The Outer Banks, North Carolina, has been our favorite vacation spot and long-weekend getaway for the past ten years. What started as a place to relax and recharge has become a place filled with family, traditions, and some of our favorite memories together.

One of the things we love most about the Outer Banks is that several of our family members live there, including Amber's mom and other extended family. Every visit gives us the opportunity to slow down, spend quality time with loved ones, and enjoy the natural beauty of the area. Whether we're walking along the beach, exploring local shops and restaurants, paddling on the water, or simply watching the sunset, there's always something that brings us joy.

We stay in a quiet community with easy access to the beach, walking trails, pools, and outdoor activities, which makes it a wonderful place to spend time together and with family. It's the kind of place where everyone gathers for cookouts, beach days, and evening conversations on the porch.

We often find ourselves imagining what these trips will be like with a child. We look forward to sharing family traditions, building sandcastles, collecting seashells, swimming in the ocean, learning to boogie board, and creating new memories together. Knowing that our family members there are excited to welcome a child makes these future adventures feel even more special.

We enjoy spending our free time together and making the most of both everyday moments and new adventures. We love traveling, exploring our city, trying new restaurants, and spending time with family and friends. Some of our favorite weekends include walking our dogs, hiking local trails, swimming at our city's free pools, or simply enjoying quality time together. Staying active is an important part of our lives. Chris is an avid cyclist and rides on a local cycling team, participating in races throughout the year. Amber loves cheering him on from the sidelines, and we often talk about how much fun it would be to bring our future child along to cheer on the team, make signs, and join in the excitement. We also enjoy playing tennis and finding new ways to get outdoors and stay active. Giving back to our community is important to us as well. We volunteer at our local library, Chris offers free swim lessons to children in our community in the summer, we participate in neighborhood events, and enjoy supporting programs that bring people together. We look forward to sharing both big adventures and simple traditions with a child, from family gatherings and road trips to library visits, neighborhood walks, bike rides, and discovering new favorite places together.

One of the things we love most about our relationship is how well we balance and support each other. While we have different personalities, our shared values of kindness, love, and family are at the heart of everything we do. Amber admires Chris's patience, kindness, and caring nature. As an elementary school teacher, he has a gift for making people feel seen and valued. He is calm, dependable, and has a wonderful way of helping Amber stay grounded and focused on what matters most. His thoughtful acts of service are one of the many ways he shows his love every day. Chris admires Amber's organization, determination, and thoughtful approach to life. She brings structure and intention to our home and is always thinking ahead to care for the people she loves. Her dedication, warmth, and ability to make plans happen are qualities he deeply respects.

Together, we cherish quality time, whether we're relaxing at home, walking our two dogs, cycling, traveling, or simply enjoying each other's company and always making each other laugh. Most importantly, we make a conscious effort to show our love and appreciation for one another every day. We are grateful for the partnership we've built and for the ways our different strengths help us grow together.

Family is at the center of our lives, and one of our greatest blessings is having both sides of our family close by and actively involved in our lives. We regularly gather for family dinners, game nights, celebrations, sporting events, and simple weekends spent enjoying each other's company. These moments are filled with laughter, encouragement, and the kind of support that makes everyone feel at home.

Amber’s sister and brother-in-law live just minutes away and are among our closest friends. Whether we're sharing a meal, playing games, or cheering on our favorite teams, time together is something we truly value. Amber’s mom and extended family live at the beach in the Outer Banks, where many of our favorite family traditions take place; beach vacations, holiday gatherings, cookouts, and evenings spent together on the porch have created memories we look forward to sharing with a child.

Chris’s family lives nearby as well and remains closely connected. His mom, who is from the Philippines, brings everyone together through family meals and cherished traditions, especially during the holidays. We can't wait to share her delicious Filipino recipes and family celebrations with a child. Chris enjoys spending quality time outdoors with his dad. Chris’s brother and his partner are expecting their first child, and we are excited about the opportunity to raise cousins together.

Our families have wholeheartedly embraced our adoption journey and are eagerly waiting to welcome a child with open arms, unconditional love, and endless support.

We are lucky to call a vibrant, river-city in Virginia home. Our house is located in a diverse, historic neighborhood in the heart of the city, surrounded by parks, playgrounds, restaurants, and wonderful neighbors. We are within walking or biking distance to trails, basketball and tennis courts, schools, a library, two free city pools, the river, and more. One of the things we love most about our neighborhood is its diversity; people from many different backgrounds and walks of life live side by side, and there is a strong sense of community with family-friendly events held throughout the year.

We live with our two dogs, Peaches and Pepper, in a two-story home with three bedrooms, a large eat-in kitchen, and plenty of living space to gather with family and friends. We spend a lot of time outdoors, enjoying our fenced-in backyard and deck for gardening, grilling, and relaxing. Just at the end of our block is a large park with a playground, sports fields, and a track, where families regularly gather and children play together.

We are an hour drive from the Blue Ridge mountains, which offer hiking trails, ski resorts, and other fun outdoor activities. Day trips to the ocean, theme parks, aquariums, and national parks are all within reach in Virginia. We are grateful for the home and community we have built here and look forward to raising a child in a neighborhood filled with opportunity, connection, and fun. Our families have wholeheartedly embraced our adoption journey and are eagerly waiting to welcome a child with open arms, unconditional love, and endless support.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about us and to read our profile. We know that considering adoption for your child is a deeply personal decision, and we are honored and humbled that you are considering us as part of your journey. As you read our profile, we hope you get a sense not only of what our lives look like, but of the love, commitment, and support we hope to share with a child.

We have been together for 12 years and married for 6. We met in college, and since the beginning, we knew we wanted to build a life and raise a family together. Over the years, we have built a relationship grounded in love, trust, laughter, and unwavering support for one another. We are each other's best friends, and we are beyond excited for the day we can share that love with a child. One of the things we look forward to most is the everyday experience of being parents. We imagine reading bedtime stories, celebrating milestones, cheering them on at their sports games, enjoying summer days at the pool, riding bikes together around the neighborhood, eating dinners together every night, creating family traditions, and helping them discover who they are. We cannot wait to encourage your child's interests and help them feel confident, supported, and deeply loved every day.

We live in a diverse and welcoming community in a mid-size Mid-Atlantic city filled with parks, schools, libraries, and young families. As an interracial family, we value the richness that different cultures, backgrounds, and experiences bring to our lives. Our family, friendships, and community reflect a wide range of backgrounds, and we believe every child deserves to grow up feeling proud of who they are and connected to their heritage. If you choose us, we will intentionally nurture and celebrate your child's unique story, ensuring they are surrounded by people, experiences, and opportunities that help them develop a strong sense of identity and belonging.

We are also fortunate to have a strong network of family and friends nearby. Your child would grow up surrounded by loving grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and close family friends who are excited to welcome a child into their lives. We know that raising a child takes a village, and we are grateful to have such a caring and supportive one.

If you choose us, our promise to you is that your child will always know their adoption story. We will speak openly and honestly about adoption from the very beginning and help them understand the love and thought that went into your decision. We will always honor your place in their story and speak about you with respect, gratitude, and kindness.

We are committed to maintaining a connection with you in whatever way feels healthy and comfortable for everyone involved. We will send letters and pictures so you can watch your child grow. We are also open to exchanging emails, phone calls, FaceTime conversations, and in-person visits if that is something you would like.

Thank you again for taking the time to get to know us. Whatever decision you make, we wish you peace, strength, and support as you move forward. If you choose us, we would be honored to raise your child with unconditional love and to get to know you as part of this journey. We are grateful for your consideration and for the opportunity to share a little of our hearts with you.

With all our love and gratitude,

Chris & Amber