Ally & Michael
RACE OF CHILD INTERESTED IN ADOPTING:
Any
Dear Birthmother,
Dear Expectant Mama,
You are incredible. Your selflessness and caring nature are apparent through your decision to explore adoption. We’re sure you will pass your strength on to your baby, and we are beyond grateful you are considering us to foster that strength while parenting your child.
We will honor you throughout your child’s life through storytelling the details of how we met them and never letting any of their curious questions go unanswered. We vow that you will never feel forgotten or left wondering if they are doing okay. Both of our daughters will warmly welcome your baby into our family during every interaction, through snuggles, kisses, and constant signs of admiration. Raising our girls as positive role models for their future siblings has been our greatest privilege yet.
We’re sure you will face difficult days ahead, and we are here for you to lean on as much as you feel comfortable doing. Please don’t hesitate to ask us any questions about our parenting plans and approaches as we realize the leap of faith you are taking in trusting someone else to raise your baby. You only want what is best for your child, and our respect for you cannot be measured. You can feel confident in knowing they will always feel loved and taken care of, and we will strive to always act as parents you would be proud of.
About Us
We are Ally and Michael. We are college sweethearts who met while we were both student athletes and married five years ago. After college, our relationship was tested for two years with 3,000 miles separating us—Michael enrolled in a graduate school program in Los Angeles while Ally finished college. We relied on strong communication and little actions of affection to get us through, and that’s also how our relationship thrives today. We have since moved to a quintessential New England town and dedicate our time raising two daughters. Michael is a teacher, a profession he chose to continually impact the lives of children, and Ally works as a remote consultant. You can mainly find us outside, whether that’s cheering on a football team or embarking on outdoor adventures. We spend summers at our beach house, and it is truly our happy place to bond as a family.
Our Home
We live in a charming small town in Connecticut, which boasts a perfect combination of rural and historic beauty. Our home sits across from the town’s elementary school, and we love hearing the laughter during recess. We often take family walks down to the local coffee shop, strolling past the church where we married, an outdoor concert venue, and our town’s famous “flower bridge.” Once Michael finishes the school year, we head down to our beach house and spend the majority of the summer there. We belong to a vibrant, diverse community with an exceptionally kid-friendly beach just steps away. Our dog, Maisie, loves crashing into waves and trying to catch hermit crabs, and our two cats, Romy and Diana, enjoy the tranquility at the cottage.
Our Extended Family
We are blessed with extremely supportive and loving families whom we continue to create lifelong memories with. Ally’s parents, siblings, and entire extended family live within 20 minutes of our home and are always willing to lend a helping hand. Michael’s parents, sister, and brother-in-law live with their three kids just a two-hour drive away in New Jersey.
Ally’s parents own a restaurant in town, so that has grown into a gathering spot for weekly dinners, holidays, or spur-of-the-moment get-togethers with Ally’s large extended family. Every year, Ally’s parents give everyone UConn season tickets for the football and basketball teams, so you will often find us tailgating and cheering on the Huskies.
Although Michael’s family is a drive away, that distance creates fun weekend trips that feel like mini vacations. Every summer, we host them at our house for a weekend where we all participate in a golf tournament and have a huge party at our house to get both sides of our family together. We also recently began a tradition of hosting Michael’s family at our beach cottage, where our two girls and their cousins get to spend the entire week together.
What Led Us To Adoption
Adoption is something we began discussing very early on in our relationship. Michael has six adopted cousins, and Ally’s maternal grandmother was adopted in the 1940s. Witnessing the beautiful impact adoption has had on our extended families has inspired us to begin this journey. We have been blessed with two biological children but want to grow our family more than anything and have so much more love to give. After experiencing some fertility heartbreak, we have decided adoption is the best avenue to achieve our dreams of adding more chairs to the dinner table. We understand the love a child brings with them into a family, and we are beyond ready for a new addition.
Facts About Ally
- Occupation: Senior Consultant
- Education: Bachelor’s in English
- Favorite Food: Apples with peanut butter
- Favorite Hobby: Pickleball, going to the beach
- Favorite Movie: The Parent Trap
- Favorite Sport: Soccer, football
- Favorite Music Group: Billy Joel, Dierks Bentley
- Favorite TV Show: Friends
- Favorite Vacation Spot: Morocco
Facts About Michael
- Occupation: High School Teacher
- Education: Master’s in Education
- Favorite Food: Coffee ice cream
- Favorite Hobby: Golfing, reading
- Favorite Movie: Ocean’s Eleven
- Favorite Sport: Football, basketball
- Favorite Music Group: The Temptations
- Favorite TV Show: Parks and Recreation
- Favorite Vacation Spot: Ireland