We have one daughter, Ada, who is five years old. She is a joyful, curious, brave, and sensitive little girl with an incredible sense of empathy for others. One of the qualities that stands out most about Ada is how naturally she connects with babies and younger children. While many kids her age are focused on peers or older friends, Ada is drawn to little ones, she loves to play with them, comfort them, and care for them. We often say she was truly born to be a big sister.

Ada has many interests that keep her busy and joyful. She loves books and will happily sit and listen to stories for hours. She also adores animals and is always gentle and caring with them. At the same time, she is very active and enjoys playground adventures and any kind of physical activity that allows her to move, climb, or explore such as learning to swim, to ski and to rock climb.

We believe these qualities will make Ada a wonderful role model and big sister. She has a natural gift for nurturing, along with the patience, kindness, and creativity to share her world with a sibling. More than anything, she is eager to love and grow alongside a brother or sister, and we are so excited to see her take on that role.

Ben is responsible, steady, and thoughtful, he truly is the rock of our family. He has a wonderful sense of humor and a sensitivity that makes him both a supportive partner and a loving father. As a software engineer, Ben approaches challenges with logic and clarity, always helping us find calm and practical solutions. He also loves being in nature and enjoys peaceful settings where he can recharge. Music is one of his passions; he plays guitar and is a true music aficionado, often filling our home with melodies that create a warm and joyful atmosphere.

Shen brings creativity, curiosity, and resilience. With a background in biology and research, she has a deep love for learning and problem-solving, but also an artistic side that enjoys storytelling and imagination, and that she fully exerts in her cooking. Shen is deeply empathetic and thoughtful, always striving to make others feel understood and supported. She is also determined, whether it’s overcoming challenges in life or pursuing new skills, she brings perseverance and optimism to everything she does. Most importantly, Shen’s nurturing nature shines through in her parenting. She is attentive, patient, and loving, encouraging Ada’s curiosity while guiding her with kindness.

Together, our strengths make us strong partners and devoted parents. Ben’s steadiness and logic, paired with Shen’s creativity and empathy, create a home filled with love, stability, and encouragement, qualities we know will help us support our children's unique journeys.

What takes priority in our life is happiness and staying true to who we are. We do not measure success by stellar or top-notch accomplishments, but by living a balanced and joyful life. Above any professional satisfaction, what brings us the most happiness is our families and our friends. We cherish sharing meals together (we really love food), telling stories around a campfire, or simply enjoying a good movie side by side. And more than anything, sharing a good laugh. These everyday moments are what make us feel the most fulfilled. We are also bound by curiosity. We love traveling to new places, trying new activities like scuba diving, and tasting new foods. For us, exploring the world is not only exciting, but also a way to stay open-minded and continue learning. Ultimately, what we value most, and what will always take priority, is raising children in a home filled with love, joy, and curiosity, where they feel safe to grow into themselves and know they are deeply supported in everything they do.

We are incredibly grateful to be surrounded by two loving families who fill our lives with support, warmth, and joy. On Shen’s side, a Chinese immigrant family based in Paris, love is expressed through attentive care, shared traditions, and food. Our daughter affectionately calls her grandparents Laoye and Laolao. Both are now retired, Laolao after leading her own import-export business and Laoye after a career teaching traditional Chinese gymnastics. They show their love through everyday presence and thoughtful gestures, especially by cooking healthy meals for their granddaughter. One of their favorite rituals is making traditional Chinese dumplings together, a joyful moment of bonding and a meaningful way to pass on culture. Laolao also delights in sending beautiful clothes from Paris, always carefully chosen with love.

On Ben’s side, we are very close to his French family in Normandy. Papou, a retired engineer, enjoys gardening and cooking meals that bring everyone together, as well as baking bread and croissants that are especially appreciated in the mornings. Mamou, who works for a nonprofit, loves taking our daughter swimming at the nearby beach or wandering through the garden to pick and taste berries. Normandy is also where we gather with Ben’s extended family, including his three siblings and baby nephew. Our daughter cherishes these moments and spends hours laughing, playing, and building close bonds with her cousin.

Although we live in San Francisco, we visit our families in France regularly and also welcome them into our home. Across countries and cultures, family time remains our greatest joy and the foundation of our lives.

We have built a tight-knit community of friends over the last ten years who are like family to us, and most of them have young children with whom our daughter loves to play. We also built strong ties with parents from Ada’s daycare as well as from her new school.

We live on the top floor of a three-story San Francisco Victorian house, in a kid-friendly neighborhood. We are just a short walk or bike ride from some of the city’s best playgrounds and parks, and one nearby street is famous for its Halloween decorations, making it a favorite destination for trick-or-treating.

Our flat has two bedrooms, a living room, and a dining room, which can easily be converted into an extra bedroom. We spend much of our time in the dining room and kitchen preparing and sharing meals, while our living room is a peaceful retreat where we gather with friends and family, complete with a calming little aquarium.

On weekends, we often head to our Tahoe cabin. With plenty of space for children, it’s a joyful place with a mezzanine full of train toys.

Summers are filled with swimming, paddle boarding, hiking and camping, while winters bring skiing, tubing, snowshoeing, cozy evenings by the fire and French alpine culinary traditions such as raclette and fondue. It is a place of fun, adventure, and treasured memories.

Thank you for taking the time to read our letter and learn about our family. We know this is an incredibly difficult and deeply personal decision, and we are truly grateful that you are considering us. Our story began almost ten years ago when we met through mutual friends. We quickly fell in love and discovered shared passions for food, travel, and exploration. After a year, we moved in together, and we’ve now been happily married for over five years. From the very beginning, we dreamed of raising two children, siblings who would grow up side by side, never alone, and who would face life’s joys and challenges together.

Our path to building a family has included both hardship and blessing. We struggled with infertility for a time, which was a heavy sadness to carry. After much reflection, we came to see adoption as a beautiful way to grow our family. Then, against all odds, we were blessed with our daughter, Ada. Her birth was not easy, she faced a rare complication that made her first days uncertain, and we almost lost her. Thankfully, she made a full recovery, and today she is a bright, joyful child. Every day with her reminds us of the fragility and beauty of life. Yet our dream remains to raise children who will share their journeys together. This is why we are turning to adoption with open hearts. We hope Ada will grow up with a sibling to play with and laugh with. She often talks about becoming a big sister and has even started making a list of toys she hopes Santa will bring for her future little brother or sister. We imagine our children facing the world hand in hand, stronger together. Our home, though already filled with Ada's energy, is ready and waiting for the sweet moments of newborn life, the late-night cuddles, the rocking to sleep, and the wonder of a tiny hand gripping our finger. We are excited to immerse ourselves in the journey of raising an infant all over again.

Our family life is filled with warmth, adventure, and connection. We love being outdoors, camping under the stars, hiking forest trails, or spending Sundays at the zoo. Shen is passionate about animals and delights in teaching Ada about the animal kingdom through books, conversations, and our travels. Winters are magical at our mountain cabin, where Ben taught Ada to ski himself, a special bonding experience that brought them immense joy. Summers are spent hosting barbecues with friends and their kids, sharing meals, laughter, and lively board games that fill our home with love. Travel is another cornerstone of our life. Some of our best memories as a couple include trips to Japan, Peru, and road trips through America’s National Parks. With Ada, we’ve continued this tradition, taking her to Hawaii, New York City, and Greece. We hope travel will always be part of our children’s lives, opening their eyes to new cultures and ways of living. Family traditions also ground us. Every Christmas, we gather with Ben’s extended family at his parents’ home in Normandy, France, where we play board games by the fire and take winter walks on the beach to collect mussels and oysters. We also cherish the time with Shen’s parents, sharing our favorite homemade dishes and enjoying relaxed shopping outings that always become joyful family adventures. These traditions fill us with a deep sense of belonging, a value we are eager to pass on to our children.

Our promise is simple but profound: we will raise our children with love, strength, curiosity, and compassion. We want them to be happy, and we hope to nurture their confidence and resilience, and to teach them kindness and empathy so they can face the world with open hearts. And no matter what life brings, they will always have each other. We want you to know that if you choose us, we will always honor you, your courage, your story, and your role in this child’s life. We are fully committed to sharing letters and photos so you can see your child growing, thriving, and surrounded by love. We are open to meeting in person and building a connection that feels right for you and your child, a connection that honors your decision and keeps that bond alive in a healthy way. This child will always know their story began with your immense love.

Thank you again for considering us and for allowing us to share our lives with you. Whatever path you choose, we wish you peace, strength, and love.

Ben & Shen