We were officially introduced to each other by a neighbor who lived between our two apartments on the 10th floor of an apartment building in Tacoma, Washington while Kevin was in the Army and Emma was teaching middle school math and science. Emma was immediately taken with Kevin's humor, and ability to make everyone comfortable. Kevin was impressed with Emma's smile and how accepting she was of life's craziness. What started as a casual hangout, quickly became a loving relationship. While in Tacoma, we would go for happy hour at the restaurants across the street, go to Sounders games in Seattle, and take weekend trips to Vancouver, Canada. Being in the same apartment building, Emma got to meet Kevin's daughter when she was still young, and has enjoyed getting to know her and serve as a step-mom. Kevin also got to know Emma's family, as she grew up nearby. This foundation set us up well for two years of long distance; one while Kevin got a Master's degree in China, and one when Kevin's job took him to San Francisco.

Emma About Kevin

Kevin is incredibly curious and kind. He has an innate ability to make friends wherever he goes, and as a result, forms close communities wherever we live. Kevin's curiosity extends to most subjects, but especially other cultures and international relations. This has led us to travel as often as we can, and experience different ways of living. Kevin can often be found reading Wikipedia articles about leaders of foreign countries, customs of different cultures, and the history of different monuments. Kevin is open; he is willing to try anything - a run club, SCUBA diving, mountain biking, a Spanish class, or dancing lessons.

Kevin About Emma

Emma is an absolute rock. Whenever life is difficult you know that she will power through it and get to the end of the tunnel. She also has an incredible perspective on life, she accepts it as is and and always approaches things through an incredibly realistic lens. Emma focuses constantly on what matters to people, whether that is their favorite foods, outings they like, or recognizing what they are good at. This makes her an incredible teacher, with many of her students writing her the kindest thank you notes possible every year, talking about how she made science fun for them and helped develop a deep love of learning.

We have lived international and cross-cultural lives, previously living in Nicaragua, China, and Serbia before settling in Washington, DC. We are also committed travelers, having visited every continent except Australia together throughout our relationship. We focus on diving into new cultures, understanding ways of life, and coming back richer. This curiosity, acceptance, and understanding of the world is something we cannot wait to share with a child.

Our neighborhood is one reason we chose it: there's an HBCU nearby, Spanish immersion schools, and a genuinely mixed set of families on our block. Our own friend group is multiracial, and the people who'd be around our child every week reflect the world he or she lives in. We know that isn't automatic, so we're being deliberate — choosing a pediatrician and a school where our child sees people who look like them, learning and celebrating their heritage as part of our family's traditions rather than as an add-on, and if our child is Hispanic, starting them in a bilingual preschool.

We are very close with Emma's family and make an effort to see them frequently. Each month Kevin (and Emma as often as she can) visits his daughter in Washington State, where we also spend time with Emma's family and close friends. Recently, we have spent more time with Emma's sister and her new baby. We are also close with Emma's extended family, with whom we regularly text, call, and interact via the family fantasy football competition.

Although Kevin's daughter and Emma's immediate family are further away, we have built a strong group of friends for ourselves on the East Coast. Kevin has a talent for bringing together the community, and we have enjoyed building our community in Washington DC by joining book clubs, frequenting neighborhood restaurants and cafes, and hosting gatherings at our house. We love being able to host our friends for BBQs, game nights, and holiday parties. As our friends begin having children, those children also join us, and we, as well as our friends and family, look forward to being able to have a child be part of our community.

Our neighborhood is very diverse and has both residential and commercial areas and is located near community gathering places, a HBCU as well as Spanish immersion schools; The community reflects that. There are many young families residing in our neighborhood. In the mornings, many young families walk throughout the neighborhood with strollers and stop by a cafe or bagel shop for their morning coffee. Often, we see children playing outside their houses or walking to the community center.

We live in a 2 bed/2 bath condo. Although our condo does not have a yard, we have a large deck where we spend time eating meals, lounging in the hammock, and BBQing if the weather is right. We are also a short walk away from multiple parks and playgrounds. There is an elementary school and community center within two blocks of our building. The community center has a playground, playing fields, and a pool where we have enjoyed spending time with Kevin's daughter. They also have after school programs and host neighborhood events throughout the year.

We want to start as honestly as we can. Kevin became a father unexpectedly at 25, and because of that he understands something of the weight of what you are considering. We deeply respect the decision you are making and the life you are thinking about sharing with us. Before we even introduce ourselves, we want to make one commitment: your child will be loved, cared for, and supported by a thriving community that is thrilled to welcome you both.

Our names are Kevin Bassney and Dr. Emma Hartmann. We are 36 years old, and we have been married for more than two years after nine years together. Emma is a teacher in the DC area who is deeply committed to her students and who earned her doctorate in education two years ago. Kevin is an Army veteran who works for a technology startup focused on ending forced labor and abuse in global supply chains. We bought our condo in DC several years ago, and it has become a gathering place for the people we love. Movie nights, holiday parties, casual BBQs, a standing open door: our home is where our community comes together to support one another. That is something we would hope to share with you. Day to day, our life is fairly ordinary and we like it that way: long walks around the neighborhood, books stacked on every surface, our cat snoozing in his favorite sunny spot, a round of golf or time at the driving range when the weather cooperates.

If you asked us to describe our relationship in a word, it would be trust. We are confident in each other and know we are on each other's team. When we're apart for more than a day, we find ways to reconnect and then carve out time for the two of us upon returning. Our conversations range from politics (we do live in DC) to our jobs, our neighborhood, and planning the next big trip. Teamwork is part of almost everything we do. We disagree the way most couples do, and after nine years we've gotten good at talking through it rather than around it.

We are also already parents. Kevin's ten-year-old daughter, Autumn, is a central part of our lives. We are very close with her, and she has welcomed Emma as a step-mother. When we talked with Autumn about adoption, she was thrilled to "finally have a sibling!" She has already asked whether she could teach her new brother or sister the things that matter most to her; her favorite graphic novels (Warrior Cats, currently), cookie recipes (she loves baking with her grandmother), and how to ride a bike. Watching how excited and supportive she has been throughout this process has been deeply moving for us.

We see adoption as the next chapter of our story, a chance to share our lives, our community, and our values with another child. We would want you to be part of that child's life. We are committed to sending you letters and pictures so that you can see your child growing up, and we are open to more than that: phone calls, emails, and visits as your child grows. We believe a child should know their history and their story, and that includes knowing you. We would rather build something open and honest with you than something closed.

We would honor your decision to the fullest of our abilities. We hope that you get a glimpse into our lives, get a sense of our personalities, and learn how we hope to raise a child.

Thank you so much for your time, and all the best,

Kevin & Emma