Mary Louise Parker's New Baby Girl

91. #13 You make an excellent point. I'd admire someone who chooses to adopt but did you know there are literally thousands of American children, you know the ones who actually buy the celebrities music, movies, posters, etc, who are sitting there waiting for a family. If you want to help a foreign country then donate money or set up a shelter. Don't rip these children out of their culture and bring them to Beverly Hills to be raised by a nanny save for the occasional photo op with the "parents".

Posted at 8:54AM on Sep 21st 2007 by Kate

92. You people are so screwed up in the head! OMG who makes fun of a freakin' todller... get a freakin' life... you're kids are probably all a bunch of ugly, smelly, fatasses... seriously you people have some serious issues. Talking freakin' crap about a baby, wow... find something better to do! What a bunch of @$$hole$!

Posted at 9:03AM on Sep 21st 2007 by Gimme More

93. There are many reasons that adoptive parents choose to go to other nations to complete their families. The U.S. system is extremely "unfriendly" to adoptive parents, whereas when you adopt internationally, your child is YOURS with no doubts of some flaky birth parent wanting to take back your child.

Furthermore, there are children around the world who have NO safety net--there's no social services, welfare, or foster parents. There are kids -- no matter what their color or ethnicity -- all over the world who would love to have parents. There are parents, like me, who adopted internationally who didn't adopt trans-racially. Not all internationally adopted children are an ethnicity other than caucasian, if that is what some of you fear...

A child with a home is a wonderful thing. A parent who WANTS a child (rather than just cranks out babies willy nilly because it's easy to get pregnant) is a dedicated and devoted parent. Who loses?

Posted at 11:14AM on Sep 21st 2007 by REDFL

94. Gotta Quarter and Pitiful,

Get a clue! My husband and I have have been in the process of adopting from China for 2-1/2 years! We have been fingerprinted by our state, twice by the FBI, have had home studies done and have had to fill out paperwork I doubt you would be able to get through. You have no clue as to what you are talking about. If you want all these "American" babies taken care of, do something about it yourself. You have no idea what the process is about. Educate yourself and then you can comment, until then, shut up.

Posted at 11:06AM on Sep 21st 2007 by Sunny

95. Cuter than Zahara..

Posted at 10:16AM on Sep 21st 2007 by Felicity

96. I'm all for adoptions but there is something I don't quite understand..How come rich Black celebs (like Will Smith) don't adopt Black kids from Africa?

Posted at 10:18AM on Sep 21st 2007 by Tara Tennent

97. This little baby is sooooo cute! It's just kind of wierd when people put such a negative spin on something positive....loving a child. No matter where you go to adopt, you will here that you should have done it somewhere else. Do it in America and you will hear that you should have adopted a asian baby girl. Do it in Africa and you will hear that you should have adopted an American baby, not the African orphan. A little helpless baby meeting her future with a challenge to start with (no parents) is given a future with love and nurturing. It's all good.

Posted at 9:34AM on Sep 22nd 2007 by Dan

98. I find most of these comments digusting. China and African vending machines??? Really?? We are talking about children here people.
I love when I hear people talk about adopting domestically. Have you ever looked into adopting domestically?? Because it is not so easy to do!!! Most of the people adopting internationally are doing so because they don't qualify under the VERY strignent rules of domestic adoption or fostering, not to mention that the US has set up our adoption laws to favor birthmothers.
Then to address the comment on "they should be adopting the special needs children because the have the money to do so"....just because you have the money to care for a SN child does not mean you should parent a SN child. Those children deserve a family that knows how to deal with and cope with their specific special need.
Finally I just would like to say to all of you that are clearly unaware of what it takes to adopt. It is a very long process(China more than 2 years)every detail of your life is on the table for review, the hoops you must jump through are tedious, and extensive, not to mention very expensive. Most find it worthwhile as it is a great way to grow your family.....but I suspect that few to none are doing it because it is the latest in trends or the "cutest accessory" This process is not for the faint at heart and certainly is not instant gratification. There are more than 1 million orphans in Africa, and I think it is great that there are families(famous or not) that are thrilled to bring those children home to their forever families.

**for all of you that would like more families to adopt domestically, maybe you should contact your congressman to let them know that our adoption laws should be reviewed**

Posted at 10:38AM on Sep 21st 2007 by threadz

99. Tara, they make their own

Posted at 10:39AM on Sep 21st 2007 by Anna

100. #93 Sunny: It is people like you that is what is wrong with our world today. "Do something yourselves". Really educated. Change begins at home. I hear some say that the children in America have it so much better than the poor kids in the foreign countries but that is not true. Did you know that once a child turns 18 the system practically throws them out to fend for themselves? No family, no money, nothing. Those same kids end up turning to crime and become a part of the system again only this time society wants to flip the switch or lock the cell doors forever. It is a sickening cycle and one that could be changed if US citizens would take action instead of waiting for others to do so.

Posted at 10:42AM on Sep 21st 2007 by Kate

101. While I do think it is a nice thing to adopt, I have a problem with the fact that these rich, SINGLE celebrities get to adopt (No matter how horrendous they may be) and the average American couple can't adopt at all. I think it is disgusting that third-world babies are the latest Hollywood fad.

Posted at 10:48AM on Sep 21st 2007 by cat

102. Actually, if you want to adopt a baby, it's hard to get one in America. There is a pretty high demand for young children.

Also, orphans in America are generally treated better than they are in third world countries so she is doing a good thing by removing this baby from a life of suffering.

I think all the "how dare celebrities adopt children from the third world while I sit on my ass" comments are ignorant and thoughtless.

Posted at 11:14AM on Sep 21st 2007 by Louise

103. You know, to all those who say - why not american children? Who are you to say that a child from country X is more or less deserving of a home than country y?

Do you know that some people are scared of the process of adoption from the US? How children who are available are either sibling groups or older children with emotional problems, etc? and if you want an infant you might have to "compete" with other couples and hope a birth mother picks you and your spouse to parent her child? or to know the gut-wrenching fear of falling in love with a child only to have the birthparents change their minds?

I can't speak for Hollywood celebs, but the average couple who decides to adopt puts a LOT of thought into the process. Each family has to make a decision what they can and cannot handle. No one has the right to judge their actions.

Posted at 3:07PM on Sep 21st 2007 by An adoptive mom

104. Kate, why don't you read # 94's comment? It might help you understand the process of what adoptive parents go through. It is not an easy process and no one has the right to tell me where I should adopt. It is a very personal choice after people have actually had to go to all sorts of informational meetings and classes. Find out more about domestic adoption/foster care and you will find out why many do not go down that path. That being said, many Americans adopt American children, it just does not seem to be as news worthy. I guess those children to not count as "accessories". Guess what? Neither is mine.

We will have to deal with enough ignorance where our child is concerned, I should never have to justify our decision to anyone. I am beyond sick of the media portraying those who adopt internationally as being "trendy". This is our child for life. If you have not ever gone through the process, be supportive, not condemning.

Posted at 2:11PM on Sep 21st 2007 by Sunny

105. Anna 95, And Will and Jada Smith have a stable marriage with their kids. Ever notice the bulk of celebrity adopters are single or unmarried couples? Madonna, anyone? Some stable environment. I agree with a previous poster, their nannies will raise the kids just fine.

Posted at 11:46AM on Sep 21st 2007 by The Truth