Alejandro and Laurel

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From Us to You

We want to start by saying how much we admire you for considering adoption for your baby. We know this is not an easy decision to make, and we are grateful that you are considering us to love and care for your child. We assure you that your baby will be loved and cared for in our home. We promise that we will always be there for your child, providing love, support, and guidance. Your baby will grow up feeling safe and secure, surrounded by those who will love and support them throughout their whole life.

We want to be completely honest about our expectations for our relationship with you. Alejandro understands the desires and wishes of an adoptive child first-hand since he was adopted himself. We are open to a relationship that respects the privacy and comfort of all of us involved. We all want the absolute best for your child and will work with you to create an environment to ensure they get what they need to thrive in life. We believe that it is essential for your child to know about their adoption story and their birth family. Alejandro’s adoptive mother never hid anything from him or his sister regarding their stories and provided any information to them that she could. We will talk about you with love and respect and answer any questions your child may have about their background. We believe your child must know they are loved by two families – their birth and adoptive families.

As for the future, we have so many hopes and dreams for your baby. We want them to grow up feeling loved and supported, and we will do everything we can to help them achieve their dreams. We will provide your baby with a stable and happy home filled with love, laughter, and opportunities to learn and explore. We will encourage your child to follow their passions and pursue their goals, whatever they may be.

We hope you will consider us as potential adoptive parents for your child. We promise to love and cherish your baby, to provide a stable and nurturing home, and to be there for them every step of the way. You are making a brave and selfless decision, and we are grateful for the opportunity to become parents through adoption. Our family understands better than most that adoption is a gift and challenge rolled into one. We will do everything in our power to make sure that your child has a bright and happy future.

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Why We are Choosing to Adopt

Alejandro was adopted as a child and has always dreamed of being an adoptive parent. Growing up in a family that embraced adoption as a way to start a family, Alejandro understands the importance of providing a loving home to a child. His adoption experience has also given him a unique perspective on the challenges adopted children may face, and he feels called to help other children in similar situations.

Laurel has always known that she wanted to be a mother, and she never cared in what manner she became one. She is drawn to adoption because it allows her to give a child a stable and supportive family and experience motherhood’s joys.

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About Laurel, by Alejandro

Laurel and I met at college during our sophomore year. Little did I know, I’d just met the love of my life and future wife. Fast-forward to 2021, we tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony in my hometown, surrounded by many close friends and family. At that moment, we took one step closer to starting our family.

Laurel is my rock and knows how to keep her cool under any challenging circumstance. A couple of years before we married, she returned to school to pursue a master’s in Information Technology. Balancing graduate work, a full-time job and a relationship is no easy feat. However, Laurel did it without batting an eyelash.

On top of being formidable, she is very passionate about a variety of things. That includes being a strong advocate for advancing women in technology, making our house into the home of our dreams, and caring for our fur babies. I know she’ll make a great mother because of her devotion to all she loves.

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About Alejandro, by Laurel

Alejandro is truly a one-of-a-kind person. With his kind, passionate, and empathetic nature, he’s a joy to be around. What I admire most about him is his ability to retain his childlike innocence and joy in life, which is rare in adults. Even the smallest things bring him joy, and he has a passion for dinosaurs that is infectious. I’ve learned to love this about him, and seeing him share this passion with my niece is heartwarming.

As a partner, Alejandro has been nothing short of amazing. He’s supportive of my career pursuits and encourages me to chase my dreams even when they seem out of reach. When I’m feeling down, he never fails to remind me how amazing he thinks I am and how much he believes in me. He also has a remarkable talent for putting things together without instructions, which is something that comes in handy in our day-to-day lives.

I appreciate how Alejandro always takes care of me, even when I neglect to do so myself. He knows me well and understands that I need reminders to prioritize my self-care. He’s always looking out for my best interests, and I know that I can always count on him to be there for me.

What I cherish most about Alejandro is his ability to make me laugh every day. His goofy nature is infectious, and I know that he’ll be an incredible father to our future children. He has a genuine love for life that is reflected in everything he does, and I feel grateful to have him by my side.

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Lifestyle

We lead busy but fulfilling lives, both professionally and personally. Laurel is an accomplished Information Systems Manager with a passion for bringing STEM education to young girls and women. She enjoys spending her free time traveling, baking, and indulging in her love for animals. Laurel’s commitment to bringing STEM education to young girls and women extends beyond her work in the office. She is currently working on creating an after-school STEM education program through her company to support local school districts. Her ultimate goal is to create a more inclusive technology industry and empower women.

Alejandro works as a Digital Marketing Manager and enjoys relaxing by playing video games or watching professional wrestling. He is passionate about music and is currently learning to play the bass. He chose to pursue a career in marketing because of an interest in understanding people, an interest that has since expanded into wanting to understand and help them.

On the weekends, we enjoy spending quality time with each other and our four pets, working on home projects, and visiting friends and family. We also like to attend concerts or the latest movies every once in a while. But in the warmer months, we plan to spend time grilling on the deck with Alejandro’s mom and Laurel’s parents, who are moving closer to us.

We also love to explore different parts of the country and often go on adventures together. Despite our busy lives, we always make time for each other because, in the end, family and enjoying the little time that we are given to enjoy this world is most important to both of us.

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Home & Neighborhood

Our home is not only special to Alejandro, but it also holds a special place in our hearts as a couple. We have spent the last eight years making it our own and creating lasting memories. In anticipation of starting our new family, we have painted the nursery a shade of purple, Laurel’s favorite color. We decorated it with special items gifted to us by our families. We cannot wait to create new memories with our child in this home.

Our neighborhood is a suburban oasis, far from the hustle and bustle of the city. The community is full of new families, which makes it a welcoming and friendly environment. It is the perfect place for families to settle down and raise children. Within walking distance of our home, there is a community center that offers a variety of recreational activities, including a pool, playground, and tennis courts. During the summer, the community center hosts a camp for children of various ages and has a swim team for the older kids. It’s an excellent opportunity for children to make new friends and stay active between school years.

The neighborhood elementary school is conveniently located 10 minutes from our home. The school hosts soccer games during the fall, an excellent opportunity for children to showcase their skills and make new friends. Our home and neighborhood are full of love, warmth, and a sense of community. We are grateful for the memories we have created here and look forward to making new ones with our growing family.

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Racial & Cultural Diversity

Racial and cultural diversity plays a significant role in our family. It has influenced our perspectives and shaped our relationship as an interracial couple. Our unique backgrounds have given us a deep appreciation for different cultures and an understanding of the challenges that come with being part of a marginalized group.

For Alejandro, growing up in a white family and attending a Latin American culture camp allowed him to connect with other adopted Latino children and learn more about his native culture. His mother’s efforts to immerse him in his roots instilled in him a sense of pride in his heritage. Meanwhile, Laurel’s quarter-Chinese ancestry and her grandmother’s story of overcoming societal pressures as part of an interracial couple have made her more aware of the importance of respecting and embracing diversity.

As a couple, we have encountered challenges due to our interracial marriage. Despite the progress that has been made in the U.S., there are still people who believe that our relationship is wrong. However, our differences are what make our relationship stronger. We learn from each other’s cultural traditions and values and strive to understand each other’s unique perspectives.

In raising a family, we understand the importance of passing down our respective cultures and traditions to our children. But we also want to celebrate the potential cultures and traditions your child will have as well. We want to teach them to appreciate diversity, respect other cultures, and celebrate differences. We hope to instill in them a sense of pride in their heritage, just as our families have done for us.

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Our Families & Friends

Alejandro’s family story is one of resilience and love. He grew up in Maryland with his younger sister and mother; both he and his sister were adopted from countries in South America. When he turned four, they moved into the house where we currently live. Alejandro’s maternal grandparents soon followed and moved down the street from New York State to help raise them. They were an integral part of his life until their passing, and their memories live on in his heart.

Laurel’s childhood was primarily spent in the Northeast. She was born in Connecticut, and her family eventually moved to Upstate New York during her teenage years. She grew up with an older brother who now lives in Texas with his wife and two children, our niece, and nephew. We cherish visiting them at least once a year and look forward to future family get-togethers with our future children.

We come from very close-knit families and our relationships with our parents have always been strong. We are fortunate that Alejandro’s mother lives nearby, and we spend plenty of time with her on the weekends. Laurel’s parents recently moved back to the East Coast and purchased a townhome about 20 minutes from us, and we are thrilled to have them closer to us as we start our own family. We owe so much to our parents. Their teachings and ongoing support got us to where we are now. We want to instill closeness in any of our children as it’s a shared connection within our respective families. Our parents also were extremely close with their parents (our grandparents).

In addition to our families, we have a close group of friends who are like family to us. Laurel’s tight-knit group of girlfriends, Elaine, Kate, and Mandy, are ecstatic to become extended aunties. They are a constant source of love and support, and we are grateful for their friendship. Our family and friends are an essential part of our lives, and we cannot wait to share our journey of parenthood with them. They will undoubtedly play an important role in your child’s life and upbringing, and we are excited to see their bond grow.

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Family Traditions

As a couple, we are excited to start our own traditions and create lasting memories with our family. We plan on incorporating both Laurel’s love of baking and Alejandro’s desire for big celebrations into our family traditions.

Laurel was raised as a Unitarian Universalist and attended church with her family on Sundays, but it wasn’t something she continued into adulthood. However, she did bring with her a love of Christmas music that she plays throughout December, and she loves to bake cookies, including recipes passed down from her father’s grandmother. She also has a love of Halloween and is excited to make costumes for her kids the way her mom did for her.

Alejandro, on the other hand, wants to create big holidays and birthday celebrations to bring his family together and establish lasting traditions. He believes that these celebrations are a way to strengthen family bonds and create a sense of unity. He hopes that by establishing these traditions, his future family will have a strong foundation to build upon for generations.

Through all our new traditions, we will create a sense of warmth and togetherness that will be passed down to our future children and grandchildren.

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How a Child Will Enrich Our lives

After spending more time with our niece and nephew, it is easy to see how fulfilling being a parent can be. It’s an exciting time in life, and there is a sense of purpose that doesn’t exist before parenthood. And that’s a feeling that lasts forever. Our parents can attest to that sentiment.

We’re at a point where the next step in life is a child. It’s a natural progression as our relationship has grown over time, and we’ve matured as people. Adoption is the means for us to become first-time parents. We’re ready for that challenge and opportunity.

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Our Promise to You

We promise to always love and cherish the precious gift you have given us. We promise to create a home filled with love, laughter, and endless opportunities for your child. We promise to honor your courage and to share your story with our child with love and respect. We promise to always be there for your child, providing guidance, support, and encouragement as they navigate their way through life. And we promise to never forget the incredible sacrifice you have made, and the beautiful life you have given us the privilege of sharing with your child.