Hi, we are Ryan and Brandon. Thank you for taking the time to learn a little bit about us and our hopes and dreams to become parents.

Our story begins in 2007, we just started college and were introduced to each other by a mutual friend. Our first date was at a local Italian restaurant, then off to see the movie Juno and since then we have been inseperable. Our relationship started long-distance but we were constantly chatting on the phone and online, and visiting each other every chance we got. When we finished school, we moved in together and got our first apartment in Baltimore, then later moved to Washington, DC.  After ten years together, one dog, and two apartments, we tied the knot in 2017, surrounded by our closest friends and family members.

Our love for each other has contineud to grow each day we are together. After getting married we continued to expanded our family to include a cat and chickens!  We have spoken about being fathers since day one of our relationship and we are very excited that we are one step closer to making our dream come true. We cannot wait to grow our family through adoption and help a child navigate the world.

Ryan is compassionate, a great listener, and one of the most caring people I know. When we first started dating, his smile, geekiness, and sense of humor drew me in. We would talk for hours on the phone about our classes, our hopes and dreams, and our future together.

Before we started dating, Ryan knew he wanted to be a father. No matter which friend or family member’s house we visit, kids are drawn to him. I’ve watched Ryan grow as an uncle and godparent from changing diapers to explaining the importance of sharing and letting our nephew’s imagination run free. He loves playing games, reading stories, and telling jokes. Trust me, he has his dad jokes ready. 

Ryan has always enjoyed computers from an early age and has applied that to his everyday life. Outside of work, Ryan has spent countless hours making our home a smart home and building his on computer. When he’s not tinkering with his newest gadgets, Ryan loves to be outside, gardening, hiking, and camping. He also enjoys traveling the world, learning about new cultures, traditions, and trying new food.

Ryan will be a wonderful teacher, role model, and father. I cannot wait to grow together as parents as we embark on this next step in our journey.

Brandon is the kindest and sweetest person I have ever known. When we started dating, I was drawn to his caring personality and how he constantly looked to help those around him succeed, which has continued into his adult life in his career and a community volunteer. He is also the easiest person to talk to. Throughout the beginning of our relationship we would talk for hours on the phone, to the point where he would fell asleep mid-sentence. I still lovingly tease him about that to this day almost 15 years later.

Living together, I've learned that Brandon is the artistic one in our relationship. He loves finding decorations for our home for every holiday and occasion. He's also a huge foodie and is always looking for the next new recipe for us to try. Brandon loves watching Food Network and has even gotten us into a few tapings. When Brandon is not at work or experimenting in the kitchen, he’s volunteering at our local fire station as an EMT, following in his father’s footsteps who was a career firefighter.

When my childhood best friend had his son, Brandon and I became his closest “uncles” and godparents. We've spent many weekends babysitting and I’ve enjoyed watching Brandon grow as an uncle, from learning how to change diapers to making up fun games to play around the house and teaching him how to make cookies. Brandon is gentle and kind as an uncle and I know he will be a great father.  I look forward to seeing him read our child bedtime stories, comfort them when they are sick, and pass on his passion to help others.

When we first walked through the house that would become our home, we fell in love with the large open rooms and the spacious kitchen where we can make meals together. We live on almost two acres, with half of it being woods that Ryan continues to explore. During the spring and summer, we take pride in gardening and growing herbs and vegetables that we use in our cooking.

Our home is nestled at the end of a cul de sac in a well-established community with all different types of families. We are close with our neighbors, having regular get-togethers, but also live in a place where we can enjoy nature and have the luxury of privacy when we need it. During the warmer months, we enjoy the hiking trails in our area, visiting ice cream shops and farmers' markets, and watching the wildlife in our backyard. In the winter, the entire community comes together and has a friendly house lighting competition as we celebrate the holidays together.

We are a quick drive to both Washington DC and Baltimore, where we have lived in the past.  We visit the cities frequently to return to our favorite restaurants and museums, and attend local parades, concerts, and events. We cannot wait to introduce a child to our favorite museums, take them to baseball games and the zoo, and share the DC culture that we have come to love. 

We both have large, loving families. Brandon grew up with his extended family living within a 30-minute drive from his home while Ryan grew up having to travel up to eight hours to visit his. Nonetheless, we both grew up with strong family values that continue into our adult lives.  

We each have fond memories of spending holidays with our families, learning family recipes, and spending time with our cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. When we informed our families that we are starting the adoption process, everyone was extremely excited and have been asking for updates on where we are in the process every chance they get.

In our current home, Ryan’s parents live within a couple of hours drive and visit monthly. Brandon’s parents live a little further away, but they make the long trek to visit at least twice a year. We visit both sets of parents as much as we can, making multiple trips to Michigan in the summer and fall or weekend trips to Southern Maryland. Neither of our parents have grandchildren yet but have already started plans on spoiling them. 

We also have a strong friend group that live near by and have become like our family. We love spending weekends with them exploring the area or having cook outs at each other's homes. We are grateful to have no shortage of love and support in our lives. 

Brandon went to the University of Michigan and introduced Ryan to college football. When fall semester comes around, our Michigan flag goes up! Every Saturday, we watch and root on the Michigan Wolverines, and whoever is playing against Ohio State.

We both have holiday traditions that we enjoy with our families, but the biggest one of them all is Christmas. Ryan’s grandparents loved Christmas, they went all out, and that has stayed with Ryan to this day. He even listens to Christmas music throughout the entire year, which drives Brandon mad. Starting in November, we begin to decorate our home and it completely transforms into the North Pole. Every December, we invite family and friends over to make hundreds of cookies, one of Brandon’s family traditions. We make sugar cookies, peanut butter kiss cookies, and so many more!

We truely knew we were meant to be after learning we could travel well together. We have gone on cross country road trips, seen 42 states, and circled Lake Michigan. Our jobs have taken us to places we never imagined we would go. We have been fortunate to expand our travels to Europe, Asia, and Australia. Ryan has come to love Christmas in Europe and Brandon has enjoyed learning about and trying new cuisines everywhere we go.

Thank you for taking the time to get to know us a little better. We understand that this is a difficult decision, and we appreciate the chance to help our dream come true. We promise to give your child love, acceptance, and a nurturing life where we comfort them in their time of need and teach them everything they need to know to become a successful person in the world. We would also like to stay in touch with you throughout your child’s upbringing and include you in important events in your child’s life. Regardless of your level of openness you prefer, we will make sure your child knows of the strong mother they have and the sacrifice you made.

Thank you again for considering us, we cannot wait until we have a child and we wish you all the best as you identify what is best for you and your baby.