Matt Damon's Isabella loves raspberries

by auditioning contributors Sarah M. and Sarah A.

Matt Damon took some time from talking about his new movie, The Good Shepherd, on Friday to talk about another new role he has taken on recently, being a father to six month old Isabella. 

Isabella loves raspberries and he loves giving them to her! Right on her belly!  He explained, "You do this thing where you can either give her (a raspberry) on the stomach or if you sort of act like you’re going to munch her underarm, and she laughs like a little machine gun. And it’s like I could do it forever."

Isabella is only 6 months old, but she’s already given her Dad the gift of membership to that special club called parenthood.  He says, “It’s great, great. That’s been just amazing…it defies description, actually. I don’t really know how to talk about it because I don’t really know – I feel like I got made a member of a club that I didn’t know existed."

He admitted that he didn’t think he would enjoy it as much as he does.  He said, "I didn’t think that this would happen to me.  Other people were always showing me baby pictures or trying to hand me the baby, and I was like, ‘Get that thing away from me. I don’t want to touch your kid. Give me a break.’ But I’m totally into it now."

Matt said he was looking forward to her being 2 years old, when he thought she’d be full of personality, but she already does:"I was excited for her to start talking and walking and toddling around, hanging out,I didn’t realize how much personality little people have right off the bat. So it’s just been fun."

Isabella has a big sister, Alexis, 8.  Alexis is from their mother Luciana‘s previous marriage.

Source: People.com

Were you surprised by how much you enjoyed your children?

Comments

I NEVER wanted children, I never pictured myself with them. I am now a mom to a 10 month old AWESOME, AMAZING daughter. It seems so natural to be with her, and to have her part of mine and my husband’s life. Was I surprised? yes, I was. I was so afraid that I’d be a bad mom, but am now amazed at how easy and fun it is to have her. I’m definitely one lucky gal!!

- Ronin's Mommy on December 12th, 2006

I think no matter how much you look forward to having children and enjoy being around children, bringing children into your life whether you birth or adopt them brings about a new level of connection and love that you couldn’t have imagined.

For myself, after I had my first one, I remember that it was hard for me to remember what it was like without him around and that started for me when he was around 6 months old. It’s not that I didn’t remember what it was like to sleep in or what it was like being on my own but once he was born I had this sense that he had always been apart of me and that it was like a light switch had been turned. And I enjoyed being around him so much because he was so funny and loving. And the love thing really has been more than I imagined. For me, I knew it would be great but the honor I feel mothering my two is more than I expected. The joy they bring to me (along with the frustrations:-)) is more than I expected. Raising children and mothering is a hard job and takes all your energy but it comes back three-fold especially when your children tell you’ you’re the best mommy ever!’ or ‘I love you more than infinity’. And when my children say ‘you’re the most beautiful mommy’ when I’m in my sweats and it’s a bad hair day, that’s when I realize that their love is the purest and best gift to me ever! And that, I didn’t expect!

- yaosa on December 12th, 2006

Wow yaosa..I was reading your comment with tears running down my cheeks. That describes to a T how I feel about my son. He just turned 4. It’s the most amazing feeling in the world..he is like my little sidekick, my best friend..and the most amazing part of all of is, I grew him inside of me. I made him (with my hubby of course! LOL) and that to me, is just a feeling like no other in this world. I get extremely emotional when I start to talk about my son to anyone, see we had tried to get pregnant for many months before I finally did get pregnant with him. And from the middle of my pregnancy on it was very difficult, I developed toxemia and had to deliver him almost 2 months early and had to have an emergency c-section and literally almost died on the operating table, so I feel like we have this really unbreakable bond. And I know that all mothers and children have that, but I just feel that nothing will ever be able to shake that..and that is a miraculous and wonderful feeling. I have never been happier in my life than now. I used to wonder what I was going to do with my life, worry what would happen if didnt’ succeed at my job (which I am now what I always wanted to be-a stay at home mommy) and having him put all of that into perspective. I know now what I was supposed to do with my life. I was supposed to have my son and be his mother. And that’s what I am doing, and I am loving every single second of it.

- nicksmomma on December 13th, 2006

Luciana’s daughter’s name is Alexia, not Alexis.

- Jane on December 13th, 2006

To Nicksmomma:-)

Your response is very touching! And wow- what an experience you had bringing him into the world which just makes your bond with him stronger!

My pregnancy with my son wasn’t so easy either. I had abdominal surgery at 20 weeks to remove a football size dermoid cyst and I was so scared of losing the pregnancy but thankfully everything went well and my son was born 3 and 1/2 weeks early and I had a long labor (24 hours) and refused antibiotics (my water broke and since I had undergone the surgery earlier in the pregnancy and had taken all the epidural drugs for the procedure–I refused full anesthesia) and other drugs and they took him away to the NIC unit for a few days and barely let me hold him even though he weighed in at 6.5 pounds and was pink and alert etc…so I can understand your story…for me my son is my ‘courage’ baby because that is what he has been teaching me since he was in my womb (He is now 7). My daughter on the other hand is my ‘faith’ child because even though it was my second time around, I had all kind of fears that I would be induced or that some complication would arise and by contrast, it was more relaxed. She arrived on her due date and my labor wasn’t as long, I delivered her without drugs and with 3 pushes and the staff was so busy that she remained with me for 3 hours before they moved us into our room and before they even put those drops in her eyes.

I wish you continued joy with your son who sounds like a very special boy indeed, that he perservered to be with you!

- yaosa on December 13th, 2006