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a></em> at the time.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Methamphetamine Rules we thought would surely get rejected, and then when it does, we can find out what name the Registrar chooses.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was really just a lighthearted, curious attempt to get an answer to this question.”</p> <p>As an experiment, Drysdale, who had just given birth to her son, submitted for him to be named "Methamphetamine Rules", with the naming registry approving the joke moniker. </p> <p>Now, Drysdale has shared that baby Meth has a new name. </p> <p>Appearing on <em>The Project</em>, the ABC presenter told the panel the naming mishap was now "all sorted", saying, “That name has been removed. It no longer is on his birth certificate.”</p> <p>“He has a new birth certificate with his real name on it.”</p> <p>She chose not to reveal her child’s new name, but assured viewers it is incredibly "normal".</p> <p>“He will not have to, for the rest of his life answer ‘have you ever been known by any other name’,” she said.</p> <p>“You’re not taking methamphetamines to any parties this Christmas?” host Sarah Harris asked jokingly.</p> <p>“No, Baby Meth is going to have a quiet Christmas at home this year,” Ms Drysdale said. <span style="color: #202223; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; background-color: #ffffff;"> </span></p> <p><em>Image credits: The Project / A Current Affair</em></p>

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Gogglebox star welcomes baby girl

<p><em>Gogglebox </em>star Isabelle Silbery has welcomed her first child with husband Alex Richards.</p> <p>The TV personality, who is already a mum to a nine-year-old son from a previous marriage, took to Instagram to announce the good news over the weekend. </p> <p>"RUBY EMILY RICHARDS," the 38-year-old wrote captioned, revealing her newborn's name. </p> <p>"The female body is truly incredible. My daughter is here and the experience was grounding and empowering' she continued. </p> <p>She then thanked her husband, and said: "so honoured to see you become a besotted father." </p> <p>"I'm hormonal and in a love bubble," she concluded. </p> <p>Isabelle shared a few photos of her cradling her baby girl in the hospital bed as her husband looked fondly at them. </p> <p>Fellow <em>Gogglebox</em> co-stars and fans took to the comments to congratulate the couple on the new addition to their family. </p> <p>"Congratulations on the safe arrival of Ruby Emily Richards, hope everything went well Izzy, welcome to the father’s club Alex, cheers 👍🍺" wrote co-stars Lee and Keith. </p> <p>"The best!!!! Sending so much love!" commented co-star Adam Densten. </p> <p>"Aww Guys Congratulations. Can’t wait to meet you Ruby. God bless you and your family always 💖" added <em>Gogglebox</em> star Anastasia, while co-stars Matty and Sarah shared their congratulations and birthday wishes.</p> <p>"Love you!!!! Women are incredible and I’m so glad you have made another! 🙌🙌❤️" wrote former <em>Gogglebox</em> star Yvie Jones. </p> <p>"Nothing better. Sending so much love to you all from us. 🤍" wrote one fan. </p> <p>"Omg she is beautiful! Congratulations Isabelle and welcome Ruby" added another. </p> <p>The joyful news comes after the reality TV star candidly opened up about how difficult this pregnancy was and how she struggled with  pre-natal depression in an interview with the <em>Herald Sun. </em></p> <p>"So many women haven't had the rainbows and butterflies pregnancies and it's totally okay to not and to put your hand up when things aren't okay," she told the publication at the time. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

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