Matthew McConaughey on getting the news; anxiety about what to call his delivery surprise

Fathers-to-be find out about their partner’s pregnancies in different ways — some anxiously await the at-home test results alongside their wife or girlfriend, while others may be the recipient of a carefully planned surprise. Such was the case with Matthew McConaughey, who received an envelope from 25-year-old girlfriend Camila Alves.

I got a card with an ultrasound. Awesome. Awesome. If she told me she had some news to share with me, that would not have been in my Top 10. It’s much better.

Matthew, 38, admits the pregnancy wasn’t on their timetable at the moment, but in no way is that a negative. The actor, famous for his ‘go with the flow’ philosophy towards life, says the baby on the way fits in perfectly with the direction in which his and Camila’s relationship is moving.

I was surprised, not shocked. I’m about to fill my life with first times. Everything will be brand new. It’s part of the lesson we learn from children, that we see things for the first time. So to be there in those days, and be the father that the child looks up to, whatever he or she calls me, oh, yeah, I want to be there for that.

I always dreamed of being of a father. I couldn’t wait, since I was younger than 10 years old. I never had a plan. I always said, right time, right woman.

As Matthew previously explained, he and Camila have opted not to find out the sex of the baby — a decision that’s turning out to be more frustrating and stressful than he would have liked! Although he’s become anxious, reading into what the doctor says and being unsure of which pronoun to use, Matthew says they are committed to a delivery room surprise.

Aiiiii! But no, not going to find out. We’re going to let ourselves have this buzz. We’ll put it in an envelope and set it out there, every day and every night. ‘There it is, want to look? Yeah, but let’s not.’

The doctor will say, ‘He has a very perfect-looking vertebrae,’ and you say, ‘Hey, why did you say he?’ Or, ‘She has great organs.’ ‘Why’d you say she?’ We’re looking for every little [clue]. It’s hard.

That’s the hard part about not knowing. You don’t want to call it ‘it,’ because that’s the neutral. It’s one or the other, you know?

Matthew and Camila’s first child is due in June.

Source: USA Today

Thanks to CBB reader Maya.

Comments

Wow! He is absolutely in love with being a father. I love it.

We wanted to know the sex of our first, but she was such a little lady and kept her legs crossed. Not wanting to give our baby a gender-neutral moniker, we called her “Peanut” and “Baby Love” through the whole pregnancy.

- Dana on February 5th, 2008

Wow, she didn’t tell him until the first ultrasound? That’s usually about 8-9 weeks in. There’s no way I could have kept that surprise that long (though I admit, it’s such a fun way to break the news. We did that with the grandparents.) Also, didn’t he wonder at any symptoms prior to that point?

- Carole on February 5th, 2008

It is a nice way to surprise him, but he missed out on getting to see the baby the very first time. There is nothing quite like it, that and of course hearing the heartbeat for the first time. It doesnt sound like he minded though which is good! It sounds like he is really excited, which is just AWESOME!!

- Maria on February 5th, 2008

Could this man be any sexier??? I mean – sure he looks great and has abs of steel, but there is nothing sexier than a man so excited to be a father! I’m looking forward to seeing the daddy/baby moments come summer time.

- Happy Aunt on February 5th, 2008

Ultrasounds might be different depending on where you live and what doctor you go to. My cousin just had a baby and she found out she was pregnant pretty much as soon as humanly possible and then had her first doctor’s appointment two days later, where they did an ultrasound. You couldn’t really see a baby….just a “fetal pole” and “yolk sac” but that might have been the ultrasound they were talking about, which would mean she didn’t keep it a “secret” for long.

- Jenny on February 5th, 2008

I love seeing matthew on interviews, he is hot and has a great personality.

- fallon on February 6th, 2008

i think it is a shame that people think it is okay to have a baby “based on where the relationship is heading”! shouldn’t your relationship already be in that place before you start making babies–i think so! hollywood is not setting a good example!

anyways, i hope that child will have parents who are together for the long haul.

- natlie on February 7th, 2008