Oh, hello! We are Ian and Sandy from Historic Fredericksburg, Virginia. Our dream is to start the family we’ve been hoping for. We recognize the incredibly hard decision and experience this has been for you and are so thankful that you might be considering us.

Our promise is to give your child the support and love to develop into who they were meant to be. The joy and laughter in our home will increase tenfold with your child at the heart of it. We thank you for the chance to share ourselves with you as part of your decision.

As our relationship has grown over the years, communication is at the center of our partnership. In quaint Farmville, VA in 2006, we met at a college honors retreat when Sandy was an incoming freshman and Ian was an upperclassman mentor. Ian was intrigued when Sandy shared her secret talent to talk inside of her mouth and Sandy teased Ian for his fauxhawk. It wasn’t until both of us became single two months later that we started chatting through instant messenger and really hit it off. Endless nicknames and made up dance moves later, we started dating, even though Ian inhaled a ridiculous-sized cheeseburger on our first date.

When both of us started experiencing infertility issues, our strength in communication quickly led us to agree that finding our future child through adoption was the best opportunity to grow from a pair to a family.

Enjoying the outdoors before a tasty lunch. Reading a book and taking a mid-afternoon nap. Ordering Thai food and playing a game with friends. Ending the evening with a movie.

When we’re not playing ping pong, singing karaoke or trying out new recipes, most of our free time is spent with our close knit group of friends. We plan get-togethers with their kids at the center of the fun. From building two-story marble racing courses to pumpkin carving at our yearly Fall Festival to playing Spikeball on one of our epic beach trips, we cherish the quality time we spend with our friends and their kiddos. Together, we have started a challenge to virtually “walk across the country.” We combine the miles walked by each household and throw celebrations when we “arrive” at big cities with culinary treats from those areas. We can’t wait to share all these moments with our future child.

As a teacher and a future mother, Sandy cares deeply about supporting the children in our life. When I met Sandy I was immediately taken by her effervescent and fun-loving nature. Her effortless confidence is something I both envy and admire and is a source of inspiration everyday. I love to hear about Sandy’s days teaching, filled with helping middle school-aged kids learn to love reading. Since we first started dating, we’ve talked about what being parents together would look like, and I’m so excited to see her be a mother.

Around our friends’ kids she is affectionate and is always willing to both play and help them develop. Our friend’s four-year-old son FaceTimes with her once a week to tell her about his day and show off his toys, and even when she’s busy cooking dinner she is happy to talk and congratulate him.

My dad always jokes that, “Men, women, children, dogs- All love Ian,” and he’s not wrong. Ian is the kindest, funniest, and most supportive husband and future dad anyone could ever hope for. I have never met anyone who doesn’t recognize what an incredible person Ian is. Ian spends his time working from home as a digital marketer at a national retail company, supported by his dutiful officemate, Bronson. He treats everyone around him with respect and empathy. I admire his ability to be an excellent listener and connect with people. He is also the king of stupid puns, silly made-up songs and clever call backs.

Our home is always filled with singing and laughter which I can’t wait to share with our future child. Ian leans into our marriage and puts everything he has into being an equal partner. There is no chore or responsibility that we don’t tackle as a team; Unless it’s cooking- he wisely leaves that to me, but he sure does know how to clean up a kitchen!

Our Home in Fredericksburg, Virginia is perfectly located between Richmond and Washington, D.C. During the summer, we often take trips to the beach where Ian’s parents live. In the fall, we love to stay in cozy cabins tucked away in the Appalachian Mountains. There are numerous parks, walking trails and playgrounds minutes away from the house where we walk our dog and enjoy time outside. Historic downtown Fredericksburg offers plenty of local shops and restaurants where we spend our weekends.

At home, you can find us in our family room snuggling with our pup or watching a movie downstairs in our entertainment-themed basement. Our patio and screened-in porch also let us enjoy the greenery of the backyard as we eat or chat with friends.

Bronson is a quiet, eight-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel! (Think Lady and the Tramp!) Bronson is a love sponge! He is extremely comfortable and patient with children. He loves car rides, sleeping in the sun and running around the house. He’s excited to have a buddy to sneak him treats and spend lots of time cuddling.

Ian’s family lives in Virginia Beach, and Sandy’s Dad and Aunt Fay live close by so we see them often. Our visits are filled with games, meals, church services, pool parties, amusement parks, dog walks, and movies. When we’re not visiting each other at our respective homes, we love taking family trips together. We’ve driven up to Washington D.C. to explore museums and flown out to Los Angeles to retrace Dad’s college days and catch a Dodgers game. Mom and Dad are thrilled about our adoption and talk constantly about all the adventures they want to share with our child.

Our favorite pastimes with Sandy’s family are going to local baseball games, enjoying the outdoors while listening to live music, and cooking meals together. Sandy’s dad often hosts ‘Lobster Fest’ where he cooks an extravagant multi-course meal where every dish includes lobster. He wrote a children’s book inspired by Sandy and can’t wait to read to our future child. After we told her our plans to adopt, Aunt Fay moved from Maine to Virginia to be closer. She plans to be an integral part of all of the shenanigans and tomfoolery that are sure to ensue. Sandy’s Aunt Kathryn lives in Nashville, TN and is an amateur ukulele craftsman, singer, and Tibetan Spaniel enthusiast.

We are excited to talk more with you if you are interested in choosing us to be the adoptive parents of your child. As you go through this search, we know there is a lot to process and consider. We genuinely thank you from the bottom of our hearts for thinking of us as potential parents for your child.

Our home and family are ready with open arms to welcome more love, dancing and singing within these safe walls. Learning and fostering curiosity will always be central to the way we raise your child.