Adoption Network

This cute couple is Donald & Shadi from California and they are #HopingToAdopt . https://adoptionnetwork.com/f/adoptive-family-profile/18033 . One of Donald & Shadi's shared passions is their careers in education. They first met when they were middle school teachers where they enjoyed their student's enthusiasm and liveliness. Donald is now a Principal and Shadi is a Professor of Education. Over their years of teaching, they have learned so much about themselves through t...heir diverse interactions. More than anything, they've learned about empathy, patience, compassion, and human kindness. They like to spend as much time as they can outside where they explore beaches and forests. At home, Donald enjoys playing the guitar while Shadi fills the kitchen with delicious aromas from her latest recipes. . "The initial thought of adoption came to us before we even wanted to start a family. Both of us have worked with many children through our teaching experiences, and have also formed close bonds with our students. The best part of our jobs is getting to know each child’s individual story. Parenting, to us, is about loving a child, bonding with them, and guiding them and growing with them. . We promise to share your story of love and strength and let your child know of the beautiful gift you gave to us. More than anything we want you to know that your child will be loved and supported unconditionally and surrounded by a home full of laughter, kindness, and respect." . To learn more about Donald & Shadi, click on the link at the top of this post. #AdoptionIsLove See more

The R family celebrating T’s 3rd birthday. His mom said, "He is so much fun! He’s so active! He’s a super amazing swimmer, and he loves to climb!"

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend shared their heartbreaking loss with the world as a reminder that life is fragile - even to those who seem to have it all. "To our Jack - I’m so sorry that the first few moments of your life were met with so many complications, that we couldn’t give you the home you needed to survive. We will always love you." Wherever you are at on your journey, you aren't alone. Need support? Please call 1-800-367-2367.

This cute couple is William & Kim from Connecticut and they are #HopingToAdopt . https://adoptionnetwork.com/f/adoptive-family-profile/17103 . William and Kim met while celebrating the Boston Red Sox World Series win. They still love watching the Red Sox together and were thrilled when they discovered that their son Will had a great swing! William and Kim are an active couple who enjoy skiing, going for family walks, hiking, swimming, golfing, and playing tennis. Their at-ho...me hobbies are trying out new recipes like homemade pizza. Kim grew up speaking French, a language she can't wait to share with their children, and William is ready to share his love of cooking, a trait passed down from his grandmother. . "We can’t imagine our lives without our adopted son Will. We count our blessings every day since Will has come into our lives. Watching him grow, learn and develop has been an amazing experience. He has shown us how to love, live, laugh and care more deeply than ever. We strongly believe that children bring out the very best in families and that is one of the reasons why we are continuing to build and grow our family by adopting another son/daughter. . We absolutely love being parents! And, your baby will have a Big Brother! A brother that wants a baby sister/brother very badly. He can’t wait love, hold and play with his baby sister/brother. Will is an extremely loving, sweet and gentle soul. Your baby will also grow up with loving grandparents, 3 aunts, 7 great aunts, 3 uncles, 10 great uncles, 3 first cousins and combined between us, our very own 40 first cousins. Our large, fun loving extended family and friends will embrace your baby and love him/her dearly." . To get to know William & Kim more, click on their profile at the top of this post. #AdoptionIsLove See more

First bottle moments. Congratulations to our B family! They were blessed with baby girl M

Birth Mother A has some advice to future Birth moms: "Never forget the reason you decided to place in the first place. Your life is going to change as you get older and you'll be in a spot where you are able to provide a great life for your children, but don't start thinking you made the wrong decision when things are good. The feeling of regret will eat at you. Just know that your child will have an amazing life from the day they were born because you made the selfless decision to put them first."

You may be wondering... why is the adoption process so tough? Simply put, this is why: the child’s safety and wellbeing are of the utmost importance, making the extra requirements incredibly necessary. The adoption process for Adoptive Parents is tough because adoption agencies, professionals, states and countries want to ensure that the child is going to a safe place.

This cute couple is Thomas & Shelley from Pennsylvania and they are #HopingToAdopt . https://adoptionnetwork.com/f/adoptive-family-profile/19055 . Thomas & Shelley have put children as a top priority in lives for many years. Shelley is a child psychologist and Thomas is an art teacher. They were quick to realize that adoption was the right path for them and have been blessed with their son Hudson, through the miracle of adoption. With family nearby, holiday traditions are... full of cookie baking, church, Christmas tree farms, and more with Grandparents and cousins joining in on all the fun. Throughout the rest of the year, their quality time is made up of family walks and spending time on the river near their home. Paddleboarding and tubing are a must! Their goal of parenthood is to raise children who practice kindness, gratitude, stand for justice, and contribute to the world through their gifts and talents. . "People who know us well would say we are always happy, laughing, and having fun. We both look on the bright side of life and make the best of any situation. Our marriage and home are full of fun, kindness, and joy. We love spending quality time at home playing board games, reading, cooking together, having movie nights by the fireplace, or just relaxing in the backyard. Nature and health are important to us. Our home is a meeting place for family and friends and our doors are always open to others. We love to host BBQs and game nights for friends and family. . It is wonderful to see how our families have surrounded Hudson with love and support and they are very excited to do the same for his future sibling. Hudson’s grandparents visit at least once a week and the cousins love coming to our house for sleepovers. We are also lucky to have a close group of friends in our town who are unofficial aunts and uncles and always around for big events. If you chose our family, your child’s life would be rich with love and support." . To get to know Thomas & Shelley more, click on their profile at the top of this post. #AdoptionIsLove See more

If you could sum up what adoption means to your family in one word, what would it be? The L family answered: Grateful

To the moon & back.

This cute couple is Brian & Bethany from Tennessee and they are #HopingToAdopt . https://adoptionnetwork.com/f/adoptive-family-profile/19005 . Brian is an Associate Professor and Bethany runs their small, family daycare. They are naturals at developing and caring for others. Though Brian works at the local university, he spends as much time as he can at home during the week and is an active caregiver in their daycare. It is creative and stimulating, with their daycare kid...s doing anything from exploring the nearby river to building and creating in the wide-open yard. During their free time, they hike their favorite nature reserve, work in the garden, or just spend time in their yard with a book. When deciding to pursue adoption, they dedicated time and research into learning as much as they could about birth parent and adoptee perspectives since adoption is a lifelong experience for everyone involved. . "When we met, Brian was finishing up graduate school and Bethany had just moved to Maryland for a job in child care. We immediately had a strong connection and over the next two years, our relationship continued to grow and deepen. We know it may seem silly, but we just like being together even if we’re not doing much. The running joke is that our favorite activity is to sit on the couch ignoring each other while we read. Caring for children is a big part of our lives, too. Our family child care is small, currently just two families, each with a toddler. Creating a stimulating and creative home is always on our mind. . It’s a child’s right to know their own story of who their Birth Parents are, how we were chosen to parent them, and our journey to meet them and bring them home. We promise to be honest with your child and talk to them about you, their Birth Mother. We will also talk with them about their history in an age-appropriate way from the very beginning. It’s our deepest desire to have a good relationship with you because you are their First Mother. We are committed to supporting your child in knowing you and their First Family." . To get to know Brian & Bethany more, click on their profile at the top of this post. #AdoptionIsLove See more

Baby M is so loved by his adoptive family. "He is a blessing! His finalization date is set to fall on the SAME date as his moms’ wedding anniversary! How cool is that?"

Birth Mother S chose an open adoption, and her advice to other women who choose this option would be, "Follow your heart on picking a family for your child. Always be upfront, honest, and open with them as communication is KEY! I cannot stress that enough. Building a relationship with your child's adoptive family is building a relationship to last a lifetime and it's so so worth it if you choose open adoption."