• Andrew and Sandy Christlieb talk adoption

LANSING - They say for an adoptive parent that the child doesn't grow in the mother's womb, but rather in her heart.

November marks National Adoption Month. In fiscal year for 2015, more than 1,700 children were adopted from Michigan's foster care system. But whether locally or internationally, many children are still in need of loving homes.

According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, nearly 300 children in Michigan's foster care are without families. Children in the foster care system become eligible for adoption following termination of parental rights due to abuse and neglect.

"Really, what children need is a permanent home," said Bob Wheaton, MDHHS Communications Manager. "It's very important for children who have been through a lot of trauma and have been in foster care to have stability in their lives."

To help raise awareness, Governor Rick Snyder proclaimed Tuesday, Nov. 24th to be Adoption Day in Michigan. That's when participating courts will be finalizing adoptions, holding parties for adoptive families, and educating the public about the adoption process.

Local parents Andrew and Sandy Christlieb always knew they'd one day have a family together. So when it came time to start one 11 years ago and nothing happened, they opened up their hearts and home to 8 1/2-month-old Elliot and 9 1/2-month-old Noah from South Korea.

"It didn't matter if it was biological or not, we just wanted to have a family," said Andrew. "It was a concern about being too old when we start a family. We didn't want to be too old to enjoy the kids. We didn't want it to be too hard to go play football with Elliot or Noah or too hard to be doing the things that we remember our parents doing with us." 

And like many first-time parents, the Christliebs say that every day is something new.

"Elliot somehow turning 11 (this year) has been a big trigger for me," explained Andrew. "I keep having flashbacks this year in particular to Elliot being about 9 months (old) and laying on the floor with him and just being silly like putting an Easter egg in my mouth and popping it out of my mouth made him giggle hysterically."