We want to adopt for many reasons, but most importantly, because our family feels ready to welcome another child with love and intention. We can easily picture another little voice at the dinner table, toys filling the room that now sits empty, and the joy that comes from sharing everyday moments together.

We have one child, and while he is deeply loved and thriving, we know that we cannot provide the unique companionship, connection, and shared experiences that a sibling can offer. We believe a sibling relationship can be a meaningful and enriching part of childhood, and we are excited about creating that opportunity in our home.

As parents, we have found raising our child to be the most fulfilling experience of our lives. We look forward to welcoming another child with their embracing their individuality, supporting their curiosity, and watching them discover the world in their own way.

We often talk with our child about the idea of having a brother or sister, and he is genuinely excited. He notices siblings at his daycare and talks about wanting the same kind of relationship. It has been meaningful for us to see his enthusiasm and openness, and we look forward to growing together as a family.

We have one son who was born in 2022. He is quieter, or, as he likes to say, “shy”. That doesn’t mean he isn’t adventurous, though. He loves exploring new places and trying new things, including food. He has many different interests that we work to nurture as he grows. He goes to daycare during the day and loves to be outdoors, playing on playgrounds. He has several friends, with whom he plays hide and seek and tag and other games. On the way to school, he likes to serenade whichever of us with made up songs that he plays on his ukulele.

He loves all types of trucks and equipment, especially firetrucks and has visited a fire station. He plans on visiting a garbage company next to see their garbage truck fleet. He also likes space and knows all his planets, loves watching videos of rockets, and knows how to spot satellites in the sky. His favorite book series is “The Little Blue Truck” series, which we read just about every night. He is a sweet boy with a deep love for animals, as well. Being around our dog his whole life, he is inherently unafraid of dogs and cats. He enjoys going to zoos and aquariums and has an interest in what different animals are like. It is truly amazing to watch him grow into his own person, and he makes our home magical.

Our favorite vacation spot is Desoto State Park in Northern Alabama. A particular cabin nestled between 2 mountains that is within hearing distance of a large river. The weather there is always cool and, in the morning, crisp mountain air scented with flowers fills the lungs. When breathing the air in those mountains it relaxes a person to where it feels like the world slows without you even noticing. All the hiking trails are gorgeous, and the river water is cold when the weather is hot. There are many small waterfalls within a short distance from the cabin and the cabin itself is a rustic cabin but modernized with all the amenities needed to have a comfortable stay. We love to spend the entire time outside, including nighttime when we stargaze in the middle of a lush green lawn on a blanket. There are many things there from natural beauties to ancient Native American monuments, and it has all been arranged to be easily accessed while remaining hidden from the public. To top that off we have become good friends with the park rangers there and they allow us to do many things and give us access to a lot of areas that actually are very hidden where the nature and history are untouched by humanity.

Our home is located near a church and other houses. The neighbors and daycare are very supportive of the adoption and are excited for us. Our neighbors are great people. We tend to have their dogs and grandchildren in our yard, and our animals are often in their yard. We talk, eat dinner, borrow items, and do all the other things one would expect from a healthy relationship with their neighbors.

Our daycare is always putting on a party, festival, parade, dinner, or play. It is a great place that fosters children to grow and learn physically, mentally, artistic, athletically, and spiritually. The daycare offers dance, karate, soccer, and music along with other special yearly events such as fall festival, Christmas plays, Mardi Gras Parades, and Thanksgiving banquets. Furthermore, our community includes parks, splash pads, the beach, farms where you go and pick your own produce, places of hiking, trampoline parks, museums, and a decommissioned battleship. There is no shortage of places of experiences and activities. Our home itself is a 3-bedroom 2-bath house with a combined dining room/living room, kitchen, and air conditioned 2 car garage. On days when it is too hot, we have a lot of room in the garage to play and practice our hobbies.

Our extended families are looking forward to the new child and we have the complete support of everyone. Both Lucy and Gus have family members that have adopted children, so it is not a foreign concept to our families, in fact it is welcomed warmly. Lucy has 6 siblings and Gus has 1. Most of the family members live in different states, but we try to get together every 1 to 2 years with each sibling. Our families come from all walks of life from special needs and needing care to doctors and doctorates.

There is a magnificent breadth of cumulative experience in our family, and everyone is waiting to welcome home the newest addition to the Kirby Family. Gus's family, consisting of parents and 1 sibling, all live in close proximity to Gus and Lucy. We tend to see Gus's parents at least once a week, and they have proven to be loving and nurturing grandparents.

Dear Birth Mother,

We want to start by expressing our heartfelt gratitude that you are reading our profile book. We cannot imagine the emotions you must be wrestling with in trying to decide what is best for your little one. We have always felt a pull to adopt, even before we faced challenges in growing our family, and it has since felt like it was meant to be. We are thankful for the opportunity in sharing a bit of our lives and give you a glimpse into who we are and the love we want to share with a child.

We met in college and quickly became fast friends, eventually falling in love. We dated for 6 years and have been married for 8. Our relationship has always been one that is full of our love for learning, travel, and hiking through national and state parks. We rarely say no to trying new things and thrive while we are a little out of our comfort zones. We have built a community of friends who enjoy travel and the outdoors like we do, along with our families who also prioritize curiosity and creativity.

We had a son in 2022, who is very excited to be a big brother. He is already practicing being a 'big helper' and can’t wait to share his love of rockets and drawing with a little sibling. He has a vivid imagination that is fueled by nightly book reading, songs, and time spent outdoors in nature; he speaks often about how he cannot wait to share his stories and games with a little sibling. We prioritize building a family where creativity is at the heart and where every child has the opportunity to thrive and shine.

We, as parents, believe that cultivating a child's curiosity is extremely important, as that in turn fuels a love of learning. We also believe that it is our job to instill a sense of morality, respect for all others, and kindness. Most of all, though, we believe parents are the foundation of love and stability for a child. We take these responsibilities seriously; we dedicate ourselves to these values with our son and plan to do the same for another child. We have the deepest respect for you and for the difficult decisions that you are tackling. We will enthusiastically honor your journey by keeping you updated with letters and pictures, if you would like.

We have a lot of family, some who live locally and some who live in other states. We have several sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, and cousins, with whom we are close. Our local family is very involved in our son's daily life and are extremely excited about our family potentially growing. They talk about it constantly and have already talked about all the places they will take our son and his little sibling together. Our family who are further away are also very excited to be able to dote on another little one and have planned on several get togethers and visits to spoil the new addition in person.

We promise to always have your child's best interest, passions, and safety at heart. We will raise them in a loving environment full of laughter, singing, cooking, and nature. Most of all though, we promise to love your child so very deeply and thoroughly; they will never go unsupported. We promise that they know about you, your story, and your truly selfless act of love and gift to them.

Gus & Lucy