Patrick and Kristin

Dear Birthmother,

You can hear the music playing with a slightly Latin beat in the background, when suddenly "Dadd'n, play drum!" rings through the house! If you were to sneak a peak into our family room and kitchen, you would see a cat sleeping on a couch, and a young boy running to get his toy guitar and racing over to give his dad two plastic spoons to play the 'drum' (overturned can) he has set up! The scent of dinner drifts through the air, as we take a break to play and dance together while a favorite song plays. Our home is full of music, love, and giggles, as our love for each other swells each day.

A few years ago, a young woman brought such joy into our lives by making the brave decision that resulted in our adoption of Maximiliano. We talk with him about his having a little sister and he can sense our happiness. He’s definitely excited about being a big brother and looking forward to showing his lil’ sis how to throw a baseball, tie her shoes, pull the cat’s tail, and crunch a cookie! Our eyes light up as we imagine bouncing pigtails, delighted giggles, pretty little dresses, and the tapping of skipping feet, things we have dreamed of for so long, joining our family. Our family – grandparents, aunts and cousins live nearby, and we spend time together at cookouts, pool parties, and holiday dinners, or we may just drop by to play or talk, or simply run through the grass! Still more of our family lives in Missouri, Ohio, and Virginia. We travel to see each other, explore the countryside and grow the bond that joins our family together.

People who know us know that what is important to us is loving deeply, creating a warm and inviting home, carrying on and starting new traditions, and exploring with a sense of adventure. We find the greatest pleasures in the simplest of things – playing on the floor or out in the yard, taking a walk or watching the nightly song and dance routine after bath-time is over each evening – all of these warm our hearts and create lasting memories.

Patrick owns and operates his own business from an office in our home and Kristin works for a government agency. While Maximiliano attends a terrific preschool where he’s learning and enjoying the teachers and children, our plan is that after a sweet little girl joins our family, Kristin will stop working outside the home and become a full-time at-home Mom.

Patrick and I spend countless hours talking to each other about a range of topics involving our children, from the simple, like how to decorate their bedrooms, to the more serious, like our shared understanding in how we intend to raise them – with a strong set of values designed to build their character and foster their curiosity. We learn so much from and about our son each and every day. Looking at the world through his eyes brings us so much joy and laughter. We’ve become quite familiar with Maximiliano’s view of the world including songs by the Wiggles, friends of Thomas the Tank Engine and adventures of Dora and Diego.

Now we are hoping that you will help us complete our cherished family. Our hearts are open wide, and we take the responsibility that goes along with this opportunity very seriously. We are joyful and excited, excited to help this new life grow and flourish, helping this young life to strive for whatever she dreams. Our hearts and minds are with you in your decision. 

Kristin and Patrick