Celebrities and their babies

SOME are superstars, others are simply famous and well-known to millions of fans. When they are not strutting their stuff in front of cameras, performing onstage or making their mark in the sports arena, these men and women from the world of entertainment and sports are simply "daddy" and "mommy." And like the professions in which they excel, they take great pride and joy in their roles as parents. It has been a busy birthing season for celebrities over the past several years. African-American superstars who have had babies in the past year include Eddie Murphy and his wife, Nicole, who had their fifth child, daughter Bella Zahra, in January; Chris Rock and his wife, Malaak Compton, who welcomed baby daughter Lola Simone in June; Brandy and her husband, music producer Robert Smith, who had daughter Sy'rai in June; Emmitt Smith and his wife Patricia, had a son, Emmitt James IV, in May; weatherman Al Roker and his wife, news correspondent Deborah Roberts, had a second child, son Nicholas Albert, in July; NBA star Grant Hill and recording artist Tamia became parents of a beautiful baby girl, Myla Grace, in January; and the Rock (Dwayne Johnson) and his wife, Dany Garcia, welcomed baby daughter Simone Alexandra (Pebbles) in August.

Among other celebrities who recently have become parents are actress Holly Robinson Peete and husband NFL quarterback Rodney Peete, who had a baby boy, Robinson James, in August; Lela Rochon and producer/director Antoine Fuqua, who had daughter, Asia Rochon; and actors Tisha Campbell-Martin and husband Duane Martin, who are parents of a son, 1-year-old Xen.

In the world of sports, Olympic gold medal bobsledder Vonetta Flowers and her husband, Johnny, had twins Jaden Michael and Jorden Maddox in August; and WNBA's Helen Darling of the Cleveland Rockers had triplets, sons Ja-Juan and Jalen, and daughter Nevaeh, in April.

Like any other parent, these celebrities love their babies (and other children as well), and their priority is to make sure their little ones are healthy, happy and safe. Though some may have nannies and others to help when they work and travel, they share with all moms and dads the joy of parenthood.

* Recording artist TONI BRAXTON now sings beautiful lullabies to her baby boy, DENIM KOLE BRAXTON LEWIS, who was born last year. "I love being a mom," says the six-time Grammy Award winner whose new recording, More than a Woman, is now on the music charts. She and husband, music producer KERI LEWIS, are expecting their second child in 2003. "It's an incredible feeling," Braxton says of motherhood. "I was addicted to him [baby Denim] from the beginning, from the very first look."

* Recording atist TAMIA and NBA star GRANT HILL welcomed baby MYLA GRACE in January.

* Dallas Cowboys star running back EMMITT SMITH and his wife, PATRICIA, are the proud parents of baby boy EMMITT JAMES IV, who was born in May on his father's 33rd birthday. The couple also have two other children, Jasmin, 6, and Rheagen, 3.

* Retired Detroit Lions star BARRY SANDERS and his wife LAUREN CAMPBELL SANDERS are the proud parents of 1-year-old NIGEL. "He is the song in my heart that I always hear," Lauren says. "He makes it Christmas every day." She says her husband is from a family of 11 children and wants to have more children. She adds that he is a hands-on dad who enjoys fatherhood. "He's a different person with the baby," Lauren says. "The energy is so different when there is a child. It draws us closer. It is a powerful, beautiful thing."

* WNBA guard HELEN DARLING of the Cleveland Rockers had to sit out the season when she scored on the home front after giving birth to triplets (daughter NEVAEH, and sons JALEN and JA-JUAN) in April. "When I first found out I was pregnant, I thought, `Oh, man, there goes my career,'" Darling, age 24, recalls. "When I found out it was triplets, I just cried. My mother laughed and said it was a Blessing ... I have been blessed three times."

* Actor and comedian FLEX ALEXANDER of the UPN sitcom One on One, and his wife, R&B singer SHANICE, enjoy an outing in Los Angeles with their 1-year-old daughter, IMANI SHEKINAH, their first child. Shanice was in the studio recording the One on One theme song with gospel signer Tonex when she went into labor, and shortly after she finished recording, the baby was born. She is working on a new album.

* Actress TERRI VAUGHN cuddles with her son, DAYLEN ALI CAROLINA, who was born in June 2001. Her husband, DERRICK CAROLINA, is a hip-hop artist in the band the Black Experience. Says Terri: "Having a baby has made me more patient and more confident. I feel more powerful. I brought life into this world! When I watch my son play, explore and wonder, my spirit is uplifted and filled with joy. It's like watching your heart walking around outside of your body. I am reminded that we all started out this way, and I appreciate my mother so much more."

* Television producer YVETTE LEE BOWSER is a hit at home with her 1-year-old son, DREW CHRISTIAN BOWSER. She and husband KYLE BOWSER also have a 5-year-old son, Evan Justice. Yvette is now executive producer of the UPN show, Half & Half. "Having children in the most amazing and rewarding thing I've ever done," says Yvette. "My children are now the motivation behind everything I do."