Put me in the 'loved it and laughed' column. I thought he was adorable and she was on point for her agenda. And I much prefer Rebecca's take. I don't for a second buy that Colbert was upset/annoyed/anything like that. When she showed her belly, he looked. And no, he's not worried about his wife. Given to whome she's married, the wife probably has a sense of humor. Joan's take vs Rebecca's - an age thing? A pop culture thing? A sense of humor thing?

Seriously, kid, the stones on you are ginormous. I had a dad. He died. I didn't even bring my husband of several years around my dad during the time before his death. Why? Because these moments weren't for my husband, they were for my dad, my sisters and me. Because my husband, no matter how fabulous and wonderful, wasn't the one who mattered in that equation. And in your girlfriend's step-father's equation, you matter even less.

If these are the moments leading up to his death, should he waste them on you? Should he waste energy and breath and emotional connection on the annoying guy who happens to have been dating his step-daughter for 1/16 the time of the last boyfriend? How about this idea instead: How about he spends his time and energy on the people he actually loves, whom he'll miss, who will miss him? Please read Cary's advice. Please get a clue and grow up. Or if you can't do that, tell your girlfriend you need her to find her dying step-father so he'll be nice to you. Then let her dump your ass.

It's interesting to me that many people interpreted the first article as anti-Obama and pro-Hillary. Maybe because I'm a woman, I thought Obama was being the one given the big thumbs up. Or maybe Scherer was just making an observation and anyone who got offended (including me) just brought their own issues to the table.

but it pisses me off that you just may have deterred people from giving John a shot.

but I'm all teary now. I love Cary and the posters who eschew bullshit cynicism and say the kindest things to the people who need it most. Jesus, almost enough to give you faith in the world. Maybe more than almost.

I guess the simple answer to the teaser question is no, you'll never forget. I'm mom to the greatest kid in the history of the world. Truly. She's 5 1/2 and it's as if all the lights turned on at once. Her language, her sense of humor, her drawings - all have made tremendous leaps in the last few weeks. Her dad and I look at her, then each other and get all teary. She's not a baby any more. She's this wonderful little person who's only going to get more wonderful. And this is a girl who was barely on western growth charts for the first 3 years after her foreign adoption (all except for her head - her head was HUGE - 75th percentile on a 3rd percentile body.) And still I wonder about my life if I'd gone through with all the fertility things I didn't. Like the author, I did Clomid - 5 rounds. (My doc was handed to me by my HMO. His specialty was geriatric thyroid conditions. Not so strong in the baby making department.) After the Clomid, I was done. No more. I knew my child was out there in the universe. I just had to start walking toward her.

Now she's with me - and once again, the greatest kid in the history of the world. And I still wonder if I should have or should still yet pursue a biological child. I wonder if I've followed my path properly, done what I was meant to do. Don't we all? Don't we constantly have to check in with ourselves (and God, for those of us who susbcribe to such things)? Isn't that part of being a rational adult- guaging the past and deciding on the future? And if we're very lucky, the decisions are ones we can live with.

So, fellow mom, cut yourself a break. Cherish the memory of the child who was almost yours for a day. She led you to your pregnancy, your child. And this pregnancy and child may still lead you somewhere wonderful. Maybe even back across the world.

My God, the people who have no problem coming down on Jessica still astound me. Have you read the comment threads? Have none of those profoundly lucid statements from people who've actually adopted affected you? So far, by my count, it seems anyone who has actually adopted a child understands her and anyone who has a special needs child understands her. But somehow those who haven't adopted and don't have special needs kids feel free to rip into her. You do the math. No, wait. I'll do it for you. Leave her alone.