Katherine Heigl on adopting Naleigh, motherhood and more

Gorgeouses? I think I have renewed respect for Ms. Heigl, and I never thought I’d say that. She’s never been my favourite celebrity, although I did like her in Knocked Up and loved her in The Ugly Truth (but not so much on Grey’s Anatomy).

Her adoption story is seriously precious. Katherine (31) and her beautiful daughter, 22-month-old Naleigh of South Korea, grace the December cover of W Magazine, and the interview inside the magazine is really interesting.

In the interview, Katherine says she brought Naleigh home just “three or four days” before starting work on Life as We Know It (co-starring Josh Duhamel  and Josh Lucas) — which is kind of wild because, as she puts it, “I was about to play a woman who inherits a baby, and I was experiencing the exact same thing.”

Katherine goes on to explain that she adopted Naleigh (in 2009) — who had congenital heart problems that required surgery — because she felt she was destined for this. She’d even told husband, musician Josh Kelley, about her adoption plans early on in their relationship: “Not everybody is down with that,” she tells the mag. “Not everybody thinks that…. I just wanted to make sure that I was marrying a guy who understands that this was going to have to happen.”

Why did she choose to adopt a baby from Korea? “My sister is Korean,” she explains. “I hope one day she and Naleigh will be able to talk about what it’s like to be adopted.”

How has motherhood changed her? ”You have this empathy suddenly – this compassion for a mother going through anything complicated or difficult with a child…. It’s something that I understand now –- that unbelievable drive and instinct to protect.”

How’s hubby Josh doing as a daddy? “I really could not have imagined a better father for [Naleigh]…. She’s the luckiest little kid. We call him ‘Disneyland Dad’ because as soon as he comes in it’s just fun and happiness — and she rides around the room on his shoulders…. He’s [also] fantastic with diapers, food, naptime, playtime – he’s got it all.” Go dad!

One more thing before I put dinner on the table for my hungry beasts…. That is one cute little girl! I’ve been wondering what the story was with them. And now we know!

Congratulations to Katherine and Josh!

Love!
xo Haley-O

Source
Photo: W Magazine