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Nickname: Amanda and Val

Married Since: 2020

Pets: Yes

Stay at Home Parent: No

Other Adopted Children at Home: No

Other Biological Children at Home: No

We’re a venturesome and committed couple who love to explore new places and create unforgettable memories together. Our greatest hope is to be able to share that love, adventure, and excitement with a child. Our greatest adventure yet will be creating a home for your baby that will cherish every milestone, celebrating who they are, and love them unconditionally every single day.

Amanda and Val

from Georgia

 

Amanda

Ancestry: Scottish-English

Religion: Nonpracticing

Occupation: Pilot

Education: Bachelors

Hobbies: DIY projects, fitness, paddle boarding

Val

Ancestry: Italian/African-American

Religion: Nonpracticing

Occupation: Public Relations

Education: Masters

Hobbies: Reading, weightlifting, kayaking, biking

Baby

Preferred Ethnicity of Baby: All Races / Ethnicities

Preferred Gender of Baby: Either

Religion Child To Be Raised: Nondenominational

Favorites

Amanda

I always follow a recipe and I’m a moderate cook.
Favorite dessert is a warm brownie with a scoop of ice cream, and don't forget the whip cream!
Favorite animal is a Kangaroo
Tennessee Vol for life!
I am the one that says I can make something vs buying it.
I love to go snowboarding in the winter.
I do all my own stunts.

Val

I’m a great cook and never follow a recipe.
I played rugby in college and in Italy.
Favorite dessert is tiramisu, but also cookie dough ice cream for the win.
I root for all Boston sport teams.
Currently learning to speak Spanish.
Two women sitting together on a couch, smiling at the camera in a living room with family photos on the wall behind them.
Two people stand close together by a canal in a sunny Venetian street, smiling at the camera, with pastel buildings lining the waterway behind them.
Two women posing and smiling at a celebration; one in a black blazer with a white shirt and the other in a royal blue sleeveless dress, with gold and white balloons in the background.
Two women smiling and posing together outdoors in a desert with tall cacti and hills in the background, daytime sun.
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From Us to You

We are committed to creating a post-adoption relationship that honors your wishes and supports what is best for you, the baby, and everyone involved. We understand that every adoption journey is unique, and we are open to finding a level of contact that feels comfortable and respectful of everyone’s boundaries.

To us, adoption means building a family through love, trust, and deep respect for the people who make that family possible. We recognize that choosing adoption is a profound and courageous decision, and we believe it comes from a place of immense love for your child.

Your place in your child’s story will always be important. We will ensure that your child grows up knowing about you in the way you choose, and understanding from an early age the love, care, and thought that went into your decision. We will speak about you with respect and gratitude, and we will support your child throughout their life as they come to understand their adoption story and the important role you hold within it.

Should you wish, we would be happy to share photos and updates about major milestones and special moments in your child’s life. While our careers may make it difficult to guarantee regular in-person visits, we are committed to maintaining the level of communication we agree upon and to nurturing a relationship that is meaningful, honest, and respectful.

Two women share a warm hug outdoors, smiling with greenery in the background.
Two people smiling for a selfie outdoors with a blue sky and an RBC sign on a red-and-white building behind them.
Two people stand on a marina deck by turquoise water, smiling, with a colorful signpost in the background.
Smiling couple seated together at a banquet table, posing for a photo in formal attire.
Two people in formal wear pose in front of a green hedge wall with a neon 'Better Together' sign.
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Why We are Choosing to Adopt

Adoption has always held a special place in our hearts because, to us, family is built through love, commitment, and connection. We have long admired the courage, selflessness, and love that are part of an adoption journey. The idea that people can come together to create a family through trust and shared love for a child is something we find deeply meaningful. Adoption is not simply a path to parenthood for us—it is an opportunity to honor a child’s story, celebrate where they come from, and provide them with a home filled with unconditional love and support.

Our hopes and dreams for a child are both simple and profound. We hope they always know they are loved, valued, and accepted exactly as they are. We want to provide a safe and nurturing home where they feel encouraged to explore their interests, pursue their dreams, and develop into the person they are meant to be. We look forward to sharing everyday moments—reading bedtime stories, celebrating milestones, cheering them on at activities they enjoy, helping with homework, and creating family traditions that they can carry with them throughout their lives.

What excites us most about welcoming a child through adoption is the opportunity to grow our family while honoring the unique journey that brought us together. We are excited to learn who they are, discover their personality, celebrate their individuality, and watch them grow. We look forward to helping them understand and embrace every part of their story, including the love and courage that made their adoption possible.

Two people smiling in a sunny outdoor exhibit with large dinosaur statues behind them. blindfolded? No—wearing sunglasses. (Selfie in front of a green dinosaur)
Two women smiling at the camera at an outdoor festival, with a crowd and storefronts in the background.
Two friends kayak together on a wooded river; the front person smiles for a selfie while the other paddles in a pink cap.
Three people smiling on a rocky trail with several leashed dogs in a forest setting
People posing for a photo reflected in a curved, shiny sculpture surface at night, with city lights in the background.
Two women taking a selfie at a crowded arena, smiling at the camera, with one wearing a white and blue cap and the other with dark hair and a green top.
Two friends selfie on a paddleboard over blue water, smiling with sunglasses on a sunny day.
Two friends at a sports stadium taking a selfie; one in a colorful tropical shirt wearing sunglasses, the other in a dark T‑shirt with a cap and sunglasses on the shirt strap behind them.
Two women in swimsuits wearing sunglasses taking a selfie on a boat over a calm lake with trees and a blue sky behind them
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Lifestyle

Our Story

We met while we were both stationed overseas in Korea. The whole year we were there we were only acquaintances and hung out a few times in groups. Once we were back and stationed 5 hours apart, we figured that was a good time to start hitting things off. We dated for 10 months before we knew that we wanted to spend our lives together and Val proposed. We got married in 2020 while stationed overseas again and then celebrated with family once we were back with a reception in 2021.

As a dual military couple, our life has been filled with incredible opportunities to experience life in different cultures, countries, and communities around the world. With those opportunities it has come with some sacrifice and time that had to be spent away from family. We know what it’s like to be away from family, we cherish the moments that are spent together and with our families, exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations, and making memories together. Our home is tucked away on some land surrounded by the peaceful sounds of nature. We enjoy coming home after being out and about as it provides a calm and relaxing environment to recharge and unwind. We have four dogs and a cat who make our home that much more warm and comforting. Your baby will grow up in a home overflowing with love, laughter, and plenty of puppy kisses every single day. 

Smiling woman at an outdoor cafe with a sunflower bouquet and palm trees in the background.
Woman wearing oversized sunglasses and a yellow-and-white striped blouse stands on a sunlit forest path.
Smiling woman in an orange apron stands at a kitchen counter with dough and fresh pasta on wooden boards, ready to cook.
Person snowboarding down a snowy slope, wearing a green jacket and white pants, facing away from the camera.
Smiling woman on a couch with a white dog wearing a purple collar beside her.
Smiling pilot wearing a helmet and sunglasses sits in the cockpit of a small red airplane on the tarmac.
Woman wearing a gray Carhartt cap and sunglasses, smiling while holding a baby outdoors with trees and blue sky in the background.
Person wearing a cap sits amid a cluttered room, building a tall colorful block tower with large plastic bricks.
Smiling woman in sunglasses leans on a black helicopter with its cockpit open on a sunny day.
Smiling woman in sunglasses stands among stacked pumpkins on a wooden display at a fall pumpkin patch.
Smiling woman in a pink sleeveless dress sits beside a brown dog with its tongue out, wearing a vest and a badge.
Person crouched by a pond, gently releasing a small frog from their hands in a green, wooded area.
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About Amanda by Val

Amanda is the best person I know. She is loyal to a fault, funny, and she never takes herself too seriously. She loves her family and they talk multiple times a week.

Amanda loves kids. She was 14 when her parents had her little brother and she took on a caregiving role which has shaped who she is as an adult. Her niece and nephew absolutely adore her. Any time we visit they are so eager to spend time with her and tell her about what they have been up to. My own niece and nephew immediately loved her.

Amanda is a meticulous and driven person. Which goes well with her love of DIY projects. She is super handy. I have learned so much from our house projects together. She’ll deep dive into online forums, YouTube, and self-help books to ensure she knows what to do before starting a project. She is looking forward to sharing her handywoman knowledge and doing projects with a little one someday.

Amanda’s patient, caring, and nurturing soul will make her an amazing mother. I am beyond excited to see our family grow with her by my side.

Close-up portrait of a smiling person outdoors in bright sunlight, wearing a light patterned shirt and sunglasses in the shirt pocket.
Person smiling while holding a largemouth bass outdoors by a pond, wearing a beige T-shirt and camo pants.
Person sits on a couch reading a paperback, concentrating on a book titled 'The City We Became' with a curved edge cover visible.
Smiling person with short curly hair sits in a restaurant booth, hands folded on the table, plate in front.
Smiling man with a backpack standing beside a granite memorial plaque on a sunny day in a park setting.
Woman outdoors lifting a kettlebell overhead during a backyard workout, wearing a gray tank top and pink shorts with tattoos visible on both arms, a blue truck and brick garage in the background.
Smiling person in a peach T-shirt sits at an outdoor cafe by a canal, with drinks on the table in the foreground.
Man wearing a peach t-shirt, cap, and sunglasses rides a brown horse through a dry grassy field with trees in the background.
Man in a pink shirt with suspenders smiles while holding a baby wrapped in a white blanket indoors.
Soldier in camouflage kneels on one knee, aiming a camera to take a photo, with a green tactical backpack and a crowd of people behind him.
Group of rugby players in navy kits posing together on a grassy field for a team photo.
Two skiers sit on a snowy slope wearing helmets and goggles, waiting on a ski lift with trees in the background.
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About Val by Amanda

Val’s best qualities are her devotion, intelligence, and her humor. She is the youngest of three siblings, and shares a close relationship with her siblings and her best friends.

Children are drawn to Val. Her friend’s children get so excited when she comes to visit. The first time my niece met Val, she walked up to her, held her hand and didn’t let go the rest of the day walking around the grand canyon. Her own niece and nephew are no different.

Val loves history. I’m always amazed at how many random facts she knows. She definitely carries the team in trivia nights. Any time I look over when Val is not busy, she is usually reading. She enjoys fiction and supporting small up-and-coming authors. She already has a list of books to read to baby at bedtime.

Val truly bears a love that is genuine and fun. That amount of time we spend laughing is unbelievable. She is going to make a great mom.

Single-story brick house with three-car garage and a driveway; a man stands near a green car and a gray pickup in front.
Woman in a blue jacket walking three dogs on leashes through a sunlit, foggy forest path.
Grassy backyard with wooden post-and-wire fencing and a black compost bin in the foreground; dense trees beyond the fence under a cloudy sky.
Person in a pink hoodie leaning over a wooden planter on a porch, tending potted plants outdoor.
Person wearing safety glasses clamps a wooden board outdoors with a power tool in use near a brick house.
A person in a blue tank top and shorts stands with hands in pockets beside large green elephant ear plants by a brick house front.
Person wearing a blue striped shirt and safety gear uses a Bosch circular saw to cut a concrete block outdoors.
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Our Home

We live in Georgia about two hours south of Atlanta. Our town provides access to a lot of outdoor activities and events. There are plenty of community activities and we have friends in the area that have children of their own.

Our home is on six acres of land. You can often see deer and nature wandering around as you look out from our back porch. We have a pond that you can fish from and plenty of room for running and playing around.

We love our home for its openness and the ability to give a child a very own space to make their own. We can’t wait for them to watch the birds and butterflies fly by, get their hands dirty while we plant vegetables in the garden and watch them grow their minds as they explore the area around them.

Together, we enjoy doing DIY projects around our house to truly make it our home! Val comes up with the idea and Amanda makes it come to life.

A diverse group of adults and children posing outdoors among autumn leaves in a sunny park.
Nine relatives pose together on a wooden bench in a dry, desert landscape under a bright blue sky, smiling at the camera.
Two smiling women pose together in a bright kitchen, with leafy herbs in the foreground.
Woman carries two smiling kids on a wicker bench in a desert landscape with tall cacti and dry bushes behind them.
Three adults pose on a front porch with a small dog between them, in front of a brick house.
Smiling girl with a pink flower crown hugs a smiling woman at an outdoor festival in the park.
Adult with tattooed legs sits with a child at the end of a large playground tunnel slide; both look toward the camera; wood chips on the ground and trees in the background.
Woman with short curly hair smiling while holding a baby toward the camera. They’re indoors against a red background or pillar.
Smiling woman and young girl pose for a selfie outdoors, with a man sitting on bleachers in the background.
Two people are outdoors in a desert, one giving the other a piggyback ride while smiling at the camera, with a tall cactus and scrub behind them.
Woman wearing a dark knit hat sits on a brown couch, smiling as a young child shares a yellow snack nearby — close-up.
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Our Family

Our extended family is very diverse. It brings together different races, ethnicities, cultures, and religious backgrounds. Family gatherings are filled with unique traditions, foods, perspectives, and celebrations that create an environment of acceptance, learning, and love. The same is said for our close friends. We have met so many wonderful friends from all walks of life that provide us with a strong and supportive community. We have family and a close friend who were adopted. Their perspective, experiences, and support have been meaningful to us as we navigate this journey. Your child will never have to worry about not fitting into our family. They will grow up surrounded by diversity, inclusion, and will always have someone that they can connect with.

Group of eight people posing together indoors, several wearing red-and-black plaid shirts, a woman holds a baby in a green striped shirt.
Three friends stand close together outdoors, smiling at the camera; left in a pale yellow shirt, center in a gray vest with glasses, right in a pink shirt.
Three adults pose smiling in front of a large equestrian statue outdoors on a sunny day.
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Racial & Cultural Diversity

We believe that a child’s heritage, culture, and identity are important parts of who they are, and we are committed to helping them develop a strong sense of pride and connections to every aspect of their story. We understand that our role as parents is not only to love and support our future child, but also to actively honor, celebrate, and learn about their background. We would intentionally incorporate their culture and heritage into our family’s everyday life. This could include reading books featuring characters and stories from their background, preparing traditional food, celebrating cultural holidays/events, learning about important historical figures from their community, and exploring music, art, and traditions that are meaningful to their heritage. We would also seek out cultural festivals, museums, community organizations, and local events that allow our child to connect to their culture.

Two women sit on a couch posing with several dogs, smiling at the camera.
Close-up of a calico cat with amber eyes wearing a pink collar, looking up at the camera in bright indoor light.
Close-up of a black dog with a gray muzzle and collar, looking up at the camera with a gentle expression.
Young boy lying on a wooden floor, holding a tablet, with a large tan dog resting beside him and a small black-and-tan dog peeking from a sofa corner nearby.
Small black and tan dog standing on a paved road, wearing a green collar and looking at the camera.
Girl lounging on a black leather couch with a light-colored dog resting on a pink blanket beside her.
Tan and black dog lying in tall grass, mouth slightly open, wearing a collar, outdoors in sunlight.
Cream-colored dog resting its head on the arm of a black chair, a yellow quilt with colorful dots in the background.
A person with a light-colored dog resting its head on the person's shoulder, both appearing relaxed indoors near a window.
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Our Pets

We have four dogs and one cat. Our oldest dog, Spector, is 13 and a gentle soul. Then we have our Miniature Pinscher, named Archer. He thinks he’s a big guy, but he is the smallest. Mattie and Mabel are our two female dogs and they are both the sweetest girls, but they definitely run the house. We rescued our cat, Scottie, on the side of an old back road. She has some special needs but is super sweet and loves to take naps in the window. All of our pets are great with children!

Two people hugging and smiling in front of a lit Christmas tree indoors, festive scene behind them.
Two women sit together on hay bales at a pumpkin patch, smiling among pumpkins on a sunny day, with a sign nearby that reads 'You're the pumpkin to me'.
Two people standing in an apple orchard, smiling, each holding a white harvest bag.
Two smiling women take a selfie in front of a large, decorated Christmas tree in an urban plaza at dusk.
Six adults in Halloween costumes posing together indoors in front of a spiderweb Halloween backdrop with flowers and skull image.
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Traditions

We both grew up in families that believed some of life’s best moments happened around the dinner table. Cooking meals together, sharing family recipes, and gathering with loved ones created memories and developed our understanding of the importance of connection, laughter, and quality time. We knew when we got married that this was a tradition that we wanted to continue and build into our own family. We began making homemade pasta from scratch every New Year, to re-connect with Val’s Italian ancestry, take time to reflect on the year past, and look forward to the year to come.

We can’t wait to watch our future little one play in their own pile of flour and create warm memories with a full heart and stomach! If you have your own favorite recipe we would love to make it with them as a way to connect with you and share in your traditions too!

Two women smiling for a selfie by the water at sunset, with a pier and string lights in the background.
Two friends sit close together on a wicker bench outdoors, smiling at the camera with greenery in the background.
Two smiling adults in formal attire posing in front of a green hedge wall with a neon 'Better Together' sign above them.
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Our Promise to You

Above all else, our greatest hope is to raise a kind, compassionate, and confident person. We want our child to grow up knowing that family is not defined by physical similarities or shared genetics, but by love, commitment, trust, and support that people share with one another. We hope to teach them the importance of kindness, empathy, and respect, and to lead by example in how to treat others.

We want them to embrace and celebrate the diversity of people and experiences around them, understanding that every individual has a unique story and value. We hope to teach them to look beyond appearances and assumptions, and that the most important value is someone’s character and integrity. Most importantly, we want them to know that they are deeply loved, to feel secure in who they are, and to grow into someone who makes a positive difference in the lives of others.

Thank you for taking the time to get to know us. We hope that we were able to connect with you and show the love we hope to share. If there is anything else you would like to know, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We want to be as open and honest as we can throughout this journey. We admire and respect whatever decision you make and know you will choose what’s best for your baby. If that leads you to us, we can promise you they will be surrounded with all the love, guidance, and opportunities they could ever need. We will nurture their dreams, celebrate their milestones, and honor your role in their life in whatever way you choose.

From Us to You Why We are Choosing to Adopt Lifestyle About Amanda by Val About Val by Amanda Our Home Our Family Racial & Cultural Diversity Our Pets Traditions Our Promise to You

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  • Hi, We are honored that you are considering us! Our adoption specialist at Adoption Network, will be reaching out to make sure your needs are being met and your questions about adoption are being answered. She will help us get in touch with each other. We can’t wait to connect with you!

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  • Hi, We are honored that you are considering Adoption Network! Mary, or one of our other adoption specialists will be reaching out to make sure your needs are being met and your questions about adoption are being answered. She will help us get in touch with each other. We can’t wait to connect with you!

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