American Adoptions -- America's Adoption Agency

Playing Games

Our life and family would be incomplete if it wasn't for adoption. We discussed how important family was to us on our first date and, as soon as we were married began trying to have children. Like many other couples, we struggled with infertility, but we wouldn't change anything because it brought us closer together. As we began to discuss adoption, we met new friends that had been adopted as children and another that had placed a child for adoption. These friends showed us the many sides of adoption.

Our dream of being parents came true when Aelyn was born in 2008. She was born prematurely at 25 weeks and had to spend almost 2 months in the hospital. This time allowed us to develop a bond with Aelyn's birth parents. It allowed us to learn more about her personal history and to recognize the love that Aelyn's birth parents have for her in trusting her into our care. We regularly update a blog that allows family from all sides of the adoption triad to see how much love is in this little girl's life.

We share Aelyn's adoption story with her through a book we created named "Princess Aelyn." This allows us to explain to our daughter about adoption in a way she can understand at a young age. The story grows and expands as she ages and has become an almost nightly ritual as a bedtime story. We aim to be open and honest with Aelyn. We are hopeful and excited to adopt another child that will share this bond with Aelyn.

We agree that family is our first priority. Rob has owned his own business for the last seven years, which allows him the opportunity to be a stay-at-home dad. He either works on the weekends, or since he is a night owl, will work late in the evenings after Mommy and daughter have gone to bed. He spends the day with Aelyn having "school," going to the library or park and just playing.

Kim works for a nationally recognized company as best for working mothers. She has a flexible schedule and receives over five weeks vacation each year to enjoy as a family. When Kim comes home from work each evening it's time for healthy family dinners and then watching movies, reading, or playing kitchen, doctor and other imagination fun before bath and bed.

Weekends are spent either at local events with family and friends, goofing off at home, or heading off to Disney World to spend time with Mickey Mouse and his friends. We have been able to prioritize our lives for special Mommy/Daddy alone time with Aelyn, time together as a family and time for Aelyn to spend alone with grandparents while Rob and Kim have date nights. This allows us to keep family as our top priority and whatever it is we are doing it is always full of fun, laughter, hugs and kisses!

Rob about Kim:   Not to sound corny, but Kim means everything to me. She is my anchor to reality when my ideas get too surreal. She takes care of me in ways both obvious and in ways I never thought I needed.  She knows all of my faults and still loves me. She stands by me but gives me space when needed. Around Kim I am able to be myself without being judged. She is smart, funny, open-minded, and supportive. We have been through so much in the last 12 years and she has always been strong. I don't know of too many people that could go through all we have been through and still come out as good as she is.

Kim about Rob: I married my best friend. Rob has a huge heart and is always willing to lend a helping hand to family and friends. He has varying interests from physics and paleontology to woodworking and furniture design. He can be in the middle of designing a chair for a local charity event one day and the next help a student with their physics homework. I never know what project might next be on his plate. Rob is intelligent, creative, outgoing, friendly, and has an adventurous spirit. He lets me be myself and has the ability to make me laugh. He reminds me to not take life so seriously, even in the toughest times.