John Parra/Getty Images for Estee LauderWow, Eva Mendes. Props are in order once again—along with congratulations!
Another point goes in the win column for privacy, because Ryan Gosling's longtime girlfriend managed to break her own personal record of two months and be pregnant in the public eye for only two weeks this time before giving birth to the couple's second child together. And "public eye" is putting it generously.
Daughter Amada Lee Gosling was born on the morning of April 29. Word got out about Mendes' pregnancy on April 14. A source told us that Mendes was early in her third trimester, so an imminent birth wasn't impossible—we just figured that a similar amount of time would pass before "we're having a baby" and "we had a baby."
Not that those words have ever been uttered by either Gosling or Mendes to anyone outside their inner circle.
See, celebrities can totally keep secrets if they put their mind to it.
Of course, super-privately is just how the longtime couple prefer to roll, and hats off to them for pulling off a covert reproduction yet again.
And while it takes a team effort (as well as maxi dresses, big coats and oversize purses), to keep news like that confined to a select few in this day and age, we've noticed a few life choices put into practice by Eva Mendes that have proved most helpful to the cause:
Maintain Baby- and Birth-Free Zones: Seems like a given, but how many celebrities who have Twitter or Instagram never mention their kids at all? Some don't show their children's faces, like Zoe Saldana and Tyra Banks, and not everyone blows up their feeds with bump pics, but obviously a complete embargo is one way to ensure that no innocent post about jonesing for peanut butter gets anyone talking.
Speak softly and carry a big bag: Eva and Ryan are paparazzi magnets in general, especially when together, but happily the actress doesn't generally have to fight the shutterbugs off with a stick and bodyguards as some do. Still, Eva cut way down on appearances over the past six months and stuck to only going out on a need-to-go basis.
Consistency is key: Even when she and Ryan were spotted having lunch with eldest daughter Esmeralda on Mother's Day, an oversized purse was involved. Sticking to the old routine ensured that the paps weren't any the wiser to the fact that she and her Place Beyond the Pines co-star turned real-life partner were already parents of two.
No red carpets: Baby bumps are most welcome on the red carpet, almost more than diamonds, but Gosling attended both the Golden Globes and the Oscars this year solo. (And who wants to bet that he hits the premiere of The Nice Guys alone tonight too?)
Be on the same page: It's important for Mom and Dad to approach this whole private-pregnancy thing from the same viewpoint. And Gosling is obviously on board with whatever his leading lady wants. The actor told Hello! Canada in December, "I know that I'm with the person I'm supposed to be with." He knows she's the right one because "she's Eva Mendes. There's nothing else I'm looking for."
Sounds like a guy who'll run all the errands when his girl decides it's time to cut down on going out.
Congratulations to the family of four!