Stylish Celebrity Escapism
Contributing Writers




Aug 21
'08
Gwen Stefani gives birth to a baby boy named Zuma


Gwen Stefan has given birth to a baby boy named Zuma. We were initially relying on E! Online’s report that she gave birth this morning and that the baby’s name is Zuma, but that they weren’t sure about the gender of the newborn. I assumed it was a girl given the name. It turns out that it’s a boy named Zuma Nesta Rock Rossdale.

I am tepid on the name Zuma for a little girl, but it seems kind of off for a boy. That name sounds like one of those jagged word clouds that would pop up during a fight on the old Batman TV show. It’s an onomatopia, not a name, but it’s kind of cute and not stigmatizing. There are certainly worse celebrity baby names. I wasn’t fond of “Birdie,” either, but many of you pointed out that it’s a perfectly common and acceptable name.

According to Think Baby Names, Zuma is a very rare name and is a variant of Zulema, which means peace. Gwen and husband Gavin Rossdale’s first child, Kingston, two, is thought to be named after the capital of Jamaica, which may have been where he was conceived.

Congratulations to Gavin and Gwen on their second child!

Posted in Babies, Births, Gavin Rossdale, Gwen Stefani

Written by Celebitchy         62 Comments »
Aug 21
'08
Gwen Stefani finally about to give birth


Gwen Stefani out on 7/12/08. Credit: Fame
Singer Gwen Stefani has seemingly been pregnant forever, but reports are surfacing that she has been admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in LA to give birth via C-section.

It’s D-day — as in delivery day — for Gwen Stefani! The singer checked into Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and is scheduled to give birth via C-section at 10 a.m. PT. This will be the second child for Gwen, 38, and her husband, Gavin Rossdale — and it’s in the same hospital where she gave birth to son Kingston, 2. “Gwen’s so excited to have this baby because she gained a lot of weight during this pregnancy,” her pal reveals to In Touch. “She is ready to meet her new baby and get her body back.”

[From InTouch Weekly]

I’ve actually been really excited about this baby. Gwen is my age and it makes me happy whenever I see someone of so-called “advanced maternal age” (yes, that is the actual term my doctor used!) have a healthy, normal pregnancy. It’s obvious that Gwen loves being a mother. Little Kingston is so cute and cool, so I’m sure the new baby will be equally awesome. I kind of hope, for Gwen’s sake, it’s a little girl. I’m sure she is dying to play dolls and dress-up.

Photo below credit: WENN

Posted in Births, Gwen Stefani

Written by MSat         20 Comments »
Aug 20
'08
Ricky Martin becomes a father to twin boys via surrogate

If there is still any shred of doubt as to Ricky Martin’s sexual orientation, his latest move most likely removes it. Taking a page from the Clay Aiken book of fathering children, the Latin singer announced that he has recently become a father to twin boys, carried by a surrogate. The babies reportedly will be in Martin’s care full time, and he has decided to take the rest of the year off from his busy schedule of denying gay rumors to be a full-time dad.

There won’t be much “livin’ la vida loca” for Ricky Martin these days — he’s now the father of twin boys.

The Latin superstar had the children via a surrogate mother, and the babies were born a few weeks ago, according to a statement from his representatives.

“The children, delivered via gestational surrogacy, are healthy and already under Ricky’s full-time care,” said the statement. “Ricky is elated to begin this new chapter in his life as a parent and will be spending the remainder of the year out of the public spotlight in order to spend time with his children.”

A representative said there was no further information on the details of the children’s birth.

[From the AP]

Congrats to Ricky, and kudos to the nameless “gestational surrogate” who made it all possible. That is truly a selfless act right there. I don’t know if I could do it- if I carried something for 9 months and then gave birth to it, it’s mine, dammit! Twin boys are surely a lot of work, so even if there’s no mom in the picture, I hope Ricky has some help. I wonder if this means he will finally come out to his adoring public? At this point, what does he have to lose, really? His days as a Latin heartthrob are pretty much over anyway. Coming out might be the best thing to happen to his career since William Hung sang “She Bangs” on American Idol.

Picture note by JayBird:Here’s Ricky Martin receiving his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in October. Photographer: Nikki Nelson. Images thanks to WENN.

Posted in Births, Ricky Martin

Written by MSat         19 Comments »
Aug 8
'08
Clay Aiken is now a father

The chosen one has arrived. Well, the “chosen one” if you’re one of the 736 women over 44-years-old who call themselves the Claymates. Yes I find that disturbingly creepy too. Though I find the idea of inflicting Clay Aiken’s genes on a baby to be kinda mean, I’m actually happy for him. And just teasing about the genes, of course.

Clay knocked up his best friend and music producer Jaymes Foster the old fashioned way: with a test tube. Or maybe a turkey baster, you never know. Clay and Jaymes are just good friends, and decided they both wanted kids and to raise them together, even though their relationship is platonic. This morning their son Parker Foster Aiken was born.

Good news, Claymates: the Claynation has welcomed its first heir. Clay Aiken and platonic baby-making partner Jaymes Foster welcomed their first child together in North Carolina this morning, the singer’s rep confirmed to E! News.

The American Idol alum’s mother turned proud grandma first announced the new arrival this morning. Faye Aiken told Raleigh radio station WRAL that her son’s longtime producer gave birth to son Parker Foster Aiken at 8:08 a.m. in an undisclosed location in the singer’s home state. Parker tipped the scales at 6 pounds, 2 ounces and measured in at 19 inches.

Faye Aiken also broke the news that the Aiken progeny did not inherit dad’s fiery red mop, instead saying that he has dark hair and that, upon seeing him, the “Measure of a Man” singer was “smiling from ear to ear.”

Although theirs is not a romantic relationship, the duo plan to raise the baby together.

[From E! News]

I think their decision is damn cool. Their son will have two parents that love him and wanted him and will probably end up with a much more stable home than a lot of kids raised by parents with a more traditional relationship. They downside is he’ll have t hear lullabies sung by Clay Aiken, and unlike the rest of us little Parker won’t be able to turn off the CD. But I’m guessing he’s going to be one well-loved kid. Congratulations to Clay and Parker.

Here’s Clay making an in store appearance promoting his CD ‘On My Way Here’ at Virgin Megastore in Times Square on May 6th. Images thanks to WENN.

Posted in Babies, Births, Clay Aiken, Jaymes Foster

Written by JayBird         19 Comments »
Jul 13
'08
Media outlets confused over whether Angelina has given birth

The media is all up in a tizzy. Reports are coming in again that Angelina Jolie may have given birth to her twins, following an article in the French newspaper Nice-Matin. The paper claims that Angelina gave birth sometime before 10 p.m. on Saturday night; and had a boy and a girl, named Knox Leon and a girl named Vivienne Marcheline. A few other websites are claiming she gave birth to two girls. Many other magazines have jumped on board announcing the birth, but even more are holding off, after the Entertainment Tonight debacle last month.

First thing’s first: As far as we know, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s twins have not made a break for it just yet. Nadine Bauer, the spokeswoman for Fondation Lenval, Jolie’s five-star seaside hospital, told E! News Saturday night that any official word on the birth would be posted on the facility’s website.

That appears to shoot down two reports claiming les bébés had been liberated earlier today. Saturday started off innocently enough, with the general consensus that Jolie-Pitts 5 and 6 were due to arrive via C-section this Tuesday. But then In Touch Weekly reported that twin girls arrived around 7 p.m., citing an unnamed hospital source. After which, Bauer was quoted in various outlets, including Us Weekly, Extra and OK!, that ITW had “wrong information.”

But judging that response semantically, it could be that the birth simply didn’t occur, that it took place at a different time or that it didn’t involve two girls—those latter storylines were covered by a local newspaper.

Apparently in an earlier incarnation of that story, though, the newspaper had some strikingly different information. According to the Agence France Press wire service, Nice-Matin initially reported Jolie and Pitt are now the parents of another daughter and a son, even going so far as to give the little ones’ names, Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline, and weights.

[From E! News]

So Angelina may or may not have had babies. And they may or may not be girls or boys. If she didn’t have them… she is still pregnant. Really, the story here is that everything is still up in the air. Angelina was widely reported to be scheduled for a C-section on Tuesday. It would make sense for the hospital to circulate a later date if they wanted to throw the press off. We’ll keep you updated and let you know if Brangelina #5 and #6 have indeed entered the world in all their sparkling glory.

Posted in Angelina Jolie, Births, Brad Pitt, Brangelina, Media, Pregnancy, Rumors

Written by JayBird         21 Comments »
Jul 3
'08
Pregnant man gives birth to daughter

Thomas Beatie, the “pregnant man” who became famous after appearing on Oprah, has given birth to a daughter, according to several media outlets. TMZ reports that Beatie checked into a hospital in Bend, Oregon on Monday under a fake name. His room was “sealed off” from the pregnant women, and he gave birth late sometime on Monday. Beatie and his wife Nancy haven’t released any official statement, so we don’t yet know the name or other stats of the child.

It’s a girl for the “pregnant man.”

Thomas Beatie, who was impregnated after changing genders but keeping his female reproductive organs, delivered a healthy baby daughter Thursday, ABC News reported.

The 34-year-old transgendered man revealed his pregnancy in April, setting off an international furor. He underwent surgery for breast removal and began taking male hormones years ago. The man with the wispy beard also legally changed his gender from male to female, married a woman and led his life as a man.

But Beatie retained the female organs he was born with with the intention of one day getting pregnant. “I feel it’s not a male or female desire to have a child,” he told Oprah Winfrey. “It’s a human need. I’m a person and I have the right to have a biological child.”

He was reportedly scheduled for a Cesarean section, but details on the birth was not immediately released.

[From the Daily News]

Us Weekly reports that Thomas has written a memoir titled “Love Makes a Family: A Memoir of Hardship, Healing and an Extraordinary Pregnancy,” which will be released in September. Congratulations to Thomas and Nancy!

Posted in Births, Pregnant, Thomas Beatie

Written by JayBird         49 Comments »
Jun 4
'08
Angelina planning a natural birth; won’t go full term with twins

Angelina Jolie is hoping to have a natural delivery for the upcoming birth of her twins. According to an “insider” (gotta love those anonymous, chatty insiders) Angelina was planning on a natural birth with 2-year-old daughter Shiloh and was disappointed when she had to have a C-section instead. This time Angie’s really hoping to go the natural route – twice.

Amid swirling reports that Angelina Jolie is on bed-rest and close to giving birth — so close, that the French media jumped the gun and announced the actress had already delivered her twins last week — the heavily pregnant actress has begun telling friends that she hopes to give birth naturally to her twin girls.

“She prepared for a natural child birth for Shiloh and was very disappointed when her doctors told her she would have to undergo a Cesarean section,” a source close to Angelina tells OK!. “She is praying everything will go her way and she will be able to enjoy a natural birth.”

[From OK! Magazine]

According to OK! Brad and Angie are quasi-fanatical about the safety of their babies. Luckily they don’t sound like they’re J-Lo crazy, and aren’t requiring surgical masks and hand sanitizer dispensers be installed around their home. But they do have a plethora of security, along with a midwife and two private nurses. The source also says there’s no way Angelina will be able to go full term with the babies.

The most important thing to Angie, however is to protect her babies. The actress and her partner Brad Pitt are taking every pre-caution to ensure a safe delivery, reserving a private birthing room at Le Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace in Monaco, and hiring a midwife and two French nurses who are currently staying with her at Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s compound in St.-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.

“Whether Angelina experiences natural childbirth or has a scheduled C-section, she will not go to full term with the twins,” the source says. “She’s been told to expect the babies early, and that was the reason she and Brad went early to France — so they would be ready for their babies whenever they decide to make their appearance.”

[From OK! Magazine]

It sounds like they’re putting in the expected amount of planning for massive celebrity babies. Twins seem to be all the rage right now. Julia Robert, Jennifer Lopez, and now Angelina. I bet she ordered them that way; gotta stay trendy.

Here’s Angelina at the “Kung Fu Panda” Photocall in Cannes on May 15th. Images thanks to PR Photos.

Posted in Angelina Jolie, Babies, Births, Brad Pitt, Brangelina, Photos, Pregnant

Written by JayBird         95 Comments »
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