Haitian adoptees keep the story alive for some Utahns

"My kids are safe, but that doesn't stop our responsibility to take care of those who can't take care of themselves," Aitken says. "Those children have nothing."

In the meantime, Utah's adoptive parents, a tightly knit group pulled together by common experience, are trying to savor the good moments.

Brent Rosenlof, who has taken a leave from work to play "stay at home dad," is already sharing one of his favorite pastimes — professional sports — with the little boy. Nathan recently attended his first Jazz game. Lori Rosenlof is busy teaching the 2-year-old about the wonders of grocery shopping ("he just kept grabbing food and putting it in the cart," she said) and figuring out his favorite foods. Right now, she said, "It's avocados. Weird, I know."

Nathan himself is busy enjoying having two grown adults wrapped around his itty-bitty finger.

"Bijow!" he tells his parents (and anyone else who will listen), offering his dimpled cheek up expectantly. That's the Creole word, his doting mother explains, for "kisses."

She gladly obliges.

e-mail: estuart@desnews.com