We have a 2-year-old daughter named Clara. Clara is a sweet little girl, who is curious about the world around her. We spend our time with Clara going to local children's amusement parks and zoos, visiting neighborhood playgrounds, going to the beach (which is about 40 minutes away), visiting friends and family, and just running errands like going to the grocery store. Clara is a true joy and we know she will be an amazing big sister!

However, we know that our family is not yet complete. We started talking about adoption while we were dating. Through conversation while getting to know one other, we discovered that adopting a child is a priority for both of us. We have always felt drawn to adoption for different reasons. While she was growing up, Stephanie was interested in adoption. She read books about adoption and also watched television series and documentaries (as a middle schooler!) about families who had chosen adoption and about people who had been adopted. At even a younger age, while playing house with her dolls, at least one doll had been adopted and Stephanie created stories that gave that particular doll of the day a full adoption story!

Throughout James's childhood and young adult years he knew friends who were part of the adoption community. The relationships James had with these friends and their families inspired him to want to adopt a child to build his own family. James felt especially drawn to the love and care he witnessed in these family relationships. He is glad he found a partner (Stephanie) who is also so interested in adoption.

Our favorite activity to do during leisure time is to travel. We were both avid travelers before we met and are both glad we found a partner who loves to travel, and now, isn't anxious to bring a toddler (or baby) along on our adventures. We started traveling (first with small weekend trips) when Clara was only 2 months old, and have loved going new places with her. We enjoy researching a destination to visit, and then planning all the activities we will do while we are there. As an educator, Stephanie gets the summer months off from work, so we take Clara out of daycare during the summer and spend at least 3 weeks traveling.

During the school year, Stephanie commits most of her extra time to the school she works for. She enjoys volunteering to help out with different activities and also bringing James and Clara to different events at the school in the evenings and on the weekends. On a daily basis, Stephanie spends time exercising outside, and often brings Clara along in her stroller. Stephanie also loves to bake and cook!

James' favorite leisure activity is home improvement projects. As an engineer, he is always thinking of ways to make things more efficient around the house. James is also interested in music and spends time playing the trumpet. Finally, we spend our leisure time doing activities with family and friends.

We also enjoy going for bike rides throughout our neighborhood and also taking our bikes on weekend trips.

Traditions are important to us as a family. We think of our family as having 2 types of traditions… "daily" traditions and then "annual" traditions.

On a daily basis, we prioritize family dinner time. We cook dinner at least 5 nights a week together and then make sure to sit down and eat dinner together as a family. During this time, we talk about our days- both the joys and challenges of what happened. We ask Clara about her day and although she doesn't yet provide many answers, we look forward to when she can talk more. This time allows us to support and celebrate one another, and also to have open communication.

Our favorite annual tradition is celebrating Christmas. We love decorating the house together, putting up the tree, and prepping the house for a big Christmas dinner. Now that Clara is a little older, she is able to help with putting ornaments on the tree. On Christmas Eve we go to church and then out to an Italian restaurant with Stephanie's parents and sister (which is a tradition that Stephanie's family has done since she was in middle school). Christmas morning is spent making breakfast together and opening presents. Then in the afternoon, we host Christmas dinner for our family members. It is a wonderful and fun day filled with family and we are especially looking forward to future years when a new child has joined the family!

We live in a suburban neighborhood in Northern California. We live near a diverse big city and enjoy being able to take advantage of "big city" things when we want to, but not have to deal with the hassles that come along with that on a daily basis. Our home is located about a mile away from a nice little downtown street that is lined with restaurants, cafes, and shops. We enjoy going out to dinner on Friday nights in that area; as it is full of families with little children. Just a bit further from home, past the little downtown, is a wonderful creek trail that we love to take our daughter to for walks and to play in the playground. There is also a community pool close by that we visit in the summer months.

We love our neighborhood and how walkable (and bikeable) it is. As a family we can walk to parks, restaurants, cafes, the grocery store, and even Target! Additionally, our child's daycare is only a 7 minute walk from home.

Our city is one of the most diverse cities in the United States. We are thankful and truly appreciate the opportunity to experience so many cultures and ethnicities on a constant basis.

We have a ranch style, one level home, that has 4 bedrooms. Our favorite room in the house is our "great room" living room, that is near the kitchen. We love being together as a family and our floor plan easily allows for that to happen. We have a large backyard that has a small slide and swing for our daughter and we're looking forward to building a larger swingset as our family grows and the children get older!

We are very lucky to live near family. James' mom lives just a mile away with her beloved cat. Clara loves going over to visit her Grammy and the cat. James's dad lives about 9 hours away and comes to visit a few times a year. Stephanie's parents live about 4 miles away and very helpful with Clara.

We enjoy having our parents over for BBQs and dinners. We also love attending local Portuguese events (Stephanie's family is Portuguese), going out to dinner, and visiting local amusement parks together.

James is an only child. Stephanie has one sister, Carolyn, who lives in another state. We are able to see Carolyn at least 5-6 times a year as she often comes to visit. Carolyn is a wonderful Aunt to Clara and is excited to be an Auntie again as we grow our family through adoption. Likewise, our parents are all very excited to welcome a second grandchild into the family and have someone new to love (and spoil)!

Our names are Stephanie and James, and as we sit down to write to you, our hearts are filled with an indescribable mix of emotions-hope, anticipation, and above all, an overwhelming sense of gratitude for considering us as potential parents for your child.

We met over 5 years ago, and after we had only been dating a few weeks, we both talked about a desire to adopt a child. Adopting a child has always been a priority for us as a couple and is our first choice to grow our family.

We were married in early 2020 and welcomed our daughter, Clara, in the summer of 2022. Raising her has been the greatest joy and honor of our lives. We want all of our children to grow up to be people of integrity- people who are honest and kind, and contribute to the world in a positive way. We will raise our children to pursue their passions, while also thinking about how they can make a positive difference in the lives of others.

Your child will join a home that is full of love, laughter, and activity. We deeply love each other, and our daughter, and all of us are eager to share our love with your baby. Additionally, our extended family is a big part of our lives and they are excited to love a new grandbaby and niece/nephew. Your child will be enthusiastically welcomed into a home that is caring, nurturing, supportive, and stable. It will be a true honor for us to share our love, joy, and lives with this wonderful child.

In our daily lives, James is a hardware engineer at a local technology company and he has worked there for 15 years. Stephanie is a high school educator and splits her time teaching and working on the academic administrative team. We both enjoy our jobs and the work we do! Clara attends a local daycare that we just absolutely adore. It is a wonderful community and we are truly excited for our second child to attend the same school, and join us on our walks to and from the school.

We understand that the decision you are facing is one of the most difficult you will ever have to make, and we want you to know that we approach it with the utmost respect and compassion. We recognize the courage it takes to consider adoption for your child, and we are humbled by the opportunity to be considered as potential parents.

One of the most important aspects of our relationship, should you choose us, is our commitment to staying in touch. We believe that an open adoption can be a beautiful and enriching experience for all involved, and we are dedicated to honoring your role in your child's life. Whether it's through letters, emails, phone calls, or visits, we are committed to maintaining a connection with you and ensuring that your child knows the love and support of you and your family. You are important to us and always will be! We want to get to know you and work together on this journey. Your child will always know that they were adopted- just as we have both always known our family origin stories. We also look forward to including aspects of your life and where you're from into our lives.

If you choose us to be the adoptive parents of your child, they will be cherished beyond measure. They will be surrounded by love, laughter, and endless opportunities to learn and grow. Our home is a place where every child is celebrated for the unique individual they are, and we are committed to providing a stable and supportive environment where they can flourish.

Thank you for considering us as potential parents for your child. We hold you in the highest regard, and we are here to support you, no matter what you decide. We promise to love and cherish your child with all our hearts, and to always honor the unique bond between a child and their birth parents.

With love and respect,

James & Stephanie