We've created so many wonderful memories in our 12+ years together, and we're excited to keep adding to them as our family grows.

Don's most memorable moment was the early-morning bike ride down Haleakalā in Hawaii when he proposed to Bob. We had arrived in Maui the night before and were still on East Coast time, so the 3 a.m. departure barely registered - but the nerves of carrying a ring down a volcano certainly did! Don had been quietly planning where along the route to pull off and pop the question. As it turned out, when we stopped for a "snack break," Don wasn’t 15 seconds into his prepared remarks before Bob looked at him and said, "Are you proposing?" The pressure lifted immediately, we both burst out laughing, and then, after Bob said yes, we stood together taking in the view over the Pacific, already dreaming about what would come next. Bob's most memorable moment came during an especially grueling stretch of his medical training in Philadelphia. He was sleep-deprived, missing home, and running on fumes when Don secretly arranged for his entire immediate family to surprise him for his birthday. Bob had no idea. His parents, his sisters, and his eight-month-old nephew all walked through the door, and the look on Bob's face said everything. His 7-month-old nephew, of course, stole the show for the entire weekend – yet another hint, perhaps, of just how much Bob is made for family life.

We have a wide range of interests that keep our lives full and our weekends lively; some are shared, some are our own. Don loves to run and has completed several races over the years. He also volunteers regularly at a food bank in Philadelphia, a commitment that reflects his deep belief in giving back to the community around him. He's also been working on learning piano - emphasis on "working on". Bob enjoys lifting weights, tackling projects around the yard, and experimenting in the kitchen. He recently enrolled in guitar class through our local adult learning program. Both of us love to read, play cards and chess, binge new shows, and make the trip to the movie theater (because you really can't beat movie theater popcorn). Every winter, we try to get to a mountain - Don skis, Bob snowboards - and every summer we make our way to a beach, even if just for a long weekend. We also love to travel more broadly: exploring cities across the U.S. and, when we can, venturing internationally. We look forward to sharing all of these experiences with our children - cheering them on at whatever sports or activities inspire them, exploring new places together, and building our own set of family traditions along the way.

From Bob: Don is probably the most thoughtful, caring, and loving person I have ever met. He will go out of his way for anyone in need - a real "give you the shirt off his back" person. He loves his family fiercely, values his friendships deeply, and approaches life with a calm, rational steadiness that I have always admired and leaned on. There's also a wonderful "go with the flow" quality to Don that keeps our life from ever feeling too rigid. And I should mention that he already has the bad dad jokes down. Our future child will either love him or groan at him constantly - probably both.

From Don: Bob is the most genuine person you will ever meet. He is deeply caring, always making sure that everyone around him feels seen and taken care of - often at a cost to himself. Bob is made for family. Whether playing board games or flying a drone with his nieces and nephews, or setting a firm (but kind) boundary about why we won’t be spending $70 on a giant pumpkin at the farmer’s market, he lights up around kids in a way that is completely natural and completely him. He has an incredible instinct for what children need - warmth, structure, humor, and unconditional love - and he brings all of it effortlessly. I have watched him with our nieces and nephews many times and recognized each time that he was born to be a father.

It's funny how certain times of year can evoke such strong memories. We both love the period of time from September through December and the traditions that come with it - from decorating the house for Halloween or Christmas to spending time with family over holiday meals. We are incredibly grateful for our expanding family, now with 9 nieces and nephews (including 3 sets of twins!) between us.

We love decorating, especially setting up a Christmas village that Bob has collected over many years. Some pieces were gifts from his grandmothers who are no longer with us, and placing them each year feels like honoring tradition while creating new memories. Evenings often include favorite holiday songs spinning on our record player as we cook and unwind together in front of one of our 2 trees - one with Bob's favorite multicolored lights; the other with Don's preferred white lights.

Spending time with family is a priority. This past season took us to Long Island to be with Bob’s family and to South Carolina to gather with Don’s. Wherever we are, the highlights are the same - board games, shared meals, and lots of laughter. Looking ahead, we imagine these moments growing to include this child - helping set up the village, joining the games, and adding another voice to our favorite songs. Our families and friends are excited to welcome this child into a life filled with connection, joy, and belonging.

We live in Pennsylvania, just outside of Philadelphia, in a home we built in 2021 after realizing, during the early days of the pandemic, that we wanted to put down roots somewhere in the middle of our long-distance relationship. Designing our home involved countless decisions - some easy, others requiring compromise - but the process helped us learn how to listen, collaborate, and create something together. We moved into our home in March 2022 and have lived there ever since, spending time painting rooms, planting trees, tending gardens, and making each space feel warm and welcoming. One of our favorite features is the open-concept layout, where the kitchen, breakfast nook, and living room share a single sightline, making it easy to cook, eat, watch movies, and play games together, with the patio and grill just steps away.

Our neighborhood is one of the things we love most. We live close to three other awesome families who built at the same time, and together we call ourselves “The Quad.” We regularly gather for both planned events, like a New Year’s Eve progressive dinner, and spontaneous ones, like summer barbecues or winter game nights.

There are several children in our immediate neighborhood, ranging from infants to early elementary age, and excellent schools nearby, including an elementary school within walking distance. With parks, playgrounds, and trails close by, we can easily picture our children riding bikes, playing outside, and growing up surrounded by community, connection, and care.

We want to begin by simply saying: THANK YOU. Thank you for the time it takes to read these words and for the immeasurable love behind the decision you are facing. We have thought a lot about what it means to be on the other side of this letter and we want you to know that we do not take it lightly for even a moment. What you are doing is one of the most profound acts of love a person can make for a child. We see that. We are in awe of it. And whatever you decide, we will always respect the courage it took to get here. We are Bob and Don, a married couple who have been together for over 12 years - though it feels both longer and shorter, depending on the day (mostly longer when Don is telling a dad joke, and shorter when we look back at how much life we have already built together). Ours is a relationship grounded in kindness, laughter, and a love that has only deepened with time. Early on, we both knew we wanted to be fathers and that dream has never wavered.

We know we are not the youngest couple pursuing adoption (Bob is 45 and Don is 46) but those years have given us something we would not trade - stability, patience, perspective, and a very clear sense of what matters most in life. We are both pediatric physicians, established in our careers and active in our community just outside Philadelphia; we have spent the past decade building a home and a life together that is genuinely ready for a child to grow up in. That home would be full of family. Bob's family is warm and close-knit; Don's is equally big-hearted and loyal. Our nieces and nephews - who continue to grow in number each year - mean the world to us and have deepened our longing to be parents ourselves. Both of our families are fully behind this journey and cannot wait to welcome a new little one into the fold. A child placed with us would have grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who would love them fiercely from day one.

Life with us is active and a little unpredictable, in the best way. Our careers as pediatricians (not to mention our roles as uncles) have given us a deep understanding of the joys (and challenges) of parenthood and have made us realize how important it is to integrate fun and family into our professional lives. We ski/snowboard in the winter and find our way to a beach every summer. Don runs, volunteers at a local food bank, and is working on learning the piano. Bob lifts weights, tackles projects around the house, and loves to cook. Together, we read, love playing board games and cards, build Lego sets (sometimes with our nieces & nephews; sometimes just as a date night), binge new shows, and enjoy exploring new places together - from the U.S. National Parks to international adventures exploring new cultures and traditions.

We also want you to know that you would not disappear from this story. We will send you letters and photos regularly, so you can watch your child grow, laugh, and thrive. We are genuinely open to more than that - emails, phone calls, or visits if that feels right to you. We believe your child's story begins with you, and we will always speak of you with the gratitude and honor you deserve. We want your child to grow up knowing, without any doubt, that they were placed with us through an act of extraordinary love. We cannot promise perfection but what we can promise is a home that is safe, warm, and filled with laughter and love for a child who is cherished every single day and encouraged to be exactly who they are. We will be two parents who will show up, every time, for the big moments and the quiet ones alike.

With love, gratitude, and great respect,

Don & Bob