Babe Ruth – George Herman Ruth, Jr. (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948), best known as “Babe” Ruth and nicknamed “the Bambino” and “the Sultan of Swat”, was an American baseball player who spent 22 seasons in Major League Baseball. Ruth was the first player to hit 60 home runs in one season in 1927. Ruth’s lifetime record of 714 home runs stood until 1974 when Hank Aaron surpassed it.

Babe was adopted at the age of seven and was introduced to baseball by Brother Matthias at St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys. He is one of the most iconic athletes in US Sport’s history.

Kirby Puckett – Kirby Puckett (born March 14, 1961- March 6, 2006) was widely regarded as one of the best, and most popular, Major League Baseball players of the 1980s and early-to-mid 1990s. His unquestionable baseball prowess, outgoing personality, charity work, community involvement, healthy image, good repoire with the media, and nice-guy attitude earned him the respect and admiration of fans across the country. His home run in the 1991 World Series is often regarded as the highlight of his careerhttp://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=4429223 (streaming video of Home Run)
Kirby had two adopted children with his wife Tonya, Catherine Margaret and Kirby Jr.

Edith “Edie” Falco is best known for her role as Carmela Soprano on The Sopranos but she also plays the role of a  single mom to two adopted children, ages four and eight. She talks openly and very simply to them about their adoptions. But she realizes that at their young ages neither her son or her daughter really understand it yet. For example, her son Anderson believes that all kids must be adopted. Edie plays along for now, but she realizes that soon her children will start asking more specific questions about their adoptions. When that time comes, she’ll do her best to explain the many ways families are formed and to speak from the heart.

Edie’s situation isn’t much different from other adoptive families who talk to their children about adoption. In a previous post “Discussing Adoption with School Age Children,”the importance of talking to children about their adoption is to phrase it in a way that they will understand depending on their age. It’s important to use positive adoption language and honesty when talking to children about their adoption and what it means. For more information on how to talk to children about what adoption means, read our four part blog post: “Talking to Children About Adoption.”

To read more on the article about Edie Falco, click: Edie Falco: My Kids Think Everyone is Adopted

A recent post on Justjared.com talks about the troubles Heigl has had bonding with her daughter. Not having that immediate bond with her daughter has been a struggle for Heigl, expressing that “her rejection almost broke my heart.” But Heigl’s story is not very uncommon in adoption.

Bonding with an adopted child is often a concern for adoptive parents but it’s important to know that the process isn’t always immediate, and can occur over a long period of time. It is a mental connection that comes from the experiences you share with your child, regardless of biological connection. The bonds between adopting parents and adopted child are just as strong as any bond between biological child and parent. For more insight into the bonding process and to hear from other adoptive parents read “Loving and Bonding with Your Adopted Baby.”

Good Housekeeping Magazine, May 2012

In a recent interview with Good Housekeeping, actress Mariska Hargitay reveals her painful adoption journey that eventually led to two successful infant adoptions, just six months apart.

She discusses various defining moments in the adoption process; the dreaded wait, the instant bond formed with a birth mother, the heartbreak of an unlikely adoption reclaim, considering transracial adoption, the magical birth and hospital experience, and how “worth it” everything seems in the end.

Her story is all too often true for couples and individuals waiting to adopt. But what begins as months or years of what feels like relentless struggle, can change in a moment’s notice. Suddenly what felt so far is curled up in your arms and you revel in the euphoria of a dream come true.

For those interested in adopting, it is important to research types of adoption services are available. The most successful adoptions are those where both parties are well informed and firmly committed to the best interests of the child. At the IAC, our licensed social workers prepare adoptive parents for the uncertainties of adoption, including how to avoid high risk situations. We ensure that both adoptive parents and birth parents are comfortable with any situation they enter into and we mediate these situations so that everyone’s needs are met. In rare situations where an adoption reclaim occurs — when the birth mother decides she wants to parent shortly after the child has been placed in the adoptive parents’ home — we are there to provide as much support as needed so that the couple or individual can push forward and pursue a successful adoption.

Read the full interview with Mariska Hargitay, “My Faith Pulled Me Through”

Read the summary on Celebrity Babies, “Mariska Hargitay: Adoption Is Not for the Faint of Heart”

This idea formed when we asked our Facebook fans to post pictures of their favorite captured moments of their children. The photos were heart warming and seeing them in succession painted a wonderful portrait of open adoption.

We want to continue painting this portrait by allowing everyone (birthparents, adoptive parents, adoptees, family & friends) to share memories made possible through open adoption. We’ve also created an events calendar with this year’s celebrations across the U.S. for Adoption Awareness Month.

Starting November 1st, we invite you to visit Open Portrait and contribute an image, a video, a quote, a keepsake of any kind that helps paint the portrait of open adoption.
Open Portrait is a great new way for the open adoption community to come together and spread awareness. You can get involved by:

• Checking us out! Visit Open Portrait frequently and see what people are posting.
• Sharing! Post photos, videos, and quotes from your own open adoption.
• Spreading the word! Post links to Open Portrait on your Facebook, blogs and other websites.
• Tweet! Tweet! Tweet! Link to Open Portrait with the hashtag #openportrait.

If you have questions please don’t hesitate to contact Amalia: agratteri@adoptionhelp.org

The IAC family, known as the ‘Guncles’ on the hit reality series Home Sweet Hollywood, say they always knew that they wanted to build their family through adoption and chose the Independent Adoption Center because of our experience working with LGBT families.

Bill and Scout express how ‘lucky’ they feel and how the relationship they have with their daughter Simone’s birthmother is ‘really special and wonderful.’ Their gratitude and love for Simone’s birthmother and her godparents, Tori and Dean, shines through in this endearing open adoption success story. Get the Celebrity Baby Scoop.

For more information on LGBT adoption and the IAC read the following blog posts:
IAC Recognized by Human Rights Campaign for Best Practices with LGBT Families
Wait Times for Adoptive Placements in LGBT Families
Gay and Lesbian Parents Raise Well-Adjusted Children: IAC Families Participate in Groundbreaking Study

If you are considering placing your baby for adoption visit the following blog to learn more:
I Heart Adoption Blog for Women Considering Adoption