New dad Ashton Kushter owes someone an apology

by

Carolyn Robertson

posted in Celebrities

It's only been a couple of weeks since Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher welcomed their baby girl Wyatt, but fatherhood has already been a very big eye-opener for the 36-year-old Two and a Half Men star.

“It’s unbelievable. It’s the greatest thing on Earth,” Ashton recently told Conan O'Brien. “We’re really privileged that we have time and can afford to take time. So we don’t have a nanny or a night nurse or any of the stuff. It’s just the two of us.”

One thing Ashton very quickly realized when he became a father? He owed his own parents a long overdue apology! "As soon as this child was born, I immediately wanted to call my parents and just apologize because I never knew how much they loved me."

I felt exactly the same way after I had my first baby. I was a pretty good kid growing up, I don't think too many of my parents' grey hairs can be blamed on me. When I became a mom, though, I had an epiphany: Once upon a time they were the ones who were up all night, who worried about every little fever and celebrated every tiny milestone. They suffered through teething, they dealt with tantrums, they went through the first-day-of-school angst. It all suddenly seemed so obvious, but up until then I'd been too busy being their child to really realize what it meant to them to be my parents.

As for Ashton - who says he'll go by "Papa" - and Mila, along with mastering the finer points of swaddling and diaper changing, the tech-savvy new parents were quick to register every possible domain that involves Wyatt Isabella's name.

“We got the Twitter handle, the Instagram, everything... I don’t want a porn site with my daughter’s name on it. It is unacceptable to me. It’s not going to happen," he says, adding, "We got her an email address. We write her emails.... One day she’ll be able to look at it and see the kinds of things people had to say."

Now that's thinking ahead! Wyatt's first solids are still a long ways off, never mind her first status update. I shudder to think of all the ways that social media will change between now and then.

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Can you relate to Ashton's first interview about parenthood?

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Photo: PR Photos

Pregnant Kourtney Kardashian can't leave home without...

by

Carolyn Robertson

posted in Celebrities

Pregnancy cravings are serious business, ladies. Whether it's pickles or ice cream or pickles and ice cream, when that urge hits it's sometimes hard to even think about anything else until it's been satisfied.

Kourtney Kardashian knows all about intense cravings. Now into her third trimester, the soon-to-be mom-of-three reveals that her need for one particular snack was so insatiable that she started carrying it with her at all times. So what was baby craving? Bagels! Preferably blueberry bagels, but the plain would do in a pinch, too.

Mason and Penelope's mom says that the craving hit while she was filming her reality show in the Hamptoms over the summer, saying, “I had them literally for dinner every night. A bagel with cream cheese and jelly. I would have plain ones just in my bag at all times. Khloé would be like, ‘What’s in your purse?’ I’d have two bagels at all times.”

Little sister Khloe Kardashian confirms it's true, saying, "Just that! No wallet, not anything else, just the bagels."

I have to admit, I kind of love the thought of a Hollywood star carb-loading.

As for me, bagels weren't my thing, but I did have a few serious cravings of my own: Cream-centered chocolates, lemonade by the liter and chewy black licorice. Not all together, mind you. Blech. I was pregnant, not totally insane.

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What was your biggest pregnancy craving?

Kourtney's not the only celebrity mama to confess her pregnancy cravings... some of these may surprise you!

Photo: PR Photos

Zoe Saldana won't "rip" her child off her "tit" to go to work

by

Sara McGinnis

posted in Celebrities

Zoe Saldana is adamant she won't be going back to work in a hurry after giving birth. The Avatar actress, who is said to be pregnant with twin boys, has opened up about the support she's been shown as she gears up to mix work and motherhood.

Crediting the producers and creators of her recently projects with being empathetic the mom-to-be told Entertainment Weekly "they’ve been very understanding, especially with what’s happening in my personal life. I’ve gotten nothing but support. To know that we are getting to that place where women can have that support from male driven workforces is -- I have to say, it’s very inspiring."

She then quickly continued, "And also, they don’t have a choice! I’m not going to rip my child off my tit to go work. And if I do that, then maybe you shouldn’t hire me because I am willing to sell anything."

After having a laugh Zoe Saldana added, "It’s nature! Like, you just cannot do it. What kind of mother would I be? There’s no choice. It’s like, 'What, you want me to leave my newborn so that I can work 16 hours on your set? He’s only a month old, are you out of your mind?'

"And the good thing is that half of the people you work with are all parents, and they get it. They probably have strong wives at home that are probably going to look at them going, 'Are you out of your mind?!' See, it’s having strong women around you! Once we all come together, it’s perfect."

Naturally, a bit of debate has been going on about if this actress (whose net worth is estimated to be $8 million) was being insensitive to mothers who don't have a choice about when to return to work. Personally I don't think she meant to be, and in fact was just trying to emphasize the crazy hours stars spend on set, but the "What kind of mother would I be?" line made me cringe.

Surely she meant it as a rhetorical question, but I'll go ahead and give it a shot: Zoe, if you do end up leaving your infant(s) at one month old to return to work you will still be a good mother! You'll be in good company with fellow moms who need to work to make ends meet, and even ones who just -- gasp -- choose to work. There's more than one way to make this motherhood thing happen. You'll be just fine, and so will your darling(s). Things have a way of working out.

Join the conversation

What do you think of Zoe Saldana's words about returning to work as a mom?

Photo: REX USA/Picture Perfect

The celeb-penned kids' book you'll really want to read

by

Carolyn Robertson

posted in Celebrities

Actor BJ Novak - you may know him as Ryan from the US version of The Office - has just released a new kids' book titled, The Book With No Pictures . As you've probably guessed, the book has no pictures. None. Big mistake, right?

Anyone who's read a bedtime story to a small child knows that colorful, creative illustrations are key. Without them your adorable audience's attention will quickly wander and by page 3 they'll be jumping up and down on the bed singing Taylor Swift songs. Good luck recovering from that. ("Weee are never ever ever, going back to bed!")

How do I know this? Over the past 8 years I've read approximately 2,500 bedtime stories to my daughters - yes, I just did the math. I speak from experience.

So I think it's safe to say that Novak's book, no matter how well intentioned, will be a massive flop.

Or maybe not. This video of the 35-year-old actor reading The Book With No Pictures to a gymnasium full of kids seems to prove my theory very wrong. Take a look...

How great is that? Those kids were clearly loving it, and I can see why. It's silly and interactive and has just enough nonsensical words and ridiculous scenarios to guarantee that my two girls would love it, too. And let's be honest: Throwing the word "butt" in there can only help.

I haven't bought the book just yet, but plan on picking it up soon. After seeing it in action, I'm happily prepared to eat my words about a book with no pictures being a very bad idea. It just may be brilliant.

(ps - Is there any sound more infectious than a kid laughing? Like, really, from the gut, laughing? I just love it.)

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What do you think of a book with no pictures?

We can all learn a thing or two from kids' books. Take a minute for these incredible, must-read quotes...

Photo: Thinkstock

Minnie Driver has harsh words for showbiz parents

by

Sara McGinnis

posted in Celebrities

Minnie Driver may love having a career in the spotlight, but she surely doesn't think the film industry is a good place for children to be.

The actress, who is mom to 6-year-old son Henry, has opened up about her views on child stardom while promoting her latest film, Beyond The Lights, in which she plays a showbiz parent. Take a look:

"I'm not really for the whole kids in show business thing," Minnie Driver explained to Us Weekly, adding she's sometimes uncomfortable around parents of young children in the spotlight.

"It's really difficult even when you meet lovely parents of children who are in show business," she explained. "There is still the fact that they're not having a childhood. They are out of their element, and in the element of an adult world which is not always appropriate. It seems to me there is always a certain level of desperation that makes a person put a child in that position."

Trying to draw the character profile of a stage parent she continued, "That's an interesting place to start for a character: Someone who's desperate and conflicted, and if that's overshadowing everything else, it doesn't matter how nice or kind or empathetic they may be elsewhere. The overriding thing is quite fierce."

Speaking from her character's point of view she added, "You love them, of course you love them, but you want this other thing. It's the realm of the hungry ghosts. That's really interesting for an actor...You really understand why she does what she does… You really get it. It's not from a malicious point of view. She's not a sociopath, she's not evil. She just desperately did not want to go back to that poverty and she wanted something better for her kid."

Of course, child actors were at least briefly required to make this film, as evidenced in the preview. How do you the parents of those kids feel today hearing what this actress really thinks? "Desperate and conflicted" are hard words to hear even indirectly spoken to you.

As an average outsider, who lives nowhere near Hollywood and knows no one with a child in the spotlight, it's hard to get a handle on this topic. On the one hand I agree with Minnie and think a 'normal' childhood is not to be undervalued, but on the other some kids are really, truly passionate about performing. I can't say that if my child absolutely loved to sing and wanted to be on stage I'd tell him no, and I sure as heck wouldn't want to be judged as a 'stage mom' for just supporting my kid's interests.

Why or why not?

Do you agree with Minnie Driver that "the whole kids in show business thing" is a bad idea?

Photo: PR Photos

More celebrities, including some who've been there and done that, talk child stardom:

Blake, Alicia, Kate: 3 jaw-dropping maternity looks

by

Carolyn Robertson

posted in Celebrities

So long, maternity mumus. These stunning pregnancy looks that are guaranteed to turn heads.

It's been a memorable week for maternity style, with three very famous moms-to-be showing off the sexier side of pregnancy. The trio chose very different red carpet looks, but each of them looked drop dead gorgeous.

First up is the always stylish Blake Lively, who was joined at the Angel Ball in NYC on Monday by her husband Ryan Reynolds. The Gossip Girl star framed her growing bump in a pale yellow Gucci dress complete with a glittering, plunging neckline.

Singer Alicia Keys and her husband Swizz Beatz, who are expecting their second child, put in an appearance at the same event. The 'No One' crooner opted for a more subdued look, a bold, chunky necklace adding a touch of drama to her draping, floor-length black gown.

Finally, we have Kate Middleton. After enduring weeks at home suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, the Duchess of Cambridge looked beautiful on her two official royal outings yesterday: She traded in the Alexander McQueen coat she wore during a morning appearance for a lovely, sky blue dress by one of her prefered designers, Jenny Packham, at a black tie event at the Natural History Museum.

They all look incredible, no? The three looks are so different, it's hard to choose a favorite. I think my vote would have to go to Blake Lively, though. The buttery color of the dress is just gorgeous, and I love that she went with such a bold, sexy neckline.

My pregnancy didn't involve too many red carpets, so my maternity wardrobe revolved around a lone pair of stretchy jeans and a few extra long T-shirts. I'm sure these ladies sometimes long for a cozy robe or their husbands' PJ pants, but it must be such fun to have the opportunity - not to mention the budget - to go utterly glam every once in a while.

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Wow! See pregnant Duchess Kate's first official outing

by

Carolyn Robertson

posted in Celebrities

It's the royal baby bump debut!

Well, with six months to go until her April 2015 due date, there's not much of a bump just yet, but this morning expectant mom Kate Middleton put in her first official public appearance since she and her husband Prince William announced last month that they are expecting baby #2. Despite spending the past 6 weeks in the throes of hyperemesis gravidarum, the Duchess of Cambridge looked simply stunning.

Kate, 32, wore a tailored grey Alexander McQueen coat and matching hat by Jane Taylor as she arrived at a London hotel to greet Singapore president Tony Tan Keng Yam and his wife.

"I've been looking forward to getting out of the house – that's for sure," admitted Prince George's mom.

Though a palace statement issued yesterday noted that Kate has been "steadily improving," her second experience with hyperemesis gravidarum has reportedly been every been as bad as it was during her first pregnancy.

"Don't be fooled by the fact that she hasn't been admitted to hospital this time," says a source. "She is just as poorly. The difference is that her doctors have been able to diagnose and treat her quicker. She really hasn't been at all well, though."

That might explain The Daily Mail's suggestion that the Duchess looked "a teeny bit peaky" during her royal outing this morning. Just what every expectant mom wants to hear, right? I think she looks wonderful - and it sounds like I'm not the only one.

"She has been through a tough time, but she is looking lovely," reports one royal watcher, who was on hand to see the expectant parents. "She looked absolutely beautiful. She's a classy, beautiful woman. And William looks delightful, too."

This is likely the first of many official appearances Kate will be making throughout her pregnancy, so we will have plenty of chances to see her growing bump. Maybe she'll "pop" earlier this time around than she did with little George. During my first pregnancy it seemed to take forever before I actually looked pregnant - the second time that belly was pretty hard to miss!

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Did you show earlier with baby #2?

Kate's greatest maternity looks from her first pregnancy - which is your favorite?

Photo: REX USA