Hello! My name is Daniela along with my daughter, Abriel from California. Gratitude is not enough to describe the feeling of having the opportunity to grow as a family. To be chosen by you would be both an honor and a life-humbling experience. Your child will always know how much they are loved and cherished, and I will provide them every opportunity to help them shape the best future possible.

I grew up around horses on a farm close to the capital of Colombia. My grandfather was a Swiss countryman that emigrated to South America and produced cheese; my family has been in the dairy industry since then. I show gratitude and respect by being frugal, practical, and courageous. The humility of his choices empowers me to share this, and there is no one with whom it makes more sense to do it than with a child who has an entire lifetime to explore where those blessings can take them.

I’m tiny, yet I love food. Since I was a baby, my parents took me to gymnastics, which gave me both an athletic body and a huge appetite. I have recently learned how to cook brisket overnight in the BBQ at home. The kitchen is spacious, a joy to cook in; I try to make many dishes at a time. We make sure to make time to eat together. Yummy food when shared with loved ones is heartwarming.

My daughter is a joyful toddler. We’ve been riding horses together since she was a baby. Recently we got Kimchi, a Pony, and now she’s in her saddle. In the winter, we go out in the mornings to take off her blanket and feed her hay.

At daycare, the teacher says that my little one hugs her son when he is sad. I know in my heart that she would like to be a sister and that she would do a great job at it.

What I miss most about my childhood are the holidays and I’m looking forward to reliving those experiences with my children. Because of our mixed European and Latin heritage, we love going skiing in Switzerland or going to the beach in Colombia.

My dad makes movies; influenced by his passion, I too pursued that career in San Francisco and then went on to produce a social drama that denounces gender violence, in the communes of Medellin Colombia. I also directed a documentary that was co-produced by the Colombian TV channel and has since been exhibited every year on Mother’s Day.

My heart however has always been set on being an inventor, not of stories but of tools. When I got pregnant I finally had the courage to pursue a degree in computer science and I now attend Johns Hopkins University online.

Last year I spent a lot of time soldering electrical components, building radios, alarms and also a flashlight that we used to go camping.

The routine on the mountain is slow and predictable. The town we live in offers a caring community. When I first arrived here, I joined Search and Rescue, where I made my first friends. If we were not building something, my friends and I mostly spend the time exploring the great outdoors.

In a small town in California between a big forest and a large city, there is a cozy home where my daughter and I live with our two dogs. In the mornings’ everyone wants breakfast. Luka, the shepherd, is white, obedient, and eager. Chuy is stubborn, he arrived last year from a shelter. His name comes from Chewbacca, the Star Wars character, who gives funny, friendly growls. ‘Grawwww’. When it snows they pull us around the block in the sled.

I have some friends at home, but my community is dispersed across the globe. We are a generation that has experienced the world becoming small, distances becoming shorter and the coming together of people from remote locations. My children will share in the humility that it brings to connect with people from all walks of life.

I love hiking outside or riding mountain bikes. I especially enjoy the part where you come back home and bundle up in the warmth. Mealtimes growing up were a big thing so we continue the tradition, like eating my favorite food, chicken drumsticks, or huddling over a bowl of pasta and a movie.

In the summer I like renting the boats by the dock to go fishing on the lake. California is the place we call home and where we spend most of our time. We make an effort to go to Colombia at least once a year. My family also tries to visit us here when they get the opportunity. I think that it has been somewhat harder the last couple of years so we use video conferencing to stay in touch. In the winter I enjoy snowboarding and riding my mountain bike.

My family and friends are dispersed around the globe. Although it is difficult that we are far away, I enjoy exploring the world when I travel to see them. My older sister lives with her husband and two children, in England. My younger sister lives in North Carolina and competes in professional motor cross competitions. Some uncles live in Switzerland, others in Colombia or in Argentina. My friends live in Italy, Spain, and France, and of course, they’re also scattered across the USA in Chicago, New York, Miami, Phoenix, and San Francisco.

The family get-togethers are a great opportunity to spend time with the cousins. My sister has two children who are a dash older than mine and taught her how to walk when she was just over one. My cousins also have children whom we spend time with when we go to Switzerland. Everyone is excited for us.

Watching my daughter grow up has been a transformative experience. I have a lot of fun stimulating her imagination and offering her new and exciting experiences. It is astounding how children learn through their actions and routines. We try to fill our days with opportunities to discover new things we like. Although we follow a rigorous routine at home to help with the sense of security and reliability, we never miss a chance to go on a spontaneous adventure.

My goals as a parent are to be patient and flexible. To know that when I take my time to do something it goes faster. To be understanding and await with open arms. I’m a good role model because I am strong, caring and adaptable. A great secret lies within each child, that thing that they are good at and I can’t wait to find out what it is that they love to do and can do well and help them succeed through that.

The household runs around a flexible routine. There is space for eating, sleeping relaxing, and exercising. But also for arts and crafts, painting, cutting, gluing. We get all muddy with clay I enjoy teaching my daughter her senses: though I don’t pressure her to learn anything specifically yet she is very smart intuitively. She believes in herself because I give her the opportunity to follow her curiosity while keeping her safe.

I’m excited about this process and I am ready to take this step. All the elements have fallen into place to make it possible for me to raise a second child. I know that both my daughter’s life and mine are only going to become enriched by the opportunity to grow as a family. We hope we can bring you courage and confidence to share the journey ahead.