Dear Birth Parent(s),

If you only knew the number of drafts it took to write this letter, you'd laugh - it took at least 25! The reason we find it so challenging to write this letter is that no amount of words can express the unbelievable amount of gratitude we have for you. It's equally difficult to express the amount of sheer excitement we have about becoming parents – it truly will be a dream come true. 

We are giddy! We cannot stop talking about our little one – honestly, it's nauseating how much we talk about our future child. So in an effort to spare you from reading a novel's worth of metaphors and long stories simply put, we truly and deeply thank you from the bottom of our hearts in considering us as parents.

We met almost seven years ago, and though we both admit it was love, at first sight, it was unwavering support and respect that grew our relationship into a healthy and stable marriage. Our marriage is always a priority for us. 

We make sure to take time to communicate and genuinely listen so we can support each other through all the ups and downs of life. We make a great team, and because of this, we know our bond will grow even stronger when we become parents. 

We contribute our loving marriage to the fact that both of our parents are still madly in love after over 40 years, respectively. We deeply admire their marriages and strive to mirror the incredible parenting they provided for us. Both of our parents created strong foundations for us. They always made time for us and provided us with opportunities that enabled us to explore our passions. We both loved our childhoods, and now we cherish the time we spend with our parents in our adult lives. 

My parents, Janis and Gil, currently reside in Wisconsin but visit us several times a year. We have the best time with them playing games, cooking, baking, swimming, going on long walks, visiting rose gardens, and taking day trips to the ocean. 

My parents intend to move to our neighborhood upon our baby's arrival so they can be part of our child's day-to-day life. I cannot wait for our child to have doting grandparents so close. 

We are also very close to Matthew's parents. Every year we celebrate Christmas at their home in Virginia. Their house is always decked out to the nines, and the activities never end. There is an annual caroling party, special dinners, epic card games, and too many great desserts. I am confident that with our baby's arrival, the trips to Virginia will become more frequent, and Patsi and Michael will spoil the heck out of our child.

I have an older brother, Adam, who is married to Mia and have two awesome kids; Lars (5) and Mette (3). We FaceTime all the time for virtual piano playing and dance shows and visit them in person frequently in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

One of our favorite yearly trips is to take Lars and Mette to the State Fair, where we eat too many corn dogs, ride roller coasters, and see all the barnyard animals. 

When we spend time with Lars and Mette, we always end up having silly dance parties, go on adventure-filled walks to the park, and we love to pull them in their wagon to Dairy Queen for a special treat. Lars and Mette are so excited to have a little cousin. I can only imagine what kind of shenanigans they will get into together.

Beyond our related-by-blood-family, we have an extraordinary network of friends who we call our chosen family. Our friends all come from a myriad of backgrounds and all work in an array of professions. They all are kind, good-natured individuals who couldn't be happier for us to be adopting and have all said they want to be involved in our child's life. We couldn't be luckier to have a more supportive community surrounding us. Almost too lucky as several people are campaigning to become God-parents - our little one might end up with a dozen God-parents!

We both love our work. Matthew is a musician in a pop band and a composer for film and television. When Matthew isn't traveling the world on tour, he produces music in his home-based studio. I am a film and television writer and producer who also teaches screenplay writing. My career is an integral part of who I am, but becoming a mother has become my priority. I am excited to be able to take time off during our child's formative years to be a full-time mother. In deciding to become parents, this was an essential part of our decision; to have a parent with the child at all times, not to hire someone to take care of our child. Our child will certainly see much of the world as we visit Matthew on tour. When Matthew is working from home on a movie or television show, our child will have two parents around all day.

We have spent a lot of our free time putting love into our home to make it a beautiful space. We cannot wait to watch our child grow up in our home. We don't just love our house because of the aesthetics; we love our house because of the love that has blessed it. 

Our home is a second home to many of our friends and family. We love creating traditions like; our epic Thanksgiving Game Night, our annual 4th of July BBQ; our Valentine's Day Lasagna Dinner Party, and our Chili/Cornbread Cook-off on Halloween, where we hand out candy to all the adorable neighborhood kids. We can't help but dream of creating new traditions with our little one. We can already envision going to the farmer's market on Thursday nights, making waffles every Sunday morning, picnics in the backyard, long walks with our dogs, and going on exciting adventures around the world. 

We also understand there will be trying times with our child that lie ahead. Things won't be as rosy as we have painted it out to be in our imaginations. Still, the strength of our marriage and the power of the support of our community of friends and family we have around us will see us through the tough times. We know there will be skinned knees, sickness, school bullies, bad dreams, and disappointments ahead for our child. We will be there to comfort them, cheer them on, encourage them, and remind them that there will always be a better day ahead and a new possibility in front of them.

We have endlessly love to give and cannot wait to start this incredible adventure of parenthood. We wait with open arms and open hearts ready to love our child unconditionally. We are overwhelmed with gratitude to you for reading this letter and considering us as parents. 

A note from Matthew about Annie: 

Annie is the most open-minded person I have ever met. She is incredibly kind, selfless, and has a playful spirit. If Annie is made aware of someone that is hurting or in need, she rolls up her sleeves and offers a helping hand with a smile. Annie is innately nurturing; it is one of the first qualities I loved about her. In fact, after our second date, I couldn't help but blurt out that she would be an incredible mother, much to my embarrassment. (Came off a little strong - I know, luckily it worked out.)

Annie has been a Big Sister through Big Brothers Big Sisters Los Angeles for six years. In these past six years, Annie has become a mother figure to Angie, her little sister. I have watched Annie be a constant source of love and support to Angie, who has faced an extraordinary amount of adversity and challenges. 

Watching Annie guide Angie with never-ending patience and unconditional love with a sense of humor has furthered my desire to become parents with her.

Annie is a strong leader, exceptionally organized, and loves a challenge. These qualities have helped her become a successful writer and producer in the entertainment industry, and they also make her a great wife and future mother. Annie will undoubtedly create a routine that will build a strong foundation for our child. She will always seek out opportunities for our child by finding classes, activities, and mentors to help them grow and achieve whatever dream they desire. Our child will learn compassion by simply watching Annie's actions. 

Annie will be a constant source of comfort and love for our child as they walk the uncertain path of life. Annie will try her hardest never to let our child fall, but when they do, she will be there to pick them up, wipe their tears, and encourage them to press ahead. Annie will love our child beyond imagination.

A note from Annie about Matthew (a.k.a. Cornbread a.k.a. CB.): 

Yes, Matthew responds to three names; Matthew, Cornbread, and CB, but we are hoping to add a fourth into the mix: Dad. CB, upon first meeting, is quietly warm and welcoming. He is an excellent communicator but, at times, is a man of few words that is because his language is music. 

CB is an extraordinary musician. After hearing something for a few seconds, he can pick up almost any instrument and play it. 

Though he is an incredible talent, his humbleness and strong work ethic are what draws others to work with him. His talent and career as a composer and being in a pop band are certainly an attractive aspect to CB, but it is his heart and personality that makes him an amazing husband and soon-to-be father. He is selfless, kind, and loyal. He is an extraordinary family member and an incredible friend. These are just a few of the qualities that initially attracted me to him. 

As our relationship grew, CB's thoughtfulness, willingness to learn, and respectful nature made me realize that I wanted to become his family and build a family with him. We have faced challenges together, and it is always CB's grace and patience that has helped see us through to the other side, often leading us to a place of laughter and positivity. 

There's no doubt in my mind seeing the way CB loves all the people in his life; our two little dogs, my precocious niece and nephew, and my little sister, that he will make an extraordinary father. I cannot wait to watch him love our child. 

To see him take our little one to their first movie, to watch him carve pumpkins and trick-or-treat alongside our child, to be a calm source of strength when less joyful moments arise like a fever or fall, to watch him guide our child through life's inevitable challenges and support them in their victories. CB will always provide safety, stability, support, strength, but most importantly, he will give endless unconditional love.

We promise to love our child unconditionally and raise them so they know they are extraordinary and can make an impact on the world. We promise to teach them good morals and to be kind. We also promise to laugh, dance, and enjoy life with our child. And most importantly, we promise we will be grateful for you and your decision every day. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to read about us. We appreciate you more than you can ever know.

With Love & Respect,

Annie and Matthew