Our Story

Our love story began on Valentine’s Day, 2012—completely by accident! Erica was ahead of Dan in school, so we didn’t know each other well, but she sent him an email asking him out. Dan missed it in his inbox… until just in time to accidentally make our first date fall on Valentine’s Day. It turned out to be the best Valentine’s Day ever—and the start of a great adventure.

We bought our home and got married in August 2019. Since 2020, we’ve been hoping to grow our family. After years of trying and facing infertility, we’re now embracing adoption with full hearts and open arms.

Why We Chose Adoption

We love being “Auntie Erica” and “Uncle Dan” to the many children in our lives, and those experiences have only deepened our desire to become parents. Our journey through infertility was painful, but it also helped clarify what matters most to us: building a family grounded in love, laughter, and belonging.

Adoption isn’t a second choice—it’s our first and wholehearted path to becoming the parents we know we’re meant to be.

Our Promise to You

If you choose us, we promise to raise your child with tenderness, honesty, and unwavering support. We will nurture their identity, and guide them with love through all of life’s ups and downs.

We also understand that adoption is not just a one-time decision—it’s the beginning of a lifelong story. We are open to conversations about open adoption and want to honor what feels right for you. Your child will always know how deeply they were loved and how selfless your decision was.

Thank you again for getting to know us a little. We’re thinking of you with care, respect, and hope.

With gratitude,
Erica & Dan

Our Home and Neighborhood

We live in a warm, welcoming four-bedroom, three-bathroom home with a big fenced-in yard—perfect for curious little feet to run, play, and explore. When we bought our house just outside the city, we chose it with one goal in mind: building a family. It has the space and comfort we dreamed of, but it’s also close to the things we love about city life—great food, museums, concerts, outdoor festivals, and cultural events we hope to share with a child.

Our neighborhood is filled with young families, and it’s common to see kids riding bikes, playing basketball or street hockey, or walking their dogs after school. We live on a quiet cul-de-sac, and we’re lucky to have friendly neighbors who look out for each other. Every Halloween, we have dozens of trick-or-treaters, and our two sweet dogs, Kāla and Sevro, love greeting them with wagging tails and lots of gentle attention.

Kāla (3ish years old) is nurturing and affectionate—she’s calm around children and often sits patiently while they pet her. Sevro (2 years old) is playful, curious, and still learning, but she adores kids and wants to be part of whatever game they’re playing. They both love walks around the neighborhood, splashing in the kiddie pool in the backyard, and curling up near us on the porch in the evenings. They’ve grown up around children and bring joy, comfort, and fun to everyone they meet.

We also have a large flower and vegetable garden in the front yard and a peaceful, tree-lined backyard full of birds, bunnies, and plenty of space to imagine and play. We’re members of our local community pool and volunteer to help keep it running—it’s a great place to cool off in the summer and meet up with friends.

Education is deeply important to us, and we chose this neighborhood partly because it’s part of one of the top-rated school districts in the state. We’re also surrounded by high-quality daycare centers and excellent programs for young children.

We both work just ten minutes away from home, so we’re able to be present and involved as parents. And when we want a change of scenery, we’re only a short drive from the mountains, rivers, and lakes, where we love hiking, swimming, kayaking, and relaxing with friends and family.

Our home is more than just a place—it’s a space filled with love, laughter, and possibility. We’re so excited to share it with a child and give them room to grow, explore, and feel safe every step of the way.

Our Families

Family means the world to us. We are incredibly lucky to have a strong, loving support system on both sides, and we know that any child who joins our family will be surrounded by care, celebration, and unconditional love from day one.

Dan comes from a close-knit family with deep roots. His parents have been married for nearly 40 years and are now retired in Cape Cod, where we love to visit for beach days, board games, and family dinners. They’re proud grandparents who regularly babysit their grandkids and are excited to welcome another grandchild into their hearts. Dan’s older sister lives just a couple of hours away in New Jersey with her two children—our niece and nephew, who we absolutely adore.

Dan is also very close to his extended family. He has nine cousins, including one who is like a brother—truly his best friend. They were best men in each other’s weddings and spend summers fishing, traveling, and making lifelong memories together. Their moms are identical twins, so they grew up more like siblings than cousins! Dan is half Finnish and half Jewish and was raised in a home that celebrated both Jewish and Christian traditions.

Erica’s family is large, lively, and spread out, but full of strong bonds. Because both of her parents served in the military, she moved often as a child—living in six states and even spending time in Spain—but that experience helped her build deep relationships across distance. She’s originally from North Carolina and still carries that southern warmth with her.

Erica’s parents divorced when she was in middle school and both remarried. She is especially close with her younger sister, who lives just two miles away with her husband and two children. We spend lots of time with them—sharing holidays, Sunday dinners, and spontaneous playdates. Her sister’s family, along with their mom, are part of our everyday life. Erica also has a stepbrother nearby, a stepsister in Florida, and a half-sister and stepsister in Virginia. She visits her West Coast family regularly and keeps in close touch with her dad, aunts, uncles, and cousins in California. Erica is half Mexican and half Irish and was raised in a Christian home, with a deep appreciation for culture, family gatherings, and storytelling across generations.

No matter where our loved ones live, family has always meant showing up, staying connected, and supporting one another through everything. This child will grow up with cousins to play with, grandparents to spoil them, and a wide circle of people who can’t wait to welcome them into our family.

Our Lifestyle

We live a joyful, active life surrounded by family, friends, and the outdoors. No matter how busy the week gets, we always make time to slow down and connect—whether it’s during long walks with our two dogs, over dinner at the table each night, or sitting on the front porch together watching the birds as the sun sets.

We love sharing our home with others and often host dinner parties and game nights with the people we love. One of our favorite things is spending time with our nieces and nephews—we’re always up for a new adventure, whether it’s ski lessons, camping, mini golf, amusement parks, or movie nights with popcorn. We cherish our special “Auntie Erica” and “Uncle Dan” moments with “the Littles” in our lives.

In the warmer months, we spend weekends outside—kayaking, hiking, golfing, swimming at the pool, or relaxing by the lake with our doggos. Our backyard becomes the center of activity with yard games, barbecues, and time spent with family. We also love camping trips, outdoor concerts, and visiting local farmers’ markets and festivals. Our lifestyle is filled with movement and fun, but also with presence and connection.

When the weather turns cooler, we lean into cozy moments—cooking Sunday night meals, cheering on our favorite baseball and football teams by the fireplace, and heading out for snowy hikes or cross-country skiing. Dan also loves downhill skiing and looks forward to sharing that passion with a child someday. Our doggos enjoy the woods year-round and are always ready for the next outdoor adventure.

Supporting the kids in our lives is a huge part of who we are. We love watching our nieces and nephews play sports like soccer, lacrosse, and cheer, and we’re often in the front row at their performances and concerts.

We’re grateful to spend time at Erica’s sister’s lake house nearby, and we’re lucky that both of our families have special vacation homes—Dan’s in Cape Cod, and Erica’s in southern Spain. These are places filled with happy memories, and we look forward to making new ones as our family grows.

The holidays are especially meaningful to us. Since we live just down the road from Erica’s family and only a few hours from Dan’s, we spend lots of time with both sides. We love hosting Halloween, Mother’s Day, and the Super Bowl at our home—complete with decorations, laughter, and plenty of good food.

More than anything, our lifestyle is about togetherness. We believe in raising a child surrounded by love, nature, celebration, and a community that truly shows up for one another.

From Us to You

We can’t fully imagine what you’re feeling right now, but please know that we hold deep respect for you and the strength it takes to consider an adoption plan. Whatever decision you make, we honor your love for your child and the thought you’re putting into their future.

If you choose us to be adoptive parents, we will give your child a home filled with unconditional love, stability, joy, and opportunity. We will raise them to know where they came from and how deeply they were loved from the very beginning. You will always be honored in our family’s story.

We are open to whatever level of contact and communication feels right to you—whether it’s sharing photos, emails, or letters, or building a more open relationship over time. We’re committed to respecting your wishes and supporting a connection that makes you feel seen, heard, and cared for.

Our lives are filled with people who can’t wait to welcome a child with open arms—family and friends from many backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. They’ll be surrounded by a loving, diverse community ready to encourage them, guide them, and help them discover their unique gifts and passions. We will nurture your child’s identity, celebrate their heritage, and provide a strong foundation through education, emotional support, and the freedom to become exactly who they’re meant to be.

If we walk this journey together, we want you to feel supported too. Within the legal limits of your state, we’ll help make sure you have access to the resources you need—whether it’s financial support, legal guidance, or mental health care—with no pressure or judgment, only care.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about us. We hope this glimpse into our lives helps you feel the warmth and commitment we bring to this journey. If you’d like to talk, ask questions, or simply connect, we’re here with open hearts and open minds.

With care and hope,
Erica & Dan