Director Ron Howard is the man he is today because of fatherhood, he reveals in a new interview with PARADE. “I think I’ve probably learned more and grown more because I’m a father than for any other reason,” he notes.

Now with his new series Parenthood, Ron is hopeful viewers will be able to see the lighter side of raising children. According to him, the task is made that much more difficult without a bit of laughter.

“Humor is unavoidable,” he muses. “It might not feel funny in the moment, but more often than not there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and you can personally look back and find the laughs in being a parent.”

While he confesses that he “felt pressure” when it came to fatherhood — “trying to do it right, to be what I should be to my kids” — the experience is one that Ron would never change. “At the same time, I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” he explains.

His doubts of being an adequate father were eventually put to rest when he received news that his wife Cheryl was expecting twins, four years after the couple welcomed their first child. “She was in a bed for three or four months and she was going crazy,” he recalls. “For the first time in my life, I had to take a lot of extra responsibility at home.”

Juggling his personal life while preparing to film Cocoon, Ron remembers he nearly succumbed to the pressure. “I had a few times when I had to ask myself, ‘Can I do this? Will I be able to do this?’” he shares. “And I suddenly realized that I could handle it. I think that was a watershed time in my life both as a parent and as a person.”

And even though he is quick to point out that Andy Griffith from his hit show “was sort of like a father to me,” Ron admits he ultimately allowed his own instincts to take over when it came to his family. “In crunch time, trying to figure out what Cheryl and I should do with one of our four kids, my thoughts would go to my own father and mother and Cheryl’s to hers,” he says.

“I wouldn’t be thinking about what happened on an episode of The Andy Griffith Show.”

Despite his youngest child — son Reed Cross — turning 23 this year, the baby days are far from over. Ron’s oldest daughter Bryce Dallas Howard welcomed son Theodore Norman Howard Gabel in 2007, and he is thrilled with all that being a grandparent entails.

“I love being with him. I didn’t remotely understand how profound the experience of being a grandparent is until you become one,” he says.

“It’s interesting, when you become a grandparent you start bumping into other folks who have had that experience. And there’s this sort of wink and a nod like it’s sort of a club or something.”

Ron and Cheryl are also parents to twins Jocelyn Carlyle and Paige Carlyle, 25.

Source: PARADE

– Anya

Filed under: Celeb Grandparents, Dads, Main, Parenting

Sitting poolside in a chic white bikini last week, Trista Sutter proved she’s more than regained her body after baby.

But all eyes were on the former Bachelorette’s daughter Blakesley Grace.

The adorable 11-month-old rocked the super cute Daisy Dot One-Piece ($22.75) by Gymboree.

We love the shoulder bows and the floral polka dot print — both are a sweet touch!

She also wore the matching Daisy Swim Cover-Up ($26.75). Talk about put-together!

Love her swim-ready outfit? Make sure to check out the fun Daisy Dot Flip Flops ($14.75) too!

— Anya

Filed under: Celeb Style, Fashion & Gear, Main

Wrapped up in a  cozy coat, Naomi Watts takes her equally bundled-up son, 2 ½-year-old Alexander ‘Sasha’ Pete, for a stroll in New York Thursday.

Thankfully, the weekend has brought warmer weather!

Life with three boys — including younger son Samuel Kai, 14 months, and fiancé Liev Schreiber — keeps the actress on her toes.

“Oh yeah, there’s a lot of testosterone,” Naomi, 41, confesses. “I know — I’m desperate. In Australia, all my girlfriends, we come together and take up a lot of space.”

See more photos in their family photo album.

Filed under: Kids, Main

From Superga’s classic kicks to 7 A.M. Enfant’s cozy stroller blankets, Gilt Groupe is hosting loads of great kids sales this weekend. They even have something for moms — Paige Maternity Denim.

Other featured brands are Edoche, Imoga, Da-Nang and Joe’s Jeans for Kids at up to 60% off.

Not a member of Gilt? Use our exclusive link to sign up. Just hurry up! Sales end on March 8 and 9.

Click below for more great deals!

Courtesy of HauteLook

HauteLook: Make sure to check this sample sale site next week for these upcoming sales: 3/8 — Budzie clothing, 3/10 — Umi shoes, North American Bear Company plush toys and Easter bags (left), 3/11 — Tadpoles layette, Hype Girls clothing, 3/12 — Azul swimwear

Courtesy of Jasmere

Jasmere: You’ll find handy (and organic) totes and packs by Packtoozi (left) on March 9 and yummy nutritional bars for moms from Nutrabella on March 10.

Courtesy of The Mini Social

The Mini Social: Spruce up your little one’s wardrobe with a few high-style pieces from this private sale site. Here’s what’s coming up: 3/8 — Luca Charles (left) and My Blankee, 3/9 — Small Plum, 3/10 — Kate Quinn Organics

Courtesy of Nomie Baby

Nomie Baby: Until March 30, the company’s offering 15% off all their comfy car seat covers and stroller blankets. Now cleanups will be a snap!

Courtesy of phil&teds

phil&teds: Just joined the 2 under 2 club? Well, baby bunching just got easier thanks to phil&teds. For a limited time, the stroller maker is giving away a matching double kit ($80 to $110) with every inline buggy purchase. This offer is available both in store and online at all of the company’s retail partners (see store locator here).

Little Big Town just got a little bigger.

Band members Karen Fairchild and Jimi Westbrook welcomed their first child, a son, on Friday, Mar. 5th in Nashville, Tenn.

Baby Elijah Dylan Westbrook weighed 7 lbs., 14 oz., and was 19 and ¾ inches long, the couple tell PEOPLE exclusively.

“We’ve been waiting for this for a long time and can’t tell you how thrilled and blessed we both feel,” says Karen, who says Westbrook is a “natural” at fatherhood.

“Karen is going to be an incredible mom,” says Jimi of his wife, who had earned a degree in early childhood education before pursuing a music career. “She has always been so good with children. Besides, she’s done a great job raising me to become a responsible adult!”

Parenting advice for Karen, 42, and Jimi, 39 — who tied the knot in 2006 — will be close at hand. Bandmates Kimberly Roads Schlapman and Phillip Sweet already each have daughters — Kimberly is mom to Daisy Pearl, 2 ½, with husband Stephen, and Phillip is dad to 2-year-old Penelopi Jane with wife Rebecca. The toddlers are veterans of the touring life, having hit the road with the country quartet soon after they were born.

“Our hearts are bursting with joy for Karen and Jimi,” says Kimberly. “We have dreamed of this moment with them for a long time. We can’t wait to welcome another little angel onto our bus.”

Elijah will need to get packing soon, since the quartet, whose single, “Little White Church” from their upcoming album will be released to radio next week, are on the road again in May, joining Montgomery Gentry, Jamey Johnson and Jack Ingram on the Country Throwdown Tour.

– Eileen Finan

Filed under: Featured, Main, Today's Top Story

A couple for nearly 20 years, Don Cheadle and Bridgid Coulter have defied the Hollywood relationship odds.

In a new interview with PARADE, the 45-year-old actor — dad to daughters Ayana Tai, 14, and Imani, 12 ½ — says that his happy family life is no accident.

“I am somebody who really does want to make sure my relationship stays together and that I am there for the important parts of my kids’ life,” he explains.

Acutely aware that his popularity with the girls will slip as they age, Don says he is making the most of today.

“There’s going to be a time where they’ll be like, ‘Please go away for three months and do a movie.’ But while they’re still like, ‘Daddy, I want you here,’ then I want to deliver for them. So it’s a juggling act. It’s really tricky. But it’s worth everything it takes.”

Don’s new film Brooklyn’s Finest is in theaters now.

Source: PARADE

Filed under: Dads, Main, Parenting

As Stanford Blatch, Carrie Bradshaw’s gay confidant on Sex and the City, Willie Garson was always unlucky in love.

But that all changed the day the actor, whose paternal clock had begun ticking loudly, met the boy who would become his son.

Attending an L.A. adoption fair in Oct. 2008, Willie spotted a vivacious 7-year-old named Nathen.

“He has a spark. He was balancing himself on a curb, and I was like, ‘That’s my kid,’” says Willie. “I knew it right then.”

Now everyone does. After more than a year of screenings and paperwork, Nathen, now 8, was officially deemed Willie’s son in January.

While Willie’s career is soaring — he stars in the hit USA drama White Collar and appears in this summer’s Sex and the City movie sequel — it’s clear that his new family life is what’s keeping the actor, 46, in a constant state of bliss.

Says a beaming Willie: “It couldn’t have gone any better.”

More from the article and additional photos below!

Christa Renee for PEOPLE for use on CBB

In a perfect world, Willie imagined he would get married and start a family. But three years ago, realizing he was no closer to finding the woman of his dreams, “I just reached a point of, ‘What am I waiting for?’” he says. “I don’t care if I ever get married, but if I never have a kid?”

So Willie contacted the Alliance for Children’s Rights, a kids’ advocacy group in L.A., and the Westside Children’s Center, who guided him through the adoption process.

“Most people want infants,” says Willie, “but I fell in love with Nathen.”

After the adoption fair, Willie and Nathen bonded over several months of supervised play visits and sleepovers. Nathen moved into Willie’s three-bedroom L.A. home in Feb. 2009, and when the adoption was finalized in Jan., they celebrated at famed Hollywood eatery Musso & Frank Grill.

“We wore suits and we split a steak, and Manny the waiter did magic tricks,” Willie says.

Now in the third grade, Nathen has settled comfortably into family life. “I like to play with Willie on the Wii and give him kisses and hugs,” says Nathen with a squeal. “He is the best dad ever.”

He’s even showing signs of following in Dad’s footsteps by recently acting in his first school play, Grease. “He played Doody,” says the proud papa. “It was the finest production of Grease in history.”

While Willie is loving every minute of being a dad, he’s already dreading the day when Nathen won’t need him anymore. Some nights, when Nathen can’t sleep, “he comes to my room and I say, ‘Nathen, in four years you’re not going to want to talk to me.’ And he says, ‘No, Dad, I’m always going to want to hug and kiss you.’”

Christa Renee for PEOPLE for use on CBB

Source: PEOPLE; March 15th issue

– Monica Rizzo

Filed under: Adoption, Dads, Exclusive, Kids, Main, Parenting

The clock is ticking down … to a new baby.

24 star Annie Wersching and actor/comedian husband Stephen Full are expecting their first child, they tell PEOPLE exclusively.

The couple is “ecstatic,” says Annie, who plays Renee Walker opposite Kiefer Sutherland on the show.

“Feeling great” during her pregnancy, Annie, 32, notes that she’s “craving mint chocolate chip ice cream!”

The couple married at their Los Angeles home in Sept. 2009.

– Blaine Zuckerman

Filed under: Expecting, Main

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt take their eldest sons, Maddox Chivan, 8 ½, and Pax Thien, 6, sightseeing in Venice Thursday.

The family is staying in the Italian city while Angelina continues filming The Tourist opposite Johnny Depp.

The couple were spotted out with their three youngest children Wednesday.

Filed under: Dads, Kids, Main

It would seem as if Tom Colicchio has everything a man could want.

There’s his business empire, which includes eight restaurants and the ‘wichcraft chain of sandwich shops, not to mention his role as head judge on TV’s Top Chef.

And when he comes home at the end of the day, it’s to a duplex loft in lower Manhattan, which he shares with his wife and two sons.

But there is one thing, Tom says, that he still longs for. “It’s hard to get everything done,” he says, “so a 36-hour day would be great!”

If Tom, 47, is feeling “dead tired” lately, it’s with good reason.

In August he and his wife of eight years, Lori Silverbush, 40, a filmmaker, welcomed son Luka Bodhi — just as Tom was preparing to launch his latest restaurant, Colicchio & Sons (which opened in January in New York City).

But it turns out the man known for being a tough critic on TV is a “mushy teddy bear” when it comes to family, splitting parenting duties 50-50, Lori says.

“I’m my own boss, so I can build my own schedule around the baby,” Tom explains. “Luka and I spend mornings together. We sit on the couch and play guitar.”

Adds Lori, “He’s not one of those dads where you worry he’s going to bathe the baby in boiling water. He’s got it under control.”

Click below to learn about elder son Dante’s scary arrival in 1993, and to see another photo.

Douglas Friedman for PEOPLE for use on CBB

That’s because Tom’s first go-round with fatherhood prepared him to deal with any parenting emergency. In 1993 Tom and his then-girlfriend, who was pregnant, learned that the baby was in distress; after an emergency c-section, their son Dante arrived — nearly two months premature and weighing only 2 lbs., 5 oz.

Dante spent two months in the hospital before coming home, and even then, “the doctors came to us and said he might be blind,” Tom recalls.

Today, Dante is a healthy 16-year-old and “great big brother,” Tom says. “The best thing about having a teenager and a baby: no sibling rivalry!”

“He’s a good kid. I was pretty wild growing up — thank God he’s not! Dante and I spend a lot of time just hanging out, watching dumb videos online, playing Xbox. And Luka is content to sit there on my lap, watching us.”

Despite this brotherly bonding — not to mention the restaurant he named after his boys — Tom insists he isn’t dreaming of his sons taking over the family business something. Instead his real hope as a father “is to raise children who go out in the world,” he says, “and do the right thing.”

Douglas Friedman for PEOPLE for use on CBB

Source: PEOPLE; March 8th issue

– Liza Hamm