Christina Applegate Celebrates Her Pregnant Body

Christina Applegate has had a lot happen in her life. In the past few years, she has gotten divorced from actor Johnathon Schaech, endured a very public battle with breast cancer including undergoing a double mastectomy (followed by eight months of reconstructive breast surgery), started and ended a TV series, was nominated for an Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG, got engaged to Porno for Pyros bassist Martyn Lenoble and come this winter, will welcome her first child.

Applegate, who knows her baby's gender but won't reveal it, has been revealing something else around town: her new baby mama body. The 38-year-old former star of Samantha Who? has been seen around Los Angeles in her mom-to-be state in everything from flowy, beach dresses in Malibu to form-fitting gowns at movie premieres.

Amid the Sprinkles cupcakes cravings, Applegate enjoys a macrobiotic diet and is maintaining a blossoming body—acclimating to her ever-transformative shape. "It's a challenge getting dressed, like to figure out proportion, because if you wear skinny jeans then you look like Humpty Dumpty!" says Applegate. "I'm learning how to balance."

The Hollywood Hills native is also spending as much time being joyful, attributing laughter for helping her heal and gain a new perspective on life. "Humor has always gotten me through the toughest of times," she says. "I think that it frees up your body to heal too."

Healing has definitely become a focus for Applegate, who devotes her time to helping others, such as co-hosting the 5th annual Surfrider Foundation celebrity expression session at Malibu's Surfrider beach. "Surfrider is bringing about the importance that we have clean and safe beaches not only for ourselves, but for future generations," she says. "This is a gift we have been given and we need to maintain it, take care of it, and love it. I'm really happy to be a part of this."

In 2009, Applegate founded Right Action for Women, a charitable foundation dedicated to breast cancer screening for women, including the type of MRI scan that saved her life (her breasts were removed in an operation known as a prophylactic double mastectomy). She also appeared on Stand Up to Cancer TV special, which raises funds for cancer research (they have raised over $100 million since 2008).

And this month, Applegate stars with real-life couple Justin Long and Drew Barrymore in the film, "Going the Distance."

Besides joining the ranks of mama status, having a clean bill of health and a new lease on life, the busy mother to be has another cause for celebration these days: her Dutch man Lenoble, who's been particularly supportive. "I'm very grateful to Martyn for coming along at a time when he did because he's been my rock through all of this," says Applegate, who's been friends with Lenoble for 13 years (the couple dated two years before becoming engaged). "He gave me something to really want to live for and something to smile about." Better yet, she adds, he makes her feel "beautiful" about her new body.

It's no wonder our former Kelly Bundy was featured on the cover of People magazine's annual Most Beautiful issue just last year. And with her mind and physical transformation, we can be sure to continue seeing more of what she calls, "a happy Christina for everyone around you."