Jennifer Garner is by outside appearances happily married to her husband of nearly seven years, Ben Affleck. She’s also very pregnant with her third child and is reportedly due in just a few short weeks. This is her second marriage, as she was married to Actor Scott Foley from 2000 to 2003. In a new interview with The Sun, Garner says that she found divorce “crushing” and suggests that she married too young. Outlets are focusing on her comments about divorce and marriage, but she does go into detail about her upbringing and how she got her start in acting, which you can read at the source.

Everyone reaches maturity at different times. I wish I’d known to wait for marriage until I was 30 or over.

I did marry in my twenties (to actor Scott Foley, whom she divorced eight years ago) and I found divorce a crushing experience.

I thought the divorce statistics would never apply to me. I was beyond heartbroken when they did. But I got up and got on with it. I also kept my belief in marriage.

I did not have a fairytale vision of the future but still believed I would find someone to commit to and raise kids with.

Ben is not only my husband, he has helped me in every way. He is the base of my life.

He is an incredibly loving and generous man. I expected he would be a great dad and he is. But what really surprised me was how, when something goes wrong, he is so much calmer than I am.

The great thing about growing older is that you do become more confident. If I have to dress up for something, I wear something true to myself, otherwise it feels like a costume. So my policy is to wear a dressed-up version of something I would normally wear.

I don’t dread it any more. It is a reality of the job. I always try to keep it simple. I love being the age that I am and am looking forward to being 40.

I have figured so much more out about life and feel the older women get, the more beautiful they get. We become ourselves — which is something you can’t teach anyone at 18.”

[From The Sun.co.uk via OK! Magazine]

There’s been a lot of gossip that Garner isn’t exactly the faithful type. We’ve heard that she cheated on Foley with actor Michael Vartan from Alias, whom she hooked up with in 2003 either before or after her divorce. Then there were rumors that she was unfaithful to Vartan with Affleck, as she started dating Affleck in 2004 seemingly right around the time she split with Vartan. Whatever went on, at the least she was relationship hopping. She seems like the type of woman who feels that they need to be in a relationship all the time. She has that in common with Ben’s ex, Jennifer Lopez.

It is nice to hear Jennifer gush about Ben. They speak about each other sparingly but when they do you can tell that they have a lot of respect and love for each other. You do get the sense that they’ve weathered storms together like so many other couples, but that they’re in a good place now. Maybe she’s also telling us, in a roundabout way, that divorce is not an option for her again.

Here’s Garner out yesterday with her daughter Violet, 7. That girl is so adorable! She’s also shown the day before with daughter Seraphina, 3, equally adorable and sassy. Photo of her with Ben is from 1-9-12. Credit: Pablo/FameFlynet Pictures

Here are some new photos of Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck, out and about in Brentwood yesterday. I’m doing this because I know that you bitches love photos of A) Babies and preggo celebrities, B) Dimples and C) celebrities with their animals. I don’t think I even knew that Jennifer and Ben had a dog. He/she is a German shepherd, and he looks very… ALERT. Like, he’s all “DADDY, I wanna eat the paparazzo! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE.” My dog gets the same look when his mortal enemy, the UPS truck, comes down the road. It’s the look of “As God as my witness, if I ever get off this chain and catch you near my mom ever again, I am going to rip you apart.” God, I love puppies! That’s a really beautiful dog. He’s darker than most German Shepherds that I’ve seen.

As for Jen, she’s obviously still knocked up. Any day now, any day now! Poor Jen, she must be super-uncomfortable. Still, it must be nice for her to get some face time with the paparazzi with her usually-reticent husband in tow. Ben seems like he’s gained a bit of sympathy weight with this pregnancy too, right? All of a sudden, he’s carrying himself differently, like he’s just acquired a gut and some kind of moob situation. As for his hair/wiglet situation – it’s a tragedy, and that effing beanie isn’t helping matters. Whatever, though. Happy couple, a bump, dimples and a puppy! This story has all the required gossip elements.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

There’s not really much of a story with these photos, I just thought they were cute pics, and we haven’t talked about Jennifer Garner in a while. I’m including new photos of Jennifer doing some grocery shopping yesterday, seemingly solo and doing almost everything herself. I’m also including photos of Ben and Jen from a few days ago, when they were spotted looking lovey-dovey coming out of a doctor’s appointment.

Even though Garner and The Dimple Parade have been photographed regularly the past few months, I really do feel like this has been her most low-key pregnancy. Jennifer and Ben Affleck seem tighter than ever – there hasn’t been a scandal for them in a while, although I still think there’s something more to the stories about his gambling. Still, they weathered the speculation well, and at this point, it kind of seems like their marriage is even stronger today than it was one year ago, or two years ago. Ben even seems happier to see the paparazzi around! I suspect that Jennifer really is pregnant with a boy, Ben’s long-awaited son.

I totally forget if Jennifer ever confirmed when the baby is due. I suspect it’s coming up very soon, right? Look at that belly. No pillowy pregnancy for Jennifer. And it just blows me away how much cuter her style is when she’s pregnant.

Photos courtesy of Fame, WENN.

These are just some adorable photos of Ben Affleck, a very pregnant Jennifer Garner (she’s shown below, that’s the nanny above) and their girls Violet, six, and Seraphina, almost three. The girls set up a lemonade stand outside their mansion and sold drinks to the public. They even sold them to the paparazzi!

Here’s the description from the photo agency, Fame. It’s worded strangely but you get the point:

Violet and her little sister Seraphina Affleck took to their driveway in the Pacific Palisades, California to sell sweet drinks from their homemade lemonade stand on December 27, 2011 with the help of their nanny. Their mother a very pregnant Jennifer Garner bought a cup herself along with her mother and shortly after dad Ben Affleck came out in sweatpants to help get the girls more customers. Ben asked a few of the surrounding photographers if they would like to buy a glass that a few did enjoy from the girls

I think the lemonade stand is a metaphor for how Garner deals with photographers. She knows they’re there and she’s learned to go with it and maximize the cuteness while Ben is not entirely on board. She surely stages some photo ops, but I still don’t believe that every paparazzi outing with this family is orchestrated. I could be wrong, who knows. I give her the benefit of the doubt because she seems normal. (You’ve probably heard me discuss this before about them, it’s my go-to topic with the Garner-Afflecks.)

Garner is looking like she’s due any day now. She might very well be. She made the announcement of her pregnancy back in late August, and if she was four months along at that time she would be eight months now. It’s possible she was even further along in August and wasn’t showing that much. So the Afflecks are going to welcome another little one soon. I’m wondering if they’ll have another girl or if they’re going to have that boy that Ben is rumored to want.

The family is shown with their nanny, and I’m pretty sure it’s the same one Garner gave a shout out to on Jimmy Kimmel earlier this year. Garner’s mom is also there.

Those girls are just so sweet and cute. Seeing them makes me want to have another kid. Look at Seraphina’s bunny slippers! That sign just slays me.

Photo credit: WENN and Fame

Jennifer Garner covers the January issue of InStyle Magazine, and she promoting her role in the smaller, independent film Butter. That’s the film about competitive butter-carving, and Garner produced the film as well. In addition to talking about that film, she’s also talking a lot about her family. Not just the kids, but her husband too, which is a rare thing. Well… let me say it this way – Jennifer will often say something about Ben in her interviews, but Ben rarely says anything about her. Usually Jennifer shows a little caution when discussing her husband, but I think she feels like she and Ben are in a better place right now, because this is the most gushy as I’ve ever seen her. They’ve been together for seven years now, and she’s pregnant with their third kid. Maybe Jennifer feels like they’re already passed the rough phase of their marriage?

The secret to her 7-year-marriage to Ben Affleck: “We both know we couldn’t do what we do without each other. Ben always says, ‘If you love it, we can make it happen.’ ”

Affleck gives her diamonds: Affleck, 39, enjoys showering his wife with diamonds. He gave her a pair of pink and white diamond Harry Winston bands, one for each of their two daughters, Violet, 6, and Seraphina, who turns 3 next month. “He knows when to swoop in with the gesture. He’s sweet that way,” Garner says. “Honestly, I would do anything for that man, because I know it’s not taken for granted.”

Pregnancy at age 39: “A game changer.” Garner admitted to having a difficult first trimester, complete with nausea, exhaustion and junk-food cravings. “I wish I was one of those cute pregnant girls who wear skinny jeans throughout their pregnancies. But I just gain weight. I’m trying really hard to be mindful, but when I’m making the kids mac and cheese, I want it badly.”

Not giving her kids junk food: “My kids had never seen Doritos before. They would say, ‘Mom, where did you get that orange chip? I really want that.’”

On somebody she’d like to meet: “During my second pregnancy I loved listening to the cellist Yo-Yo Ma. I’ve thought about contacting him, but I’ve never had the nerve.”

On loving her current state of life: “I’m not as myopic as I used to be. During those Alias years I worked 362 days a year. It was great, but I wouldn’t trade my life now for anything.”

On the joys of being a producer: “Being a producer has helped me find the part of myself that has a voice. I’m not just the good girl who’s handed a script.”

On her Butter character: “I identified with her loss of identity,” she says of her character. “You identify with your career then become a mom and put everything you have into the happiness of those kids. And though I wouldn’t change it for anything, you lose part of yourself.”

[From People, Celebrity Gossip & InStyle]

It’s surprising that Garner even admits that she’s “lost” part of herself in motherhood, considering Garner is usually all about being Mother Superior, even going out of her way to say that “there’s no deeper want” for a woman than to be a mom. The junk food stuff could have gotten in Goop territory, but Garner saved it by admitting that she too succumbs to cravings.

But really, the most interesting stuff is the Ben Affleck stuff. He buys her diamonds? He buys her PINK diamonds. He also bought Jennifer Lopez a pink diamond… I’m just sayin’. And Ben says stuff like “If you love it, we can make it happen.” ???? Amazing. Hopefully, Ben and Jen really have turned a corner and their marriage is super-strong right now. Fingers crossed.

InStyle photos courtesy of Celebrity Gossip.

I can barely believe my eyes. Ben Affleck, looking like he enjoys being with his wife and oldest daughter? Ben Affleck being openly affectionate and lovey-dovey with his wife IN PUBLIC? Ben Affleck not being surly when the paparazzi are around? Who are you, Ben Affleck?!? I thought I knew you!

So these are new photos of Ben, Jen and Violet in LA yesterday. Jennifer is ??? God knows how many months pregnant. This pregnancy seems to be much more low-key than her two previous pregnancies – there are still lots of photos of Jennifer and the girls, but she’s taken it down a notch and they’re not getting photographed on a daily basis at this point. This isn’t even the first time (during this pregnancy) where Ben Affleck seems to be enjoying some face-time with his family, although this New Affleck (Affleck 2.0: The Loving Father & Husband Version) has never, in my memory, been so cutesy with his wife. Yes, he’ll hold her hand, but it usually comes with a scowl. I kind of like this new Ben. I wish I could see them like this more often. Usually, whenever the paparazzi are shooting Ben and his family, Ben almost always looks like he wants to curl up and die.

So why does Ben seem so affectionate? Is it just because his lovely wife is preggo and Ben is just trying to be a better dude? Is it because Ben might finally be getting his longed-for son? Jennifer is reportedly pregnant with a son this time, so maybe Ben is just excited about all of the ball games and boy things he’ll be sharing with his son. Or is there another, sketchier reason? Remember how Ben’s name was mentioned often in all of those reports about those high-stakes, underground poker games in Hollywood? Tobey Maguire just settled in one of lawsuits stemming from the games. But I’m sure that’s nothing. It’s just a coincidence!

Photos courtesy of Fame & WENN.

Here’s pregnant Jennifer Garner, working some Louboutin heels and a black skirt and jacket paired with a navy blue top with sequins on it. When I first saw a smaller photo of Garner’s outfit I thought that the pattern on the front of her shirt was lace, not sequins. Either way she’s wearing navy blue with black, something that’s generally considered a fashion no-no. She looks great, though, especially considering her kind of hit-or-miss style when she’s not pregnant. As Kaiser has mentioned, Garner’s pregnant style is an improvement over how she regularly dresses.

Pregnancy really agrees with Garner, and even her more casual pregnant style is looking more put together than usual. Here she is getting coffee on Tuesday. She’s got some great boots paired with formfitting jeans, a very nice striped silk shirt and what looks like the same black jacket she was wearing yesterday. I love this look.

On Sunday Garner went to the farmer’s market with her husband and their girls and she looks like she put just as much thought into her everyday outfit there. She’s stepped up her game a little and it shows. Ben even picked up flowers for his wife. I like this family and I hope they’re doing well. We’ve heard all sorts of rumors about Ben’s potential wandering eye, which ring true given his well known commitment-phobe history. They seem solid though and like they’re looking forward to their new arrival. Whether it’s a boy or a girl, I’m sure it will be thrilling for them to welcome a fifth member of their family.

Can I just say? I like Jennifer Garner’s pregnant style so much more than her non-pregnant style. Maybe it’s because I’m more willing to give a pregnant lady a pass on finding cute, flattering clothes, or maybe it’s because Jennifer’s pregnancy style is actually BETTER. These are photos of Jennifer from yesterday and from the weekend, because I know you’re addicted to The Dimple Parade and these photos are your crack. You can see in the one set of the photos (Garner in black) that even though she’s probably… what?… six months along, Jennifer is still wearing heels when the occasion calls for it. I have no idea what the occasion is, but she looks nice and I’d like to see her attempt a similar look when she’s not pregnant – black pencil skirt, black sweater, a jaunty scarf. But she won’t.

By the way, The Enquirer’s Mike Walker had this report a few days ago:

If I were a betting man, I’d put money on the stork bringing BEN AFFLECK and JENNIFER GARNER a new baby BOY!

Yep, after years of hearing Ben complain that there’s far too much estrogen in his household (two daughters + one wife), it looks like his dream of being dad to a lad’s coming true.

WHY?

My SpyWitness spotted baby-bump Jen power-shopping at trendy LA kid boutique Poppy, and reports: “Everything she purchased was blue! The cutest blue onesies, blue baby blankets, blue bibs, T-shirts, hoodies – even blue baby jeans.”

But mum was the word for mum Jennifer!

She got all coy when the salesbabe at the register asked: “So – is it a boy?”

Refusing to reveal her secret, the star just flashed that famous smile and said: “Could be!”

[From The Enquirer]

I think Ben probably wants a son, but Jennifer recently made it sound like she was all for having another girl. Hopefully, the gender wars aren’t that big of an issue, although I do think that if Ben gets another daughter, that look of “get me the hell out of here” will appear on his face more often. How much more glitter and Barbies can Ben take?

UPDATE: A “friend” of Garner’s confirms it with Life & Style:

Break out the blue! Jennifer Garner is expecting a baby boy with hubby Ben Affleck, a friend of the actress tells the new issue of Life & Style, on newsstands now.

While Ben, 39, adores daughters Violet, 5, and Seraphina, 2, he’s thrilled at the prospect of a “little sports buddy,” the pal tells Life & Style. “He can’t wait to take his son to baseball games and play catch with him.”

But Jen has a few reservations. “She feels like she won’t know what to do,” says the pal. “She’s close to her two sisters, and her instincts were spot-on with the girls. But she never had a brother and doesn’t know the drill.” Still, the 39-year-old hopes things come to her “naturally.”

[From Life & Style]

Well, I hope it’s a boy, I really do. Meh.

Photos courtesy of Fame.

I’ve said some mean things about Ben Affleck and his wiglets before. I don’t really know for sure if he wears wigs or pieces, or if he got plugs, but whatever is happening with his hair, it doesn’t look natural to me. Plus, Affleck always looks so weird to me when he’s got a beard. He looks… Indian. Like, I have relatives in India who look strikingly similar. Something about the thickness and consistency of the beard, and the way it grows in, it just makes him look vaguely more “ethnic” than he really is.

Anyway, these are new photos of Ben on the set of his next directorial-and-starring project, Argo. It’s set in the 1970s, and Ben plays a CIA operative… I think. The plot, as described by IMDB, is:

“As the Iranian revolution reaches a boiling point, a CIA ‘exfiltration’ specialist concocts a risky plan to free a six Americans who have found shelter at the home of the Canadian ambassador.”

Wait, what? Canada was taking hostages in the 1970s?!? No, I think they mean that the six Americans were in the Canadian embassy/residence in Tehran? Right? Right. Anyway, the film also includes John Goodman, Bryan Cranston, Kyle Chandler, Chris Messina, Zeljko Ivanek, and Tate Donovan. Sounds like Affleck is a big fan of Damages, right? Half of the cast comes from Damages.

Oh, and Ben is smoking again. I can’t hate on him for it, under times of stress, it’s really difficult to NOT reach for a cig.

I’ve added some newish photos of Jennifer Garner from the past week. Here’s a question that will haunt you: how is it that Garner looks LESS pregnant now that she’s confirmed her pregnancy. For months and months before confirming it, she wandered around LA in baggy, unflattering ensembles, always looking puffy and bumpy. And now that we know she’s knocked up, suddenly she looks trim, and she’s wearing close-fitting clothes. Oh, and she’s still flashing her thong too.

Photos courtesy of Fame & Pacific Coast News.

Many people think that Blake Lively and Ben Affleck had something going on while they filmed The Town together two years ago. The rumors about an on-set affair persisted to the point where during The Town’s promotion last year, Blake and Ben were never positioned together, in the same space and time, and I feel like Blake was asked not to participate in a large part of the promotional tour. Then there was this interview that Ben did with Blake for Interview Magazine. That piece kind of sealed it for me – they had sex, IMO. And it was torrid.

Whatever did or did not happen, it was just another day for Blake, it seems. She was back with Penn Badgley, and assorted other dudes. One of those dudes? Leonardo DiCaprio. Blake tried to land Leo for about six months before he officially made Blake his girlfriend, and ever since, they’ve been loved up all over the place. Leo even decided to bring Blake as his “date” to a birthday party last week – Ben Affleck’s birthday party.

Leonardo DiCaprio brought an eye-catching guest to pal Ben Affleck’s 39th birthday bash: new flame Blake Lively, who costarred with Ben in The Town.

“Ben party was amazing and so much fun,” a source close to Blake says of the Aug. 13 bash, held at Ben and wife Jennifer Garner’s Brentwood estate.

Blake’s presence at Leo’s side during the party, thrown by celeb event planner Mindy Weiss, is a sign of how serious they’ve become – as Star reported, they’re even house-hunting for an NYC love nest.

But the actor, 36, hasn’t entirely given up his single ways. Three night earlier, at LA bar Goal, “Leo got on the mic for Karaoke,” says a source, who adds that Blake wasn’t around. “He’s there all the time hanging out with the guys.”

[From Star Magazine, print edition]

I couldn’t care less about Leo and the boys’ night. I want to hear about the birthday party. I want to know the face Jennifer Garner made when Blake walked in on Leo’s arm. I want to know the face Ben Affleck made when he saw whatever titsy, leggy little dress Blake had on. I want to know if Leo had any idea. And I still want to know if those nude Blake photos were meant for Ben. It’s killing me that I don’t know!

Photos courtesy of Fame.