Thank you for taking the time to consider us as parents of your child. We admire the love and concern that you are showing for your baby by thoughtfully exploring adoption.

Our names are Renee and Rob. Both of us grew up in large Catholic families that were led by loving, strong parents. Renee is one of six children. Rob is the youngest of five. We live in the suburbs of a Midwestern city, where we are building our dream house. Rob’s parents live just five minutes from our new home, and we often get together with them for dinner. They can’t wait to have a new grandchild to shower with love and attention. Renee’s parents live just two hours away, so they, too, are a big part of our lives. They are looking forward to another grandchild to spoil. As you might imagine, with all of our siblings, we have many nieces and nephews. When either side of the family gets together, the house fills with chatter, laughter, and the wonderful sounds of children at play.

We have been married for four years. Since the beginning of our marriage, we have tried to have children. However, after many miscarriages and unsuccessful fertility treatments, we are still waiting to be parents. We want you to know how deeply we appreciate your strength and commitment to give your child a bright future. We want to assure you that if you choose us to adopt your baby, we will provide a life of love and support, and opportunities to realize his or her dreams.

Renee: I grew up in Ohio, with two older brothers and three younger sisters. My brothers were very protective of me, but they were also pretty clear that when it came time to be with friends, their motto was “no girls allowed.” I didn’t mind. I had lots of girl friends to play with, and we all knew how to drive our older brothers crazy. I was proud to be my mom’s helper, doing what I could to help her with the cooking, cleaning, and laundry. I took my big sister responsibilities very seriously. I knew that I was a role model for my three little sisters, and I tried hard to be a good example for them.

My father owns a construction company, and now my two brothers work there with him. My mother was a stay-at-home mom until my youngest sister started school. My parents worked hard for what they have and, through their example, taught all of us the value of hard work and dedication.

Every Sunday, my family would get dressed up and go to Mass together. Given the size of our family, we would easily take up half of a row of chairs. Afterward, we’d often go out for a big breakfast. My mom prided herself on having children who behaved well in church and at restaurants. We did our best not to let her down.

Renee's mom with her darling daughters . . .

Holidays always meant lots of family. My granny used to make mountains of Christmas cookies, much to the delight of all of her grandchildren. Now my sisters and I continue the tradition. The problem is that we’re always trying to show each other up, so we end up with enough cookies to feed an army. But can there ever really be too many homemade cookies? One of the best things about family gatherings is we always just pick back up where we left off the last time we were together. Someone is always reminiscing about childhood escapades. Sometimes there’s a little too much information shared. Our spouses learn a lot about each of us at these family gatherings — maybe more than we want them to.

Renee's dad . . . handy with a rod and reel . . .

For vacations, we usually went skiing in Michigan or to Florida to play on the beach. I remember many days of fishing in the surf. My dad would bait the hook with frozen squid and then he’d help us cast the line. Once my mom had the biggest fish she’d ever caught on the line. We all ran to help her reel it in. We all still laugh when we remember the look on her face when she brought in her catch — a three foot sand shark.

I could always count on my parents. They were a loving, involved presence in my life. I was the first of my siblings to graduate from college, and now I am a risk manager for a bank. While I pride myself on my independence, and I am proud of my accomplishments, I know that it’s the values that I learned at home that make me successful and happy.

I am grateful for my wonderful husband, my loving parents, and my extended family. I long to be a mother, to share our blessings with a child. I want to cuddle with my son or daughter, read Winnie the Pooh stories, and sing and dance to the music filling our home.

Rob: Being the youngest of five children had its ups and downs. Sure, I was spoiled and I had the huge benefit of being able to learn from the mistakes of my older brothers and sister. Also, my parents were well-experienced by the time I got to my teens, so they knew how to balance indulgence and discipline. But it also was a constant battle to be old enough and big enough to tag along with the group. I developed a sense of humor early on. After all, there was no way to get the better of my siblings by fighting — they were all much bigger. So I had to get back at them through humor. I was pretty good at it.

My parents were wonderful — and they still are. My dad was a financial manager for a national department store. My mom stayed at home to nurture all of us. They loved us, and told us so. They set clear ground rules for life and living, and when we broke the rules, they would explain why they were unhappy. Explaining “why” was very important in our upbringing. It taught each of us to consider every decision we made, weighing the upside and downside of our actions. My parents taught us to be realistic, critical thinkers who relied on a moral compass to help gauge whether or not we were on the right track.

Rob is very close to his mom and dad..

Some of the best family fun we had took place at the dinner table. Dinner was ready when Dad got home from work, and we all looked forward to eating together. None of us were bashful, and we couldn’t wait to share the day’s activities. And it hasn’t changed. Whenever our whole family gets together, we talk non-stop, sharing stories of our lives and new families, laughing at each other’s antics, sympathizing with each other’s troubles.

Mom has always been generous and open with her feelings. She always shared in our lives with laughter, excitement, concern, and tears — whatever the situation warranted. Dad was the voice of reason, the patient parent. I loved visiting his office and having his employees tell me how much they respected him and enjoyed working for him. It was a surprise to hear how much his coworkers knew about each of us. My dad loved his family and never stopped talking about us.

Treating Mom and Dad, especially on their anniversary, has become a family tradition. My brothers, sister, and I sent them to Las Vegas for their 40th anniversary. For their 45th anniversary, we gathered at an outdoor symphony concert for dinner, music, family, and friends. A highlight of the celebration was a visit by the orchestra’s guest artist, who congratulated my parents on their special day. They were ecstatic, and are still talking about it. My siblings and I just wanted to show our appreciation for all that they have done for us.

My parents had high expectations of each of their children. We were expected to be honest, loyal, concerned about the welfare of others, live our faith, and laugh at ourselves. I can’t think of a better upbringing than I had. I want to parent as I was raised, embracing my child with love and affection, leading by example and inspiration.

I have worked in financial services for eleven years. I love my work. Before I met Renee, it was the focus of my life. I set very specific goals, and I met them. I am grateful for the professional opportunities I’ve been offered. But, my marriage and my family is the most important part of my life. I can’t wait to expand our family circle to include a child.

Both of us: We were introduced by a mutual friend who insisted that we were made for each other. Rob called Renee, and after a four hour telephone conversation, we finally met. That telephone conversation was just the start. Our first date was dinner — and another five hour conversation. Rob was instantly taken with Renee’s big brown eyes and infectious laugh. Renee was equally attracted to Rob, and felt so comfortable with his honesty and openness. We were married a little more than a year later.

Uncle Rob with Owen, one of our many nephews.

Rob: Renee is easygoing, positive, and loves to laugh. Every morning she wakes up happy and ready to tackle the day. She’s a great cook and loves to surprise me with new foods and recipes. Renee can be a little silly sometimes. A few years ago, we discovered a rubber ducky in our home — and neither of us knew where it came from. Renee began hiding the duck in the most unlikely places, and it gets found at the strangest times. Since most of our belongings have been in storage while we’re waiting for our new house to be finished, I assumed the duck was packed away. However, just a few days ago, I opened a bathroom drawer, and there was the rubber ducky, sitting on top of the dental floss. He’s gone into hiding again, and who knows where he’ll be found next time.

She won’t admit it, but Renee gets a little carried away at Halloween. She loves to decorate, make Halloween treats for the children of our friends, and organize holiday games. Whenever kids are over, Renee pulls out coloring books, stickers, and toys. I often find her down on floor, playing with the children. They trust her, and she adores them.

Renee: I can always count on Rob. He’s encouraging, kind, and a real gentleman. When he surprises me with little things like cards, flowers, or a loving note, I fall in love with him all over again. He is an active volunteer in our community, and I’m proud of his work with the city’s symphony orchestra. It’s gratifying to have others admire and respect him as I do.

I love to watch Rob with our nieces and nephews. They love their Uncle Rob, who wrestles with them, shoots hoops with them, and reads them Curious George or Clifford the Big Red Dog.

Our new home will be ready in the fall.

Both of us: Our new home will be ready to move in by early fall. It is a one and half story brick home with a finished walkout basement. We have three finished bedrooms and the room to finish a fourth. The basement has a large family room with lots of space to play, a sunroom perfect for reading, and a pub table and stools for board and card games. There are lots of closets and storage space for toys. Our neighborhood has several ponds, a large commons for children’s activities and neighborhood gatherings, and a nearby playground. It is across the road from the high school, middle school, and grade school. Our school system is excellent, and the community is filled with young professionals, families, and retirees. Our neighbors are friendly and excited to welcome us into their midst.

We will raise our child in a loving home, surrounded by grandparents, uncles, aunts and many cousins. We will raise our son or daughter in the Catholic faith that has inspired our lives. We will teach him or her the value of work, the importance of dependability, and the rewards of education. We believe in being respectful of the people around us, and showing kindness and consideration to others. Our child will see us living the values we hold dear. We will surround our child with music, laughter, and play. We will encourage him or her to explore the world, find his or her passions, and pursue them.

We appreciate this chance to tell you about ourselves and our dreams of having a child. . If you choose us to raise your child, we would teach him or her to respect and appreciate your decision. If you wish, we would be happy to send you letters and photos letting you know about his or her growth and development.

If you would like to learn more about us, please call our attorney, Steve Kirsh, at 800-333-5736. If Steve is not available, he will call you back as soon as possible. If you would like to speak with us or meet us, please let Steve know, and he will provide you with our contact information. We would be excited to hear from you.

If you have not formulated an adoption plan yet, and would like to speak with a social worker, you are welcome to contact Meg Sterchi at Adoptions of Indiana by calling 888-573-0122. Meg founded an organization to help birth mothers in circumstances similar to yours, and has great experience doing so. She is also a mother, through birth and adoption, so you may find her perspective valuable.

You have our deepest respect and appreciation for your generous commitment to providing your child with the best possible upbringing. Thank you for considering us as prospective adoptive parents for your child.

We send our best wishes,

Rob and Renee