From the very beginning of our relationship, we knew we wanted children. Amanda had dreamed of being both a doctor and a mother her whole life, and Christopher had always imagined a home full of noise, laughter, and little ones. When the time came, we started trying — hopeful and full of excitement. Years passed. We went through fertility treatments, held onto hope through disappointments, and eventually arrived at a place of deep acceptance.

Adoption was never a consolation plan for us. It became something we genuinely and wholeheartedly embraced. The idea that a child is out there who needs a family — and that we have so much love, so much life, and so much space to offer — felt less like a second path and more like the right one. We believe family is built on love, not biology, and we are ready to be parents with everything we have.

Traditions matter deeply to us — they are how we stay rooted and connected to what we love most. Our everyday traditions are just as cherished as the big ones — Friday pizza nights, weekend movies with popcorn, and road trips with favorite music and snacks as well as birthday and holiday celebrations. Every Thanksgiving, we make the trip to Memphis to a hotel Christopher has been visiting for over 30 years. This has been part of his family for many generations, and now includes Amanda. We meet Christopher's parents and love spending time with them there. There is something grounding and irreplaceable about returning to a place that holds so much history and warmth.

Christmas is our favorite time of year. In the days leading up to it, we gather with Amanda's parents to visit the best light displays around the state. We watch movies together until we can barely keep our eyes open. On Christmas morning, we wake up, make a big breakfast together, and open gifts surrounded by our animals. It is unhurried, warm, and completely ours. We look forward so much to the day we get to share these traditions with a child — and to creating brand new ones along the way.

Between the two of us, there is rarely a dull moment. We love to travel — visiting national parks, new cities, different lakes to explore by boat. We go to museums, catch movies and concerts, and spend many quiet evenings with a good book or a board game spread across the table.

Christopher has a deep love for strategy and games — Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering, and video games are a big part of how he unwinds and has fun. Amanda channels her creativity into crafts and gardening, and there is always something growing or in progress around our home.

Together, we love hiking and being out in nature, which living on 100 acres in Michigan makes wonderfully easy. We are excited to share all of it with a child someday — the grand adventures and the quiet, cozy evenings both.

We live in a beautiful house in the country with our two dogs and two cats. We spend a lot of time outside, enjoying the area. Christopher enjoys working on his tractor keeping the property looking it’s best, doing puzzles, playing games, and planning our next vacation.Amanda is really passionate about her job as an OB/GYN and enjoys shopping, reading, gardening.

We are really lucky to have Amanda‘s parents, one set of future grandparents living right across the road! We get to spend a lot of time together, celebrating holidays or just dinner together. Amanda‘s mom makes a great corned beef, or they will come to our house and Chris will grill steaks. We watch movies together. We also enjoy a road trip checking out a new spot going to the lake, or getting ice cream together. 
Chris’s parents live in Louisiana do we plan trips to visit them or meet somewhere fun several times during the year. They also come to stay with us when they can. Our visits usually center around eating/ making great food together and laughing a lot. We have spent time in Memphis, Mississippi, and northern Michigan with them

We live in Michigan. We live in a great house in the country on a beautiful property with lots of trees and space. Our house has a lot of windows and great light with beautiful views of green, trees, and all the animals that live nearby. We can usually see deer, turkey, birds passing through the backyard We have three bedrooms upstairs, our bedroom is on the main floor and then we have a big finished basement with a gym and extra kitchen. it’s a great house to entertain in..We are in an excellent School district and have lots of kids that live nearby. Our neighbors next-door have two kids and several horses.

We have a wonderful library, children’s museum, and a lot of great activities nearby. One of our favorite places is the nearby lake where we all like swimming or boating. There are multiple great parks near us for a change of scenery. In the fall, the nearby apple farm is one of our favorite places to spend time. You can pick apples, enjoy fresh  cider and donuts. We really dolive in the perfect place to raise a family.

Dear Birth Mother,

We are Amanda and Christopher, and we want to begin by simply saying thank you ?" for the courage it takes to be reading this, and for the profound love you already have for your baby. We know that choosing an adoptive family is one of the most difficult and selfless decisions a person can ever make, and we do not take lightly the trust you are placing in someone like us.

We have been together for seven years and married for six. In that time we have built a life full of warmth, laughter, and intention. Our home sits on about 100 acres of trees, gardens, and winding trails, with lakes nearby and a sky full of stars on clear nights. It is the kind of place where a child can run, explore, and fall in love with the world around them. Chicago and Detroit are both a short drive away when adventure calls for something bigger, but honestly, there is so much wonder right outside our back door. Just down the road, one set of grandparents is already counting the days ?" thrilled and ready to be a big, loving presence in this child’s life from day one.

Christopher is ready and so excited to be a stay-at-home dad. He is the heart of our daily life ?" caring for our two dogs and two cats, keeping our home and property, and pouring love into everything he touches. Amanda is an OB-GYN at a nearby hospital, work she finds deeply meaningful, and she brings that same care and dedication home every evening. Together, we are a team in every sense of the word.

Our days are filled with the things we love most ?" hiking with the dogs, cooking together, reading, playing games, and heading to the lake in the summer for long, lazy afternoons in the water. We love discovering a new restaurant, getting lost in a good movie, or stumbling on a museum neither of us has visited before. We hope to share all of it with a child someday.

We came to adoption after going through fertility treatments, and when we made the decision to pursue this path instead, something in us settled. We believe deeply that families are built with love, not genes or biology. That belief is not just something we say ?" it is something we live. This child will be ours completely, surrounded by two parents, adoring grandparents, and a full circle of family and friends who are already rooting for them.

Christopher often thinks of the little girl from the movie Up ?" that spark of curiosity and wonder, that joy in discovering everything the world has to offer. That is the childhood we dream of giving. We want to teach this child to love the stars, to care for animals, to find magic in nature and in a good book. We want them to discover what makes them come alive ?" and then cheer them on with everything we have. We will give them every opportunity to grow, to learn, and to become exactly who they are meant to be.

We have hoped and prayed for a child for a very long time. This means everything to us.

We want you to know that we are fully and wholeheartedly committed to an open adoption. We will send you letters and photos regularly, so you can watch your child grow and thrive. We also welcome emails, phone calls, and visits ?" whatever feels right and comfortable for you as time goes on. Your child will always know they are loved by you, and we will honor that story with honesty, tenderness, and care.

Thank you for considering us. Thank you for the bravery it takes to make this choice. Whatever path you choose, we hope you feel seen, celebrated, and deeply respected ?" because you are. More than words can ever say.

With all our love,

Christopher & Amanda