Days of our Lives star Jen Lilley (Theresa Donovan) has one of the biggest hearts in the business, and now it'll be feeling extra full because the actress is adopting a baby.
Lilley and her husband, Jason Wayne, have been foster parenting a baby boy, and after first taking him in two years ago, they're on the path to officially adopting the lucky child.
The actress, who's currently filming a new project in Canada, shared the heart-warming adoption news on Instagram.
"Missing my little boy so much while I film on location in Vancouver, but I have so much peace in my heart knowing that this time, when I come back, he won't be my foster son, he'll be my soon to be adopted son. Yes. We are officially on the road to adoption," she wrote.
Lilley has had very many special moments with her tiny tot, which makes his adoption all the more reason to celebrate.
"I have loved every single moment over the last two years with this little man. I've taught him to roll over and crawl, how to walk and run. How to sleep in a big boy bed. How to talk and always say please and thank you. We've had fun exploring parks and looking at real life choo choo trains," she shares. "He has given me more laughter in two long and tearful years than I have had in my lifetime. And when I come home, I'm taking this kiddo to Disneyland. One more week munchkin. Momma loves you."
Surprisingly, Lilley's decision to get involved with foster parenting and advocating for children's rights wasn't altogether a "popular" move. She says that when she first decided to start fostering, not everyone was on board -- especially her entertainment industry advisors.
"I remember when I first started wanting to advocate for children's rights and wanted to be a voice for the voiceless, my publicists said, 'You can't talk about child abuse! Nobody wants to talk about it.' Which is exactly why we talk about it," she reveals. "It needs sunlight. This is an issue that definitely needs attention."
And what does she say to the people who tell her that they respect her selfless decision to foster but that they couldn't do it because they'd get too attached to the children?
"Well, of course I get attached, but here's what I think: I got involved in fostering not for my own self, but for the child," she says. "If my adult-sized heart can take a little bit of that pain that child will experience throughout their life, then I have done something good and I've done something worthwhile."
For more from Lilley about why she started foster parenting, check out the beautiful video below. But be warned: tissues are definitely necessary!
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