I adopted my daughter 2.5 years ago, I met her when she was 24 hours old and fell in love instantly. She in any future children are my top priority.

She is a very loving child and is very quick to give hugs and loves to hold her friends and cousins’ hands. She Is definitely a people person and doesn’t like to be alone. She enjoys being out and about, but when faced with new situations she likes to take the time and observe what is going on. Once she is comfortable, she jumps right in. She loves to sing and dance and help me cook dinner every night.

We usually spend our days either going to gymnastics, the library for story time, time for twos (which is a program to get her ready for preschool), the children’s museum, the zoo and of course the playground. She is starting to learn to ride a bike and cannot wait to start soccer and dance.

I enjoy doing all types of activities and I believe sometimes it is not about what you’re doing but who you are with. I am very active and will never turn down a day to be outside. I want to take my children hiking camping to the beach and up to the mountains. I absolutely love watching young children explore this world and see it through a fresh set of eyes.

I am so fortunate to live in an area that has so many great things to do and explore. Probably the most adventurous things I did in my area was kayaking at night to see the bioluminous plankton, going dogsledding/snowmobiling, and spending some time learning how to trapeze. I plan on taking my children on all these adventures when they are old enough!

I also very much enjoy going up to the mountains to snowboard, which is a big passion of mine. I cannot wait to teach my children how to board and all the other fun things to do in the snow!

I have learned a lot about culture diversity within the last two years. I adopted my daughter who is currently 2.5 years old, she is a beautiful lovable African-American girl. My only goal is for her to be the best version of herself.

I have been trying to educate myself about her culture so that I can support her as she grows. I have several friends that are black that I’m very comfortable asking questions too. I am also part of several Facebook groups that discuss cultural diversity in the problems that arise for people of color.

I am fully aware that representation matters especially as the child grows up, my daughter’s dolls are all dark skin dolls and I have several books written by African American authors.

I live in a great family oriented neighborhood that is about 20 miles away from the big city; It is the best of both worlds and I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. I grew up at my parents’ house that is only 1.5 miles away from where I live now. The suburban is big enough that you meet new people everywhere you go but small enough that you run into friends and family occasionally.

This town offers numerous activities for children: sports, gymnastics, cooking, and art. My daughter and I spend a significant amount of time at the local parks, gymnastic, library story time and children’s museum. And as she approaches three; she is looking forward to trying soccer classes and starting dance.

We enjoy being outside; The weather here is usually 50 to 85°. I can’t wait to take my children on more day trips and being able to hike, ride our bike, go to the beach, day trips to the city and hopefully teaching them how to snowboard in the winter.

I am so excited to share my home with this child. It is a big five-bedroom house with a pool. (With a heavy duty cover for safety) have a wonderful gourmet kitchen where I love cooking and entertaining family and friends. I usually host Thanksgiving for the family and have friends over for dinner as much as I can.

I am fortunate to live very close to my immediate and extended family. We get together often, although it is particularly special near Christmas, when my cousin dresses up as Santa Claus for all the little kids.

We also work very hard on relay for life every year. This is a 24-hour walk-in fundraiser to help raise money for cancer research my family is very involved in organizing and planning this fun event. My aunt and uncle also spend the whole month of October building a haunted house and the garage (the theme changes every year) On Halloween night it is usually about an hour wait to get in and travel through the haunted house. The only thing we ask for is canned goods to donate to the Humane Society in our town. My grandparents were a huge part of this organization.

Our family has definitely grown in the last two years, along with adopting my daughter, I got two new nephews all within two months. So right now, when the family gets together it is a lot of nursery rhymes, jumping and laughing; never a dull moment.

My family is very supportive of my plan to adopt it will welcome anyone and everyone into the family. This child will have a ton of family nearby always looking out for them and supporting them on and whatever passions they have.

Let me start out by saying how courageous and strong I think you are. I know this is a situation that you never thought you would be in and the most important decision you’ll ever make. Please know that choosing adoption is the most caring and selfless act anyone can do.

I will be forever grateful to be the mother of this child. I promise to provide a safe and loving home for your child to grow and discover. I have always had a strong desire to be a mother and I feel like I have been preparing for this role my entire life. I promise to give your child unconditional love and dedicate my life to their growth and well-being; always making decisions in their best interest.

I have no doubt I will be able to give this child and an incredible up-bringing, even as a single parent. I have family and friends nearby that are already excited to meet this child and tell me how lucky this child will be.

I have spent the last 18 years working in the most caring profession and I still absolutely love my job. I have a wonderful work schedule that allows me to only work 2 to 3 days a week. My mom is excited to watch this child while I have to be at work. And my daughter, Iona, is very excited to meet her little brother or sister.

I have traveled and done many adventurous things, but I find being a mother has been the most fun and rewarding adventure I have ever been on.

Adoption is very near and dear to my heart my niece and nephew were adopted through the foster care program and I have several adult friends that have been adopted. And of course my daughter is adopted and I can’t imagine it any other way.

A close friend of mine placed her child for adoption when she was 27 years old. Her daughter is now 20 and they do have a relationship with one another. She was able to choose an open adoption and received pictures and emails as her daughter grew up. As time went on she was included and birthday parties and graduations. Now that her daughter is older they have their own relationship. Although I know this is an ideal situation; I am very optimistic to make this a reality for us.

I think open adoption can be very successful if everyone is open minded and respectful. I want this child to grow up knowing where they came from and everyone who loves them unconditionally. I feel like a child does need to know their biological parents and have some kind of access to them; especially as they get older and have questions about who they are. You are their beginning and I would love to share their life with you.

I am already in love with this baby and I want you to know how brave I think you are and how we will always be connected through this beautiful child. I can’t wait to send you pictures and watch this child to see who they become...Will they enjoy sports, run for school president, or be in a garage band. I think this is the best part of raising a child and I can’t wait for you to see through pictures emails and visits (if this is something you would like) who this little person is becoming.

Words cannot express how excited I am to become this child’s mother and know that without you, your strength and courage, this would not be possible. You will always hold a special place in my heart.

With love and respect,

Kelli