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NEW YORK (CBS) ― Sheryl Crow adopted a baby boy in early May. She talks candidly about her three week old son Wyatt Steven Crow to OK! Magazine in the issue that hits newstands Thursday.

When did you start thinking about adopting?
I've always wanted to adopt. Even if I'd had my own kids, I would have adopted. I love the idea of adopting. I always thought I had an immense amount of love to give.

When did you start the process?
I got started at the end of my radiation treatment. I knew it would take a long time. They don't put you at the front of the line just because you're a rock star. I went through the proper channels and did it just like everybody else does it.

Describe what you went through.
I went through an agency. I filled out a lot of paperwork. You answer all kinds of questions and they come and visit you. This was a closed adoption, but I have a physical description and the medical history of the parents, which is really great because you know what your child is in for regarding medical issues.

Did you want a boy?
I did not care. I did not care what nationality. I do believe, and it may sound wacky, that souls pick their surroundings. I feel like Wyatt was on his way, one way or the other.

Do you have any concerns, as a public person, that even with a closed adoption, down the line someone is going to say, "That's my baby"?
I have great faith that things will work out the way they're meant to. I am going to raise him in a healthy environment. He will know he's adopted. He will know as much as he wants to know about his family. And if the time comes that he wants to meet his birth family, I will help him with that.

Have you thought about what you'll tell Wyatt and when?
I think it will come about when it comes about. When he's old enough to understand it, we'll talk about it. By then he'll already know and love me as his mom.

Bringing Baby Home

When did you know you might be getting your son?
I knew he was coming and I knew there was an opportunity for the birth mother to change her mind. I flew to where he was, which was in another state, and I took him home a day later. He was 1 day old. His birthday is April 29.

What did you say to him the first time you saw him?
I think I said, "Welcome to the world," but mostly I just stared at him.

You named him after some very special men in your life.
My dad's middle name is Wyatt. My brother is Steven. They are the two men I love and respect the most.

Motherhood

Who was the first person to call you Mom?
My parents were out here when he was born. My mom would hand him to me and say, "Here's your mommy." It was really poignant — and very startling — to hear my mom call me Mommy. It took me a while to get used to it.

When did you begin to reprioritize your life?
Instantly! The day that he came home, I felt like the whole house had changed. The house felt fuller. For the first couple of weeks, of course, you just feel like nesting and making sure that he's acclimated to the world. It is all so fascinating. You don't want to miss a thing. I've barely left the house.

What's been your favorite moment with him?
My favorite moment is waking up in the middle of the night and seeing him next to me and realizing, "Oh, he's still here! How fantastic! It's not a dream."

What were your fears going into this?
I didn't have any trepidation about how I'd do as a mom. But there are certain things that you can't know with a new baby that you have to learn as you go. Luckily, my parents were here, and I've gotten great advice from my mother and I have a wonderful baby nurse.

Who else has given you great advice?
My dear friend Laura Dern has been with me all the way through this experience and had a baby shower for me last week. And Gabby Reece has been with me all the way. These very "Earth Mother" types are really dialed into how to raise a baby organically and holistically.

Raising Wyatt

Do you worry about getting married in the future to provide a father for Wyatt?
I'm very happy where I am and don't feel any pressure to get married. Wyatt is going to be the gatekeeper! There won't be anybody coming between Wyatt and Mom.

How are you going to keep Wyatt from becoming a Hollywood brat?
I believe in saying no. I'm going to try and be a really good parent and not his best friend. I'm not going to raise him and have him go to school here [in L.A.]. I have a farm in Nashville and he'll grow up down there. I have family there and also in Missouri just a few hours away.

Will there be any little brothers or sisters for Wyatt?
Definitely, a whole troop! I love kids. I can definitely see myself adopting more kids. As soon as I brought Wyatt home, I told my mom I wanted another. She told me to slow down and learn what I was doing with Wyatt first.

Life

How did you get through last year?
It was tough, but it was a good year. I let go of a lot of stuff. I had the best tour [with John Mayer] of my entire life. It was so joyful, especially after having gone through radiation.

If you'd been writing a country song, you had all the material you needed.
It was movie-of-the-week stuff. But that's real life.

Dating

Are you dating?
I'm having a great time dating but I'm shy about sharing my private life. There is somebody, but I'm not walking down the aisle.

Give us a hint!
No, he'd kill me. He likes his anonymity. He's not in this business. I'm happy with my main man, Wyatt. Life's really good.

You now come as a package deal.
That's right. You buy one and get one free. I used to gauge men on how they were around my dogs. Wyatt now becomes the deciding factor. This little boy is so special. It will be very informative about anyone I might get involved with. What are they really made of? How much love do they have?

Charity

How did you get involved with the World Food Program?
I was watching Wolf Blitzer on CNN while feeding Wyatt. Drew Barrymore was talking about the World Food Program. It is absolutely amazing, the number of kids that they feed. They have an unbelievable spokesperson in Drew. I sent her an e-mail saying, "You are the coolest chick I know." I want to help in any way I can.

Did becoming a mom spur you on to help the WFP?
I don't think there is any coincidence that I was feeding my baby watching these starving children living in abject poverty. Then the opportunity came up to make a real difference.

Career

How's the new album?
I'm three-quarters of the way through it. I'm going to try and finish it by the end of July. Hopefully one song — a very political song — will be out by Christmas. I'll probably go on tour in February or March of next year. Baby and nanny and the two dogs will all go on the tour bus with me. If I could take my horses, I would.

So, Wyatt's going to be a world traveler?
I'm getting him his passport already!

(OK! Magazine)