Ryan & David
RACE OF CHILD INTERESTED IN ADOPTING:
Any
Dear Birthmother,
We don’t know what factors played into your considering adoption, why you chose to read this profile, or what your hopes are for this child’s future (and your own), but no matter what, we promise to be honest.
We are a family that hopes to continue growing. We now look forward to our son, Thomas, becoming a wonderful big brother! Through his open adoption, it was incredible for our family to grow to include not just a baby but his birth parents and grandparents.
You might also be considering a less involved adoption, and that would work too. While we would always keep the door open in case your decision changes, we understand that life after any adoption may require you to take a step back. If that’s the case, you could rest assured that you placed this baby in the heart of a kind, loving, and happy family.
In our experience, it’s natural to have lots of questions about making the right choice, but above all, we’re excited to connect over the shared happiness and security we all want for this child. Whether an open or closed adoption, with frequent contact or only sometimes, this adoption can be something we shape together. You set the pace, and we’re so grateful for and inspired by the decision you are making. We’d love the chance to connect and share who we are and the world we want to open up to this baby.
About Us
Hello! We’re Ryan and David. We’re an American couple who originally met while working in Kabul, Afghanistan, which might be the least romantic beginning to any love story, Ryan as human rights adviser to the military and David as a diplomat. We learned that we had a lot in common, from a love of cocker spaniels to making the world better in small ways, exploring new cultures, deep faith, and commitment to family. We adopted our son, Thomas, in January 2023, and he’s changed our lives for the better in every possible way! We’re committed to giving him the best life possible and are excited for him to become a big brother. Professionally, we work in international development and diplomacy, which has taken our family to Europe, Asia, and Africa. Travel helps us keep in close contact with family and discover new things, and it’s fun to have camels living in our neighborhood!
Our Home
We currently live in Mauritania, a calm country on the ocean in the northwest corner of Africa. Our house is perfect for families, with many bedrooms, living and play spaces, and a fenced-in yard and swimming pool. We’re just around the corner from work, exceptional international schools, shops, bakeries, and restaurants and just 15 minutes from the beach. Candide is our cocker spaniel puppy who is both a bundle of energy and a cuddle sponge. Our neighborhood is a great mix of African, American, and international families with kids.
Our Extended Family
We both grew up in close-knit families as the younger of two brothers. For both of us, dinnertime, summers, and Christmas have always been spent with family, no exceptions. Even after moving abroad, family comes first, and we love traveling with close family to show them different parts of the world and going home to visit extended family.
Ryan’s parents had him and his brother young, which wasn’t always easy, but it meant growing up with close bonds to grandparents and dozens of cousins. Family and faith have always been cornerstones, and he gets his love of music, travel, and languages from his grandparents. Ryan’s parents live nearby in France, so we get to see them often (lots of grandparent time for our son!).
David’s father died of cancer when David was eight, so his mom raised him and his brother alone. She is truly their hero! Thanks to his parents’ example and his big Irish Catholic family, David grew up with traditions of cooking and eating together, arguing, and laughing despite any struggles. His family taught him the importance of serving others, which energized him to work with refugees in Kenya and orphans in Haiti and to advocate for human rights.
What Led Us To Adoption
We knew we were a match when we discussed wanting to raise a family! We are very close to our parents and try to emulate their values as role models and share some of the blessings we received with the next generation. We were blessed to be picked by a tremendous couple for the adoption of our son. The experience of getting to know his birthparents, older brothers, and grandparents before and since the birth has been truly life changing, and we feel blessed to have regular video calls and to exchange pictures and milestones every few days with them. As they’re from Louisiana, where David is from, and are all from Cajun families that speak French, like Ryan does, it’s been an incredibly natural fit. We’ve grown as much as Thomas has and feel ready and equipped to hopefully continue to grow our little family.
Facts About Ryan
- Occupation: Development Specialist
- Religion: Christian
- Education: Master’s in International Development
- Favorite Hobby: Instruments (tuba and trombone), learning foreign languages, travel
- Favorite Movie: The Nightmare Before Christmas
- Favorite Sport: Olympics
- Favorite Holiday: Christmas
- Favorite TV Show: The Big Bang Theory
- Favorite Subject in School: Music, French
- Favorite Vacation Spot: Hiking around the Mediterranean Sea
Facts About David
- Occupation: Diplomat
- Religion: Christian
- Education: Juris Doctorate
- Favorite Hobby: Reading, home renovation, travel
- Favorite Movie: Clue
- Favorite Sport: Rowing
- Favorite Holiday: Independence Day
- Favorite TV Show: The Americans, Mad Men
- Favorite Subject in School: English, philosophy
- Favorite Vacation Spot: Food tour of France, Mississippi paddleboat cruise