Education is at the heart of our family, and we are incredibly lucky to be surrounded by a village of educators. Emily’s mother spent her entire career as a speech pathologist working with young children, our sister-in-law is a school psychologist, and Aaron’s sister is a teacher. Having this built-in support system means our child will always have advocates who understand how to nurture young minds, celebrate milestones, and support different learning styles.

We highly value education in our own lives, which is exactly why we chose to live in a town known for its fantastic public school system. For us, though, learning doesn’t just happen at a desk; we consider it a fun, natural part of every single day. Whether we are reading bedtime stories, exploring nature trails, cooking together in the kitchen, or visiting local museums, we want to cultivate a deep, lifelong curiosity about the world. Our goal is to provide a well-rounded foundation where our child feels encouraged to follow their passions, ask big questions, and learn at their own pace. Surrounded by a family that loves to teach and a community built to support them, they will have every opportunity to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Our absolute favorite place to recharge is Acadia National Park in coastal Maine. It’s an incredibly special area for us, as it’s right on the ocean near where Emily’s grandfather grew up. Every year, we love renting a big house, gathering our closest friends, and spending the week doing tons of cooking and making sure everyone is included in the fun.

Acadia is also paradise for our dogs, who love hitting the trails just as much as we do. It is the perfect spot for kids to learn to love the outdoors because the hiking trails are less challenging, offering gentle granite peaks with stunning ocean views. Beyond hiking, the park and surrounding coastal towns offer a fantastic range of activities for all ages; from exploring tidal pools and biking the historic carriage roads to catching the sunrise or enjoying local ice cream.

We can't wait to bring a child into this tradition. We picture them splashing in the Atlantic surf, hunting for shells, and packing picnics for family hikes. It’s a place built on community, history, and natural beauty, and we look forward to watching our child explore it and grow to love the outdoors as much as we do.

We want to be completely honest: love is everything, but we also know it isn't a substitute for representation. If we are blessed to adopt a child of a different race, celebrating their heritage will be a natural, everyday part of our lives, not just something we talk about on holidays. For us, that means making sure our child grows up seeing themselves reflected all around them—in the books we read, the toys they play with, and the art on our walls. But representation goes beyond our living room. We’re intentional about living in a diverse community, ensuring our child will grow up with friends, mentors, and role models who share their racial background.

We are so excited to learn alongside them, whether that means diving into cultural traditions, attending community events, or exploring new foods and history. Above all, we promise to keep the door wide open for tough, honest conversations about race and identity. We want our home to be a safe space where they always feel proud of who they are and where they come from.

We are both very close with our families. Aaron grew up in New Hampshire with his two parents and his sister. Emily grew up in Central Massachusetts with her parents and two brothers.

We love that many of our family members live in nearby surrounding towns, so it’s easy to stay connected and spend time together. We usually spend at least one day each weekend with friends or family, grilling, going for walks, and playing with all our dogs and kids. Luckily for us, our families are crazy about each other, (ask us about the time we accidentally brought them all on vacation a month after we started dating!) and we get to host holiday dinners at our house with both families included. We love to host and often have 20 or 30 people over for holidays, and we can’t wait to build new traditions around children.

We are also both still very close with the friends we grew up with and have made them part of our extended family. Aaron’s best friends live in New Hampshire and in the Boston area, and he goes skiing with them in the winter and hiking with them in the summer. Emily‘s friends live only a town or two away (we joke that her best friend lives closer to her parents now than she did growing up!). They are always around for weekends, holidays, dinner parties, trivia nights, hikes, and other fun activities.

Our town is such a wonderful place to raise a family. There’s a real sense of community here, and one of the things we love most is how many young families and kids are in our neighborhood. It feels like there are always children outside riding bikes, playing together, and running around from house to house. Our house is a restored colonial with a fenced in backyard and plenty of space for kids to play. We picked our town because of the great school system and the fact that we can walk to the library, the elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as restaurants and parks, all from our house. That walkability of the town gives it such a warm, family-oriented feel while still being close to Boston.

We love going for walks in the woods of the nearby fells with our dogs, going to the beach at the Mystic lakes, and going to town festivals every summer. It really has that classic New England neighborhood feeling that’s hard to find.

We are so incredibly grateful that you are taking a moment to get to know us. We can only imagine the amount of love, courage, and deep thought you are pouring into this decision, and we are holding you in our hearts as you read this.

If we had to sum up our lives together in a few words, it would be a team built on absolute trust, big ideas, and a lot of laughter. We’ve intentionally built a home in Winchester where psychological safety is everything. For us, no topic is ever off-limits; honesty is a given, and there is a deep freedom to just be exactly who you are. We are so ready to expand this circle.

Our days are a beautiful blend of structure and spontaneity, driven by our unique partnership. Aaron is the one who jumps up first thing in the morning, full of momentum and ready to tackle projects or get us out the door for an early adventure. Emily is the steady, intuitive anchor of our household. When life throws us a curveball or a moment gets chaotic, she is the one who meets it with a quick laugh, a calm perspective, and a reassuring smile. Together, we keep each other moving forward without ever losing our sense of humor.

We love turning the ordinary parts of the week into something fun. Whether we are trying out a complex new recipe together on a Tuesday night, debating a big idea over coffee, or loading up our pets for a quick weekend escape, we find genuine joy in just being teammates.

When our extended family gets together, the house is beautiful and vibrantly loud. We don’t just sit around; we dive into deep conversations. Our village is naturally full of educators and child development experts. Our gatherings are a whirlwind of trading perspectives, mapping out future plans, and sharing what we’ve been reading or thinking about.

Lately, the absolute highlight of these family days is collectively marveling at our two-year-old niece. We are completely captivated by watching her learn about the world, and we constantly text each other updates about her latest milestones. A child in our family will grow wrapped in this exact same energy; surrounded by aunts, uncles, and grandparents who are genuinely fascinated by who they are and excited to support their growth.

We promise to provide a life where your child feels entirely safe to ask big questions, express hard feelings, and explore their passions at their own pace. We want our home to be a launchpad for their curiosity and a safe harbor for their heart.

If we are blessed to build a transracial family, that same transparency and openness apply. We will never shy away from honest, meaningful conversations about race, identity, and background. We promise to actively ensure that your child’s heritage is a proud, visible, and celebrated part of our everyday life, surrounded by a diverse community and mentors who reflect who they are.

We don't expect to be perfect parents, but we promise to be patient, deeply devoted, and entirely open. Thank you for letting us share our world with you. Whatever your path looks like, we wish you absolute peace and clarity.

Aaron & Emily