What is open adoption?

It's a relationship created to give a child the best life possible. It is built on honesty and trust. In open adoptions, the children always know and understand where they came from, why they were placed with an adoptive family, and that all of their parents--birth and adoptive--love them. There is no shame in open adoption--for the child, for the birthparents, or for the adoptive family. In fact, we think it is something to be PROUD about!

Kristin's so outgoing with children. Here she is in Bali, Indonesia with a new friend made through a game of peek-a-boo.

Typically, the birthmother has the opportunity to decide who will parent her child and how much contact she would like to have at every stage of pregnancy and childhood. Open adoption links two families forever for the sake of our son or daughter.

Of course, this is a huge decision, and we've tried to provide information on this site to help you see what kind of parents we will be AND the friendship and support we can offer you.

New friends took this shot of us at the end of a fun night in the pubs of Galway, Ireland

To build our family, we are working with a great agency, the Independent Adoption Center (IAC). One of the things that makes IAC special is all of the guidance they provide expectant parents--including matching birthmoms with "buddies" who have already gone through it, support groups, and counseling. They can help you consider your various options and decide if open adoption is the right path for you. If so, they walk us all through every step of the process.

Another Lego creation is complete! Kids clamor to spend time with Matt.

We are so glad that open adoption is available. It could help you through a tough situation you weren't expecting, bring us the son or daughter we are so eager to share our lives with, and most important, it could provide many more opportunities and a loving mom and dad for a child. We are grateful that you are considering open adoption and us for your baby.