Being parents is something we always knew we wanted. We both grew up close to our families, and creating that same sense of love and belonging for our children is deeply important to us. From the moment our daughter was born, parenthood became real in the smallest, most meaningful ways—holding her tiny feet, feeling her hand wrap around our finger, and spending many nights feeding and soothing her back to sleep. Some of what we value most as parents is being present for the everyday work of raising a child, including the routines and steady care that help a child feel secure. With a new child, we understand that begins with learning their rhythms, responding to their needs, and providing consistent comfort and care. Parenting, for us, is about showing up every day with patience and love. As our children grow, we understand the importance of supporting their interests, encouraging independence, and helping them feel confident in who they are. With Abbie, we’ve loved watching her interests slowly take shape — reading books endlessly, picking flowers outside, and spending long stretches coloring with crayons or squishing Play-Doh at the table. Those experiences have shown us how meaningful it is to watch a child discover the world in their own way. We’re excited to discover what our future child will be drawn to, and to cheer them on as they develop their own interests.

Adoption will simply be part of our child’s story from the very beginning. We’ll talk about it in age-appropriate ways so it’s something they always grow up knowing, not something that is ever surprising or hidden. We’ll use books and everyday conversations to explain adoption, emphasizing that families are created in many different ways and that each one is special.

As our future child grows, we’ll continue to share information about their biological parents in a way that feels supportive and guided by their curiosity. We plan to honor those connections by sharing updates with the biological parents as the child grows. Most importantly, we want our child to feel comfortable asking questions, sharing feelings, and knowing that their story is something to be proud of and celebrated.

One of the things we admire most about each other is how naturally we balance and complement one another. Thomas is deeply sensitive and incredibly empathetic, always thinking about others and making sure everyone feels seen and cared for. He’s thoughtful, organized, and works hard to create meaningful experiences for our family—from big vacations to everyday moments—and brings a calm, nurturing presence to our home. Marcus is driven, creative, and has an amazing ability to master anything he sets his mind to, whether it’s makeup, painting, or gardening. He brings vision, structure, and intention to our family life. He’s also playful and silly, with a warm presence that makes those around him feel safe and supported, encouraging them to step outside their comfort zones and try new things.

Together, we share a love of creativity—decorating cakes, drawing, painting, and crafting as a family—and a joy for experiencing the world, including travel, concerts, and discovering new restaurants. We encourage one another’s growth while celebrating our differences. And most importantly, we support one another as parents, both approaching parenting as a team and creating a home rooted in stability and care.

We live in Northern Virginia in a diverse, family-friendly suburb that we believe is a wonderful place for a child to grow up. Our neighborhood is active and welcoming, and it’s the kind of place where children are outside and part of everyday life. We often see kids riding bikes, drawing with chalk on the sidewalk, and playing football in the street. Many of our neighbors have young kids, and the diversity on our street is something we truly value. We are excited to have another child and watch them grow up surrounded by friends, community, and a strong sense of belonging.

Our community is full of conveniences and opportunities for families. We’re close to a mall and town center, and our neighborhood has its own playground and pool. There are also several nearby parks, along with dance studios, gymnastics centers, and swim schools that we’re excited to use as our children grow. Plus, we are close to multiple large cities that offer endless activities.

Our home is a large, open-floor-plan house with five bedrooms: a master bedroom, a nursery, two guest rooms, and a home gym. We plan to convert one guest room into a second nursery for our future child. We spend most of our time in the kitchen and living room, which is where our daughter’s toys are and where we spend lots of time being together.

Family is a big part of our everyday life, and we’re lucky to have much of our family close by. Thomas’s father and his brother’s family live about 45 minutes away, and Marcus’s parents travel from the Philippines each year and stay with us for several months at a time. We usually have large family outings once or twice a month, often meeting for lunch or doing something fun like bowling, escape rooms, or seeing a movie.

Traveling is another way we spend time together. We love bringing family along on our adventures – and plus it’s always nice to have extra hands when traveling with a toddler. Over the past year, we traveled together to California, New York City, and one of our favorite destinations – Disney World.

Holidays and milestones are especially meaningful to us. We will always go big for our children’s major milestones (such as baptism, birthdays, etc…) by hosting large celebrations with catered food and bringing family and friends together, even those from out of town. We feel very fortunate to have a close-knit family that brings so much kindness and laughter into our lives, and we hope to share that with our future child. Our family is very supportive of our adoption plan, and we talk openly and positively about it together. Everyone is excited to welcome another child into the family and a sibling for our daughter, Abbie. In fact, Abbie happily talks about having a sibling just like her favorite character, Peppa Pig.

We’re really glad you’re here and taking time to read about us. We know you have a lot to think about, and we have so much respect for the care you’re putting into your decision. Whatever path you choose, we hope you feel supported, seen, and cared for. We want to give you a sense of our family and the loving, supportive environment your child would grow up in. Laughter is a big part of our home, along with creativity, art, and a love of exploring new places and experiences. At the same time, we stay grounded in the everyday rhythms of family life at home and in the culturally diverse community we’re lucky to be part of. We believe your child would grow up feeling deeply loved, supported, and confident in who they are.

We’ve been married for three years, and our relationship began in a unique way. We first connected at the start of the pandemic, and because Marcus works in healthcare, we had to be careful about meeting early on. There were plenty of dates spent outside, sitting six feet apart, talking for hours and laughing at how strange it all felt. Looking back now, it seems a little silly — but it was truly a gift. That slower pace helped us really get to know each other and build a strong emotional connection before anything else. We moved in together in 2021, and later that year we got engaged in front of close friends. We decided to have our wedding shortly after engagement, since Thomas’s mom was facing terminal cancer. Having her attend the wedding meant everything to us, and being able to share that day with her shaped how we think about family and time, and how important it is to show up for the people we love.

We have a two-year-old daughter, Abbie, who joined our family through surrogacy and would truly love being a big sister. She’s a joyful, engaged child with a strong personality — curious, observant, and deeply interested in the world around her — and right now she especially loves books and anything Peppa Pig. It’s been a wonderful experience watching her develop her own interests and personality, and we are excited to welcome our next child and watch them grow and develop in their own way. We are especially looking forward to getting to know who your child is — their personality, interests, and what makes them feel most loved — and to watching them build a sibling bond with Abbie as they grow up together. Please know that we would care for and cherish your child with the same love and attention that we give Abbie, and we would absolutely treasure every moment with them.

Honesty and openness are important to us as parents. Any child adopted into our family would grow up knowing their story in an age-appropriate and natural way. Adoption wouldn’t be something hidden or explained later — it would simply be part of who they are. We would always speak about you with respect and care, as an important part of their story. We are committed to maintaining ongoing contact with you in clear and consistent ways, sharing our phone number and email, and maintaining an active connection with you so that you can receive updates and see how your child is doing as they grow.

Thank you for taking the time to read about our family. We know there is a lot to consider, and we truly respect the respect the thoughtfulness you’re bringing to this decision. We would be honored to be part of your child’s story and to care for them every day. Whatever you decide, we wish you peace and support as you move forward.

Thomas & Marcus