We all know that it’s coming eventually and a lot of media sources have already started speculating: The next Jolie-Pitt adoption. Both Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have said they aren’t finished with having kids yet and we know that adoption is still very important to them. They’ve also said in the past that they would like to have a physical balance as far as ethnicity is concerned - for example, they adopted Pax from Vietnam to share some Asian heritage and identity with older brother Maddox from Cambodia.

It stands to reason, then, that they would likely adopt another child from Africa as they did when they adopted Zahara from Ethiopia, or perhaps a child with darker skin from South America. Whether it would be a girl or a boy, I don’t know, and I’m not sure if gender necessarily matters to them.

Obviously we have no way of knowing unless either Brad or Angelina talks to the media and says, “We’re adopting a child from [whichever country] next month!” Which, of course, is highly unlikely!

However, it’s fun to guess and we always have such great conversations in the discussion posts, so in light of a slow-down on the news right now, let’s talk about where Brad and Angelina might go to adopt next!

(Please keep in mind that the majority of us are not necessarily aware of all the international adoption laws, so if anyone should mention countries where it would be just about impossible, kindly refrain from attacking - this is just for fun after all!)

I could have seen the rumor about an adoption in India being true until people mentioned how difficult it would be - having read up on the international adoption laws in India now, I realize that even if they wanted to, it would be a near impossibility.

I see them going back to Africa at this point. They might even go back to Ethiopia specifically. It’s very dear to their hearts, and not just because Zahara was born there but also because they have their clinic that they started there to help treat patients with tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS (through the Jolie-Pitt Foundation). I don’t know what other countries are like for adoption laws (recent news about Madonna’s adoption attempt in Malawi springs to mind), but if they don’t have any specific laws, Darfur might be another option for them - Angelina Jolie visited refugees in Darfur through the UNHCR and saw first-hand how in need the country’s people are.

Another question, which is more interesting to me than whether it will be a boy or a girl, is will it be a baby or an older child? Zahara was a baby when she was adopted (though not a newborn), whereas Pax was a bit older. With their current family dynamic - two twin babies, three pre-schoolers, and an older child - I wonder which would work best for them. I can’t even guess!

Like I said before, for all we know, they may have already filed the preliminary work somewhere to prepare for adopting. Angelina had mentioned they wouldn’t start the adoption process until Knox and Vivienne were six months old due to legal reasons, but that deadline has passed now. In some places, adoption can pass fairly swiftly, but in other countries the wait time can be quite lengthy so they may have needed to get started right away. Maybe while we’re guessing the origins of the next Jolie-Pitt child, they’re already half way through the set-up.

What do you think?

(Thanks to joliepittfanatic for suggesting this topic!)

Image used with permission: Newscom

All of my news alerts are currently flooded with rumors that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie plan to adopt another child “soon” - this time from India. There doesn’t seem to be any confirmed sources, so we’re still dealing with “a source said” gossip, but it’s not entirely unbelievable.

The alleged story is that Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, one of the ten-year-old child stars of Slumdog Millionaire asked Angelina, after meeting her at the Oscars, why she hasn’t adopted from his home country yet. Supposedly, Angie said they would be soon.

Yet another unnamed “source” claims that Brad and Angelina visited the Priya Darshini Orphanage when they were in India in 2006, but weren’t able to complete all the paperwork at that time.

Right now, it’s all just talk, but you know, this is one rumor that actually wouldn’t surprise me. We know they still want to expand their family, and we know they still want to adopt. We’ve also heard them speak favorably of India on several occasions - one recent time that sticks out in my mind is when reporters asked Brad what his reaction was to the attacks in India a few months ago.

With the twins getting older now and the amount of time that it takes to complete an international adoption, I could definitely see them making plans to adopt a child from India. Obviously, Angelina is a little busy right now with filming, but if there’s a trip to India in the near future, I would not be shocked at all.

What do you think of this latest rumor? While gossip is gossip, at least this one is a positive story, rather than the same old, washed-out “trouble in paradise” garbage!

(source)

Image used with permission: Newscom

Someone managed to get some video footage of Angelina Jolie picking up Pax at the orphanage as well as some interviews with the director. The video is translated into Portugese* but even if you don’t understand, it’s interesting to watch.

*Thanks Vivi, for letting me know it wasn’t Spanish!

An AP article here says that Angelina Jolie has left Vietnam, heading back to the U.S. to bring Pax home. They left via private jet. Naturally, some people have complained about her use of a private jet, but considering the chaos Pax went through while leaving the orphanage, I think a private jet is the way to go to help shield him a little, especially since he may be nervous on a plane as it is.

Safe flight!

Hello Magazine has a beautiful new cover featuring a stunning photo of Angelina Jolie with her new son Pax.

(photo courtesy hellomagazine.com

The exclusive photos in the magazine also show Angie, Maddox, and Zahara bonding with the newest member of the family.

Looking comfortable and secure in his new mother’s arms, Pax Thien Jolie - whose name means peaceful sky - is settling into life as the son of Hollywood actress and humanitarian Angelina Jolie. The special image, which appears on the front cover of HELLO!, is part of a series of intimate photos of the mother and son’s first precious days together in Vietnam that appear exclusively in this week’s issue of the magazine.

Apparently photos show Pax playing together in a pool, then falling asleep beside his big brother.

Angelina was quoted as saying:

“I will stay at home to help Pax adjust to his new life. I have four children and caring for them is the most important thing for me at the moment. I am very proud and happy to be their mother.”

She says that Pax is “a very sweet boy” and acknowledges that it took incredible courage on his part to adapt to new surroundings, new people, and a new language on top of all that. It mentions that Angie learned some basic Vietnamese phrases to help bridge the communication gap until they both learn more.

The issue (Issue 962) goes on sale today, check your news stand.

A news blurb out of Hanoi has declared that Pax Thien has been issued his American passport and an immigration visa on Tuesday. This will allow him to come to his new home back in the U.S. to see his new father, Brad Pitt.

Angelina Jolie arrived at the US embassy on Thursday and left after 45 minutes; despite the attempts of photographers, no photos were managed. Angelina has been keeping a low profile in Hanoi, likely due to the paparazzi scaring Pax back in Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietnam’s International Adoption Department director Vu Duc Long says that she may leave Vietnam as early as tonight though some have said that she will wait until Wednesday.

Brad was unable to accompany Angelina to Vietnam due to being under contract for filming in Los Angeles but it seems that the family of six will be meeting back up again shortly.

Reader Amber sent me two photos from a Vietnamese site, one of the plane Angelina and Pax were on for their flight to Hanoi, and one of her van heading for the VIP room at the airport.

A Vietnamese newspaper has an article up with some great quotes from the director of the Tam Binh Orphanage, including a statement from Angelina Jolie that Pax no longer cries and lets her approach him easily.

He said this about Angelina’s method to meeting Pax:

“He cried so hard that I wanted to scold him. But Jolie stopped me. She patiently soothed him for almost 20 minutes.

Also, he mentioned that it was almost funny how there were minor similarities between the parents and the children they adopted - a bald man adopting a child with little hair for instance. He was asked what similarities he could see between Angelina Jolie and Pax and he laughed.

“I think he is like Brad Pitt rather than Jolie. Sang is as naughty and smart as any character played by Pitt. Brad Pitt is very easy. Last year when he came here, he asked me where the restroom was and I showed him the way to a public restroom. And he walked straight there.”

Trung went on to say that sometimes foster parents bring gifts and candies to the children in the orphanage but Angelina didn’t bring candies or donation pledges.

Mr. Trung said perhaps she was too happy to think about candies. He heard that when she adopted Maddox, she didn’t make any promise either. But one year after, she returned to Cambodia with large-scale charity works.

If you ask me, she probably didn’t bring any money or gifts because the media had already speculated so often that she was using her money to fast-track the adoption - media reports said she had promised $2 million U.S. to the orphanage. However, Trung explained that was not at all true.

“She didn’t even promise $ 2.000, let alone $ 2 million. If she donated, it would be great for the children here. But we didn’t bring up the issue. We were already very glad that she adopted [Pax],” Mr Trung said.

I’m willing to bet that she will make a pledge to the orphanage at a later date, just like she did for Maddox, once it’s late enough that no one can accuse her of buying off her new son.

As for Pax’s general health, Trung said that he was born with some liver problems but 15 months later it was cleared up and by now he was perfectly healthy.

This just in from Just Jared:

Us Weekly reported that when SuperMom Angelina Jolie checked out of their ho Chi Minh City hotel, she left behind her children’s toys - not by accident, but because she wanted them to be given away to needy children. Despite being busy with adoption formalities and ducking the press, it’s amazing that she can still stop in the middle of all that to think about others who have little or nothing of their own. How heart-warming!

According to Us Weekly:

The actress, along with her 5-year-old son Maddox, 3-year-old son Pax, 2-year-old daughter Zahara, and 10-month-old daughter Shiloh, checked out of the Park Hyatt hotel at around 2 p.m. on March 19, and the clan left behind their toys to be given away to needy children.

“There are lots of toys still here,” a hotel maid tells Usmagazine.com, but added that they are “not putting them in the rubbish. They are maybe giving them [to the orphanage].”

Continuing to prove that she is a person who is kind to everyone she meets, staff at the Park Hyatt hotel had this to say:

“She is very kind. It was very nice to have her here.”

A male staffer added, “She is very beautiful.”

Despite the previous entry, here are some photos courtesy of Just Jared of the new mom-and-son duo.

Angelina carrying new son Pax to a VIP room at the Tan Son Nhat airport this morning in Ho Chi Minh City before leaving for Hanoi, walking under the cover of an umbrella and bodyguard Mickey Brett:

Cute little Pax:

Seriously, this kid is adorable!

The family is expected to leave Hanoi on Wednesday after Pax is issued a visa. I bet Brad can’t wait to welcome them home!

Although Angelina Jolie understands that photographers are all part and parcel of the celebrity lifestyle, she was very angry by the photographers who swarmed the orphanage in Ho Chi Minh City when she picked up Pax last week. Not content to just stand back and try to get their shots, they invaded their privacy in terrifying ways, and according to this article, she has issued a statement through her international advisor, Trevor Neilson.

Neilson had the following to say:

“As Angelina left the orphanage they [photographers] opened the door of her car, banged on the doors and threw things under the wheels to try to get them to stop. How would the paparazzi feel if someone was doing this to a car their child was riding in?”

Pax left the peace and calm of the orphanage and was immediately attacked by noise and chaos. Angelina had signed the orphanage guestbook saying, “Thank you for taking such wonderful care of my son.”

It’s a shame that the paparazzi couldn’t offer a bit more peace and gentle understanding to a helpless three year old boy. I love the pictures too, of course. I love seeing Angie and Brad in family situations because it’s heartwarming and because I’m also very family-oriented, but even though the photographers are just trying to do their jobs, they need to take the well-being of the children into mind as well.

In honor of Angelina Jolie’s backlash against the paparazzi, no photos will accompany this post.

According to this Vietnamese news site, Angelina Jolie flew with her new son Pax from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi around 2:30 pm today their time. They weren’t due to fly out so soon but they were able to complete the processing of adoption papers four days ealier, so they left for the American Embassy in Hanoi to finish up the visa process so that Pax can come into the U.S.