Nothing made Dave happier as a child like spending time with his grandpap. Dave's grandfather was mechanically inclined and could be found repairing anything from toys to cars and he passed this knowledge along. Dave recalls those times with fondness and can now be found in the garage tinkering around on our classic dune buggy to ride around town or take with family to car shows. Dave's dad taught him how to golf at a young age and they enjoy spending time together teeing off at a golf course or the driving range. They have gone to the PGA several times over the years and look forward to sharing this with our future children.

Dominique doesn't believe in just eating food out of necessity, she has an invested interest in food and views it is a hobby. She enjoys trying new places to eat, or whipping up something new for her friends and family to sample in the kitchen. When Dominique is not trying new food she can be found exploring a good book. She takes after her mother and is an avid reader and enjoys anything from romance to educational books. Dominique looks forward to building a library of children books and daily bedtime stories with our future children.

Together we enjoy traveling and experiencing new places. There is nothing like immersing ourselves in the history of a city and their culture, or hiking through a new destination. We can't wait to see what adventures we will get to share with our child/children as a family.

We both have wanted to have children for as long as we can remember and it was part of multiple discussions we had on our first several dates. Fast forward years later, during a fertility workup it was discovered that we could not naturally conceive a child. We attempted multiple IVF protocols, but ultimately decided that with so much love left to give, we wanted to use it pursuing another avenue to expand our family. We know there are many different ways to create a family and always planned on adopting at least one of our children; infertility just switched our journey to adopt all of our future children.

Additionally, adoption is already a very big part of our family, as Dave's father was adopted as an infant. His adoption was closed (which was very common at that time), and therefore he was never given any information or medical background regarding his biological parents. This is something Dave's dad wished he had as an adult, and one of the things we are hopeful to give our children with an open adoption.

We have never viewed our animals as pets; they are integral members of our family who provide a daily dose of love and sass. Tegan, our golden retriever, has a smile that lights up an entire room and reserves her special stink face for when she's really excited to see those she loves. Tegan attempted to be a therapy dog but was unable to pass her final exam of staying still when her humans left the room because she wanted to join them. She still loves people more than toys, but as she has gotten older Tegan prefers not to travel as much to see them.

Zoey came to us at the beginning of the pandemic as a rambunctious kitten. Her previous family consisted of a single mother with two children, and unfortunately the mother lost her job during Covid. The family could not afford to keep her and asked us to adopt Zoey. We brought her home that day, and she has been a great addition ever since. Zoey is by far the most vocal of our two pets and can be found using Tegan as a springboard, or the ringleader of trouble by opening doors and cabinets for her sister. We both have always been in a household with furry family members and truly believe they change our lives by bringing so much joy and extra love.

One of our favorite moments of the day is waking up on a Saturday or Sunday morning to the sun slipping through the windows while sipping a cup of coffee in our sunroom. The animals join us and watch the squirrels run around while the sports channel plays in the background in our living room. When we step outside our house, wagging tails and friendly neighbors who look out for each other wave to greet you.

Our neighborhood has over 50 children, and puts on an annual Easter egg hunt in the spring, block parties in the summer and a holiday gift exchange for the kids in the winter. Santa comes through the neighborhood on a fire truck for Christmas and it's exciting to watch the kids rush to greet him or press their faces up against the window for a closer look. Luckily, our neighborhood is near everything a family might want. It contains a large community center that boasts 3 pools with sparkling water and winding slides; multiple playgrounds with active sport courts; and several walking trails just down the street.

When we are looking for bigger city amenities we can drive 20 minutes or take the train into Pittsburgh. We love that Pittsburgh has a small-town feel with all the big city experiences.

Dave's parents have created a space that is not just their home, but also a home for their children, their spouses and future grandchildren too. It is a place of bustling activity between their 5 golden retrievers and with Dave's sister and us nearby; we bring their furry grandkids to come visit and play. Our favorite family activity to do is Sunday brunch. You can find Dave's dad on the grill and his mom in the kitchen cutting up fruit for us to eat on the deck. It is a place where you can help yourself to whatever is in the fridge or lounge on the couch without overstaying your welcome.

While Dominique's family continues to grow, the memories only multiply. As everyone has gotten older they have become more spread out, but you'd never know when they all get together. They are a boisterous group intermingled with friends from childhood who are family. We plan holiday get togethers and have been known to plan impromptu parties at each other's houses without warning. The Christmas season is not complete until Dominique's mom gets her annual family photo.

Hey there!

We don't know each other yet, and are the true definition of a stranger. People you're not familiar with, but that have been hoping for your wellbeing nonetheless. Thank you for taking the time to get to know us; our names are Dave and Dominique. Our life paths have crossed and while there are a million reasons you may find yourself reading this letter; we believe the most important reason is the love you possess for your child.

Each of us have our own stories, and ours began online with a simple message of trying to find a partner who wanted to experience all of life's ups and down together. Life has not always been easy, but we choose to handle it as a team. And while we may have experienced the lows of infertility, we are excited to embrace the joys of growing our family through adoption. Dave's dad was adopted as an infant and this is something we have talked about wanting to incorporate as part of our family as well.

Dave comes from a long line of engineers who believe nothing is truly broken and there is always a solution to any problem or situation. Dave's parents and sister live in the neighboring town and will be extremely active in our child's everyday life. Dave and his dad dream of teaching our child to play sports, as well as reengineering their toys to work even better. Dave's mom spent her career as a pediatric nurse and can't wait to spend her retirement spoiling her grandchildren. Their aunt is a veterinarian who will explain everything related to animals and make sure there are plenty of furry cousins to keep our child entertained.

Dominique is a nurse who has dedicated herself to helping patients across all walks of life. She has a kind and loving heart and wants nothing more than to shower her future children with warmth and laughter. Dominique's family is a bit more spread out, but just as supportive and encouraging. Dominique has two brothers and is blessed to have a niece and nephew who are too young to speak currently, but are just as excited for future play dates. Dominique's mother was a preschool teacher in Germany and came to the United States as an au pair in her early 20s. She looks forward to teaching her grandchild/children to be multilingual.

Raising children has always been a dream for us, and we would love nothing more than to provide a safe and welcoming home. Although we love to travel and look forward to the trips we can take as a family around the world, it's the quiet everyday moments at home that mean the most. It's gathering with family and friends around the table and enjoying each other's company or watching a movie with the fireplace crackling in the background. We know we could never fully describe whom we are or what our life looks like in a couple paragraphs but only hope we feel a little less like strangers at this moment. Most importantly, we would be honored to get to know you, and are grateful you might let us be part of your story. If you want to get to know us more, we are open to exchanging phone numbers and sending emails/letters, texts and photos.

Forever Thankful,

Dave & Dominique