Dear Birthmom,
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We are Tony and Jen. We live in the Midwest, in a small town near a major metropolitan area. We have a four-bedroom home, in a family-oriented neighborhood. Tony runs his own business a short drive from home, and Jen is a billing specialist for a local OB/GYN practice. Her hours are flexible, and she can work part time from home. We both have family near by, all of whom are excited about welcoming a new baby into our lives.
Our dreams of starting a family started us on our adoption journey. Knowing that we cannot give birth to a child, adoption seems such a wonderful way to bring a baby into our hearts and our home. Tony has two cousins who are adopted, so we already know the blessings adoption can bring. If you select us to parent your child, we want to assure you that we will raise him or her to know what a loving, unselfish decision you have made. We will be forever grateful to you.
We’re looking forward to all the new opportunities facing first-time parents: the first smile, the first steps, and the first word. We are eager to share in the joys of bedtime stories, learning to ride a bike, and watching a child grow from a baby to a young adult. We are ready to dry tears, cheer during disappointments as well as successes, and support our child through life’s challenges.
Jen: My parents recently celebrated their 40th anniversary. They still live in the house where I grew up, just twenty minutes from the home where Tony and I live. My mom was an accountant, and my dad was in the Marine Corps. They are both retired. We visit with them often, and I know that once a baby arrives, we’ll see even more of them.
Both of my parents come from big families. I was an only child. But I never felt lonely growing up. There were lots of kids in the neighborhood, and I had many cousins, so there were always plenty of children around our home. My dad inspired in me a love for the outdoors. We’d hike and talk about what was going on at school and with my friends. And as we walked and talked, he would tell me the names of different trees, plants, and flowers that we passed. I know I asked him a million questions, and he patiently and thoughtfully answered every one. On Saturday mornings, we’d go fishing. I remember when I was first learning to cast, he got so excited I thought he was going to fall out of the boat — and I dropped my fishing pole in the water. We still laugh about that today. He’s a patient man. He taught me to fix my car, repair things around the house, and encouraged me in all my interests. He was one of my biggest cheerleaders, and he still is.
My mom loves animals. She never minded when I brought home a stray frog, turtle, or salamander. She taught me to care for our pet rabbits and went to 4-H activities with me. We worked on craft projects together. But the time with my mom that I remember most fondly is bedtime. She would tuck me tightly into the covers, snuggle up next to me, and read until I fell asleep. I felt safe and loved. My mom kept my favorite book from childhood, The Tales of Peter Rabbit, and I can’t wait to read about Peter Rabbit to my child, snuggled up together in bed.
 Jen loves to be around the water. She grew up with a fishing pole in her hands. |
My mom taught me to set goals and work hard to achieve them. She encouraged my creativity and individuality. I put her to the test when I was fifteen and decided to dye my hair pink. She must have cringed inside, but she let me try it out, and never let on that I looked pretty silly.
Both of my parents always showed up at my extra-curricular activities, cheering me on. They stressed the importance of my school work, letting me know that education was critical to my future. I want to raise my child with the values I learned from parents, and with the security, love, and support I received from them.
I’ve recently developed an interest in nature photography. I spend a lot of my time outdoors. I can always find a new bird, butterfly, or flower to document. And when it’s too cold to be outside, I work on craft projects or scrapbooking.
I met Tony at a weekend get-together with friends. We dated for five years before getting married outdoors before a small group of friends and relatives on a beautiful fall day. We love to spend our time together hiking, camping, and riding dirt bikes. Fall is our favorite time of the year. We always visit our local orchard to pick pumpkins, and often go on a weekend getaway to the mountains in Tennessee. When the snow comes, we build snowmen and go sledding together. In the spring, we plant a vegetable and herb garden. We always grow way more than we can eat ourselves, so we share the extra produce with our neighbors. During the summer, we usually head west to the mountains of Colorado, the coast of California, or sometimes the national parks in the Southwest.
But we also like to stay home and relax together. We have dinner together every evening, catching up on each other’s day. Family dinner is important to us, and we look forward to including a son or daughter at the table, listening to his or her tales of school, friends, and activities. Friday night is movie night at home. We cook dinner together, often trying out new recipes, and then curl up to watch a DVD.
 We love to spend time together camping and can't wait to share these adventures with a child. |
We can’t wait to share our traditions and travels with a child. We can imagine how great it will be to watch our child explore the outdoors, catch a fish, collect shells on the seashore, and sleep in a tent under the stars.
Tony is a wonderful husband, and I know he will be a fantastic dad. He’s loving, respectful, supportive, and extremely patient. He’s a good listener, a characteristic so important in a parent. The more time we spend together, the deeper our love grows. I watch him with his 7-year-old godson, who just adores Tony, and I know he will be an amazing role model for our child. Our child will learn generosity, kindness, and integrity by watching the way Tony lives his life.
 Tony in the Colorado Rockies. |
I feel fortunate to have a job I enjoy, working with people who have become some of my friends. I’m also lucky that I have a lot of flexibility in my job. I plan to take a six- to eight-week maternity leave. When I return to work, I will work part time from our home.
Tony: I didn’t realize I was a country boy until I met Jen. Having grown up in a city in the Midwest, I spent my childhood outside, but outside playing sports, particularly baseball, basketball, football, and swimming. Now I find myself in a small town, still spending as much time as possible outside, but now I’m hiking, camping, riding dirt bikes, and working in our yard. I can’t wait to share my interests with our child, teaching him or her about the woods, our garden, and sports.
My sister and I were raised by my mom, grandmother, and grandfather. My parents were divorced when I was very young, and we moved in with my grandparents. Growing up, it was like I had two moms and the greatest father figure anyone could want. The three of them were willing to do anything to ensure that my sister and I had what we needed. Our mom was our greatest champion. She encouraged us to have open minds, try new things, and work hard to meet our goals. I remember going to my games and always looking into the stands to see if my family was there. They always were, cheering me on, game after game, no matter the weather.
Some of my favorite childhood memories are of Saturday mornings, sitting in the middle of the floor with my Legos spread out everywhere, while Grandma and I put them together in a never-ending variety of vehicles, buildings, and toys. Whenever she found a broken toy, she would encourage me to take it apart and repair it. I still love taking things apart and putting them back together. I work on my dirt bike and my Jeep for the sheer pleasure of fixing things. I credit my grandmother with encouraging this curiosity. Her patience was amazing.
 Pumpkin picking is annual event in our family |
My grandfather made sure we honored our commitments, never promising what we couldn’t accomplish, all the while encouraging us to try our best. He died when I was twelve, and I still miss him. After his death, I was responsible for all the things he used to do around the house: fixing things, cutting the grass, general home maintenance. I was proud to take on these responsibilities. He taught me the values of hard work and family commitment. I still do these chores for my grandmother. I’m grateful for the chance to help out after all she’s done for me.
My mom works in the healthcare industry. She helps hospitals find nurses for temporary assignments. My grandfather was a salesman at a clothing store, and my grandmother worked part time at an art store. Everyday when my sister and I got off the school bus, my grandmother was waiting at the front door for us.
When I was five years old, a puppy “followed me home” and I asked if I could keep him. My mom and grandparents agreed, but they told me it would be my job to care for him. (We all know who really ended up taking care of him; it’s never really the kid.) I named him Tramp (after the Disney movie, Lady and the Tramp), and he was my best friend for 15 years.
It wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized that my non-traditional family was really a model family. My mom and my grandparents gave me stability, security, and love. They encouraged me to explore, dream big, and work hard to meet my goals. They were always there for me, applauding my successes and helping me to learn from those times when things didn’t go well. I want to give all of these gifts to my child.
I remain very close to my mom, grandmother, and sister. We talk and see each other frequently. They can’t wait to have a new baby in the family, a baby to love and to hold.
 Our home is in a wonderful neighborhood near great schools. |
When Jen and I met, it was like meeting that person who was meant for me. She’s a compassionate, giving person who instinctively puts the needs of others first. It’s not just me who is drawn to her — people love to be around Jen. She’s always laughing, making them feel good about themselves. She’s determined and passionate. She’s strong and kind. She’s generous with her time, with her family, friends, and community causes. She collects donations for our local animal shelter and makes sure that she regularly donates blood to the Red Cross. She takes real pleasure in taking care of others. I know she’ll be a wonderful mother. She will inspire our child to do his or her best, making him or her feel safe enough to try new things.
I started my own business in 2000, an electric distribution company. We sell everything from light bulbs and breaker boxes to wiring and switches. Most of our customers are commercial and industrial contractors. When my partners and I started our company, we were the only employees. Now we have 16 staff members. I am proud of our success.
Jen and Tony: When we bought our four-bedroom house, we knew we wanted a home where we could put our feet up, curl up on the couch, and make ourselves comfortable. We have a child-friendly home that we want to fill with a child’s laughter and the sound of running feet. Our favorite room in our house is the kitchen. We enjoy cooking together, trying new foods, having friends over, and just sitting around and talking. We look forward to adding a child’s drawings to the refrigerator, photos in the front hall, and a pile of toys in the family room. We have an acre of land with lots of shade trees, perfect for sitting under and reading a book, open grassy areas just made for a ball game, and plenty of room for a game of tag, hide and seek, or cooling off in the sprinkler. There’s wildlife galore, and it’s not uncommon to see deer munching on the grass or eating apples that have fallen off our trees.
 Our dogs, Dax  and Tempest are child friendly. |
We share our home with our two dogs, Tempest and Dax. Both of the dogs love people, especially kids. Tempest is a 13-year old black pug, who loves nothing better than being the center of attention. Dax, a five- year- old shepherd, is certifiably adorable. Well, he's actually certified as a "canine good citizen" by the American Kennel Club, meaning he's very well behaved. We know he'll be a great companion to our child. We can't wait to see them together.
Our neighborhood is safe, quiet, and filled with children. We have several top notch private schools near our home, so our child will have the opportunity to have a quality education. We have many parks, a new YMCA, and a large state-of-the-art library just a few miles away. We’re just ten minutes from a major city with great museums, a zoo, a performing arts center, art galleries, and sports complexes.
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We long to bring a child into our lives. We can offer him or her a safe, secure and loving home, a close extended family, and an opportunity-filled future.
We hope that you will choose us as adoptive parents for your child. He or she will always know that your tremendous love gave us this opportunity. If you wish, we will keep you updated on your child’s growth with letters and pictures. You can learn more about us, by contacting Steve or Joel Kirsh, anytime, at 800-333-5736. If you don’t reach them right away, please leave a message and they will call you back as soon as possible.
