Look below for the highlights, including Wyatt's birth stats and adoption info, why Sheryl adopted, the process she went through to bring Wyatt home, celeb friends who have helped her out, and if she'll be adding to the family. There's also an additional photo.
Name meaning: Wyatt is Sheryl's father's middle name, Steven is after her brother and her manager.
Starting the adoption process: 'I've always wanted to adopt. Even if I'd had my own kids, I would have adopted. I love the idea of adopting. I always thought I had an immense amount of love to give. I got started at the end of my radiation treatment [in Spring 2006]. I knew it would take a long time. They don't put you at the front of the line just because you're a rock star.
I went through the proper channels and did it just like everybody else does it. I went through an agency. I filled out a lot of paperwork. You answer all kinds of questions and they come and visit you. I did not care [what sex the baby was]. I did not care what nationality. I do believe, and it may sound wacky, that souls pick their surroundings. I feel like Wyatt was on his way, one way or the other.'
Adoption details and concern that the birth parents will recognize their child: 'I knew he was coming and I knew there was an opportunity for the birth mother to change her mind. I flew to where he was, which was in another state, and I took him home a day later. He was 1 day old.
This was a closed adoption, but I have a physical description and the medical history of the parents, which is really great because you know what your child is in for regarding medical issues. I have great faith that things will work out the way they’re meant to. I am going to raise him in a healthy environment.'
On being honest with Wyatt: 'He will know he’s adopted. He will know as much as he wants to know about his family. And if the time comes that he wants to meet his birth family, I will help him with that. I think it will come about when it comes about. When he’s old enough to understand it, we’ll talk about it. By then he’ll already know and love me as his mom.'
On meeting her son: 'I think I said, ‘Welcome to the world,’ but mostly I just stared at him.'
On being an instant mom: 'My parents were out here when he was born. My mom would hand him to me and say, ‘Here’s your mommy.’ It was really poignant — and very startling — to hear my mom call me Mommy. It took me a while to get used to it.'
On changes: 'The day he came home, I felt like the whole house had changed. The house felt fuller. You just feel like nesting and making sure he's acclimated to the world. It is all so fascinating. You don’t want to miss a thing. I’ve barely left the house. Waking up in the middle of the night and seeing him next to me and realizing, 'Oh, he's still here! How fantastic! It's not a dream.'
On raising Wyatt: To prevent Wyatt from turning into a spoiled brat, Sheryl wants to spend the majority of his childhood in Nashville, TN, and plans for him to attend school there. 'I believe in saying no. I’m going to try and be a really good parent and not his best friend. I’m not going to raise him and have him go to school here [in L.A.]. I have a farm in Nashville and he’ll grow up down there. I have family there and also in Missouri just a few hours away.'
Sheryl also plans to adopt more children, saying, 'Definitely, a whole troop! I love kids. I can definitely see myself adopting more kids. As soon as I brought Wyatt home, I told my mom I wanted another. She told me to slow down and learn what I was doing with Wyatt first.'
Baby care: Sheryl's parents and a baby nurse are helping her out. She says, 'I didn’t have any trepidation about how I’d do as a mom. But there are certain things that you can’t know with a new baby that you have to learn as you go. Luckily, my parents were here, and I’ve gotten great advice from my mother and I have a wonderful baby nurse.'
The baby nurse in question? We hear it's Marva, who has cared for Deacon Phillippe and Coco Arquette in their first months, and stayed with Julia Roberts to help care for Hazel Finn until they were 2 -- you may remember Julia's on-stage Oscar thank you to her!
Celeb friends help out: My dear friend Laura Dern has been with me all the way through this experience and had a baby shower for me last week. And Gabby Reece has been with me all the way. These very ‘Earth Mother’ types are really dialed into how to raise a baby organically and holistically.'
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