Salma's confession -- "I wanted a boy"

WestWords March 5, 2008
Salma's confession – "I wanted a boy"
By Liz Hodgson
Actress Salma Hayek has revealed an ugly secret about her
six-month-old daughter – she really wanted a boy.
The Ugly Betty creator says she loves baby Valentina Paloma Pinault,
whose father is French Gucci and Yves St Laurent boss Francois-Henri
Pinault, and cannot imagine life without her.
But the 41-year-old Frida and Desperado actress confessed to Glamour
magazine that when she learned she was pregnant she thought a boy
would have an easier life.
"I have something to confess – I wanted a boy," she admitted.
"Probably because I was afraid. I think women suffer a bit more than
boys, and there is always conflict between mothers and daughters.
"But now that she's here, I'm so happy she's a girl. And I can't
imagine there ever being conflict between us, because I'm in a state
of innocence where I love everything she does.
"If she does a poop and I have to change the diaper, I love that moment."
Hayek, who had a difficult pregnancy because she developed diabetes,
said she was thrilled the baby was not affected by her illness.
She recalled: "I said, This is what it takes for me to have this baby
and I really want it.'
"Then you don't know if it's going to be healthy; you are completely
out of control. So the experience really makes you humble."
Now, six months on, she has changed he mind about the baby's sex.
"The best thing that's ever happened to me is this thing that has
happened to so many women, which is having a baby," she went on.
"Every second is magical, every smile.
"I don't remember very well who I was before. Part of me feels it's
so new and so strange to have a baby and part of me feels like I've
known her forever.
"I just feel so fortunate to be her mother, and it makes me excited
abut the rest of my life, because I will get to witness her
transformation every day.
"I feel I was born to have this girl."