We both enjoy being active and bonded over our shared enthusiasm over rock climbing. Sometimes we will simply go on a walk around the neighborhood or by the beach. On a long weekend we enjoy taking short trips along the coast or going camping. When we have more time in warmer months we love to paddle board. In the winter when it's dark earlier, we might do a puzzle, visit an escape room, or play together on Nintendo switch. Recently we converted a van to a camper and enjoy disconnecting from technology and going to a local wilderness park to hike and explore, relax in the sounds nature or listen to the waves crash on the beach. 

We look forward to doing so many activities with a little one! We can't wait to share our love of nature with a child, particularly the beach and the mountains. Heather would like to share her excitement for science and baking and Matt would like to share his passion for cooking. We want to play games, read books, dance, and go places to be active outside. We want to spend quality time with our families and friends that support our adoption journey. 

Heather About Matt: One of my favorite things about Matt is how silly he can be and how he will do anything to make me laugh. I admire his work ethic, the effort he puts into every job, and the love he has for our animals. I appreciate how thoughtful he is and how he always makes sure I’m cared for—he even helps prepare my lunches for the work week. I love how he puts family first and prioritizes our well-being.

Matt About Heather: I often tell Heather that she has the second kindest heart I have ever known only to my mother, who passed away.

Heather is strong-willed, endlessly curious about how things work, and often puts others’ needs ahead of her own. She has an incredible spirit and her smile gets me every time.

We believe in open adoption and feel it’s truly the healthiest path for everyone. We want to build a relationship with you and to share the child’s adoption story with them early. We will always be open, honest, and mindful of what is age-appropriate.

We want the child to feel proud of their story, secure in their identity, and comfortable asking questions. Our promise is to love them unconditionally and support their growth in every possible way.

As our relationship grows, we’re open to whatever level of contact feels right for everyone—emails, letters with photos, phone or video calls. Our hope is to build a meaningful, lasting connection.

We’re fortunate to live close to both sides of our family and see them often. Matt’s dad and sister live nearby. Heather’s mom is about half an hour away, and we see her almost weekly. We are also close with Matt’s aunt and Heather’s cousin, who live just over an hour away.

Family time often means dog walks, games, movies, and outdoor meals. Matt’s sister hosts a popular podcast and his aunt is a writer, so our gatherings always include a lot of laughter. With Heather’s family, we often spend time playing with her cousin’s children at the park and enjoying meals outside.

We also love spending time with friends, many of whom have kids. We plan outings that are fun for the children while giving the adults time to connect—beach days, parks, camping trips, or afternoons at the splash pads.

All our family and friends have been incredibly supportive of our adoption journey.

We live in a close-knit, family-friendly neighborhood in a small California beach town. Kids play outside together, neighbors gather on the lawns, and the whole community feels warm and welcoming. There’s almost always the sound of children laughing or a neighbor taking their dog for a walk.

We have several parks within walking distance as well as beaches, hiking trails, and a kid’s water play area where we often take our nieces. Halloween is especially magical—families line the streets with food, music, firepits, and joy.

Our home is a 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath beachy farmhouse with a backyard full of plants and a big table perfect for family dinners. We imagine adding a swing, a play area, and a little kiddie pool in the summer. Our favorite spots are the kitchen, our cozy nook, and our covered patio where we occasionally watch movies outside during the summer nights.

As we sit to write this letter to you, finding the right words to clearly express our love, hope, and respect feels nearly impossible. We understand that this is one of the most important decisions of your life, and we want you to feel confident in your choice. We will do our best to help you get to know who we truly are.

Our story began in April of 2020. Before we even met in person, we spent hours on the phone sharing our values, our dreams, and the kind of life we hoped to build someday. Once we finally met face-to-face, that connection only deepened. Early on, something stood out to us both: we each wanted to grow a family.

When we became a couple, we blended our animal families-Matt’s dog, Sadie, and Heather’s cats, Jack and Valentine. Now we are one happy household. Sadie is a mama’s girl who adores her younger brother Jack. Valentine and Jack love when their dad has them chase shadows or a string that he pulls along the floor.

We became engaged in December of 2021 during a carefully planned trip to the beach. Matt hired a photographer under the pretense of taking family photos, and the beautiful moment of the proposal was captured forever. In June of 2022, we were married in a small outdoor ceremony surrounded by family and close friends.

Even when we were first dating, we talked about what our shared future might look like. As our relationship grew, so did our desire to become parents. Adoption felt right for us-something we both embraced wholeheartedly.

We are fully aligned in our goal of creating a loving, safe, stable, and fun-filled home where a child can thrive. We want to help them grow into a person who explores the world with curiosity and expresses themselves authentically. We hope to help them become a fantastic human being.

We imagine ourselves fully present-helping with homework in our cozy kitchen nook, cheering at games or performances, and supporting whatever passions they discover. Matt hopes to coach if sports become an interest, and Heather imagines doing fun science experiments or reading together in our favorite hammock. Heather’s mom is already dreaming of art projects and painting days.

We hope this letter gives you a genuine picture of who we are and the life we hope to share with a child. We would be honored to be chosen and hope that this is the beginning of a meaningful and beautiful relationship.

With all our respect,

Matt & Heather