Eva Mendes Opens Up About Motherhood & Ryan Gosling

Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling are fiercely private. So much so, that Mendes was able to steer clear of the paparazzi during her entire pregnancy. Now, the new mom opens up for the first time in an interview with Violet Grey. She describes her nights as a new parent as "some of the wildest...I've ever had," and finally talks about why she remained under the radar for nearly 10 months.

First things first, where did the name Esmeralda Amada come from? "Ryan and I both love the Esmeralda character from the Victor Hugo novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and just think it’s a beautiful name," Mendes told Violet Grey. "Amada was my grandmother’s name. It means 'beloved' in Spanish."

Mendes also cleared up something important: Being a baby isn't easy. "Everything is a struggle for [Esmeralda]," Mendes said. "For instance, I haven’t thrown up since the '90s and she’s thrown up twice since we started this interview. Motherhood is cake compared to what it’s like to be a baby."

As for her and Gosling's evasion of all things public during her pregnancy, Mendes explained that it's their gift to their daughter. "Whether we like it or not, privacy is going to be very difficult for Esmeralda. I think it’s unfair, but that’s our reality. So, Ryan and I decided early on to give her as much privacy as we could. And, my pregnancy was the first opportunity to give her that."

Mendes went on to say she's tired of everyone's obsession with celebrity pregnancies. "I find the media’s 'bump watch' obsession to be both intrusive and stressful. So, I made a decision to eject myself from it completely."

That's about all she would say on the subject, actually. When the interviewer asked Mendes if her pregnancy had been planned or a surprise, the actress responded, "You're killing me, Cassandra...I just broke out in a mini-sweat." But, Mendes did admit to lurking around online Baby Center forums for new moms, and that she's grateful to have a large family to help them with the baby.

We're still struggling to accept Ryan Gosling's new DILF status. But, with this interview, Mendes is really helping with our coping process. We know our collective boyfriend is going to be a great dad, because he's got a great mom by his side. Please don't vomit from that last bit of sincerity; apparently that's Esmeralda's job. (Violet Grey)