Christy Purington

In 2007, Stephanie Werner traveled to Guatemala to adopt a little girl, Sophia, now two. The single mom balances family time with a full-time job at VH1. What prompted you to adopt?I was at a point in my life when I wasn’t dating anyone, but I really wanted to be a mom, so I decided to go for it. It took a lot of research, but once you’ve made the basic decisions—like which country to adopt from—the process is not that bad. Just long. When the big day finally arrived, what was it like?I remember getting the call from the hotel lobby to tell me she was downstairs…riding the elevator and thinking, The moment these doors open, my life is going to change. It was magical, and the bond was automatic. For the first time I really understood the phrase “It’s meant to be.” Describe an average day with Sophia.During the week, I wake up with her about 6:30am. We hang out and play with her pretend kitchen, and I’ll give her a bath. The babysitter comes at eight, and I get ready for work. I come home to relieve her around 6pm, and that’s when Sophia and I spend quality time together. Some evenings it’s quiet time reading, but sometimes we visit neighbors. Sophia is so social and loves to be with other kids in the apartment complex. She’s like the little mayor of the building. Juggling work and other responsibilities can be really difficult. But I learned the value of having a support system—family, friends, even the doorman! If you had the option, would you give up work and be a stay-at-ho

apple seeds10 W 25th St between Broadway and Sixth Ave (212-792-7590, appleseedsnyc.com). Subway: F, V, R, W to 23rd St. $30 per class, four-pack $100.The popular Chelsea play space offers a plethora of classes for kids up to age five. But the pre-walking set is best suited for Chat & Snack, in which new parents meet other Gotham newbies. Ages newborn to 12 months. City Treehouse129A W 20th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves (212-255-2050, citytreehouse.com). Subway: F, V to 23rd St; 1 to 18th St. $20 and up, with special pricing for bundled packages.The eclectic baby classes at this Chelsea tot hot spot include sign language, music, playgroups, mom and infant yoga, and more. The Treehouse also offers custom-designed classes that cater specifically to your little one's needs and interests. Ages newborn to 7 years. Jewish Community Center 334 Amsterdam Ave at 76th St (646-505-5708, jccmanhattan.org). Subway: 1, 2, 3 to 72nd St. $25 and up. The Upper West Side institution offers new parents a strong support network with breastfeeding groups, mommy meet-ups and info sessions on how to care for infants. Ages newborn and up. Jodi's Gym244 E 84th St between Second and Third Aves (212-773-7633, jodisgym.com). Subway: 4, 5, 6 to 86th St. $750 for 18 sessions. Offering plenty of activities for parents and babies, the Upper East Side gym features athletic offerings like gymnastics, as well as music and playgroups. Best of all: You can try a free trial class before committing to a sem