One of our favorite vacation destinations, especially when traveling with family, is to Disney World or on a Disney cruise. We took our first Disney vacation together for our honeymoon. We spent time in the park, wearing ourselves out, running from one ride to the next.

We loved the excitement of the musicals, parades, and fireworks. From the park, we then boarded a Disney cruise and relaxed as the ship sailed around the Bahamas. We loved the food, the shows, and the beautiful views from the deck.

As soon as our trip was over, we knew we had to return and bring our family along to experience it with us. Since then, we have taken quite a few Disney vacations with our family and it is amazing every time. We have learned so much about the cultures of the Caribbean and the Yucatán Peninsula. We can not wait to share this experience with our child.

We love animals! Caroline volunteered at an animal shelter and was on their board of directors as a high school student. We both grew up with beagles in the house. As a married couple, we have always had cats as pets. We would love to add a dog to our home if we can find one that will not completely freak out the cats. We currently have three cats – Boomer, Lucy, and Vinnie. All of them are from rescue shelters. Caring for and loving pets represents some of the best aspects of humanity. Indoor pets require empathy and care. From scooping out litter boxes, to feeding, to taking them to the vet when they need checkups or are not well is a commitment. No matter how difficult a day is, a pet can provide the catalyst to turn it around. We love our pets and look forward to sharing that joy with a child.

We are both educators. Cam has a PhD and is a university business school professor. Caroline has an MBA and a Master’s in Montessori Education and is a high school math teacher. We have dedicated our lives to education. We also hold an intimate understanding of how the educational system works. We both believe in the importance of active learning and positive encouragement. We will make learning fun for this child! By observing the child’s natural curiosity, we will allow them to instinctively choose their own paths. We will read to the child each day in youth.

As they grow, we will provide them with space to develop naturally, yet support them at every turn. We will save up from day one to ensure that the child will be able to go to whatever college they want, provided that is what they want. Alternatively, we will support the pursuit of a vocation if that is their best fit and desire. We will provide healthy support and encouragement for the child without placing unreasonable or unattainable expectations on them. We will provide all the tools and wisdom to allow them to succeed. With our support, even the sky is no limit for this child.

We live in a young and vibrant neighborhood. On our street alone there are five families with children ranging in age from infant to five years old. Each year we all pitch in together and throw a block party for our street. We live in one of Ohio's best school districts, with parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, and community gardens all within easy walking distance from our house. We live in a two-story house with an unfinished basement. Upstairs we have three bedrooms and the master bathroom. Downstairs we have a front room with a large table for dining, playing board games, or simply gathering with friends and family near the cozy fireplace. We also have a computer room and a half bath. We have a galley kitchen where we love to cook together. Lastly, we have a beautiful addition to the back of the house which is our largest room and the one where we spend most of our indoor time. The vaulted ceiling with high windows along with the other windows and sliding glass door makes this room a portal into nature. We have a lovely fenced-in backyard with a pollinator garden, trees, and space to play games and run around. Our next-door neighbors have two children, including an infant and would love a new next-door friend! Our elementary school is a three-minute walk from our house and children are always walking to and from school with one another.

We have wonderfully supportive friends and family. Cam's family is small and laid back, with a niece and nephew. Caroline has a large family with lots of kids around, with activity always buzzing around. When we are with family, we spend a lot of time with the children.

One of our favorite activities with our nieces and nephews is dressing up in lab coats, putting on goggles, and doing science. The children love to run experiments that change the color of celery, or grows an avocado tree from its pit. We also love going outside and playing games, like soccer, or practicing golf.

Cam's family lives close by and visits often involve cookouts, watching movies, and conversations around the kitchen table. Visits with Caroline's family add days on the beach, boat rides, and great seafood.

Our friends and both of our families are supportive of our adoption plans. Your child will be loved, supported, and belong - not just in our home, but in our circle of friends and family too. Our parents are ready to spoil another grandchild and our nieces and nephews cannot wait to play with their new cousin!

Over the course of our 18-year marriage, we have created a loving, happy, and comfortable life for ourselves and our three cats. We live in an amazing community on a safe and family-friendly street. Our neighborhood is tree-filled and we can walk to the local library, schools, parks, shops, and restaurants. We have reached advanced levels in our own education that have lead to stable and rewarding careers. We have built a life with the goal of creating a warm and supportive home for our family.

There are several other families that live on our street. There are currently more than 10 children under the age of five that live within a few houses of us. It is a regular occurrence for the families to all be outside at once while the kids play chase from one front yard to the next. We have shared our adoption plans with our neighbors and they cannot wait to welcome our child into the playgroups!

The elementary school is only a few blocks from our house. Kids can safely walk from our street to the school. The start and end of the day looks a little bit like a parade with kids, parents, strollers, and dogs walking in line on the sidewalk to and from school. The large, well-kept elementary school playground is open for public use outside of school hours. The families from our street often gather there on the weekends. The library is also a short walk from our house. It has a great children's section and regular literary, art, and nature programming for kids. A brand new high school with great academic and athletic facilities, including a pool, sits behind the town library. Our local school district is ranked as one of the top districts in our state.

We both grew up in amazing, supportive families. Our siblings are incredible aunts and uncles - they are loving and provide a healthy balance of fun and guidance in their homes. Our nieces and nephews can't wait to have another cousin. Our parents all love being grandparents - spending time with their grandchildren, cheering them on, and spoiling them. With our families, our child will spend time at cookouts, at the beach, learn to swim, and play many sports. We have wonderful family holiday celebrations with lots of joy, singing, play, and great food.

Our daily life is more peaceful than our big family gatherings but is still full of fun and joy. We love enjoying time together - walking in the neighborhood or hiking in the woods, cooking dinners together, and relaxing at home. We have a great fenced-in backyard. On warm summer evenings, we sit out on our patio as the sun sets, watch fireflies, and listen to the live music playing at the restaurants in our town center.

We hope that we have created a life that you want for your baby. We will share letters and pictures with you so you can see their happiness when playing with the kids next door. We look forward to sending you pictures of their first days of school. We will share notes about their favorite books and their progress as they learn to read. We will tell you about their favorite things, subjects they are excited about, games they love to play, and foods they are learning to cook.

Thank you for taking the time to get to know us.

Warmest regards,

Cam & Caroline