Adoption has been a part of both of our families since before we were born. Nick's father was adopted at the age of six. Additionally, Emily's oldest sister was adopted at the age of two. So, when we began our journey to become parents through adoption, we already had seen first-hand how precious and wonderful adoption can be in creating a family.

Both sides of our family believe in open adoption, both in spirit and in practice. We grew up never believing blood was the only way to create a family and everyone received and deserved unconditional love regardless of how they came to our family. We both grew up in an environment where adoption was a subject that could be discussed openly, where a child's heritage can be honored, and that a child in our family will receive the love, family, and community that they deserve. As such, we know we can welcome a child into not only our family, but our entire extended family with open arms and open hearts. Both of our families cannot wait to grow through adoption once again.

In our leisure time, we really like to hang out together. We both have a passion for cooking, and there's nothing more enjoyable to creating a meal from scratch and sharing it with friends and family. We love to try out new recipes from all parts of the globe and have a treasured collection of international cookbooks acquired on our travels or received as gifts. We dream of the day when we can share our love of food and cooking with our future children.

We also love working on projects at our home- such as designing and building new planter boxes together for our garden or carving out new walking paths in the meadows on our property.

Outside of our home, we both enjoy the many hiking and walking trails in our town both along the waterfront and in the mountains- both options available with a less than five-minute drive from our home. We also both love sports- we typically attend about a dozen professional sporting events a year and can't wait until the day we get to take our child to their first baseball game.

At the end of the day, what matters most is spending quality time together regardless of the activity. Whether it's hosting our weekly game nights, creating a fun and festive meal, or going for a waterfront bike ride by our house, we always feel refreshed and rejuvenated by simply spending time with loved ones.

We met while living in Hawaii, and it is a place that is so special to us. At least once a year, we go back to the Islands to visit with friends, enjoy nature, and immerse ourselves in the community we hold most dear.

Our favorite Island is Maui- the perfect mix of activities with a laid-back, relaxing atmosphere. On our most recent trip, we enjoyed taking our coffees down to the beach to watch the sunrise, a whale watching boat ride, a trip to the aquarium, and strolling the art galleries that the town of Lahaina is known for. Visiting Hawaii responsibly is very important- and we always strive to practice sustainable travel and "travel pono"- which means to do what is right. While there, we always either volunteer with a local organization or donate to a local charity that provides services for the people of Hawaii. Our dream is to share this annual tradition with our children- sharing the beauty of the Islands while instilling our love and commitment to protecting the local community.

We live in a waterfront town in Washington state that's known for its family-friendly atmosphere. Throughout the year, they host boat parades, celebrations, fairs, and farmer's markets. Our town is also host to some of the country's most beautiful wooded parks and mountains. Emily just finished serving a three-year term on the county's Parks and Recreation Board of Directors and thus enjoying our local parks is a frequent activity for our family.

The big city is a quick 30-minute ferry from our town or a short drive around the water, where you can find world-renowned restaurants, museums, and other unique cultural experiences. Taking the ferry is something we do often- it's such a unique way to experience the communities around us.

Our street has several families with young children who enjoy all the benefits of living in a safe community. One of our favorite parks is a short walk or bike ride away- we can't wait to have our future child grow up enjoying regular picnics, fishing, hiking and exploring.

We own a four-bedroom, three-bathroom house on just shy of two acres. Our home has plenty of room for our future children to roam and play. Our large, fenced backyard is perfect for our annual summer barbecue for friends and family. We probably spend the most time in our kitchen as we love to cook! Cooking is a shared passion for Nick and Emily, with frequent dinner parties for friends and family. We look forward to sharing that passion with our future children.

We are so fortunate to have strong, close-knit families. Our entire extended family is within a day's drive (or, at most, a two-hour flight) from our home and we are able to see them many times throughout the year.

Emily's parents have been married for 51 years, and still live in the house that Emily and her sisters grew up in. She has two older sisters- Marianne is a family photographer and event planner and Tiffany owns a successful group of restaurants. The three of them are very close, talking to each other every day. Her nephews are growing up fast, and we both cherish our time with them.

Nick has a large and close extended family made up of parents, stepparents, siblings, cousins, nieces, and nephews. They come to visit often, and we take family vacations together once or twice every year- always exploring somewhere new!

Both of our families are so excited to welcome a child to our family. Both Nick's dad and Emily's sister are adopted, and the entire family can't wait to continue the tradition of openness and unconditional love to our future child.

Thank you for taking the time to get to know us and hear about our story. It is our sincere hope that we are able to show you our authentic selves and give you the opportunity to learn about what life would be like in our family. We look forward to walking alongside you in this process with as much love, care, understanding, and support that we can provide.

We've known that we wanted to be parents and create a family since the day we met nearly a decade ago, and we feel honored that we may finally have the opportunity to make that dream a reality. We met while living in Hawaii and knew from our second date that we had found our soulmate. We've been married for six years and we can honestly say that we feel stronger as a couple and more connected as partners with each passing day. We have been fortunate to build a wonderful, fulfilling, and secure life for ourselves and cannot wait to share that with children.

We live in a small, safe community in a beautiful home with a large, fenced yard and property to explore. We live a stone's throw from amazing parks, a beautiful waterfront, and gorgeous mountain vistas that come with living in the Pacific Northwest. We enjoy annual camping trips, beach vacations, road trips, and snow weekends with family and friends.

We've been blessed to have a wonderful home, a beautiful marriage, loyal and amazing friends and family, fulfilling careers and a life filed of passion, joy, and purpose. The only thing missing is children to share it with.

We both grew up with strong role models and strong families that gave us the base we needed to grow into the people we are now. We know that it takes a village, and our village stands ready and is eagerly awaiting the arrival of the newest member of our team. We have spent years preparing for this moment and the thought of growing our family with a child bring us so much excitement and joy. Our immediate families have all grown through the gift of adoption and so we know first-hand what a wonderful blessing it is to a family.

Our families know from experience that an open adoption- both in practice and in spirit- can create a true sense of belonging and comfort in a child. We are ready to let you guide the path and want to ensure you have everything you need to feel comfortable with your decision- from day one and for the rest of our lives. We want you to be a part of our journey, and we hope to be a part of yours. At the end of the day, we want to do what is best for the child, and we already know that you feel the same way. We commit to sharing the moments and milestones, both big and small, with you. Whether it be texts, phone calls, or in-person visits, we want to honor your needs alongside the needs of the child.

Perhaps most importantly- please know that you will always be spoken of and regarded to in our home with the upmost respect and admiration. Your child will know that everything you did for them came from love and will know the sacrifice and bravery you exhibited in choosing this path. Should you decide that we are the right fit for joining you on this journey, please know that we will spend our lives committed to this promise, committed to this child, and committed to you.

Nick & Emily