dear expectant parent(s), - full circle...

DearExpectantParent(s),

WeareTomandStephanieandwearebothexcitedatandhumbledbytheopportunitytotellyouourstorysoyoucanconsiderusastheadop8veparentstoyourchild.Whilewearealreadyparentstoanamazingli=leboynamedCaiden,wehavealwayswantedtwoorthreechildren.AAerhavingCaidenandlearningthatwewouldnotbeabletoconceiveanotherchild,wemadethedecisiontopursuegrowingourfamilythroughadop8on.Adop8onhasbeenonourmindsandinourheartsformanyyearsnowthough,aswehavealwayslongedtohaveabig,blendedfamily.Bothofuscomefromblendedfamilies,withstep-parentsandhalf-siblings,soweknowfirsthandthatbeingafamilydoesn’trequiresharedDNA.

Stephanie & Tom

Oneofourfirstdates.

WehavealsotalkedwithCaidenabouthowwe’rehopingtowelcomeabrotherorsisterforhimthroughadop8on.Heisveryexcitedtohaveasiblingsohecansharehistoyswiththebaby.Heevensayshewantstoreadhisfavoritebooktohimorherwhenheisa“grownup.”Ourhearts,andourfamily’s,arecompletelyopentolovinganotherchildandyoucanbecomfortedtoknowthatourschedulesaresuperconducivetoraisingmul8plechildren.Bothofusworkexcep8onallyflexibleschedules,withTomworkingfromhomefull-8me,andStephanieworkingfromhometwodaysaweek.Thismeanswewillhaveallthe8meintheworldtospendraising,loving,andsimplygePngtoknowyourchild,ouradop8vechild,astheygrow.Beforeweembarkonthisjourney,hopefullywithyourhelp,we’dliketotellyoumoreaboutusfirst.

Celebra8ngourengagementwiththefriendswhointroducedus

OurStory(viaStephanie)

Ourrela8onshiphasbeena“storybook”romanceofsorts.Thoughwehavebeentogetherfor12yearsandmarriedforeight,itfeelslikewehavealwaysknownoneanother.Mutualfriendssetusupinthespringof2005andwerealizedrightawaythatourrela8onshipwouldbespecial.Weimmediatelybondedoveroursharedloveofbooks,food,andanobsessionwithPatriotsquarterbackTomBrady.

AAerda8ngfor18months,wemovedintogetherinthesuburbsofBostonandfoundlivingtogetherevenmorefunthanda8ng.Twoyearslater,onmy29thbirthday,aAerwehadspentabeau8fuldayexploringtheCliffWalkinNewport,RhodeIsland,wearrivedhomeandIopenedmybirthdaypresentfromTomtofindahardcovercopyoftheAnitaShrevebook,“AWeddinginDecember.”ItwasabookIalreadyownedandIwasamusedandmildlyannoyed;thiswassomethingTomdidoAen–buymebooksIalreadyowned.Hewouldseeabookatthestore,recognizethe8tle,andthinkthatitwasoneIwantedtoread.Instead,the8tlewouldbefamiliartohimbecausehehadsubconsciouslyno8cedacopyIhadalreadyreadsiPnginabookcaseathome!This8me,althoughIdidn’tknowityet,hehadgo=enmeabookIhadalreadyreadonpurpose.WhenItoldhimIalreadyhadthebook,heapologizedprofuselyandbeggedmetoatleastlookatthecutepuppybookmarkhehadbought.

WhenIopenedtothepagewiththebookmark,Ifoundthebookwashollowedoutandlinedwithblackfeltandhearts,withanengagementringinthecenter.Itwastheperfectproposalforabookloverlikeme.HelaterexplainedthathepickedabookIhadalreadyreadbecausehedidn’twanttocutthepagesoutofabookIhadn’treadyet–whichwasevensweeter!WegotmarriedinFebruary2009infrontof90ofourclosestfamilyandfriends.SoonaAer,wewelcomedourfur-baby,Winston,aseven-week-oldChineseShar-Peipuppy,intoourfamily.Winstonlovespeopleandespeciallylikestosniffandlickthem.Heisaveryspoiledandloyalpup.WeenjoyedtakingWinstontopuppytrainingclasses,thelocaldogpark,andwatchinghimgrow,butraisinghimmadeusrealizewecouldn’twaittobeparentstoanactualchild.Wehadalwaystalkedabouthavingmul8plechildren.AAertryingunsuccessfullytoconceiveonourown,westartedfer8litytreatments.Severalyears,manytreatments,andtwoheartbreakingmiscarriageslater,wefoundout,onmybirthdayin2013,thatwewerepregnantwithoursonCaiden.

WelcomehomeWinston! Weddinghijinks

Relaxingafteradayatthebeach

In2011,weboughtasingle-familyhomeonaquiet,dead-endroad,inanicesuburbanMassachuse=stown.Wehaveaboutanacreofland,mostlyopenspace,whichissurroundedbywoods–allofwhicharegreatspacesforachildtoplay.Thewoodsarefilledwithhikingtrailsandinthesummer-8meweoAentakeCaidenandWinstonexploring.Thereisplentyofroomforchildrentostretchout,runaround,andsimplydiscover.Whilethisopenspaceisgreatforplaying,wearealsoplanningtoinstallabasketballhoopandawoodenswingsetinthebackyard,wheresomedayCaidenandhissiblingcanspendgood-weatherdayssliding,swinging,andshoo8nghoops.ThereareseveralotherfamilieswithyoungchildreninourneighborhoodwhoI’msurewouldlovetocomeoverandjoininonthefun.Inaddi8ontoourneighborhoodbeinganidealplaceforachildtogrow,learn,andexplore,ourtownissafe,quiet,andhasanexcellentpublicschoolsystem(itisconsistentlyratedinthetop50inthestate).Locally,wealsohaveaccesstoawiderangeofar8s8candathle8cac8vi8es.WehaveenjoyedtakingCaidentomusic,gymnas8cs,andswimclassesandwecan’twaittoadoptsowecansharetheseexperienceswithanotherchild,allthewhilelearningwhatheorsheenjoysandgravitatestowards.Wewillalwaysencourageourchildrentotrynewexperiencesandtodowhatmakesthemhappy.

OurHome(viaTom)

Ourhome

Visi8ngalighthouseonMartha’sVineyard

Tomhasbachelor’sandmaster’sdegreesinmechanicalengineering.Heiscurrentlyworkingfora8nystart-up,foundedbyaclosefriend,implemen8ngcybersecurityfornuclearpowerplants.ThefirmisbasedinMaryland,buthecanworkfromhomefull-8me,asthefirmisextremelysuppor8veofworkingfamilies.Thismeansthathisscheduleisincrediblyflexiblesohecanspendalotof8meathomebondingwithouradop8vechildduringtheearlyyearsandasheorshegrowsolder.StephanieearnedherBachelorofArtsinEnglishwithaconcentra8onincrea8vewri8ng.Shespent13yearsasawriter,reporter,andeditorinthenewspaperindustry.Shecurrentlyworksinthecommunica8onsdepartmentofacompanythatdoesmarketresearchonhightechproducts.Stephanieisintheofficethreedaysaweekandworksfromhometheothertwodays.Herjoboffersherfourmonthsofleave,whichshewilltaketocareforyourchildwhenheorsheisborn.Herworkhoursarealsoincrediblyflexible,sowhenthechildrenstartschoolshewillbeabletoadjustherscheduletobehomewhentheyareandsoshecana=endeveryschoolplay,concert,andsportsgame.

OurJobs

StephandfriendsataTaylorSwiftConcert

VisitingtheGreatWallofChinawithco-workers

Annualholidaybrunchwithourfriends

Tom'syoungerbrothers

Stephanie’sFamily

Iwasbornandraisedabout30minutessouthofBoston,alongwithmyfivesiblings:asister,twoolderbrothers,andtwoyoungerbrothers.Thethreeoldestaremyhalf-siblingsfrommymom’sfirstmarriage,butwewereallraisedbymymomanddad.Ourfamilyhasgrownevenlargerovertheyears,andnowIhaveeightnephewsandaniece.Mostofmyfamilylivesnearby,withinanhourdriving.Caidenandhiscousinslovetospendsummerweekendsswimmingatmyoldestbrother’spool,wherewealsohaveourannualfamilyreunionfortheextendedclanontheFourthofJuly.

Family(viaTom)

Beachlife

ThoughIlovetheFourthofJulypoolparty,ThanksgivingDayismyfavoriteholidayanditisalwaysalarge,crazy,loudaffairwithmyen8refamily.I’mexcitedtoshareTurkeyDaywithmyfuturechild–ea8ngturkey,watchingthefootballgame,andsimplylaughingwiththerestofourfamily.Myparents,“MimiandPapa”toallthekids,lovespending8mewiththeirgrandchildrenandareveryexcitedtowelcomeanewli=leoneintothefamily.Upun8lCaidenwasnearlytwo,theycametoourhousetowatchhimtwodaysaweek.Theys8llspendalotof8mewithhimnow,bringinghimtotheplaygroundandreadinghimstories;theyarelookingforwardtodoingbothofthesethingsandmorewithCaiden’ssiblingoncethat8mecomes.WhenCaidenturnedayearandahalfold,westartedourownfamilytradi8on.EverysummerwespendtheweekonCapeCod,alongwithourfriendsandtheir4year-olddaughter.Therewespendtheweekswimming,buildingsandcastles,andflyingkitesatthebeach.Wecan’twaittohelpournewestli=leonebuildtheirfirstsandcastleandswimintheoceanforthefirst8me.

Family(viaStephanie)IgrewupinasmalltownoutsideofWorcesterwithmymom,step-dad,andtwoyoungerhalf-brothers.Oneofmybrotherss8lllivesintheWorcesterareaandmyparentsandotherbrotherliveinSouthCarolina,neartheocean.Wevisitthemwheneverwecanandlovegoingtoplayinthewavesandthesandwiththem.“MimawandGrampy,”asCaidencallsthem,aresoexcitedtomeetournewbaby,hopefullyyourchild,sotheycansharetheirloveofbeachwithhimorheraswell.Thoughmyparentsareali=lefartheraway,IamveryclosewithmyGramandwetrytovisitwithheronceamonthorso.WeoAenpickherupandbringhertomyaunt’shousefordinner,butnoma=erwhatwedosheisalwaysanamazingpresencetobearound.SomeofmybestchildhoodmemoriesarefromgoingtoDisneyworldwithher.TomhasneverbeentoDisneyworld,butgoingtoDisneywithmyGramwassuchahugepartofmychildhoodthatI’vealreadytoldhimwe’retakingthekidsassoonastheyareoldenough–maybeGramwillcomewithustootokeepupthetradi8on!

Asforotherfamilytradi8ons,wespendChristmasdayathome,openinggiAsandenjoyingatastybreakfasttogether.ThenwehostmyGram,aunt,andunclefordinnerandTom’sparentsjoinusfordessert.I’mlikeali=lekidatChristmas(Iespeciallylovefillingstockingsforeveryonetoopen)andIcan’twaittomakecookies,openpresents,andlistentoChristmascarolswithournewestli=leone!ThoughTomhasalreadysharedthatThanksgivingishisfavoriteholidayandI’vetoldyouChristmasismine,HalloweenhasbecomeCaiden’sfavoriteholiday.OnHalloween,wegotrick-or-trea8ngwithourwholegroupoffriendsandtheirchildren.Webreakoutthewagonsfortheli=leonesandthebiggerkidsrunuptothehousestogether.Wecan’twaitforafuturechildtogetinonthefunandtreats!

StephanieandGram ChristmaswithTom'sbrother&sister-in-law

Tomwithhiscollegeroommate

WhenIfirstmetTom,Iknewweweremeanttobe.Fromtheverybeginning,itfeltasifwehadknowneachotherforyearsratherthandays.Heismyrockin8mesofcrisesandmypartnerinthemanyadventureswehavealreadygoneonandwillgooninthefuture.AnotherthingIknewfromtheverybeginningisthatTomwouldbeakindandlovingfather.HecanoAenbefoundplayingagameofmonster(whereCaidenhidesunderneathablanketgigglingandTomstalksaroundthehousepretendingtobeamonster)andhehasagreatreadingvoiceforbed8mestories,oAenmakingupdifferentvoicesforeachofthecharactersinabook.Heisanaturalathleteandenjoysmanyoutdoorac8vi8es,includingsoAball,golf,andrunning,soheisexcitedtoplayanykindofsportwithoursonandfutureadop8vechild.Tomalsoenjoysdoinghomeimprovementprojectsanditisonlyarareoccurrencethatweneedtocallinaprofessionaltofixwhathehasdone.Tomisalsothera8onalone,thebookkeeper,andloverofagoodexcelspreadsheet.Iknowourchildren,currentandfuture,willbeluckytohavehimastheirdad.

Stephanie–MyThoughtsonTom

Tomwithfriends,post-raceatahalfmarathon

EasteratTom'sparents’house

Tom'sDad&brother,Dave

Tom–MyThoughtsonStephanie

Lookingbackoverthepast12years,IamsoluckytohaveapartnerlikeStephanie.Stephanieisabsolutelymybestfriend.OnetraitthatIloveaboutStephanieishowempathe8csheis.Shehasaknackforknowingwhenyouneedsomeonetocommiseratewith,someonetocheeryouup,orevenwhenyoujustneedahug–afeatureIbelievemakesheranamazingmother.Sheisalsoquicktosmileorlaugh,andshemakesevendoingmundanetasksfun.IjokewithherthatIknewshewas“theone”whenIrealizedthatIdidn’tmindgroceryshopping(myall-8meleastfavoritechore)ifweweregoingtogether.Well-readandcuriousabouttheworld,shecantalktoyouaboutanythingandisequallycomfortabletalkingaboutpoli8csorthelatestcelebritygossip;shecantalktoanyoneaboutanything.Stephaniealsolovestocook,ahobbyshehascul8vatedoverour8metogether.SheissuchagreatcookthatImaintainthatsiPngdowntogetherforabowlofherhomemademacandcheeseisthebestmedicineforeasingthefrustra8onofaroughdayatworkorschool.Whilesheisafantas8ccook,sheisanevenbe=ermother.FromthemomentCaidenwasborn,I’vebeencon8nuouslyamazedwithhercomfortandgraceasamom.Whateverthesitua8on,sheisacalmandconfidentcaregiver,whoknowsjustwhattodoinanysitua8on.Fromdayoneshelookedlikeshehadbeencuddlingbabiesforyears,soIknowyourchildwillbeingoodhandswithher.

Game,Set,MatchattheTennisHOF

Stephaniewithherbestfriends

SanFranciscoHoneymoon

GrowingOurFamily

We’resogratefultohaveCaideninourlives,butwealwaysknewwewantedtohavemorethanonechild.Sincewebothgrewupwithsiblings,wealwaysknewthatwewantedCaidentohavesiblingstoo.AAerhavingCaidenanddoingmuchsoulsearching,wedecidedtofocusonadop8oninsteadofcon8nuingwithmoreinfer8litytreatments.Wewerefortunatetobeabletospeakwithseveralotherfamilies,whohadadoptedchildren,abouttheirexperiences.OneofCaiden’sdaycareteachersalsosharedherexperienceasanadoptedpersonwithus.Theseconversa8onsreinforcedourbeliefthatadop8onwasthepathweweremeanttotake,whichiswhywearewri8ngthisle=ertoyounow.

Thetwoofus

Thoughwecannotbegintounderstandwhatyouaregoingthroughrightnow,wewanttothankyoufromthebo=omofourheartsforconsideringusasyourchild’sadop8veparents.Wewantyoutoknowthatifyouselectus,weareopentowhateverlevelofcommunica8onyouwouldlikeandwewillbeproudtoopenlytalkaboutyouwithyourchild,soheorshewillknowhowthedifficultdecisionyoumadehelpedthembecomeapartofourfamily.Thankyoufortakingthe8metolearnali=lebitaboutus.IfyouwouldliketolearnmoreaboutusorspeakwithuspleasecontactFullCircleAdop8onsat1-800-452-3678.

Warmly,

Stephanie & Tom