We are fortunate to have traveled all over the world—from Machu Picchu in Peru, to the Arctic Circle in Finland, to the Cloud Forest in Costa Rica, and so many other incredible adventures. All of our travels are special to us because they give us the opportunity to meet new people, experience and appreciate new cultures, practice new languages, and try amazing food.

All of that said, our favorite vacation spot is much closer to home: the Outer Banks, North Carolina. Chloe’s extended family has gone every year since she was little. Aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, all come together and stay in one big, 20-bedroom home on the beach for a week. We cook big family dinners, spend quality time together, and otherwise kick back and relax. It’s the perfect balance of family time without any pressure of an itinerary or set plans, so we can spend the week how we want—they’re just happy to have everyone together. That time has always been special to Chloe, and after we got engaged there in 2017, it’s become meaningful to both of us. While we are so excited to show this child the world one day, we are equally excited for the one week each year when we’ll head to the beach, build sandcastles together, hang by the pool, and eat burgers with Chloe’s big, funny, loving family.

To us, being great parents means loving this child unconditionally, helping them discover the things they love to do, and supporting their goals with everything we have. It’s our job to teach them about the world and help them find their place in it. We want to give them the space to explore on their own and develop independence, but always be there to pick them up when they stumble. At the end of the day, if we’ve been successful parents, this child will grow up with a strong sense of who they are and the confidence to lead their life. We want them to know they always have a safe, loving home to return to, but we never want them to feel guilty about leaving us once they’re ready. We want to give them all the tools they need to thrive and realize their dreams, whatever those may be. What we’re looking forward to most is watching this little human become whoever they are meant to be! Every person is so different. Learning what this child loves to do, whether they’re goofy, stubborn (or both), and how they like to spend their time—it will be such a fun and exciting journey to watch this child grow. Who knows, we could be at soccer practices or weekend art classes in a few years! We’re ready for whatever life your child brings, and we can’t wait to fill our home with their hobbies, their dreams, and their story.

We have one dog, Angelo. He is 8 years old and a true mixed breed. We rescued him from a shelter as a puppy, and our friends and family like to say he looks like a blonde Scooby Doo. He is the sweetest, smartest, goofiest, gentlest, and most snuggly dog you’ll meet. He loves to go for walks, play in the snow, but above all else, he loves to snuggle—on the couch, wrapped up in a blanket, buried in a pile of pillows, you name it. He’s also so sweet with our friends’ babies and toddlers, keeping his distance unless they approach him, and then gently “booping” them on the nose with his nose.

Angelo was the first big responsibility we took on in our early twenties, and he taught us so much. He was a high-energy puppy and nearly destroyed our first apartment, so we learned a lot about patience, trial and error (dog) parenting, and handling the chaos. When people now compliment us on how good a dog he is, or ask us what training we used, we laugh! Because we didn’t send him to any fancy training. We just loved him. We were patient, kind, and attentive to his needs. He’s the best dog we could ever ask for.

We have a strong support system, with our parents, multiple siblings, and other family living nearby. We also have a strong group of friends established here. Many have little ones of their own, and we often meet at the playground or for lunch. We also visit Alec’s nieces and nephew in Virginia. They know us as Uncle Alec and Aunt Chloe, and when we aren’t together in person, we play video games, FaceTime, and keep a virtual book club going!

When our families learned about our decision to adopt, they were immediately supportive. Adoption holds a special place for us because of its role in Chloe’s life. Chloe’s mom was adopted as an infant and raised by her adoptive father, who was also a steady and loving presence in Chloe’s childhood. Later in life, Chloe’s mom reconnected with her birth mom, and we now celebrate the holidays each year with that side of her family. A blended family has long been part of our story, and we know firsthand the bravery and love of a birth parent. This journey is about creating the best possible life for your child, and we hope to do that together. Family traditions are also important to us—from Friday pizza nights and annual trips to the Outer Banks in North Carolina with Chloe’s family, to cheering on Ohio State football and cooking enchiladas with Alec’s family. Our people know us as the aunt/uncle and friends who will always show up, lend a hand, and cheer you on. We can’t wait to be that and more for this child.

We live in Ohio, in a residential neighborhood popular with growing families. Our neighborhood is very walkable, with parks, a nature trail, a recreational center, a bookstore, coffee shops, and restaurants all within walking distance from our front door. On Saturday mornings, you’ll find us walking to get coffee or taking our dog, Angelo, on the nature trail, where families are out with their strollers and kids on bikes.

A short drive away, we have a swimming pool and community arts centers, and we are 10 minutes from a large metropolitan downtown with children’s museums and more to explore. We chose our neighborhood for our future family—there are so many opportunities for your child to play, make friends, grow, and discover their interests.

Our home is a single-family home with blue trim and a round door. We have three bedrooms, one of which will be your child’s room. Our favorite room is a bright sunroom with big windows and soft carpet, right off the living room, which we envision as a playroom. We also have a finished basement and fenced-in backyard, which we imagine will eventually become the indoor and outdoor playgrounds.

Our home is on a cul-de-sac street with several other young families. As soon as the weather is warm, the kids come out to ride their bikes or play at the end of the street, where one of our neighbors set up a basketball hoop.

Hi, it’s really great to meet you. We can’t imagine everything you must be going through and feeling right now. We’re really glad you’re here. Thank you for considering us to raise your child. It’s quite possibly the single most important thing we will do in our lives, and we’re grateful beyond words. We promise to create the best possible life for your child - that they will wake up every morning feeling safe, loved, and free to grow, learn, explore, and dream. We’ll be here to support them every step of the way.

A little about us and who we’ll be as parents to your child. We’ve been married for six years and in a committed relationship for twelve years. Even before that, we have been lifelong friends, having first met in elementary school. It wasn’t until we moved to separate states for college that we realized our romantic feelings for one another and eventually decided to give dating a go. The rest is sort of history. What that looks like day-to-day is a steady, intentional relationship. This wasn’t a whirlwind romance. We are genuinely best friends, and our partnership was built piece by piece over time. We are sure of one another, committed to each other’s happiness, communicate openly and honestly, have a lot of laughter and silliness in our house, and genuinely enjoy building this life together. Our foundation is solid, and we feel ready and excited to welcome your child with bear hugs, dance parties in the kitchen, Saturdays at the park, and family vacations to the beach.

Adoption and blended families are not new to us. Chloe’s mom, Cali, was adopted as an infant and was raised by her adoptive father, who also played an instrumental role in Chloe’s life. Cali’s adoption was closed at the time, but she was eventually able to find and reconnect with her birth mom, and we now celebrate the holidays with her birth family each year. Chloe was also born to her parents when they were 18. Her birth dad was not able to be a primary caregiver while she was growing up, so Chloe was raised by her mom, Cali, and her stepdad, Bob. Although Chloe was never formally adopted herself, she took her stepdad’s last name after Cali and Bob got married. Chloe loves all three of her parents equally and knows it was out of love and with a lot of bravery that her birth dad embraced her stepdad and allowed him to play such a primary role in her life. We see all of Chloe’s parents regularly.

We very much value and appreciate the importance of birth parents in the lives of their children. Chloe’s birth dad is a part of her and her story. Her mom feels the same about her adoption story. It’s important to us that in this process, your child knows who they are, their adoption story, the love you have for them, and that they can have that relationship with you if that’s something you are looking for. We want to build what that looks like together and keep the lines of communication open. We are committed to writing letters and sending pictures to you, as their birth parent, annually, or more frequently if you would like. We are also happy to exchange emails and phone numbers. We would love for you and your child to have a relationship in some capacity. If you are interested and open to future visits (such as an annual visit around the holidays), we are happy to plan for it.

If we have learned anything so far in this life, it’s that nothing is ever a straight path. The twists and turns are where we learn, connect, and figure out who we are. None of us can do that alone. Our priority is to give your child the fullest possible life. We know that their story, and your role in that story, will always be a key piece to who they are and who we are as a family. We can’t thank you enough for the opportunity and potential gift to parent and love your child.

Alec & Chloe