Parenting

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There is much to be learned as the father of three girls and Tim McGraw has certainly mastered a lesson or two in dealing with women since becoming a parent. However, the country crooner’s greatest lesson to date is, by far, the power of patience. “I have a hard time waiting, which is horrible because I live with four women,” he tells Reader’s Digest.

“I had to learn not to get dressed until they say they’re ready to walk out the door, because I’ll still have 30 minutes.”

Fortunately, as his wife Faith Hill and their three daughters Gracie Katherine, 12, Maggie Elizabeth, 11, and Audrey Caroline, 7 ½ — who Tim laughs will date when he’s dead — primp, the 42-year-old is able to retreat to his own comfort zone: his worn-out leather recliner. “It’s ugly brown leather — fake probably,” he says, adding that “somebody’s always in my chair.”

That said, those days are quickly come to a close — for both Tim and his girls — if Faith has her way.

“We’re building a new house, and Faith swears it’s not going to make the trip. She hates it. Until she sits in it. Then she loves it.”

While he may joke about his estrogen-filled household, Tim admits his favorite part of the day is simply unwinding with his gang of girls. “Everyone is home; dinner is cooking,” he shares. “And bedtime. We put the kids to sleep, and Faith and I get into bed and take a deep breath.”

Tim’s new movie The Blind Side is in theaters November 20th.

Source: Reader’s Digest

– Anya

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Although she garnered an Academy Award nomination for her role in 1998’s Hilary and Jackie, Rachel Griffiths — currently starring in ABC’s Brothers & Sisters — says that television work suits her just fine. “I have a nice balance,” she notes in the November issue of Cookie magazine.

The ability to bring new baby Clementine Grace, 4 months, to work helps. “[Clem is there about] “half the time, depending on how my days are,” she adds.

On those days when her family of five — which includes son Banjo Patrick, 6 this month, daughter Adelaide Rose, 4, and her artist husband Andrew Taylor — are together at their Santa Monica home, Rachel says they can often be found outside.

“Children are like dogs,” she explains. “They really shouldn’t be inside; They need to run and use their bodies.”

To that end, Rachel says she’s tried to emulate her own “free-range” childhood with Banjo, Adelaide and Clem, conjuring up memories of a time when “your mother would yell, ‘Dinner!’ and kids would come out of the creek or appear out of bushes.”

“I’ve tried to create a sense of danger and exploration in a safe area. My yard’s boundaries are secure. My pool is fenced, so they don’t have to worry about that. The kids know that if they go down the slope at the end of the backyard, there’s a beehive there — they might get stung, but hey, if you want to, go for it.”

Adding that “they climb trees, they swing and hang,” Rachel says that playing in their backyard — complete with playhouse, rope swings and a surfboard-like plank on springs — will often send Banjo and Adelaide “into an imaginary world.”

The couple like to expand their kids’ real world horizons with trips and vacations abroad as often as their schedules permit, however. “We have fervent periods of work,” Rachel, 40, explains, “and then we have gorgeous periods of being together and relaxed.”

Defining “downtime” as a “holiday so long that the kids grow out of their shoes,” Rachel adds,

“The kids understand the rhythm and the creative process; they know Dad goes a little nutty before [an art] show. I’ll say, ‘I can’t be with you right now, but I’ve got three days off coming up. What should we do?’”

Click below to read about Rachel’s take on motherhood in the U.S. vs. motherhood in Australia.

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Welcoming fraternal twin daughters in 2007 after struggling with infertility, Marcia Cross found herself counting her many blessings each night as she lay down to sleep with her husband Tom Mahoney.

“I already knew that every day is a gift, a blessing,” she tells the October issue of WebMD magazine, adding that each passing day of her sweet life was considered “a very lucky day” in her book.

However, the couple’s continued luck came to a startling halt when Tom was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year and life as they once knew it took a drastic turn down a path of uncertainty. “Before Tom’s diagnosis, I used to say to him every night, ‘We are so lucky. We have each other. We have our babies,’” she admits. “Because life can turn on a dime.”

Fortunately, amidst the dark spot in their lives, Marcia and Tom seek happiness in their 2 ½-year-old daughters Eden and Savannah. And while she loves motherhood, the intense feelings are not exactly the ones the Desperate Housewives star once envisioned. “As much as I wanted them, I guess I’m surprised at how fulfilling I find it,” she muses.

Case in point? The tender moments shared by the twins that pull at Marcia’s heartstrings. “There are these moments that are so sweet and profound,” she shares.

“Like, last night Savannah helped me put Eden to bed first, and she sang three or four songs to her sister, who was lying in her crib. You get these amazing moments all the time.”

Motherhood hasn’t been all highs; Like many working moms, Marcia struggles with guilt when she finds herself working 14-hour days on her hit show. “I know they don’t need me every single second of the day…but I also know how every phase is so fleeting. And I hate missing any of it!” she says. That said, her stretches spent working well into the night are often balanced with days of downtime, quality time reserved for her family.

She may have years to go before Eden and Savannah are ready to venture out on their own, but Marcia notes that, when that day comes, she will be ready to offer her support where needed. “Really love ‘em — then let ‘em go,” she coaches. “They’re going to be who they’re going to be. And that’s the beauty of parenthood.”

Source: WebMD Magazine; October issue

– Anya

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Although Ana Ortiz gave birth to her daughter Paloma Louise only 4 ½ months ago, the Ugly Betty actress says that she and her husband, musician Noah Lebenzon, are already planning to have more.

“I don’t know when, but probably sooner than later,” Ana, 38, told PEOPLE at the 6th annual Lucky Shops hosted by Lucky magazine this week. “You know the clock is ticking.”

Now that her ABC show has moved from Los Angeles to the Big Apple, the native New Yorker enjoys being back home and spending time with her mother.

“Being in New York, where I was born and raised, and sort of raising another New York kid has been a really cool experience for me. I was in L.A. for so long,” Ana says. “Also rediscovering a new relationship with my mom has been a pretty amazing thing.”

Now that Ana is back home, she says that the three generations of women do everything together. “My mom is my go-to. She comes to set with me and she takes care of [Paloma] while I’m filming,” she says. “She is just sort of my right hand with the baby.”

– Isley Kasica

Update: We’ve now added the full interview and photos — plus one exclusive outtake that didn’t make the magazine! See the images and read the article in the extended post.

Originally posted October 21st: Weeks after welcoming their first son, Nicole Richie and Joel Madden — along with their 21-month-old daughter Harlow Winter Kate — are showing off the latest addition to their family, Sparrow James Midnight Madden.

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Click below for the full interview and lots of great photos!
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Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? None other than Spongebob Squarepants, Bronx Mowgli’s new best friend, according to dad Pete Wentz.

Reaffirming wife Ashlee Simpson-Wentz’s sentiments that the cartoon character is a hit in their household, the Fall Out Boy rocker tells Ryan Seacrest that the couple’s son, who turns 1 later this month, is likely going to celebrate his first year in Spongebob style.

“We got the one-year birthday coming up which is going to be pretty awesome,” he says. “I think we’re going to go Spongebob.”

As for party decorations, Pete and Ashlee need not look too far.

“We have these giant Spongebob paintings in our house and I said, ‘Spongebob’ a couple times when we were walking by it. Now [Bronx] has to stop every time we walk by and he says, ‘Bob.’”

Pete and Ashlee aren’t the only ones touched by Bronx’s love of all things Spongebob; Bob, Pete’s manager, believes baby boy has taken a liking to the name after spending time with him. “I swear to God he thinks [Bronx] says ‘Bob’ because of him and I don’t want to break his heart!” the proud papa laughs.

Source: On-Air With Ryan Seacrest

– Anya

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There was no looking back for Mary-Louise Parker when she made the decision to adopt a child from Ethiopia in 2007, the actress tells OK! “Some people are drawn to do it, and I felt like if I don’t do it now, I’m going to regret it my whole life so I just went ahead and did it,” she says.

Welcoming daughter Caroline Aberash, now 3, into her home — which she shares with son William Atticus, 5 ½ — was not a problem; The Weeds actress reveals that the pair hit it off from the start! “They get along like siblings,” she muses.

“They’re brother and sister. They’ve always been brother and sister.”

Calling the journey of adoption “magical,” Mary-Louise urges people to step forth and consider expanding their family. “There’s no downside to it. Unless you’re a mean, horrible person and you plan to make them clean your garbage up or something, there’s nothing bad about it,” she advocates.

“This is going to sound very strange, but even if you’re a mediocre parent, you’re going to give them way more than they have now. You’re going to give them attention, food, and clothes.”

In fact, the 45-year-old may just take her own advice! “I might do it again,” she reveals of her adoption plans. “I would love to, but children take a lot of energy. They’re a lot of fun.”

As for parenting tips, Mary-Louise isn’t willing to offer any — she believes each parent will eventually find their own way. “I think every kid is different,” she explains. “You have to figure it out on your own.”

William is Mary-Louise’s son with actor Billy Crudup.

Source: OK!

– Anya

Josh Turner’s oldest son Hampton Otis, 3, has already picked up some of Dad’s tricks for dealing with his new 4-month-old brother Colby Lynch. “If Colby starts crying in the car, Hampton will start singing to calm him down,” laughs the country star. “It’s got absolutely no effect on Colby, but Hampton tries! He’s been a great big brother. We thought he’d be jealous, but he’s been really loving.”

The sibling relationship isn’t always quite so harmonious, however. “Sometimes Hampton tries to pull his legs or poke his belly, and it’s like, ‘You can hurt your brother!’” But for his part, Colby seems to be taking things in stride. “He’s more laid-back and has Hampton beat in the sleeping category already,” says Josh, 31.

That’s a plus for a family that’s already taken its show on the road. Josh’s wife Jennifer, 31, who sings and plays the keyboard in his band, rejoined the tour with the boys in tow in August.

“We have a Pack ‘N Play bolted to the floor of the bus for Colby, and Hampton in a bunk,” Josh says. “Jennifer was on the road when she was pregnant with both of them, so they sleep better on the bus than they do at home!”

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– Eileen Finan

For more on Nashville stars and their families, check out PEOPLE’s Country Special, on newsstands now.

Click below for two more photos of the family!
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New mom Jennifer Hudson welcomed her son David Daniel Jr. to the world just three months ago, but she’s already talking about No. 2 and No. 3 – and next time, she’d like a girl.

“Maybe one more. I’d like to have at least one more, a little girl,” Jennifer, 27, tells Access Hollywood. “I want a girl and then maybe another one. You know, one baby at a time.”

As for what town David will call home, there’s no question for the native of the Windy City.

“Chicago would definitely be it because that is where all the family is,” she says. “I feel like he should be surrounded by family. That’s where the biggest support system is and if we live somewhere else, then we will have to bring the family wherever we are.”

Chicago, of course, was also the scene of Hudson’s family tragedy, which took the lives of her mother, brother and nephew. The Grammy-winning singer says she still feels her mother’s presence every day.

“Yeah, definitely. Wherever, wherever,” she says. “Every day, I’m like. Wow I didn’t realize I am so much like my mother until now, so yeah.”

Source: Access Hollywood

– Michael Y. Park

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Halloween is always a big day for Seal and wife Heidi Klum, and this year — despite welcoming their fourth child, daughter Lou Sulola, just three weeks beforehand — the couple showed again that they are game.

Chatting with reporters while dressed as crows at Heidi’s 10th Annual Halloween Party at Voyeur in West Hollywood on Saturday, Seal spoke lovingly to Celebrity Baby Blog about the family’s newest addition.

“It’s a funny thing, having another child, because you have three kids who you love dearly and you think to yourself how could you possibly find any more love to give anyone else,” he notes.

“The first time you hold your baby in your arms there is this overwhelming sense of otherworldliness that is very, very difficult to describe.”

Although the couple are no doubt tired, Seal says that Lou makes it all worthwhile.

He explains,

“Sleep deprivation is kind of pretty much neutralized by what I call the amnesia gene. They look at you and you forget that when you have more kids.”

Earlier in the day Seal took the couple’s older three children — Leni, 5 ½, Henry, 4, and Johan, 3 this month — trick-or-treating for the first time.

The boys dressed as skeletons, Seal said, while Leni dressed as a skeleton-witch hybrid.

“She tends to be very strong-headed, a bit like someone else I know,” he joked, “She was a great witch at school in the parade last week.”

The 46-year-old singer was less forthcoming when asked to spill Heidi’s body-after-baby secrets.

“You know I’m not going to do that,” he laughed before conceding, “she just has a knack for all of these things.”

“There isn’t actually anyone quite like her. I certainly haven’t met anyone like her. She just has a knack for it. She is the person that can pretty much do anything and I’ve got used to that within a few months of marriage…she’s the woman, she can do it all.”

Click below to read about how the three older Samuel children are adapting to life with Lou.

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