Adoption isn't just a choice we're making for our future; it's a fundamental part of our past and a defining element of who we are today. For me, Nick, the journey began at age three when I was adopted after spending three years in foster care. This personal experience has deeply shaped my identity and given me a profound understanding of a child's unique emotional journey. As I've gotten older, I've actively embraced the challenge of understanding my heritage, my family's history, and my own medical and lineage background. This search for self-identity has been a powerful, ongoing process that has only strengthened my sense of self.

Growing up in a blended family with other adopted siblings has been an incredible blessing. It has brought us closer together, fostering a special bond built on shared experiences and unconditional love. My parents' unwavering support and love gave me the security to ask questions about my history and to explore who I am without fear. This foundation of acceptance and love is exactly what we hope to provide for our child.

We understand that adoption is a lifelong journey for a child, and we are prepared to support our child through every question and every stage of their personal growth, just as my family did for me. We believe that a family is built on love, and our experience with adoption has only reinforced this belief.

What makes us unique is the beautiful way our individual backgrounds and strengths come together to create a dynamic and loving home. For us, adoption is not new; it is a thread that has always been woven into the fabric of our lives, as Nick was adopted at the age of three and grew up in a blended family with other adopted siblings.

This shared history gives us a unique and profound understanding of the journey a child experiences. As an interracial gay couple, we represent a blend of different cultures and perspectives, bringing a variety of lived experiences to our family. Our professional lives create a strong balance; while Bradley brings a focus on structured problem-solving and strategic thinking from his work in tech, Nick's experience as a middle school art teacher infuses our home with patience, empathy, and a deep appreciation for creativity.

We've both dedicated ourselves to a life of continuous learning and growth, with Nick currently pursuing his master's degree while teaching full-time. We are a family unit built on a foundation of open communication, a love for our two dogs, and a deep connection with our parents and close friends, who we consider extended family. The combination of our complementary personalities creates a home that is both stable and full of joy, where a child can feel both inspired and deeply supported.

To us, being parents means serving as a strong, loving support system and a steady foundation for a child’s life. It is about providing unconditional love, guidance, and encouragement while creating a safe and nurturing environment where they can grow. We believe parenting involves instilling core values—such as kindness, empathy, responsibility, and resilience—that give a child the tools to navigate the world confidently. At the same time, we know that each child is their own unique person. Being parents means supporting our child in discovering who they are, helping them develop their identity and purpose, and celebrating the person they become.

What we expect to love most about being parents is seeing our child grow and change over time—watching them discover their interests, their talents, and even their dislikes, and seeing the joy that comes from finding what makes them feel alive. We are excited to share experiences together, whether it’s traveling to new places, exploring different cultures, or simply finding adventure in everyday life. We also look forward to surrounding our child with the love of our extended family, who are eager to embrace them with open arms.

Ultimately, what excites us most about becoming parents is the chance to build a family grounded in love, laughter, and support, and to watch our child flourish knowing they are cherished for exactly who they are.

Our friends and family are the most important part of our lives, and we love spending time with them. Whether it's a family reunion at the park, complete with music, dancing, and amazing food, or a relaxing day on a pontoon boat in the harbor with close friends, we always make time to connect with the people we love. Our friends are a huge part of our chosen family, and we make sure we always visit each other. One of our favorite recent memories was gathering for a big family reunion, a day filled with laughter, great food, and plenty of music and dancing. It’s always so much fun to see everyone reconnect and share stories.

Our family is a unique blend of relatives and close friends, all of whom are incredibly supportive of our adoption journey. We have family all over, from Southern California to New York to Australia, and everywhere in between, and we love to travel to see them.

Our family is excited to welcome a child into our lives, and we can't wait to share our life with this child. 

We live in a charming home in Oakland, California, on a tree-lined street filled with families and children of all ages. Our community is incredibly supportive, and twice a year, our neighborhood throws a block party complete with bounce houses, popcorn, music, food, and face painting. During the holidays, our entire neighborhood transforms into a festive wonderland. The houses are decorated with lights for Christmas, and Halloween brings trick-or-treaters from all over. On our block alone, there are five families with kids ranging from newborns to high schoolers, creating a built-in network of friends for a child to grow up with.

Our four-bedroom, two-bathroom home, built in the 1920s, has an old-world charm that we love. We have a cozy backyard with grass and fruit trees, and our favorite room is the living room, where we spend most of our time. It's the perfect space for movie nights, hanging out with friends and family, and warming up by our wood-burning fireplace on chilly evenings. Our neighborhood also offers a variety of parks, including one with a water feature and another with a playground and sports fields. One of our favorite nearby spots is a park with beautiful hiking trails, where we love to spend time outdoors and enjoy the free concerts during the summer.

We can easily imagine a child playing in these parks, growing up surrounded by warmth, community, and fun. 

Thank you for taking the time to read our letter. We can only imagine how much love, strength, and courage it takes to consider adoption, and we want you to know how deeply we respect and admire you for making this choice for your child. We hope that by sharing a bit of who we are, you’ll feel the love, stability, and joy we have to offer.

We are Bradley and Nick. We’ve been together for five years and married for one, and our relationship is built on love, laughter, trust, and unwavering partnership. We balance each other’s strengths and weaknesses - Bradley is thoughtful and steady, while Nick brings creativity and calm. We are each other’s biggest cheerleaders, and we truly love building our life side by side. We can’t wait to extend that same love, encouragement, and support to a child.

Nick is a middle school art teacher who recently retired from the U.S. Navy after 20 years of service, including 13 years of active duty. His military career taught him resilience, dedication, and the value of community - qualities he brings into his classroom every day. His students know him as a teacher who listens, guides, and inspires them to express who they are. Bradley works in product management in the tech world and is passionate about creating tools that help people connect, collaborate, and grow. Together, we bring a balance of creativity and structure, stability and adventure, laughter and intention.

To us, being parents means more than providing for a child’s daily needs. It means being a strong, loving foundation - a safe place to land and a steady hand to guide them as they discover who they are. We will teach them values like kindness, empathy, and perseverance while giving them the freedom to explore their passions, make mistakes, and grow into their own unique person.

What excites us most about parenthood is watching our child grow into who they are meant to be, discovering their likes and dislikes, what makes them laugh, and what brings them joy. We look forward to sharing new experiences with them, from family travels to exploring our local community, and to surrounding them with the love of our extended family, who are thrilled to welcome a child into our lives.

We also want you to know that your child will always know their story and where they came from. We believe it’s important that they grow up knowing that their life began with courage, hope, and love, the love you showed in making this choice. We will make sure they know how special you are and how deeply they were loved from the very beginning. We promise to send you letters and pictures regularly so you can see your child grow and thrive. We are also open to more connection - through emails, phone calls, or even future visits, depending on what feels right for you. We believe that maintaining this connection can be a beautiful part of your child’s understanding of who they are and where they come from.

Our home is full of love, creativity, and joy. We spend our days walking our dogs, cooking together, enjoying the outdoors, and making memories with family and friends. But most of all, we are ready to fill our home with the laughter and love of a child. If you choose us, your child will grow up knowing they are cherished - by us, by our families, and by you. We are ready to give them the love, stability, and support they deserve, and we would be honored to walk this journey with you.

With love and gratitude,

Nick & Bradley