Fate brought us together in New York City on January 9th, 2014. Despite our diverse backgrounds, we soon realized that our shared beliefs laid the groundwork for our connection. After two months of dating and growing familiar with one another, Andrew posed a heartfelt question to Thao at a cozy Italian restaurant in Brooklyn called Frankies' Spuntino, asking if Thao was interested in starting a committed relationship. Enthusiastically, Thao responded with an excited "Yes." From there, each passing year introduced us to experiences and adventures that would deepen our mutual understanding, admiration, and love for each other while strengthening the bond of our relationship. We have always shared a common dream of building a nurturing family. From our first conversations until today, we recognize that the strong commitment to our marriage is the foundation for building a thriving family. At the end of 2020, we moved from New York City to New Jersey to start our family's home. With diversity, excellent educational opportunities, culture, and proximity to loved ones and New York City, New Jersey felt like the ideal place to create our family. Our love story is a testament to the power of love and the beauty that can be discovered in unexpected places. Every moment we share is cherished, and we eagerly look forward to sharing our story with you.

Thao and his family immigrated from Vietnam to America in 1986 when he was two. His parents faced financial, cultural, and language barriers as refugees while searching for work and ways to earn a living. Through their extended relatives, friends of friends, and neighbors in the small Vietnamese American community of St. Petersburg, Florida, they could find the support they needed to put down roots and establish a home there. Thao's family's beginnings in America shaped and molded him. He is loyal to his family, friends, and the stranger who needs help. He enjoys working in our town's community garden, not just because he has a green thumb but because he finds joy in meeting his neighbors and seeing how his contribution positively impacts those around him. Growing up, Thao's parents emphasized the importance of finding oneself through creative outlets. This upbringing shaped Thao's path as an architect and graphic designer. In his spare time, Thao finds fulfillment in various creative hobbies, such as photography, cooking, and painting. He loves to dabble in new creative pursuits, and I'm excited to see the art he and your child will make together one day. As a father, I know that Thao will do everything to create a home where a child is free to pursue his or her creative interests, explore, and develop a strong sense of his or her unique identity.

When I met Andrew in New York City, I was captivated by his curiosity about the world, new cultures, language, and history. Always curious, he takes our conversations to new, uncharted, and exciting territories. As a kid and only child, he was always reading. And even now, as an adult, he is still reading and seeking out information to comprehend the world around him. The extraordinary aspect of knowing Andrew lies in his ability to connect with folks from all walks of life. Andrew grew up in a small town in New Jersey. If there were a word to describe the town, it would be 'comforting.' Families are close to one another, and small, quiet roads, lush trees, and pretty parks characterize the neighborhood. Friendship there begins at the public elementary school and lasts long into adulthood. Growing up in an Irish-Italian family, Andrew had the best of both worlds, from the Italian home cooking of his great-grandmother and grandmother to the charisma and stories of his Irish grandmother, aunts, and uncles. As a practicing Catholic, Andrew feels a deep connection to the faith and traditions of his family. Moreover, his Catholic faith instills in him the value of prioritizing the more significant needs of others over his own.

At the root of our desire to start a family is the bond the two of us share with our parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. We share a deep desire to start a family and provide your child with diverse experiences that encourage him or her to explore their interests and develop a strong self-identity. Our commitment and love for each other have grown over the years as we have established our new home in New Jersey and worked in our careers to meet our individual goals and aspirations as a married couple. Our motivation to adopt is rooted in the love and opportunities our families and their traditions have provided us. We want to pass on the same passion and opportunities to our future child or children by creating a nurturing and supportive home.

As a couple, we approach parenthood with diverse life experiences and viewpoints that complement each other. We strongly believe that children must be exposed to diverse experiences and views to develop their identity and understanding of the world. Our distinct cultural backgrounds and upbringings have taught us to approach situations from different angles, and we recognize the value of that perspective. If we are blessed with a child, we hope to provide a nurturing and supportive environment where they can thrive, learn, and experiment, which includes making mistakes while surrounded by various cultures, beliefs, and perspectives.

While we can't predict the future or know how to confront every challenge immediately, we commit, as a family, to being attuned to your child's needs and we will tackle these challenges together. Your child will remain at the center of our world, and we promise always to protect them, listen to them, empower them in the face of challenges, offer encouragement, provide support, and love them unconditionally.