Couple learns ropes of parenthood, adopt toddler from Uganda on Michigan Adoption Day

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At only six months old, Kip Daniel Witt Bailey was left between a chapel and a maternity ward in Kampala, Uganda.

Three years later Kip, dressed in khakis and a navy argyle sweater, toddled into the Isabella County Courthouse, 300 N. Main St. to become an American citizen and the adopted son of Brethren residents Jill Witt and her husband Steve Bailey.

Kip was one of four children adopted Tuesday before Isabella County Probate Judge William Ervin in the ninth annual Michigan Adoption Day in ceremonies.

“These kids need a second chance,” Ervin said.

Coming to America

Jill reminisced of the day she and her husband told Kip they were taking him to his new home in America.

She said she would chant to Kip, “We’re going to America … today! We’re going to America … today!”

Her soon-to-be adopted son looked up at her with a smile as he remembered.

Steve said the toddler now sports a Michigan accent, thanks to his mom.

Kip is adapting to his American lifestyle eating pizza for his first taste of the U.S. and is learning to be friends with his new pets.

“Kip came home scared to death of animals,” Jill said. “He would see a dog or cat and just shriek.”

She said kids in Uganda are told dogs and cats will eat them.

“Now he just loves cats, loves dogs,” Jill said. “He has his kitties — he just cuddles and hugs and they follow each other around.”

Long, worthwhile process

“We tried adopting from a couple different countries,” Jill said. “Then they just called us up one day and said we have a 10- month-old little boy for you.”

Fourteen months passed from the time they received the referral until they met their new addition, Jill said.

“There was a lot of paperwork, a lot of background checks and they had to find police reports of his abandonment,” she said.

Steve, a worldwide traveler and CMU English and literature faculty member, said he felt like it was time to give something back to the world.

“We were like instant parents,” he said. “Besides, I was ready to be a dad.”

Kerry Wiese, Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan adoption program manager, said they were the first U.S. couple to join the Holt International program in Uganda.

“They’re great parents and Kip is a really nice addition to their family,” Wiese said. “He’s adorable and smart as a whip, and I’m sure he comes by some of that from mom and dad.”

The need for adoption

Ervin said the purpose of National Adoption Day is to bring awareness to the number of children who need loving homes.

“The people that open their homes and their hearts to these kids give the love and direction the kids need,” he said.

State Rep. Kevin Cotter, R-Mount Pleasant, said Adoption Day is very important.

“Parents are thankful for their children and children are thankful for their parents,” he said.

Learning the ropes of parenthood

Steve said adjusting into parenthood has a steep learning curve.

“It’s not like starting with a baby,” Jill said. “We started with a toddler so we have all the being a toddler things, but at the same time, you can reason with a toddler.”

She said the day they stepped off the plane in the U.S. was the day they knew they were a family.

“We were like okay, he’s our kid, he knew we were his parents and that was it,” Jill said. “Waiting is difficult, but after it’s all over you just totally forget it — it doesn’t matter, you’ve got an instant family.”

Steve stopped to smile at Kip playing with his toy truck on the Isabella County Courthouse waiting bench.

“And then you can’t imagine you never were a family,” he said.