Daisy's experience as an adopted individual has profoundly influenced our decision to adopt a baby. Her unique perspective on the adoption process has brought a deep understanding of the emotional complexities involved, both for the child and the adoptive family.

Having lived through the adoption journey herself, Daisy possesses an empathy that can guide our approach. We know that creating a nurturing and supportive environment for the baby is crucial. Without the decision Daisy's parents made all those years ago, she would not have the life she has today. Their choice to adopt changed her life forever, and we want to bring this same sentiment of love, compassion, and understanding to how we raise the baby.

Daisy grew up knowing she was adopted and was made to feel like this was a special part of who she was. Her parents instilled in her, at a very young age, that her birth mother made the ultimate gift of love. While she had a closed adoption, the birth mother was always recognized, honored, and remembered. To this day, Daisy celebrates her birthday AND her adoption day.

Even before getting married, we had discussed our feelings about children. One of the first things we agreed on was that adoption was a viable option for us. The fact that medical issues would play a part in this never influenced this early conversation. Instead, the profound impact that both Daisy and her parents had on Andrew being an adoptive family was the driving force.

Since childhood, Daisy has had a deep passion for travel. She has lived in foreign countries and traveled all over the country for work. Andrew has also traveled quite a bit, though not nearly as extensively as Daisy. Both of us were raised by our parents to embrace and enjoy traveling, even from a young age. Our parents never shied away from taking us on trips and helping us experience the world.

Since being together, we have continued to travel extensively as a couple. We both feel that investing our money and time into experiences through travel is more beneficial than buying material possessions. We recognize how fortunate we've been, and we cannot wait to share these travel experiences with a child. We've promised each other that having a child will never stop us from traveling - it will just give us the opportunity to experience the world in a new way.

This past summer, we were lucky enough to travel through parts of Italy, and we even brought Daisy's parents along. This trip held special significance for us, as Andrew's mother's side of the family is from Italy. Tragically, Andrew's mom passed away in 2018, so being able to visit some of the places she had seen was a meaningful experience for him.

We both recognize and believe that promises are wonderful, but actions are better than words. We are beyond ready to have our family grow. We both have a strong foundation of love and support, not only from each other but from our families. We will promise you to always love, cherish, protect, and put the baby's needs and wants ahead of our own for the rest of our lives. We both come from parents that have shown us how to love and be the best parent possible. This has laid the foundation for us to do the same.

We promise to give the baby a safe home, their own bedroom, a home full of love, respect, and open communication. We promise to keep you updated with the wonderful changes a baby makes as it grows older. The first laugh, the first steps and so on throughout their life. The baby will never have to worry about wanting anything. They will always have a roof over their head, a home full of love, the best schooling we possibly can provide. The baby will partake in all of our families' traditions, get to travel and see the world, be given the chance to become the best person possible. But the most important promise we will make is to love this baby more than life itself.

We also promise that your child will know who you are. They will understand the gift of love and sacrifice you made. You will be honored and recognized for your gift.

We live in a four-bedroom house with our dear dog, Emmy, in a quiet neighborhood that has been in Andrew's family for over 40 years. Andrew's deep connection to the home adds a special sense of history and belonging. This house has hosted 40 years of 4th of July celebrations with extended family and friends, countless St. Patrick's Day boiled dinners, special Christmas dinners, low-key summer BBQs, and numerous pool parties.

Our small town has a unique sense of community, with the town center just a mile away, featuring a park, playgrounds, and baseball fields. Andrew's cousin was the principal and superintendent of the school system for many years, adding to our deep ties to the community. We have many cousins living in town or the next town over, and Daisy's parents recently bought a house in town, allowing us to be super close to family and spend a lot of time with them.

One of our favorite parts of the house is our yard. We built a raised vegetable garden four years ago and love tending to it throughout the summer. Daisy, an avid flower gardener, learned her skills from her granny and mom. Finding bright flowers and watching the garden change with the seasons is so fun. We also have a great big backyard that Emmy loves running around in, and a pool and deck that draw our friends and family during the summer. We always have hotdogs in the fridge for impromptu BBQs and love hosting.

We both come from large, close-knit extended families. Daisy has a younger brother on the West Coast, while Andrew, the oldest of three, has a brother in Florida and a sister who lives in their childhood home with their father, her husband, and our two nephews. Daisy's parents recently moved to our town and will be just five minutes away.

Family plays a huge role in our daily lives, and many of our closest friends are our cousins, many of whom live nearby. We've traveled and vacationed with our cousins, and despite some living as far away as Georgia and Canada, we always make time to Facetime and visit.

Both sides of our families cherish strong traditions. Andrew's family has hosted cookouts and parties for over 40 years, while Daisy's family has vacationed in parts of Vermont since the 1970s and continues to visit the same area in Maine that her Granny frequented during WWII as a child.

We also believe that family isn't just about blood. Family comes in all shapes and sizes, including lifelong friends we consider family. Andrew's best friend, Dave, has been his closest companion since Kindergarten, and Daisy's best friend, Meghan, has been by her side for 24 years. These are examples of people who, though not related by blood, are treated as family.

We write this letter with profound gratitude and deep respect for you and the incredibly brave decision you are considering. As a couple who have built our life together since November 2013 and married in October 2016, we want to make these solemn promises about how we will honor your trust and raise your precious child with all the love in our hearts.

First and foremost, we promise that your child will grow up knowing they were born from an act of pure love. We will ensure they understand that you made your choice out of deep devotion to their wellbeing and future. As Daisy is herself a child of adoption, she brings a unique and deeply personal understanding to this journey. We know firsthand the importance of honoring both birth and adoptive families, and your child will always know they have two mothers who love them you, who gave them life and made the selfless choice for their future, and us, who will have the privilege of raising them.

We promise to provide your child with a home filled with boundless love and unwavering stability. Every day will begin and end with expressions of love and affection in a secure home where they feel safe to grow, learn, and flourish. Our extended family eagerly awaits to embrace them with open arms and hearts, including Andrew's father, who already jokes that Daisy is his favorite child! They will always know they belong and are cherished unconditionally.

We will instill strong values and character, teaching them compassion, integrity, and respect for others. They will learn the importance of kindness and giving back to their community. Growing up understanding and celebrating their unique story, they will develop confidence while remaining grounded in humility.

Cultural and heritage connections will be a vital part of their upbringing. Your child will know and be proud of their cultural heritage as we incorporate elements of their birth culture into our family life. They will understand and celebrate the richness of their complete identity, and we commit to maintaining any cultural or racial connections that are important to their story.

We commit to being open about their adoption from the earliest appropriate age. Through Daisy's personal experience as an adoptee, we understand the importance of honest communication about adoption. Your child will know their adoption story in age-appropriate ways, and we will support their journey of understanding with honesty and sensitivity to their needs.

Our commitment to you is unwavering. We will maintain regular communication through letters, emails, and pictures of your child, honoring any agreements we make about ongoing contact and updates. We promise to always speak of you with respect, gratitude, and admiration, keeping safe any letters, photos, or mementos you provide. While maintaining appropriate boundaries, we will honor your role in their life, being honest with your child about your love for them and your choice. We will carefully preserve any medical history or important information you share, ensuring it's available when needed.

While we cannot predict every challenge or circumstance that may arise, we make these promises with complete sincerity and commitment. As Daisy is a child from adoption, we fully recognize how important these promises are not only to you but to the child. Having this extremely unique perspective on adoption allows us to understand the gravity of what you are doing and the importance of our promises to you both. We will strive every day to be worthy of the trust you place in us and to raise your child in a way that would make you proud.

With Love and Respect,

Andrew & Daisy