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

Meet Dan - By Nic

Dan is a kind, generous, thoughtful, and funny guy. His favorite things to do include spending time with our nieces and nephews, playing golf, going fishing, skiing, traveling, and cooking. He makes dinner in our house almost every night.

His nieces and nephews all love Dan, and it's amazing to watch him with them. He has a lot of patience and a playful quality that the kids all gravitate towards.

Dan is a senior attorney with his law firm, where he practices administrative law. He has a flexible work-from-home schedule, which is something we are looking forward to as we welcome a baby into our family.

He loves all animals - but he really loves dogs. When we met, I had two large dogs, and Dan became part of the pack immediately.

Dan has many qualities that will make him a wonderful and loving father!

Meet Nic - By Dan

Nic is a giving, passionate, and thoughtful person. "Nic" is short for Nicole, a name she was given to honor her uncle. She is outdoorsy and enjoys kayaking, camping, gardening, traveling, cooking, and spending time with family. She is half-Mexican/half-Irish and speaks Spanish after living in Spain. 

She is an Executive Director for a nonprofit law firm. Her organization provides free legal help, and she works on public policy issues. She is highly active in the community and spends a lot of time mentoring students and volunteering. She enjoys a flexible work-from-home schedule, which will help us adjust to and care for a baby.

Nic's love and passion for children is evident in the special bonds she forms with both her nieces and nephews, and the students she mentors. She loves doing outdoor adventures with her nieces and nephews, taking them to catch frogs, going for hikes, and teaching them how to kayak. She also enjoys playing video games and yard games with them.

Many of Nic's friends have children who we have loved watching grow up. She frequently babysits for her friends and is known by many as an excellent "auntie." As a dog lover, she has successfully rehabilitated several abused and neglected canines---her compassion and caring nature stand out in all she does.

Nic has so many qualities that will make her an amazing mother!

We own a spacious four-bedroom, three-bathroom house with a large fenced-in yard in a nice suburban community just outside of the city. When we moved, we were looking for more space to raise a family and our dogs, but we also love the city lifestyle, such as restaurants, museums, theatres, park events, and concerts. Our home is a ten-minute commute to each of our offices. We live near many high-quality daycare centers and in one of the top-rated school districts in the state. Education is extremely imporant to us so the school district was a big part of our selection. 

We have a large flower garden and a veggie patch in the front yard, and many trees and wild space in the backyard. We live on a cul-de-sac and are good friends with our neighbors. We are members of our community pool association, where we volunteer to help keep it running. 

There are many young families on our street, so there are always kids riding bikes, playing basketball or ice hockey, and running around on our block. The neighborhood kids all love to pet our dogs when we are out on walks, and we have dozens of trick-or-treaters every year! 

We have two big puppies; Sevro is 1yo, & Kāla is 2yo. There is plenty of room for children to run and grow, lots of friends and family with children for them to play with, and several local parks and activities for children in our area.

We are also within driving distance of great mountains and dozens lakes and rivers where we spend a lot of time. We love our outdoor lifestyle, and we are eager to grow a love of the outdoors within a child.

Family is extremely important to both of us. We have a wonderful support system in both of our families, and the baby will be loved and adored by everyone in our lives.

Dan's grandmother is in her 90's and loves visits with her great-grandchildren. Dan's parents have been married for nearly 40 years, and since they are retired, babysit their grandchildren often. They retired to Cape Cod and we visit often. Dan's older sister has two kids, whom we adore. They live in New Jersey, just a couple hours away. He is close with his nine cousins, one of whom is truly Dan's best friend. They were best men at each other's weddings, they go fishing together all summer and plan most of their vacations together. Their moms are twins, so they grew up like siblings. Dan is half Finnish and half Jewish and grew up in a Jewish and Christian home.

Nic has a large extended family but grew up across the country from most of them. Both of her parents were in the military, so she moved often growing up. She's originally from North Carolina and has lived in 6 states and Spain.

Her parents divorced when she was starting middle school, and both remarried. She has a younger sister, who is married with two kids. They grew up in the same home with their mom their whole lives and are very close. Nic's Brother-in-Law, his brother and his cousins are also some of her best friends! Nic also has a step-sister in Florida and step-brother nearby who she sees regularly. Nic's sister's family and her mom live within 5 miles, and we spend a lot of time with them.

On her dad's side of her family, she has a half-sister and stepsister who live 10 hours away, in Virginia. While not as close in proximity, Nic visits as often as she can and calls weekly. Nic visits her dad's side of her family in Central California as often as possible and is close with her six aunts and uncles, and most of her cousins. Nic is half Mexican and half Irish and grew up in a Christian home.

We have an active, outdoorsy lifestyle and we spend a lot of time with our friends and family. We make time to relax and appreciate each other's company around our busy schedules. We walk the pups twice a day, for several miles. We have dinner together every night and talk about our day. We spend most warm evenings sitting on our porch watching the birds with our dogs. We really enjoy hosting game nights and dinner parties at our home. We love to take our nieces and nephews on adventures like ski lessons, mini golf, amusement parks, and the movies. We love our special aunt and uncle time with "the littles".

In the spring and summer, we can be found by the pool or on a lake, or playing yard games and barbecuing in our backyard. We take hikes and go camping with our dogs on weekends. We also go kayaking and fishing, and we play golf. We go to concerts and outdoor performances, attend festivals, and support local farmers' markets.  

In the fall and winter, we make special Sunday night meals and watch baseball or football games by our cozy fireplace. We also go cross-country skiing and take snowy hikes on nice winter days. Dan loves downhill skiing too. The pups love to explore the woods all year long.

We love watching our nieces and nephews play their favorite sports, soccer, cheerleading, lacrosse and gymnastics. We attend concerts and performances frequently too.

We are grateful that we get to spend time at Nic's sister's lake house, and both of our families have wonderful vacation homes; Dan's family vacation home is on Cape Cod, and Nic's family vacation home is in southern Spain.

We spend a lot of time with family, especially around the holidays. We live down the road from Nic's family and just a few hours from Dan's family, so we split our time between them. At our house, we host Halloween, Mother's Day, and the Superbowl. 

We cannot imagine the decision you are facing right now, but we appreciate that you are considering adoption for your child. We hope you allow us to assist and support you on this journey, and that we can provide you with some comfort. 

If you choose us as adoptive parents, we will provide a loving, supportive, caring home for the child. We would be happy to send pictures, emails, or letters as often as you'd like illustrating how the child is doing. We will honor you in our home, and respect your wishes regarding how much you want the child to know about you. We will be as involved as you want us to be and would welcome the opportunity to get to know you.

We look forward to supporting a child in their interests, whatever those may be, and encouraging them along the way. We have a diverse group of friends and family who will be involved in the child's life as well, adding another layer to their support system, providing love, and teaching them different talents and skills, beyond what we have. The child will learn about their heritage and where they come from. We will provide the best education possible and help them reach their full potential.

If you choose us, we will make sure you have any financial, legal, and mental health resources needed within legal state limits, without judgment. You will be provided with your own attorney and access to a therapist.

We hope this has helped you gain insight into who we are and the life we would provide for a child. We look forward to getting to know you and answering any questions you might have, should you want more contact with us. Our thoughts are with you in whatever decision you make.


With Care,

Nic and Dan