Duggar baby news! Jessa & Ben welcome their first child

by

Carolyn Robertson

posted in Celebrities

Another Duggar!

Jessa Duggar Seewald is a mom! The 23-year-old and her husband Ben Seewald, 20, welcomed their first child this evening - and it's a boy, a rep for the reality star confirms.

While the brand new parents have yet to comment on their new arrival, the happy news was confirmed tonight by Ben's sister Jessica Seewald, who took to Instagram to announce, "I'm an auntie!"

With her due date having come and gone, Jessa has been very anxiously awaiting the big day. Posting a pregnancy selfie last week, she wrote, "Feeling as big as a barn, and soooo ready to meet my baby!"

She also admitted trying some tricks to induce labor - like snacking on pineapple.

"So has anyone else tried the 'eating an entire fresh pineapple' thing for helping to bring on labor?" Jessa asked her online followers last Friday. "Apparently it doesn't work for everyone, 'cause I ate the whole thing yesterday... and still no signs of labor! (Sure was a tasty pineapple tho!) Guess #BabySeewald still wants to camp out in there a little longer! Patience, Mama, patience..."

Whether it was the pineapple or just good old fashioned patience, the wait is finally over for Jessa and Ben.

Baby Seewald's arrival comes just four days after the couple celebrated their first wedding anniversary, exchanging love notes on Instagram to mark the occasion.

"To the man of my dreams: Baby, you are my best friend and the Love of my life!" Jessa gushed on November 1. "I'm so thankful to God for bringing us together! This past year with you has been the best yet-- I'm sure only to be outdone by the next!"

"Love you today more than ever!" her husband replied.

Of course, these two lovebirds aren't the only ones celebrating today's big news. The entire Duggar clan is no doubt over the moon about welcoming another member to their big and always growing group.

Jessa's parents Michelle and Jim-Bob Duggar - who may not yet be done having babies themselves - have made no secret of their hope for many (many!) grandchildren.

“Four grandkids and counting. Going on 200," Jim-Bob exclaimed after Jessa's sister Jill welcomed baby Israel earlier this year.

200 grandchildren?! I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Congratulations to Jessa and Ben on their baby boy!

Did you try any natural ways to induce labor?

All the Duggar family headlines...

Photos: TLC

Oh, baby! Eddie Murphy's big, blended family is growing again

by

Sara McGinnis

posted in Celebrities

Eddie Murphy is on his way to being the father of nine! Word broke Thursday the actor once again has a bundle of joy on the way, and this time he's having a baby with girlfriend Paige Butcher.

According to reports, the 54-year-old is expecting his ninth child with the woman pictured below, whom he has been dating since 2012. The 36-year-old beauty is due to deliver their son or daughter in May 2016.

A source described as close to Eddie told the Daily Mail, "He couldn't be happier. Eddie really is a family man and loves all of his children, so he’s so excited about having another one on the way."

Eddie Murphy is soon going to have an over 25-year age gap between his eldest and youngest.

The actor has five children (Bria, Myles, Shayne, Zola and Bella) with his ex-wife Nicole Murphy, whom he divorced in 2006 after 22 years of marriage. They range in age from 26 to 13.

He also had three children outside of marriage. They include son Eric, 26, by Paulette McNeely; son, Christian, 25, by Tamara Hood; and daughter, Angel Iris, 8. You may recall her mother is former Spice Girl singer Melanie Brown, who is also known widely as Mel B.

One might imagine having eight children with four different mothers (soon to be nine with five different women) would present logistical challenges for family time, but everyone is reportedly on board with spending time together.

The source went on to say "they all come together on holidays and for sporting events and hang out at his mansion as one big blended family. All of the children love each other dearly and the women, having all moved on with their own relationships, co-exist very well together."

Although I can't quite wrap my mind around having nine children of my own, I do love large families and their wonderfully chaotic get-togethers. My husband has two siblings, each of whom have had multiple children of their own, so I've had a taste of the fun over the years. Conversely, when we get together with my side of the family (which includes just my parents, my brother and his wife) things are calm.

My husband and I have just the two boys, and over the years I've thought about how lucky they are to dabble in both worlds. One holiday there's meals being made for 20+ folks, and the next there's a candlelit table just for 8. They're surrounded by cousins sometimes, and other times they're the treasured only two grandkids.

Small family or the more the merrier? What's your preference and why?

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Photo: PR Photos

 

More famous fathers whose family size continued to grow as they aged:

Selma Blair: Why I bought my son a toy gun

by

Carolyn Robertson

posted in Celebrities

Selma Blair's 4-year-old son Arthur "Saint" may very well find a toy gun under the Christmas tree this year.

The actress and mom admits that she struggled with the idea of her preschooler playing with pretend weapons seeing as she is "terrified of guns," but eventually realized that it "was something [Saint] was drawn to."

“I bought him a cap gun and I talked about it with his dad, and it’s taken very seriously," Selma tells PEOPLE. "He would take a flower and break it and turn it into a gun — bang bang. I mean, that’s his thing. So whether I bought him a gun or not, he finds a way to do it.... I’m new at navigating this. He only plays with this cap gun with Mom or Dad around, and he seems to respect it so far and understands that these are plastic toys and we don’t shoot people.”

Selma and Saint's dad Jason Bleick have imposed some rules as to when their little boy can pull out his cap gun, and when it needs to stay tucked in the toy box. On Halloween Saint dressed up as a police officer, for instance, but the gun didn't go trick-or-treating with them.

Though she clearly has mixed feelings, Selma, 43, says that talking openly about his fascination with guns gives her a good teaching opportunity.

"I know how to shoot one very well," she reveals. "My sister was a police officer and I have tremendous respect and caution around guns."

Selma isn't the only parent who's had to tackle this particular issue. The question of kids and toy guns recently came up in the BabyCenter Community, with 61% of parents saying that they do allow their children to play with pretend guns. Most, though, noted that they made sure the guns looked like toys, not like replicas of the real thing.

"I didn't allow toy guns at first but [my son] would make a gun out of literally anything so I gave up that fight," says one mom, echoing Selma's thoughts.

Another said she steers clear of them, saying, "No toy guns, swords, axes, etc. I also do my best to avoid TV with weapons. It's hard, and some shows have them, but I try."

I grew up with two brothers and spent countless childhood hours playing "war" with the neighborhood kids in the woods down the street from our house. Back then we had a small armory of toy guns that looked very much like real ones and I still remember balancing the rifle against my shoulder and hearing it pop as I pulled the trigger.

I can't say those games of pretend did any of us any harm, but even so I've squashed the occasional urge to buy my daughers a Nerf gun just because I really don't like the thought of them aiming a weapon - even one that's obviously for pretend purposes - at each other or at anyone else.

Do you let your kids play with toy guns? What do you think of Selma Blair's approach?

Celebrity moms get real about raising boys...

Photo: PR Photos

Solange Knowles responds to comment her son is "ugly"

by

Sara McGinnis

posted in Celebrities

Solange Knowles is making it clear she will not stand by quietly while perfect strangers use the Internet to criticize her child, but she also won't stoop to a blow-for-blow battle.

After posting a picture of her son Julez on Instagram, someone dared to call the 11-year-old "ugly." The full comment, which was left on this picture of the boy dressed in a red track suit, reads: "So cute but at the same time he ugly."

The 29-year-old singer, whom you may recognize as Beyonce's sister, is unfortunately no stranger to hurtful comments. Responding to the harsh words about her son she wrote:

"Jussst as I thought it was safe to share pictures again, a young’n like you decides to use her time to spread ugliness. I don’t fault you, I can only imagine why you would feel the need to say such things, but thanks again for being a reminder that out of all the love and wonderful energy shared, that when I open up a space for an innocent beautiful being like my boy to be criticized and judged, that I WILL most likely respond, and that he receives enough love and celebration at home that it’s just not worth it to go down this road."

Are you impressed at the way Solange Knowles calmly replied? I have to say I think it's the best approach, but most certainly it's easier advised than followed.

Hinting the exchange did rile her temper, Solange ended her reply by writing, "I hope that this really resonates with you and you make better decisions in the future towards how you use your words towards innocent children. And @ro.rxd get ya friend because this could have truly gone south if I was in the wrong mood."

The good news to come out of this situation is that not only have there been many comments since left supporting Solange and Julez, but this proud mom has continued to share her son's images as she pleases.

I've only recently started sharing my sons' photos more publicly online, and I'm doing so with my breath held. To get such a comment would undoubtedly make me shy away from posting further, but on the bright side I can say this entire discussion has reminded me to talk once again with my boys about how what they say -- even on the Internet -- matters.

How would you handle such a comment directed at your family?

Join the conversation

Photo: PR Photos

 

Solange is in good company as mom to just one. A look at other stars who are raising singletons:

Leah Remini has a heartbreaking story about Suri Cruise

by

Sara McGinnis

posted in Celebrities

Leah Remini's Scientology tell-all includes a story that, as a parent, is hard to read.

Opening up about former husband and wife Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, the actress details the first time she met the pair. Reporting on the excerpt from Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology, the New York Daily News shares this:

“At first it’s very effusive, it’s very very loving. You get the laser in on you and you’re the most important thing that ever happened,” she said of her first impressions of Cruise. She recalled a memory she had of meeting both Cruise and Katie Holmes at the actor’s home one evening. Remini received a call from a church official that said Cruise wanted her to come over and teach him salsa dancing. Two high-ranking Scientology officials were there with the actor at his home and so was his new girlfriend, Holmes, when Remini arrived. “He was forcibly kissing Katie. I said, ‘hey, get a freaking’ room.’ I was written up for that and I had to go into session for it.”

The uncomfortable incident was nothing compared to what Leah Remini, who is the mother of one herself, later witnessed.

"The wails of a 7-month-old infant echoed through the celebrity-studded dinner preceding the marriage of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. It was their daughter, Suri — but neither the baby’s mom nor the other guests showed concern. And then, writes actress Leah Remini in her new Scientology tell-all, things turned weird.

Remini, after five long minutes, followed the sound of the crying baby to a bathroom where three women stood staring at the infant left lying on the floor. The enraptured trio, including Cruise’s sister and his assistant, were gaping at the hungry child as if she was 'L. Ron Hubbard incarnate' — Version 2.0 of the late Scientology founder."

From what I gather, Scientologists consider children to be reincarnated adults in tiny bodies, and don't believe they need the kind of coddling we typically give.

As a complete outsider I have no idea what to make of Scientology as a whole, or Leah's stories. My gut doesn't say she's lying, but is it possible the truth is somewhere in the middle? After all, it's not uncommon for parents to use the cry-it-out method for sleep training. Still, it's heartbreaking (and a bit eerie) to read Leah's account.

True, false or somewhere in between: What do you make of Leah Remini's Suri Cruise story?

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Photos: PR Photos

 

A look back at stars who've been associated with Scientology over the years:

Jamie Oliver's son takes hilarious on-camera pee break

by

Carolyn Robertson

posted in Celebrities

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver invited his kids to join in on a recent pizza-making segment for his Family Food Tube YouTube Channel. Things were going pretty well until 5-year-old Buddy decided to veer from the script. Kids have a tendency to do that, don't they?

"This could be a nightmare, guys," he warns, as he introduced Buddy and his sister Petal to viewers.

"I did ask her to roll her sleeves up," Jamie adds as Petal's pink-striped dress gets dusted with flour. "Apparently that's not very fashion forward."

Then, just as Jamie is popping the kids' home-made pizzas into the oven, Buddy pipes up: "Dad, I need a toilet!"

By the time Jamie turns around his kindergartener is already out the door, pants down, peeing on the lawn - in full view of the camera.

"That boy is the death of me," says Jamie, a distinct tinkling sound in the background. "He will go to the toilet anywhere. If I introduced him to the queen, he'd go, 'Just a minute, ma'am.' Anywhere. There's nowhere he hasn't been to toilet."

The pizza looks great, and the clip is hilarious. Take a look:

Spotting Buddy finishing up with a big grin on his just behind the glass door, the dad-of-four laughs, "That is my life right there. He'll just sprinkle where he wants to. Etiquette would say that I cut that out, but I'm leaving that in for all the parents out there 'cause you parents are all going, 'Yeah, I've got on of those, too!'"

Once Buddy returned - and washed his hands, of course - it was back to business.

I love it. Yet more proof that kids keep us, all of us, grounded.

Other celebrity dad moments...

Photo: INFPhoto.com

Heidi Klum and her kids are freaking Ellen DeGeneres out

by

Sara McGinnis

posted in Celebrities

Ellen DeGeneres and I are on exactly the same page when it comes to lice -- the don't-come-near-me, my-head-itches-at-the-mere-mention freakout page. That's why, when recent guest Heidi Klum opened up about her kids' hair troubles the talkshow host was less than pleased.

"I’m actually lice-free now as of a few days ago," the 42-year-old mother of four announced during an episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show that aired this week.

She went on to elaborate, "My daughter was itching and then she had to go to the nurse and then they looked and sure enough they found a little egg, and I mean they’re beyond small, so we had the lice fairies come over to our house."

Confused on that last bit?

Seeming to describe a professional lice-debugging service, Heidi Klum went on to explain, "There are these fairies that come to the house and brush you for hours and get all of these lice out of your hair. They’re fairies. You do get a certificate from the lice fairies when you go to the school because the school wants to know."

No word on which of Heidi's children (Leni, 11, Henry, 10, Johan, 9, and Lou, 6) were infected with the bugs, but all the same Ellen wasn't having it.

"Why are you booked here today? I don't understand," she said after not receiving a hug from the model mom. "Why wouldn't you just stay home and say 'I'll come next week or something?'"

Getting one other little jab in, Ellen asked, "Do you bathe?"

Now, if you've ever had the displeasure of having these little buggers infest your family, you know that not bathing regularly isn't even the problem. Lice are equal-opportunity parasites -- but the stigma you're "dirty" for having them is what I remember most about my first time failing the nurse's check during elementary school. To this day I can remember my cheeks flushing red with embarrassment as I was sent to collect my things and go home early. All the kids in class knew what was going on.

I'm thanking my lucky stars I haven't yet had to deal with lice as a mother (and knocking on wood). I'm sure I'd rise to the occasion given no other choice, but for now the mere mention of lice gives me the heebie jeebies.

Have you dealt with lice yet? How did it go?

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Photo: PR Photos

 

More gorgeous models who also are moms: