A good, high-quality education is meaningful to both of us. We have always valued learning and continue to seek out opportunities to grow, even as adults. We believe some of the most impactful lessons come through experiences, exploration, and immersion in the world around us. Children learn not only in classrooms, but also through the people they meet, the places they visit, and the experiences that shape their understanding of the world.

Traveling is a way we hope to encourage this type of learning. Experiencing different cultures, traditions, and perspectives allows us to see the world through a broader lens and often helps us become more compassionate and understanding people. We want to raise a child who is empathetic toward others, open-minded, and curious about the world around them. We believe that emphasizing acceptance and openness in our home is one way we can help make the world a kinder, more understanding place.

We hope to share experiences like museums, artistic events, cultural celebrations, and opportunities to explore new places. We want our home to be a place where questions are encouraged and a lifelong love of learning is celebrated. When it comes to formal education, we will make it a priority to provide our child with the best opportunities available while also considering their unique needs, interests, and strengths. We will seek out educators and schools that will support them academically, emotionally, and personally as they grow into the person they are meant to become.

We have a fun, active lifestyle and truly believe in making the most of our time together. We love traveling to new places, experiencing different parts of the world, and creating memories along the way. We especially enjoy spending time outdoors, camping, and exploring the beauty of Colorado. We have a camping trailer that we love taking to the mountains to disconnect from the busyness of everyday life and enjoy time together in nature. Our family also gathers annually for a large family camping trip, bringing all 23 of us together for one of our favorite traditions.

When we are home for a weekend, we enjoy discovering new restaurants and attending live arts events like the symphony, theatre, and concerts. There is something special about experiencing the arts together that brings us so much joy, and we hope to share those experiences with our child while encouraging them to explore whatever passions bring them happiness.

We also love supporting our Colorado professional sports teams and try to attend several football, baseball, and basketball games each season. We enjoy being part of the excitement, cheering alongside fellow fans, and creating memories together. We cannot wait to share these traditions with our child; from exploring the outdoors to attending games, concerts, and everything in between. We are already excited about the future memories we will create together (and, of course, getting them some adorable baby sports gear along the way!).

To us, being a parent means being a source of strength, guidance, and unconditional love. It means showing up every day with patience, compassion, and the willingness to put our child's needs before our own. More than anything, it means creating a home where they always feel safe, supported, and deeply loved. We want to lead by example, teaching our child through the way we live our lives. We hope to model kindness, integrity, resilience, and empathy, while also showing them that no one is perfect. When we make mistakes, we will own them, ask for forgiveness, and demonstrate that growth comes from learning, not perfection.

As parents, we will encourage our child to dream big, work hard, and discover the person they are meant to become. We want to provide every opportunity for them to thrive while allowing them the freedom to explore their own interests, talents, and identity. Our role is not to decide who they should be, but to help them become the best version of themselves. Above all, our child will know unconditional love. No matter what challenges they face, who they grow up to be, or where life takes them, they will always know they have a family who believes in them, stands beside them, and loves them without hesitation. That is what being a parent means to us.

Family is the most important thing in our lives, and we are incredibly fortunate to have strong relationships with both of our families. Derek comes from a smaller family, all in Utah, where he grew up. Tyson's family looks a bit different, as he comes from a large family with 13 nieces and nephews.

While most of our family lives out of state, Tyson's parents live in our neighborhood and are a big part of our lives. We love camping, hosting dinners, and enjoying game nights with them. Derek grows a garden at their house and is jokingly referred to as their volunteer groundskeeper. Tyson's mom is also a registered nurse, and we are grateful to have her as a trusted resource for medical questions, advice, and the occasional "Does this look normal?" moment.

Every year, we plan a family reunion, usually centered around a large camping trip. Because our loved ones are spread across several states, we cherish every opportunity to be together. Family traditions are important to us, and we enjoy blending memories from our childhoods with new traditions of our own.

We also love opening our home to our trusted friends for great food, games, and meaningful conversations. Whether we're gathering around a board game, watching football, camping in the mountains, or exploring Denver, we value the relationships that surround us. We are grateful for the strong support system we have built and are excited to share that love, connection, and sense of belonging with a child.

We live in Colorado and absolutely love it here! We've lived in three states together, but truly love where we are now. We live in the suburbs south of Denver and feel we have everything we need right here. We are close enough to the airport for easy travel, which is important to us. We are also close to the city, where we enjoy sporting events, theater at the Denver Center, and a wide variety of restaurants. Yet close enough to the mountains where we can get outside, enjoy fresh air, and immerse ourselves in nature.

Our town is very family-friendly, with a charming downtown filled with parks, restaurants, and community events, and we enjoy the local trails, pools, and recreation centers. Throughout the year, there are events like the holiday star lighting with fireworks, summer concerts, an ice rink in the winter, and a brand-new library.

We can envision our child growing up here; spending summers at splash pads and parks, learning to ride bikes on safe trails, and participating in local sports and community activities surrounded by other families. Our neighborhood is quiet, safe, and full of young families. There are miles of nature paths, green spaces, playgrounds, and a community pool. It is common to see kids playing outside and neighbors connecting. We designed our 3,500-sqft home from the ground up and have been the only ones to live in it. We take great pride in the home we've built and the life we've created here.

Hi! We are Tyson and Derek from Colorado. We have been married for eight wonderful years, and we simply cannot wait to become dads. From the youngest ages we can remember, we have both felt that becoming parents is our greatest calling. Throughout our lives, we've celebrated accomplishments, received recognition, and overcome challenges that have shaped who we are today. Yet none of those moments compare to the deep hope we've always carried of growing our family. More than anything else, we dream of creating a home where a child feels deeply loved, endlessly supported, and encouraged to become exactly who they are meant to be.

As a same-sex couple, our path to parenthood has not been a simple one. We've explored different possibilities, some of which ended in disappointment, while others simply didn't feel like the right fit. Through every setback, our desire to become parents has only grown stronger. Adoption has brought us a sense of hope unlike anything we've experienced before. It feels like the journey we were always meant to take. The fact that you're taking the time to read our story means more to us than we can put into words. Family has always been at the center of our lives. We both come from large, loving families who have taught us the importance of kindness, support, and showing up for one another. Those values have become the foundation of our own marriage. We have created a stable home filled with laughter, encouragement, and unconditional love. Our home has plenty of room for a growing family, but more importantly, it is a place where we hope a child will always feel safe, accepted, and cherished for exactly who they are.

We love making memories together through adventure. Whether we're exploring historic towns across Europe and the eastern United States, relaxing on our favorite beaches in Hawaii or the Caribbean, or escaping in our travel trailer to the Colorado Rocky Mountains, we love experiencing the world together. One of the things we look forward to most is seeing those places again through the eyes of a child. We can't wait for camping trips filled with s'mores and stargazing, family vacations full of curiosity and laughter, bedtime stories after long days of exploring, and quiet evenings at home making ordinary moments feel special. We believe some of life's greatest memories are made not because of where you are, but because of who you're with.

As we think about the future, we also think about you. We want you to know that we deeply respect the love and courage it takes to consider an adoption plan. We can only imagine how emotional this journey must be, and we are grateful that you're taking the time to get to know us. If you choose us, we want you to remain an important part of this child's story in whatever way feels right for everyone involved. We are committed to honoring an open adoption through letters, emails, text messages, photos, and ongoing communication. Most importantly, your child will always know who you are and how deeply you love them. We will speak about you with kindness, gratitude, and respect, making sure they understand that your decision came from a place of profound love and courage. We believe your child will benefit from knowing where they came from and understanding the incredible love that went into your decision.

No matter where this journey leads, thank you for considering us. We hope that through these pages you've been able to see not only who we are, but the kind of fathers we hope to become. If we are fortunate enough to be part of your story, we promise to spend every day giving your child a life filled with unconditional love, encouragement, adventure, security, and every opportunity to thrive.

With gratitude,

Tyson & Derek