Matthew McConaughey Shares Sweet Details About Camila, Levi
A lot has changed in the life of actor Matthew McConaughey since the birth of baby Levi, now four weeks old. However, the new dad seems laid-back as always in an upcoming interview on CNN’s House Call, airing in two parts. (The first half airs 8:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday; the second half airs next Saturday, August 16th). The proud pop talks to Dr. Sanjay Gupta about girlfriend and mother Camila Alves, 25, his family values, and Levi’s first outings.
Describing Camila’s intensive labor, which ultimately ended in an emergency c-section, Matthew said, "You see a woman just really digging deep into her soul, and bearingpain, and being on top of it. I saw a strength comeout of her I’d never seen before." Now that Levi is here and the delivery is in the past, the 38-year-old actor explains, "We’ve gone through something now that we’re like, ‘I know, and you know, and only you and I know, and that’s good for us.’"
Matthew also revealed that the couple saved Levi’s placenta, and plans to plant it in a local orchard in the near future. He drew inspiration from an Australian Aboriginal custom, in which the placenta of every memberof a clan gets buried under a giant tree.
In terms of a hope for his son to follow in his famous footsteps, Matthew says Levi will never face any pressure to be a star — and he and Camila have a plan if he starts feeling entitled by his station in life. "If that’s a major burden, if something like ‘Oh, I’ve got famousparents and I can’t get out of their shadow,’ if that kind of thingwere to happen, I got a little road trip we’ll take to Africa that willsober things right up for him," Matthew laughs. "No, we’reliving a little higher than that, a little better than that…He’sgot us, we love him."
Click ‘Continue Reading’ for more from the interview, including the two family mottos, and why Matthew and Camila take Levi with them everywhere they go.
Of the way he and Camila intend to raise their son, Matthew says hedraws inspiration from his late father, who died when Matthew was inhis 20s. He shares two family mottos:
Don’t lie, and don’t say ‘I can’t’. Never C-A-N-T — nasty word in our family, and that will be a nasty word to Levi.
As for little Levi’s life so far, Matthew — who has already taken his son to a John Mellencampconcert — says he wants to get Levi used to the sights and sounds ofthe world around him. He and Camila are accomplishing this by includingLevi in just about everything they do!
Everyone talked about how, oh, you have a kid, life changes, it’s like180 degrees on a dime full stop, wow. And a lot of them hadan insinuation under that like, you have to stop living your life asyou live it. That hasn’t been the case. [It just] takes a little more prep time todo whatever it is you’re going to do.
The baby boy — who Camila says is "straight up his father. He has my lips, but he looks so much like Matthew. He’s a white boy!" — made an appearance at an event for mom Thursday night, celebrating the launch of her handbag line, MUXO, at the tony Kitson boutique in Los Angeles. Kitson owner Fraser Ross told PEOPLE,"He’s a very well-behaved baby. And Camila’s adorable [with him]."While Levi spent the evening in a private room with a nanny, he did getseveral visits from mom and dad — as Matthew shared, "With Camilabreastfeeding every three hours, she can’t beaway from the child. So she’s got to be there!"
For a video of Matthew’s interview, visit CNN.com.
Sources: CNN.com, EXTRA, People.com; Photo by AXELLE/Bauer-Griffin.
- Posted on Aug 8, 08 at 12:00PM
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- 22 Comments
August 8th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
I completely love Matthew’s philosophy on fitting the baby into life, and not vice versa. I plan to do the same. I definitely don’t want to go overboard making my entire life about my child(ren)…I think it’s more about focusing on the family unit as a whole, and creating unique experiences as a family together.
August 8th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
I think its interesting how nobody bashes Matthew for taking his son to red carpet events, a John Mellencamp concert and too the beach and jogs every day yet Nicole Kidman gets crucified for going out. I think its a double standard.
August 8th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
kate… probably b/c she left the baby at home and didnt bring her out when she went out..LOL!
steph
August 8th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
but when have you actually seen Nicole Kidman with her baby? (Starbucks runs that often???) I don’t know about you… but I left my daughter ONCE for one hour during the first few months of her life (to go to Target)… As a first time mom I thought I needed to be with her, especially b/c of breastfeeding.
Anyhow- I am impressed with Matthew and Camilla- they seem like amazing parents?
August 8th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Kate, probably because women love to bash other women! personally, I don’t care what either of them are doing, its their business.
Did I miss something about Nicole? When has she been leaving her baby besides getting coffee?? Sorry, but even if she is breastfeeding she CAN go get a decaf and be home before the next feeding I would think. When I had both my kids I HAD TO get out of the house after a week or two. And, yes…I did go out by myself once or twice for an hour. It isn’t child abuse.
As for Matthew…I think its great they take him along, except to a concert. I think that is a bit much at his young age, but its their kid and their lives.
August 8th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
I remember thinking the same thoughts after giving birth to my 18 month old daughter. I kept hearing people say how much my life would change once she was born, but I couldn’t understand what they were talking about. My newborn was a perfect angel. I took her to restaurants, concerts, I even thought about talking her to Europe. Well, all of that changed as soon as she started crawling. I came to this gradual realization that I would have to sacrifice much of my past life to raise this baby in an unselfish manor. No more dreaming of family trips to Europe. Oh, the thought of Italy with a 2 year old. I’d rather stay home.
August 8th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Great philosophy about continuing to live your life. However, I’m sure they will need to adjust that a little when naptimes and routines become necessary… Matthew & Camilla appear to be loving, laid-back parents, which is great!
August 8th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
I would be worried about damaging a newborn’s hearing by taking him to a live concert. I guess I am too cautious, but I wouldn’t want his hearing to be injured somewhere like a concert where the music can be deafening for adults!!
August 8th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Taking the baby with you, leaving the baby at home, I think either answer can be right. Each baby and each family is different! But, I do like Matthew’s philosophy. That is how my husband and I plan to run our family. For instance, I work at a medical conference every year and my friends thought I wouldn’t be coming next year because of the baby. My attitude is that the baby is 6 months old and as long as s/he isn’t sick, s/he can make the trip with me. I think parents are better parents when they keep something about themselves. I might have to cut back on my volunteer work with this organization when my baby comes, but I could never give it up because it’s part of me and I think it’s important for children to know their parents are people too!
August 8th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Okay, am I the only one here who thinks that the whole placenta thing is gross? To each their own, but I think a concert is a bit much for a newborn too!
August 8th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
We kept our daughter’s placenta and buried it under a rose bush in our garden. It’s absolutely to each his own but to me allowing her placenta to become medical waste seemed like an awful thing to do. Native Americans also traditionally buried the placenta. I am 8 months along with #2 and plan to do the same with her placenta.
August 8th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
How do you suppose they managed the baby at the concert? Wouldn’t it be really loud? How could you protect a newborn’s hearing?
Not bashing or judging, just curious.
August 8th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
why does camila look dark alot like she has black features but i heard she was brazilian
so why is she so dark or is it that her and mm tan alot from being on the beach so much
August 8th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Kate, I don’t understand your comment. Isn’t that the point – that Nicole wasn’t with her baby (not that I thought that was bad, every mother is different and she just needed some alone time which is something I’d probably need as well!!!). Matthew and Camila are never leaving the house without their baby, it seems! And I think that depends on the baby itself.
Personally, I don’t understand why they took him to a concert at his young age but I’m sure they protected his ears and took safety precautions so who am I to judge?
They seem like such great parents and they seem to be naturals. I think it’s great that they’re not sacrificing every part of them because they are now parents. They are still getting out and they get to take this wonderful little person with them now!
August 8th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
I love the face that they are taking their kid everywhere they go…that’s exactly what my parents did with me and I think I turned out great. -LOL- That little boy will be very cultured at a young age.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Emeline, I hope this doesn’t come off as sounding gross because I like your idea of burying it under your rose bushes, but do you have to worry about scavenger animals smelling blood and trying to dig up your garden
I plan on planting a tree or small garden when I have babies to celebrate them.
August 9th, 2008 at 12:11 am
most people use those special headphones when they take babies/toddlers to concerts. you see them on celebrity kids when they’re watching a parent perform quite a bit. maybe they used one of those. or maybe it was an outdoor concert and they sat far back, or maybe they watched from backstage (it’s substantially quieter behind the speakers). i haven’t seen pics so i don’t know, but there are lots of ways to take a baby to a concert without damaging their hearing.
August 9th, 2008 at 1:59 am
Michelle Z.-
The Spice Girls’ kids were at a lot of their concerts and rehearsals, they wore some sort of headphone designed especially for that.
August 9th, 2008 at 11:54 am
I’m sorry, but you guys saying all this stuff about people like Nicole need to relax. Let’s face it, the process you and I go through to get a coffee is not the same as them. I would def leave my infant at home if I wanted some fresh air.Have you seen the extent that the paparazzi will go to get pictures of the baby ?? I remember cringing at the one video where Britney was holding her son and she tripped and almost fell with him. And Reese Witherspoon and her high speed chase with her kids in the car. And the last time I checked, you didn’t actually need your breast present to give your baby breastmilk. I do think that it is great that Matthew and Camilla are having alone and “date” time.
August 9th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
You know Africa gets a really bad rap sometimes. All of Africa is not filled with poverty and despair. Camille is from Brazil and there are some really poverty strikened, crime ridden areas that they can visit to ground their son. I have visited Africa several times and there are many beautiful areas with striving families.
August 10th, 2008 at 1:41 am
Shaun, why are you mentioning Africa? Brazil is in South America.
I think it’s cute that they include the baby in everything they do. It’s sweet. At a young age he’s going to be extremely cultured. I’m sure they know to protect the baby and what not, but the concert thing did make me a bit nervous.
August 11th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Summer, Shaun mentioned Africa because Matthew did so in the interview. Shaun, I was also a little perplexed by that comment. I’m American but am pretty tired of Africa (which is a contenient and not a country people) getting such a bad rap when it certainly isn’t the only third world country out there, and has more than poverty and war.
But anyway, seems like every other word out of Camilla’s mouth is how much like Matthew the baby is. We get it, it’s his kid. Congrats.