Oscar-winner Sandra Bullock is introducing the world to the newest arrival in her family, adopted daughter Laila.
The journey to adopt another child was ‘spearheaded’ by her five-year-old son Louis, who Sandra adopted back in 2010. Louis had let her know that he was really for a little sister, and so three years ago, Sandra began the process of adopting another child. They found the perfect match with Laila, pronounced ‘Lila’, who is three and a half and had been living in foster care up until now.
In an exclusive interview with People magazine, Sandra shares some emotional – and hilarious – insights into her new life as a mum of two.
Cover Photograph by Bryan Randall/Getty Images
On how she knew Laila was the one
“I remember sitting Louis down, and he actually took a knee like a football player,” says Sandra. “What I wanted to know was, ‘Is this the right match?’ He said, ‘I think so.’ And I asked why and he just said, ‘Because she’s my sister.’”
On the first time she met Laila
“I knew she was scared, and all I wanted was for her to know Louis and I weren’t going anywhere… It requires sleeping on the floor next to her bed and holding her hand so she can go to sleep. It requires being A-OK with a little being attached to your body at all times during the day. Once she felt safe, that personality exploded. Seems stand-up comedy is in her future.”
On their first Christmas as a family
“The most magical part will be watching Louis show a little girl who may never have had a Christmas before what it’s all about.”
It’s been a good year for Sandra, who is dating photographer Bryan Randall, who took the photos featured in the People magazine spread. She jokes that he was ‘very patient’ photographing two kids and one adult who hate having their photo taken. The resulting pictures are beautiful portraits of a brand-new family, gearing up for their first Christmas together.
