Thank you for taking the time to consider us as adoptive parents for your child. The decision you are about to make is a difficult one and demonstrates a great deal of courage and selflessness. We can assure you that we will honor your decision by providing your baby with a home filled with love, laughter, support, and stability. We will do everything to assure that your child has access to all that life has to offer, surrounded by unconditional love and understanding.

Tom Dawn Job Description Vice President of Project Management for an Electrical Contractor Stay-at-Home Mom Education Completed Electronics Trade School & Licensed as an Electrician in New Jersey B.A. in Human Ecology Favorites Hobby Music Hobby Scrapbooking Song Writer Peter Gabriel Song Writer Billy Joel Sport to Play Ice Hockey Sport to Play Football TV Show Seinfeld TV Show Lost Family Activity Bike Riding in Park Family Activity Bike Riding in Park Children Thomas Vincent Jr. (TJ)-4 years old

When we first married, we both wanted at least three children. As the years passed, we realized that we were not going to have children biologically. We thought long and hard and decided to build our family through adoption.

In 2004, we adopted our son, Thomas Jr., or TJ for short. We began the adoption process in October of 2003 and we were activated at the beginning of February 2004. Within a month we got the phone call telling us that we had been chosen and that the baby was due that May. We experienced so many emotions, fear being one. What if she changed her mind about us after she talked to us? We talked to his birthmother several times between February and May. The more that we talked, the easier it got. It was a pleasure to get to know her and we found that we have a lot of things in common. We continue to exchange emails, letters, and photographs several times a year.

While we were nervous at first, the joy that our son has brought us has pushed us to adopt again. TJ is looking forward to having a little brother or sister.

We have one son, Thomas Jr., or as we call him TJ. He's 3 ½ and a handful. The older he gets, the busier life gets. This past summer, we spent a week at Walt Disney World. He had a ball. We visited every park, saving the Magic Kingdom for last. TJ patiently waited in lines to meet characters, and to go on rides. When we finally visited the Magic Kingdom he proclaimed to all in hearing range, "This is the REAL Disney." What made it even better for him was seeing an elderly man, with a white beard and mustache, on the train. He looked at both of us with these huge eyes, and was promptly on his best behavior. When the gentleman left the train, he turned to us and wanted to know why Santa Claus was in Disney. His face was priceless.

He recently started going to preschool two mornings a week. He needs to be pushed to have his breakfast and get dressed on school mornings. Then he gets his "Mommy Kisses" (Mommy kisses his palms and uses a stamp to hold them in). When he first started school, he would cry the entire time he was there. Day by day, the crying got to be less and less. Now as we pull up to school in the morning, he'll tell us how he's not going to cry today. When he gets picked up, he tells us all about his day. We love to see how independent he is getting to be.

Vacationing at MGM Studios

Tom works for an electrical contractor while Dawn stays at home and raises our son. We are comfortable as a single income family. We are involved in our Church. Dawn is the Music Director and the Financial Secretary of the Parish, while Tom is Treasurer of the Men's club. We help in all the events and fundraisers. With TJ now in preschool, Dawn has also volunteered as part of the Parent's Organization for the school.

Weekends are family time. We spend time in the park and go on bike rides together. Most summer weekends are spent at the shore. Tom's family has a house close to the beach, which makes it easier to spend a lot of time in or at the ocean, or on the boardwalk. In the spring, fall, and winter we stay closer to home. Since TJ has become a part of our lives, we find ourselves taking a lot of day trips to zoos, amusement parks, etc.

We go on vacation at least once a year. Since Dawn's parents have a timeshare right outside of Orlando, Florida, Disney is a favorite destination. We've also vacationed in the islands, and have gone on several cruises since we've been married.