Michelle and Jim-Bob Duggar have more kids in their household than my son has in his public school classroom, but they’re ready to welcome more. Michelle suffered a tragic miscarriage in December of 2011 with what would have been her 20th child. The family has been open about the fact that the loss was devastating to them and that they’re actively trying for more. After a recent trip to an orphanage in China, they admitted that they’re considering adoption and that their children are the ones pushing for it! They want to make sure it’s God’s plan for them, though, and it say that they’re praying on it.

They have 19 children, two grandchildren and one more on the way, but Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar say that doesn’t necessarily mean their family is complete.

“We are open to the idea of adoption,” Michelle, 45, tells PEOPLE. “We are praying about it, and we will see what God has in store. Love for children has been placed on our hearts.”

The ever-expanding crew – eldest son Josh, 25, and his wife, Anna, 24, just recently announced they are expecting their third child in June – were moved by a visit to an orphanage in China on their recent trip there.

The visit to Beijing was filmed for TLC’s special 19 Kids & Counting: Duggars Do Asia, which airs Tuesday (9 p.m. ET) on TLC.

“The kids are definitely pushing towards wanting us to open our home up to another child or more,” says Michelle. “They see how much we have been blessed with and how little so many children have and they want to share. We tell our children that would have to be something that is God’s will for our family, and we will see if it is. Our children love children, and we all do.”

Though Michelle and Jim Bob, 45, lost their last pregnancy – a girl they named Jubilee – to miscarriage in 2011, Michelle says, “We are open to whatever is in store. It doesn’t really matter whether I would have another child or we would adopt, but we want to approach it with an open heart.”

She adds, “We have friends that have adopted children who are a great influence in our lives, and we have talked about their experiences. So it’s something we’ve considered. We have to know for sure that is what God wants for us to do.”

“When he gives us a child [through pregnancy], there is no doubt in our minds that is what He wants, but when it comes to adoption, we would have to know for sure that was His will.”

[From People]

I don’t get that last statement, about how they somehow know that God wanted them to have a specific child because they conceived when they were actively trying to have another baby. It doesn’t make sense to me at all as it doesn’t account for free will.

I just checked, and they currently have eight children under 12, seven teenagers, and three daughters 20 and older. (Their oldest son has moved out, is married, and is expecting his third child.) So if they adopt at all, their kids are going to be the ones raising the adopted children. That’s how it works in their family, and they have good system worked out, one that may not be fair to their daughters, but they run a tight household. They’re also a very loving family, and while I can’t imagine living like that, I’ve been impressed with how chill and orderly they are. So I don’t hate this idea, is what I’m saying. It sounds insane to those of us who struggle to raise less than a handful of children, but if they adopt kids that would otherwise not find homes they might be doing them a service. I hope that God tells them to take a break, though. Put a fork in it, Duggars!

photo credit: FameFlynet and TLC

I’ve been following part of this story on the cable news shows – hundreds (if not thousands) of Americans are now in some kind of legal limbo because they were in the midst of the months- (sometimes years-) long process of adopting Russian children, and Pres. Vladimir Putin just ended foreign adoptions to the US. Putin has various reasons, but there are a lot of American couples who are really freaking out, and the State Department is getting involved and it’s a huge mess. So here comes Angelina Jolie to soothe the situation with her diplomacy and bartering, that is, if you believe the Enquirer. The Enquirer claims that Angelina has “reached out” to Pres. Putin to see if there’s anything she can do to get this adoption thing resolved. “Anything” being “convincing Brad to hold their wedding in Moscow.”

The Hollywood humanitarian has approached Russian President Vladimir Putin about repealing the nation’s recent ban on Americans adopting children from his country, sources say. And the powerful politician responded by asking Angie – the mother of three adopted kids – to tie the knot with Brad Pitt in Russia, insiders say.

“Instead of selling her wedding photos for millions and donating the money to charity, Angelina now has the chance to make a political statement with her walk down the aisle,” a source told The ENQUIRER. “After she asked President Putin to relax his country’s new adoption policy, he agreed to consider it – IF she agrees to marry Brad Pitt in a high-profile ceremony in the heart of Moscow or one of the famous palaces in St. Petersburg.”

On Dec. 28, Putin signed a bill that bans U.S. citizens from adopting Russian children, raising tensions with Washington.

“Angelina thinks the adoption ban is retaliation against a new U.S. law seeking to punish Russians accused of human-rights violations,” explained the source. “She went through diplomatic channels to extend an olive branch to Putin in an attempt to smooth over strained relations between the countries.”

The 37-year-old actress has promoted humanitarian causes around the globe for over a decade as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

“In light of Angelina’s rank in the diplomatic community, it will be difficult for Putin to dismiss her out of hand,” noted the source.

More than 45,000 Russian orphans have been adopted by American parents since 1999, and Angelina herself once considered taking home a Russian toddler.

As The ENQUIRER reported in 2005, the “Tomb Raider” star lost her heart to a 15-month-old boy in a Moscow orphanage. In the end, she chose not to adopt him, saying her Cambodian-born son Maddox was not “quite ready” for a sibling. Since then, she’s adopted children from Vietnam and Ethiopia and had three biological kids with Brad.

The source concluded: “Getting Putin to change Russia’s policy would not only help numerous orphans, but also be a major coup for Angie.”

[From The National Enquirer]

I mean… it’s probably BS, right? But you never know with Angelina. The thing is, I could totally see her writing a letter to Pres. Putin or using her UN credentials to get a meeting with him. I wonder how that overture began? “Dear Vlad, You might not know me but I played a Russian spy in Salt. HUZZAH.” Also: I’ve always wanted to see St. Petersburg. I’ve always wanted to visit the Hermitage. Why wouldn’t Angelina and Brad want to marry in some beautiful Russian locale? That is, if they’re not already married.

Photos of Angelina & Putin (separately) in Russia, courtesy of WENN.

The lovely Connie Britton covers the November issue of Redbook, and People Magazine has some advance quotes for us. I know Connie, 45, from American Horror Story, where we saw her character go through hell before finally achieving a macabre sort of peace. (I won’t give away any spoilers in case you have ambitions of watching the DVDs. I give it a B, it’s a fun, scary show that pulls you in, but it often seems ridiculous. I’m totally watching it this season!) Anyway we’ve seen Connie looking amazing on screen (I want her hair!) and having some hit and miss moments on the red carpet. It’s nice to see her styled so well in this photoshoot. Is that sweater photo an homage to Ann Margaret in Bye Bye Birdie? That’s what I’m reminded of when I see a gorgeous redhead in just a sweater, but I guess Ann’s was much different than this one.

In Redbook, Connie talks about her decision to adopt as a single mom, and says she realized that she didn’t need a man to have a child. Connie adopted a baby boy from Ethiopia last November. She also acknowledges that she’s just as horny as usual. That’s pretty much what I read into it, but of course she phrased it more delicately. Here’s more:

Connie Britton’s TV resumé is nothing if not well-rounded.

The actress, 45, has played working mom Tami Taylor on Friday Night Lights, the haunted and troubled Vivien on American Horror Story, and now, she’ll portray fading country star Rayna James on the upcoming Nashville.

But for all her characters’ differences, Britton is keen on bringing one unifying characteristic to each of the roles.

“It’s important in whatever character I play that I show as many different levels of what it is to be a woman as I can. That includes being sexy!” Britton tells Redbook in its November issue.

“I want to get rid of the whole idea that women who are wives and mothers and working in the world no longer have any interest in their sexuality, because that’s not my experience.”

As for her experience with adoption (she brought home her son from Ethiopia in 2011) and sharing advice with other Hollywood moms who adopt, “me and Angelina and Sandra Bullock and Mary-Louise Parker just get together every weekend, drink rosé and talk about kids! No, that is not the case,” jokes Britton.

“Not that I wouldn’t love to get together with all of them and discuss their experiences,” she adds. “But there is a community of people who have adopted children from Ethiopia, and that’s something I want to be a part of for sure. To me it’s really important for my son to have a strong sense of that background.”

Britton says she’s also got a strong sense of herself as a single mother – even if that’s not the way she’d planned it.

“I always knew I wanted a child, and I always assumed I’d be doing it with a man … Then my parents passed away within three years of each other,” says the actress.

“Right after that, a light bulb went off in my head and I thought, ‘What am I waiting for?’ I wasn’t in a relationship at the time, but I thought, ‘This is something I want to do. I can do it.’ “

[From People]

This reminds me that “Nashville” premieres tomorrow night! I’m going to tape it. Also a lot of good shows are coming back now and it feels a little like Christmas. (Although I am really angered that NBC has pushed back what is likely to be the last season of Community. Screw NBC!) Anyway I like Connie and think she gives a fun interview. She’s not saying anything revelatory here, but she cracked a cute joke about hanging out with other celebrity adoptive moms and drinking wine. Isn’t Rose crap wine though? I don’t know, I don’t drink it.

Good for Connie for adopting a child when she had love to give. It sounds like she’s doing her best to make sure he stays connected to Ethiopia too.

Here are some photos of Connie and her son, Yoby, at LAX in September and July. He’s adorable!

Connie and her son, Yoby, are shown at LAX on 9-13-12 and 7-16-12. So cute! Credit: FameFlynet.

Katherine Heigl and Josh Kelley have adopted their second child! After welcoming daughter Naleigh in 2009, Josh and Katherine have now added a second daughter to their family. They aren’t releasing any more information, so we don’t have a name yet. My guess is that this baby’s name will be reasonably “traditional” not some “Maple Syrup” catastrophe.

Katherine Heigl and Josh Kelley have adopted their second daughter, a rep for the actress confirms to Us Weekly. No other details were available.

The couple, who wed in 2007, adopted daughter Naleigh from South Korea in 2009. “Josh and I started talking about [adoption] before we were even engaged,” Heigl told Scholastic Parent & Child in February. “My sister Meg is Korean, and my parents adopted her three years before I was born. I wanted my own family to resemble the one I came from, so I always knew I wanted to adopt from Korea.”

Kelley, 32, “had to learn” to embrace the idea of adoption at first, Heigl explained. “But he was so gracious and accepting.”

The One for the Money actress, 33, said she and her singer-songwriter husband were open to all methods of having children.

“We have talked about having biological children as well, but we decided to adopt first,” Heigl explained. “I just wanted to be a mom. So however we did that, it’s fine with me. I’d like to adopt again.”

Heigl hopes to raise their children with “integrity and morality,” she told the magazine. “We feel strongly about these things, especially because of the industries we’re in. We’ll have to work a little bit harder to keep Naleigh grounded and to make sure she understands how blessed she is — how blessed we all are.”

[From Us Weekly]

There are really only two things I like about Heigl: I enjoy Heigl The Mom and Heigl The Dog-Lover. Naleigh is a total cutie, and I do think becoming a mom softened Katherine in real ways and in PR ways. It’s nice to hear that she and Josh have brought another little life into their family. It makes me think that Josh and Katherine are probably stronger than I give them credit for, but in my defense… she’s always with her mother. Josh often looks like the third wheel in the impossibly tight mother-daughter bonds. Anyway, congrats to the happy family!

Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.

If you’d told me a year ago that I’d actually enjoy reading what I’ll fondly refer to as “Deep Thoughts by Katherine Heigl,” I’d have repeatedly laughed in your face. It’s true though — Katherine’s opinions on working outside the home as well as her hatred of “Dance Moms” and her admission that marriage is difficult have endeared me towards the presumed ice queen of sorts. Now Katherine has spoken about the difficulty of attempting to bond with her child, Naleigh. Of course, Katherine and husband Josh adopted Naleigh when she was quite nearly a year old, so it wasn’t an instant process:

When Katherine Heigl and husband Josh Kelley adopted 10-month-old Naleigh from Korea in 2009, the new mom expected the mother-daughter bond to be strong and immediate.

Not so, the actress admits in an interview with German weekly newspaper, Bild am Sonntag. “People are always talking about the strong bond between mother and daughter, this magical connection — but we didn’t have that,” Heigl says.

She described the early days with Naleigh as “the hardest time in my life. … I fought incredibly hard for my daughter to accept me as mother. Her rejection almost broke my heart.”

Heigl found the rejection so oppressive that she threw herself into her work which, she admits, “made the already difficult process of getting closer take even longer. … When I realized that, I immediately cut back on work.”

That’s when she left “Grey’s Anatomy.”

The child did bond with Kelley, which made Heigl wonder if she might be the problem. “At first I blamed myself and thought I was a bad mother. It took a while before I could admit to myself that the lack of trust had nothing to do with me,” she says.

Now Heigl and her daughter have a tight bond. So tight that Heigl is unafraid to travel to South Korea with her now 4-year-old daughter. “I’d like to fly to South Korea with the family,” she says, “to show her the country that she comes from.”

[From People]

Until now, most people assume that Katherine left “Grey’s Anatomy” merely because she thought she was just too good for television. Instead, Katherine had a damn good reason for doing so. Now she can focus on movies, where her schedule is a little bit kinder than a weekly drama and permits for more Naleigh time. Or at least, she could do so until recently before One for the Money crashed at the box office. Time for another career reinvention, methinks.

In related news, Naleigh is an absolutely adorable child. Those cheeks!

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet

Mariska Hargitay covers the new issue of Good Housekeeping, and the interview excerpts from the cover story are pretty good. We haven’t talked about Mariska much since she adopted two babies within six months last year – she welcomed daughter Amaya and son Andrew into her family, which includes husband Peter Hermann and her oldest child, August. In this piece, Mariska talks about her babies and the adoption process:

Mariska Hargitay is used to dealing with heart-stopping situations on Law & Order: SVU, but nothing on-screen compares to her harrowing experience adopting two children. In the span of six months last year, Hargitay and her husband, actor Peter Hermann, adopted both daughter Amaya Josephine, now 13 months old, and son Andrew Nicolas, 9 months.

Hargitay and Hermann have a biological son, August, 5½, whom Hargitay says is feeling “pretty good and pretty powerful” about his younger siblings.

“August thinks this was all his idea,” Hargitay tells Good Housekeeping in their May issue. “He said, ‘I want a baby sister,’ and Amaya came. Then he said, ‘I want a baby brother,’ and Andrew came.”

But in actuality, the process was not that easy. In fact, Hargitay says the building of their family was, at times, heartbreaking.

“I’m not gonna lie,” Hargitay admits. “There were wrenching moments. I say to everybody, ‘Adoption is not for the faint of heart.’”

Because Hargitay was 42 when she gave birth to August, she and Hermann were concerned about being able to have additional children, she admits.

“August wanted siblings, and Peter and I both envisioned this big family because we both come from that,” she says. “I really did think that down the line, Peter and I would adopt a child. That was always part of the plan.”

She and Hermann began the process two years ago, meeting with an adoption lawyer and going through home inspections to get the ball rolling.

After a couple of failed attempts to connect with a birth mother, Hargitay says, they found someone not far from New York City. After Hargitay and Hermann met the woman, finalized the adoption plan, were present in the delivery room, named the newborn and parented her for two days, the birth mother changed her mind, according to Hargitay.

“It was nothing short of devastating,” Hargitay explains. “But … it was probably the greatest, happiest ending. I mean, it was so painful for us, but it was deeply joyful and deeply right for her.”

Hargitay says she still keeps in touch with the woman and, though she has not seen the baby again, feels that she is “forever connected to her.”

Then, just over a year ago, she and Hermann were connected with the woman who gave birth to Amaya. Though Hargitay says they were initially told the baby would be a boy, they were thrilled to find out they would be having a little girl. Hargitay even helped to deliver Amaya in the hospital.

“Peter and I held her, and then the birth mother and I hugged for a long time,” she recalls. “That was profound. That was one of the most meaningful moments I’ve ever had in my life.”

Though they had wanted to wait about 18 months before adopting a second child, as fate would have it, they received word just half a year later that there was a premature baby boy awaiting adoption.

“It was a no-brainer,” Hargitay says. “It was like … a miracle. And I don’t use that word lightly. I’ve never made a bigger decision so quickly.”

They decided to name the infant Andrew, after a dear friend of theirs who had recently passed away. Andrew still struggles with health issues, and the family has a private nurse living with them to tend to him, but Hargitay says she wouldn’t change a thing about how her family was formed.

“Adoption was a bumpy ride — very bumpy,” she notes. “But, God, was it worth the fight.”

[From People]

Okay, am I the only one who teared up? My eyes are still welled with tears about the part about “Peter and I held her, and then the birth mother and I hugged for a long time. That was profound. That was one of the most meaningful moments I’ve ever had in my life.” And the story about the birth mother changing her mind two days later… GAH. Mariska just made me cry. I’ve heard that Mariska’s husband is a deeply religious man (their first date was going to church), and I have no doubt that this journey has been deeply spiritual for both Mariska and Peter.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

We’ve never devoted a post solely to Ty Burrell, and he’s totally due. I LOVE this man so much. He’s a brilliant comedic actor, he’s an underrated dramatic actor, and maybe I’m totally alone on this, but he’s really attractive too, right? I’ll admit it: I’m hot for him. And from what I’ve seen and read about him, he seems like a genuine sweetheart too. Anyway, Ty and his wife Holly have been married for 12 years. In 2010, they adopted a baby girl, whom they named Frances. And now Ty and Holly have added to their family by adopting another little girl!

Ty Burrell‘s own Modern Family is expanding.

The actor, 44, and wife Holly have adopted a second daughter, the couple tell PEOPLE exclusively.

The baby girl joins big sister Frances at home.

The Burrells are keeping further details of the adoption private at this time.

“There’s lots of problem solving in any marriage, but when you have this collective goal that is a human being, it’s an inspiring rally point,” the actor said in 2010, describing how the addition of Frances brought him even closer to his wife.

Burrell wrapped production on season 3 of Modern Family last week.

[From People]

I love it when you find out that some actor you love on the screen is an undercover nice guy. Ty really is a loving husband and father, isn’t he? I’m sure someone will come in and tell me that he’s really a nutcase and that there are tons of blind items suggesting that he’s into sex with rabbits. Go ahead. Shock me!

Incidentally, I was looking at his IMDB – he’s had a crazy career as a character actor. He’s worked with some really interesting people for years, but most people only noticed him when he signed on for Modern Family. I love when that happens!

Photos courtesy of WENN.

Well, this will humanize her. I don’t think that’s why Charlize Theron has adopted a child, but it certainly helps, right? And don’t even tell me that wasn’t one of the first things you thought of too. “Oh, maybe she’s not like everyone claims, now she’s a mom!” Us Weekly confirms through Charlize’s rep that Charlize has adopted a baby boy named Jackson.

Surprise! Charlize Theron is now a mom!

A rep for the Oscar-winning actress, 36, tells Us Weekly in a Wednesday statement: “Charlize Theron has adopted a child. She is the proud mom of a healthy baby boy named Jackson.”

According to a source close to the single Young Adult star, little Jackson was born in the United States, and is African-American. Jackson is the first child for Theron.

“She has always wanted to be a mom,” the source tells Us. “She is glad to be able to do it on her own now and is so happy to be a mom.”

The never-married South African beauty split with actor Stuart Townsend in January 2010 after nine years together — and the breakup prompted a whole new chapter in her life.

She told the December 2011 issue of Vogue, “This is the first time [being single] in my life. From the time I was 19, I’ve been in relationships, literally gone from one to the other within a month.”

[From Us Weekly]

Congrats to Charlize and baby Jackson. I wonder if this was a foreign or domestic adoption. I’m assuming Charlize is an American citizen at this point (although I really don’t know), but she was born in South Africa, and she still does a lot of charitable work in Africa. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if she adopted an African baby, that’s what I’m saying. I can’t wait to see baby photos!

UPDATE: Sorry about the confusion re: the birth place of her son. I’m an idiot, and I just wrote this up really fast. My bad.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

This is most likely BS, as it comes from OK! Magazine and it’s not like Sandra Bullock has a history of keeping her adoption news LOCKED DOWN or anything. Still, it’s always nice to hear about Sandra Bullock, especially after her not-so-amazing appearance at the Oscars. CB didn’t care for Sandra’s Marchesa, but I thought it was one of the better Marchesa creations I’ve ever seen (damning with faint praise). What really bothered me (and CB) was Sandra’s jacked face. She overdid the ‘Tox and it was not a good look. Anyway, good (fake) news! Bullock may be preparing to adopt a little girl!

Sandra Bullock is so happy with baby Louis that she wants to add a new addition to their family!

Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock loves being a single mommy to her adopted son Louis, and now she’s ready to adopt a baby girl, according to OK! magazine. “Ever since she first brought baby Louis into her life, Sandra said he’s her greatest achievement,” a pal says. “But there is one thing that she feels would make her world complete: a little sister for Louis!”

The 2-year-old is starting preschool, and Sandra realizes that now is the time to build her family.

“She’s excited and has been talking to Louis about the idea,” the friend says.

The pal adds that life has never been better for the 47-year-old: “She’s adopting again, she has a tight-knit circle of friends, and she’s got a huge movie coming out at the end of the year with George Clooney. She’s determined that this year will be her moment. It’s great to see Sandra back!”

[From Hollywood Life]

The film with Clooney is Gravity – that’s the one where producers really, really wanted Angelina Jolie and they offered Jolie a truck full of cash to do it, but she still said no. Sandra was the second choice. Still, it’s good to see her back at work, and I would love to see her adopt again. I think Louie fulfills her and grounds her, and he’s become the love of her life. She seems like a great mom, and it wouldn’t surprise me if she was considering another adoption. God knows, she might have actually adopted ten more babies, but she’s just so good at keeping that information locked down, we won’t know until she tells us.

Don’t you love how Louis constantly has that expression of “Not. Impressed.”? He’s amazing.

Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.

I don’t know much about Connie Britton from “American Horror Story,” but I love watching her every week. (She was also in “Friday Night Lights,” which I’ve heard is awesome but haven’t seen.) She’s a great actress, and I enjoy the fact that she’s a little older and that she hasn’t messed with her face from what we can see. Plus she’s beautiful and I covet her hair. I have long reddish blonde hair too, and I’ve been curling mine more after seeing how great Britton’s hair looks on that show. Anyway Britton just adopted a baby boy from Ethiopia. She’s 44 and is divorced, having split with her first and only husband to date when she was just 29. I found a Redbook interview she did in 2009 where she said she was dating a comedy writer named Jason Mantzoukas. (Mantzoukas co-starred with her in a movie that premiered at film festivals earlier this year called Conception and I guess he’s also been a guest star on “Parks and Recreation.”) I can’t confirm whether she’s still with him, though. Here’s more on her new baby:

For years, Connie Britton has been hard at work on her acclaimed show Friday Night Lights and most recently on the new hit American Horror Story.

But the actress, 44, has just been cast in her most rewarding role yet: Mom. She’s adopted a 9-month-old baby boy from Ethiopia, Britton tells PEOPLE exclusively.

After a three-year-long adoption process, the actress’s dream of motherhood came true about a week ago, after she returned from the African country with her son Yoby – a nickname for Eyob, his given name.

“I am thanking my lucky stars every day,” Britton, 44, tells PEOPLE.

The day she first held her son in her arms was something the new mom will never forget.

“It was such a wonderful moment of completion,” she says. “I thought I was going to collapse into a puddle of tears. I was just grinning from ear to ear.”

[From People]

That’s awesome, congratulations to her! Britton told Redbook in 2009 that she was looking forward to maybe remarrying at some point and having children. She said “I do feel like I would get married again, and I still want to have kids.” She also said that hitting her 40s has helped her slow down and appreciate life. “There isn’t this mania to get everything so right. Now what I really want to do is just enjoy my life and fill the moments with living, with people I love, things I enjoy, and work that inspires me.”

Britton’s character on “American Horror Story” may have a child soon too. Her character Vivian Harmon is currently pregnant, and it’s being foreshadowed on the show that it’s some kind of demon spawn. I’m kind of fascinated by that show but it’s gradually losing it’s appeal for me. They use every horror movie cliche in the book, and just when I think they’re ready to dial it back a notch they throw in some more complicated plot points. They’re walking a very fine line between being campy and scary.

Photos are from this year. Credit: WENN.com