When we started talking about our future together, having kids and a family was equally important to both of us, and we always imagined a large family.

We were able to get pregnant with Henry shortly after getting married and were just thrilled. We assumed we'd be able to continue to grow our family, but after years of trying were told it was very unlikely we'd have another child without fertility treatments. Our journey through these treatments was difficult and trying, but after years of disappointment, we were able to have Flynn, our second child.

Going through fertility treatments taught us how hard it can be to bring a child into the world, and what a precious opportunity each child is for a family. In the end, we wouldn't change the choices we've made, but as we grow our family we have decided adoption is a better option. Closing the door to further fertility treatment was a relief, and has allowed us to open our hearts and minds to adoption. Moving through the adoption process has been a tremendously positive and exciting part of our journey. We can't wait to welcome another child into our family through adoption, and look forward to sharing our joy with a new addition.

Kate About Brian: The first time we met I was smitten by Brian's easy smile, approachability, and kindness. I love that he is always learning, whether it be how to cook a new dish, fix an appliance, or solve a difficult professional problem. Brian is ever curious, a quality I love seeing him foster in both our boys. He will gladly take something apart just to show them how it works. Having had the opportunity to work with Brian in a professional capacity I saw firsthand how empathetic and open minded he is when caring for his patients. He is very driven and has set a great career path for himself, but he balances work and home really well. He puts the needs of his family first and spending quality time with me and the boys is his number one priority. Brian is about the best Dad I know, and I feel grateful every day to be on this ride with him.

Brian About Kate: When we first met, I was impressed with Kate's kindness and confidence, as well as her excellent taste in music. As our relationship progressed, I've learned that Kate is an amazing blend of openness and understanding combined with a tireless drive to improve whatever situations she's in. I've never met someone who is so good at both making people feel welcome and comfortable, while still being a catalyst for positive change. This combination makes Kate a wonderful mother- she's able to be both the nurturing, understanding parent who the kids turn to when frightened or upset, but also the one that they (and I) look to to inspire us to be our best selves.

Brian's work schedule is a bit nontraditional as emergency shifts happen on weekends and nights, but we often have weekend days where everyone is off. We usually talk about these in advance, and everyone gets to pick one or two activities to try to fit in.

On a typical day the boys will wake up pretty early and love making pancakes with Brian in our never-ending quest to find the perfect recipe. Kate plays the role of food critic, and she usually gives us high marks while noting that we've used way too many chocolate chips. After a bit of digestion time, we'll often take a family trip to the nearby lake, a short four block walk away. In the summer we kayak and fish on the docks, in the winter we ice fish and ice skate.

We also love having neighborhood friends and family over to play in the backyard and have a BBQ. We feel very blessed to have a wonderful network of people to share in our joy and fun, as well as lend support when needed. Nurturing those relationships is a big part of our lives.

We live in a great neighborhood, which we think is perfect for raising kids. We're urban enough that we park on the street and walk everywhere, but we have loads of old trees, back yards big enough for dogs and a few chickens, and many nature and biking trails readily accessible. We're a short walk from Brian's work, a lake for fishing and boating, the grade school, and several parks and restaurants.

Our home is from the 1920s, with three bedrooms upstairs for the kids and a great open first floor where we can all be together. We just got a letter from the first child to grow up the house- she described her father who built it and how happy she was to see our kids playing in the yard.

We love our neighbors, and our street is a really nice mix of ages. Our nextdoor neighbors on the right are like an extra set of grandparents for the boys (our oldest has a weekly bird feeding date with them!), and on the left is a family with children similar in age to ours.

One of our favorite neighborhood events is the annual 4th of July parade. All the neighborhood kids decorate bikes and scooters in front of the local ice cream shop and ride for a couple blocks before ending up in the park by the lake, where the fire department shows up to cool everyone off.

We are both quite close with our extended families, and both sets of our parents are very excited to welcome an adopted grandchild. Both sets of grandparents have been amazing parenting idols and have wonderful relationships with our kids. We have no doubt that they will both continue to be an important part of our children's lives.

Kate's mother and father are a 20-minute bike ride away and our boys love having them come by to break our rules regarding treats and bedtimes frequently. Kate has a brother and sister in law who are teachers a few hours away, and are tremendous role models for our children. Her other brother lives in North Carolina with his family, having cousins living on the beach is great for family trips! We host a big traditional Christmas at our house with Kate's extended family, the boys love having a house full of guests to celebrate with, not to mention open presents with!

Brian comes from a big family (he's the oldest of six kids) who all still live in Pennsylvania. Our children love visiting their grandparents on the farm. Our trips out east are always occasion for family reunions with daily visits from Brian's brother Joe, sister Nicole and their young families, as well as his younger siblings who love being the fun aunt and uncle! The annual summer lobster bake, a tradition Brian's dad brought from his upbringing in Maine, is a super fun family tradition.

Thank you for taking the time to get to know a bit about us. We think that you are brave and selfless, and we respect how difficult this decision must be for you. Know that we want what is best for you and your baby.

We met in a children's hospital emergency department 11 years ago, where Brian was working as a resident and Kate was a nurse. It was a strange meeting place, but as we've taken the steps that lead to writing this letter, it is good to remember that our relationship was founded on working together to help kids who needed us. Now, after 8 years of marriage, that foundation still holds true.

Both of us come from big families, and early in marriage we talked a lot about having a large family. We sort of thought we'd just have several kids, but it didn't work out that way. We have had a tough journey building our family so far, and don't take having a child for granted. As we've prepared for adoption we've become very passionate about the opportunity to open our hearts and home to a child who needs it. Our experience in forming our family so far has been both humbling and amazingly joyful. We will bring the spirit of humility and joy to you and your child and the life we will have together.

Our boys are our greatest joy. We love to teach them, learn from them, play with them, and show them the world. We know we have room in our hearts for another child and cannot wait to bring a third baby into our home. As soon as Henry and Flynn came into the world, we knew that our lives were forever changed, and like all good parents realized that we would make any sacrifice for their well being. We've been blessed with a trusting relationship and resources to provide for our children. We know that we are extremely lucky in this regard, and when we put ourselves into your shoes we know that you are already the best type of parent: one who makes a huge sacrifice to do what is best for your child.

Like all parents, we want our kids to grow up happy and well adjusted. For us, this means feeling good about their place in the world and their relationship with their family (us and you), friends, community, coworkers, and their faith. We have a strong focus on faith, learning, and social justice, and will pass these values on to our children as best we are able.

Please know that an adopted child will be an equal member of our family from the second we meet. We've talked to Henry and Flynn, and they couldn't be more excited to have a younger brother or sister. At the same time, we want an adopted child to understand where they come from, and are committed to keeping our relationship with you open, and updating you frequently with letters and pictures. We truly believe that everyone involved will be healthier and happier if we have a trusting and honest relationship with you, and we look forward to opening that door. In our home you will be loved and admired.

With love and gratitude,

Brian & Kate