Our family is a beautiful blend of American, Mexican, and Italian heritages, and we love celebrating our traditions through food, travel, and time together. Family gatherings are central to our lives, filled with delicious dishes, board games, and laughter. Our favorite holiday is Christmas, which we host every year, bringing everyone together for gift exchanges, new games, and a feast that includes everything from homemade lasagna to traditional Mexican tamales. We also have a tradition of traveling to places that celebrate our heritage, like attending the Old Spanish Days – Fiesta in Santa Barbara or spending the holidays in Puerto Rico to enjoy the Caribbean culture.

Another cherished tradition is our love for tropical destinations, especially Hawaii. We try to visit at least one of the islands every year, enjoying the beaches, waterfalls, rainbows, and even the volcanoes. The relaxed island atmosphere, connection to nature, and diverse cultural influences make it a special place for us.

Cultural diversity is something we deeply value, and we embrace the opportunity to learn and celebrate different traditions. We believe that culture is a beautiful part of identity, and if we adopt a child of a different race or background, we will ensure they are connected to their heritage through books, cultural events, food, and community. We are committed to fostering an environment where differences are celebrated, and our child feels a deep sense of belonging. Most importantly, our home will always be filled with love, acceptance, and a strong appreciation for diversity.

Becoming parents is a dream come true to both of us. Being a parent means providing unconditional love, guidance, and support to a child while helping them grow into kind, responsible, and confident individuals. It is a lifelong commitment to nurturing, teaching, and protecting, ensuring that a child feels safe, valued, and encouraged to reach their full potential. Parenthood involves providing for a child's physical needs and being present emotionally, fostering curiosity, and instilling values that shape their character.

What we expect to love most about being parents is the deep, meaningful bond we will share with our child. The idea of witnessing their first steps, hearing their laughter, and experiencing life's little joys through their eyes fills us with excitement. We look forward to supporting them in discovering their passions, guiding them through challenges, and celebrating their successes.

Additionally, we are excited about creating a home filled with love, warmth, and traditions, whether reading bedtime stories, enjoying family meals, or making memories through adventures together. We both believe parenting is about teaching and learning; children bring new perspectives, and we look forward to growing alongside them. We look forward to sharing our lives and experiences with a child and seeing the reciprocal positive influence we will have on each other.

Ultimately, we see parenthood as the most incredible privilege; it is an opportunity to love, shape, and be a constant source of strength for a child as they navigate the world.

We believe that honesty, love, and openness are the foundations of a strong, trusting relationship with our child. From an early age, we will share their adoption story in an age-appropriate way, ensuring they always know that they were chosen, loved, and sincerely wanted, and that we feel incredibly fortunate and blessed to have them in our lives.

We will tell them that adoption is not just a part of their story, it is a beautiful chapter of our family's love and journey together.

We will emphasize that their birth parents made a courageous and selfless decision, wanting the very best for them. Our child will always know that they came into our lives through love, and that love defines family—not just biology, but the commitment, care, and devotion we have for one another.

As they grow, we will encourage open conversations and answer their questions with honesty and reassurance. We want them to feel proud of their story and know that adoption is something special that makes their journey unique. We will honor and support a connection to their birth family and/or cultural background, ensuring they always feel whole and valued for who they are.

Most importantly, we will remind them daily that they are deeply cherished, that their story is one of love and hope, and that we are grateful every day to have them as our child.

We live in beautiful, sunny California, in a warm and welcoming community designed with families in mind. Our neighborhood is a safe, family-friendly place filled with parks, playgrounds, and open spaces where kids can play, ride bikes, and grow up surrounded by friends. Schools are just a short walk away, and there's always something fun happening—whether it's a community event at the clubhouse, a family gathering at the park, or a pool day under the sun.

Our home is a cozy and spacious two-story house with three bedrooms, an office, and plenty of space to make memories. Our backyard is perfect for playtime, and just down the street is a beautiful park with a playground, basketball courts, beach volleyball, pool and jacuzzi, and open fields for running and exploring. Within our community surrounding a golf course, we have three pools, tennis courts, scenic walking paths, and neighbors who truly care for one another.

We love that our neighborhood feels like the kind of place where childhood is filled with laughter, adventure, and a strong sense of belonging. If chosen, your child would grow up in a home and community full of love, support, and endless opportunities to thrive.

Our family enjoys a variety of activities when we're together. Rich loves playing video games and coaching swimming with our nieces, while Michelle prefers board games and arts and crafts with them. We both love taking them to amusement parks and traveling as a family, creating lasting memories.

Rich's mom and brother live just 15 minutes away, and Michelle's family is about an hour away, but we see each other frequently, especially when cheering on our nieces at their swimming competitions.

Family gatherings are a cherished tradition, blending our Mexican, American, and Italian heritages. Our family is unique in the way we embrace our diverse backgrounds, our deep love for dogs, and our shared commitment to education. Most importantly, we cherish the time we spend together.

Our adoption plan is fully supported by our family, who are excited to welcome a new member with love, warmth, and open arms, ensuring the child grows up surrounded by care, traditions, and a strong sense of belonging.

First of all, we'd like to thank you for taking the time to look at our profile. We understand that this may be a difficult time for you, and we are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers as you make the best decision for your child. We admire your strength and the love you have for your baby, and we are truly honored to be considered as potential parents.

A little bit about us, we've been together for five years, and from the very beginning, we knew we wanted to spend our lives together. Our relationship is built on love, respect, and unwavering support for one another. Because we met in our 40s, we knew that adoption would be the best path for us to grow our family. This has been in our hearts for a long time, and we are so excited to welcome a child into our home, to love unconditionally, and to nurture them as they grow.

Our family is filled with love, warmth, and joy. We value kindness, education, and creating meaningful memories together. We were raised in families where education was a priority, as our parents were teachers, which profoundly influenced our own career paths. Rich is a teacher and swim coach, passionate about teaching and mentoring, while Michelle is an engineer who loves mentoring young engineers and protecting the environment. These experiences have given us a deep appreciation for learning, curiosity, and personal growth, values we hope to pass on to our future child. We also believe in a well-balanced life, where children have the opportunity to explore their passions, whether in academics, music, sports, or the arts. Rich spent his childhood as a Boy Scout and enjoyed competitive swimming, and outdoor adventures, while Michelle grew up taking violin and piano lessons, practicing Tae Kwon Do, swimming, and dancing. These experiences have made us who we are, and we look forward to sharing similar opportunities with our future child, allowing him/her to discover his/her own interests and talents.

If we are chosen, we promise to provide a home filled with unconditional love, laughter, and security. We will always support and encourage this child, helping him/her grow into a kind, confident, and happy person. Family traditions are important to us, from simple Sunday breakfasts to celebrating holidays surrounded by love and togetherness. We will ensure that this child always knows how deeply he/she is loved and valued.

We also want to honor the connection you have with this child. We will share his/her journey with you through letters and photos so that you can see him/her grow, knowing he/she is surrounded by love and respect. We will always speak positively about you and the incredibly brave decision you have made. Your love and selflessness will always be part of his/her story, and she/he will grow up knowing how deeply she/he was loved from the very beginning.

We are grateful for your consideration and hope that, in your heart, you find us to be the right family for your child. It would be an incredible honor to be chosen, and we promise to cherish, love, and support this child every single day. No matter what decision you make, we wish you peace, strength, and the very best on this journey and in the future.

With love and gratitude,

Rich & Michelle