We met in 2006 on Christmas break while freshmen at different colleges, when a friend in common hosted a party. We found we had lots in common and a similar, cheerful approach to life. We became a couple soon after.

We dated throughout college and got engaged shortly after graduating. We were married on a picture-perfect day in September at Melanie's childhood church. We've been married for over eleven years, and we feel no less enthusiastic about our own relationship and our closely-knit families.

In 2021, we welcomed our son, Johnny, into our family through the adoption process. He changed our lives in the best possible way. Based on the wishes of Johnny's birthmother, we have a closed relationship with her, but we would be willing to have an open or semi-open relationship with her in the future if she were to change her mind.

We initially tried starting our family in 2014. We enjoyed good health and were reasonably certain that a pregnancy would happen for us. We hoped it would happen sooner rather than later, but we were unsuccessful. After years of medical intervention, we were ultimately diagnosed with infertility. It was heartbreaking, but we never lost hope. We both had a strong desire to be parents and decided that we would grow our family through adoption. In 2021, we matched with a birth mother, and she gave us the biggest blessing of our lives, Johnny.

We would like to grow our family through adoption again because we have more love to share.

Melanie grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, the oldest of three girls. She is incredibly close with her two sisters and parents. In her youth, Melanie loved being involved in theater with her sisters. She also grew up playing sports. Although she was never a great athlete, she participated because of the extra time it allowed her to spend with her dad.

She was the camp counselor at age 16 who never lost her patience and was the first to hug a child with a scraped knee. At age 20, she was the dinner server at the nursing home who stayed after her shift ended to look at photos of grandchildren or to paint the residents' nails.

After college, Melanie used her degree in Human Development and Family Studies to continue caring for both the youth and the elderly. She has been the activities coordinator at three nursing homes and currently works at the preschool that Johnny attends. Melanie is known by other parents and teachers for her patience and kindness. In her free time (what little there is), Melanie enjoys baking, exercising, and making crafts.

Melanie is the "fun" aunt to our 5 nephews and 2 (soon to be 4) nieces. She builds gingerbread houses at Christmas, runs around in the backyard sprinkler, and plays wiffle ball in the back yard.

Melanie is a loving and caring mother to our three-year-old son. She enjoys seeing the world through his eyes and sharing all the sweet and silly stuff he says. Melanie loves having sisters and is looking forward to providing our son with a sibling because "a sibling is a lifelong friend who knows you better than anyone else and will have your back no matter what."

Matthew grew up in Delaware with his parents and two sisters. Both sets of his grandparents lived close by and were there to support him in his youth. Matthew has a group of friends that he met in middle school, whom he considers brothers. They are still close today, and our son refers to them as "Uncle."

Many of Matthew's favorite childhood memories took place outdoors with his cousins. Matthew loved crabbing on the Wye River and hiking and boating in the Poconos. In grade school, Matthew developed an enthusiasm for playing ice hockey, and he continues to play today.

Matthew obtained a degree in accounting, but transitioned careers and now works in federal law enforcement. For several years, we lived in New York, but his job allowed us to transfer to Maryland, and we feel like we are now in our forever home.

Matthew enjoys home improvement projects, video games, exercising, reading, and being an uncle. Matthew's favorite activity is playing with our son: chasing him around the playground,

constructing tents, racing cars, building Legos and trains, and playing sports. In addition to playing sports, Matthew shares his fandom of all Philadelphia sports teams with our son. He has already taught Johnny the Eagles' fight song, which they sing together after every Eagles' touchdown.

We live in the suburbs of Baltimore, Maryland, in a community filled with playgrounds and schools that are all within walking distance. We are a short drive to the downtown area, so we can enjoy all that a big city has to offer.

We live in a single-family home that has been recently renovated. The upper level has three bedrooms, a large living room, a dining room, and a kitchen. The lower level has a very spacious family room, and an additional bedroom that is currently being used as a playroom. We are currently building a deck that will overlook the back yard.

We live on a corner lot of a cul-de-sac in the middle of the neighborhood, so there isn't much traffic. There's a mix of young and older families in the neighborhood, and the elementary school is just a couple of blocks away. There are several houses with young kids in our neighborhood and there are several more children in the neighborhoods that surround ours. Our neighborhood is safe, so as our children grow and gain independence, they will be able to ride their bikes in the neighborhood and go to friends' houses, athletic fields, and playgrounds.

We have close, supportive friends with young families. We attend a church with lots of young children, so our kids will be a part of that community and make additional friends outside of their neighborhood and school.

Our son Johnny, age three, is a big fan of hugs and kisses; that is, when he isn't dancing or entertaining us with his impression of Buzz Lightyear. Books are another of his favorite things. He sits on the floor in his bedroom and surrounds himself with them. Johnny is an active boy who is happy running around outside, but even happier when he can do so at our local farm and petting zoo. He attends pre-school and plays well with friends. Johnny is close to his many cousins, too, at whose homes he enjoys racing cars and trucks. He has a smile that warms the hearts of everyone he meets, and our love for him knows no bounds. It is our great hope to provide Johnny a sibling, with whom we know he would be immediately smitten. Indeed, all three of our hearts are eager and ready to welcome an addition to our family and home.

Both our families mean the absolute world to us and have been a support system during our adoption journey. Both Melanie's and Matthew's parents look forward to welcoming another grandchild.

Melanie's middle sister, Allison, and her husband have a son and a daughter. Allison's son and Johnny are only two weeks apart and are best friends. Melanie's youngest sister, Jaclyn, is pregnant and expecting twin girls in July. Matthew has an older sister, Alexandra, and a twin sister, Victoria. Alexandra and her husband have three boys and a daughter. Alexandra's youngest son is four months younger than Johnny. Victoria and her husband have a son who was born in 2020. Our families look forward with boundless excitement to the day we expand our family. Our children will have the support of a sibling and will grow up surrounded by a loving immediate and extended family.

We gather together for family dinners every evening and talk about our days. Johnny always has the best stories and insights about what happened at school. Sometimes we eat at the dining room table, but other times we sit around Johnny's play table. Most Friday nights we order pizza and watch a movie.

On the weekends, we like to spend time outside. We visit the zoo, local farms, orchards, or playgrounds.

During the summer, we spend time with Melanie's family at the Jersey shore, where BBQ or spaghetti and meatballs are followed by games of corn hole, Pokeno, or walks to watch the sunset.

The Fourth of July (Matthew's birthday) is usually spent relaxing on inner tubes in a swimming pool, followed by a crab feast and a birthday cake.

We spend Christmas Eve with Matthew's family and enjoy a traditional Polish dinner with pierogis and mushroom soup. We spend Christmas Day with Melanie's family and enjoy a more laid-back atmosphere with lots of gift giving, laughter, and butter cookies, a many-decades-old recipe. We alternate Thanksgiving with each of our families and plan to continue that tradition through the years.

Melanie:

Since I was a little girl, I have always had a passion for all things related to Disney. My first and favorite stuffed animal was "Lady," one of the main characters from the movie "Lady and the Tramp." My first ride on an airplane took place when I was age 6, and it was to Orlando, where my family spent a week visiting Walt Disney World. I enjoy Disney just as much now as an adult, and I look forward to someday introducing the magic of Disney to our future child.

Matthew:

I was introduced to football and the Philadelphia Eagles team by my grandpop when I was a boy. I remember specifically that it was Christmas Day in 2006, when the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Dallas Cowboys, something I felt was the best gift ever. I still have a passion for watching the Eagles play football, and I look forward to introducing Sunday game days to our future child.

Coincidentally, in 2018, we traveled to California for a vacation that included both watching the Philadelphia Eagles play the Los Angeles Rams, as well as a visit to Disneyland, the best of both worlds.

We promise that our home and family life with your child will be filled with unconditional love and safety. We also promise that we will instill in your child feelings of understanding and admiration toward you for making the loving and generous choice of adoption. We promise, as well, to read bedtime stories and give endless hugs and kisses. We promise that we will keep your child warm and protected from cold and rain in winter, and in the warm months, we will teach him or her to swim, build sandcastles, frolic on the playground, ride a bike, play games, and, very importantly, to be a good friend and sibling. We promise to teach him or her the importance of school, homework, and studying as well. We will tell him or her that they are loved every single day, but most of all, we will show that love in every way possible.

We thank you for taking the time to get to know us through this book. We hope that it helps you make the choice that best fits what you desire for your child. We understand that it is a decision that is made equally with your heart and your intuition, and that it is a decision that takes time and much reflection.

The life into which we would be greatly honored to bring your child would include borrowing stacks of books from the library, making holiday arts and crafts, spending summer weekends at the beach, having pizza and movie nights, watching Saturday morning cartoons over pancakes, and taking Sunday strolls to church. But beyond all those things, what we have to offer most of all is unconditional love, as well as an esteem for you and a great appreciation that will endure forever.