Choose A Family : Parent Profile
Jamie and Carol
Dear Birthmother,
Thank you for taking the time to read our letter and learn about our family. We are Jamie, Carol and Isaiah (plus our dog, Sammy) and we are truly honored that you are considering us as your child’s adoptive family. We are looking forward to bringing a new baby into our home and family, -- a place filled with love, laughter, adventure, play, and stability. The decision you are making now requires a great deal of courage. We admire your commitment to giving your baby the best home and life possible.
Getting to know us
Jamie and I both grew up in a small town in Northern California. We first met in 5th grade when our elementary schools merged and we ended up in the same class. Early on, we played catch at recess with a football and passed the occasional note in class. We knew the same kids and ran around the same playground. But it wasn’t until the 9th grade that our friendship began to take root. Jamie and I were the only two freshmen in the high school musical. And so, we found ourselves hanging out together in the back of the gym during rehearsals, doing our homework and discovering how easily we could make each other laugh. Soon enough, there were trips to Jack-in-the-Box, a mud-fight or two, and eventually, a run for student body office together. Without really noticing it, we had become one of each other’s best friends. Jamie admits now that he was “too chicken” to ask me out on a real date so we simply remained good friends throughout high school.
The next chapter
The next years brought adventure, mostly times apart, and some times together. I went off to Peru as an exchange student after my junior year. And after high school, Jamie went off to college at UC Davis to study Economics while I studied Biology at Stanford. After graduation, Jamie continued on to law school, and I moved to Seattle for my first job. Although we loosely kept in touch, life had sent us on different journeys.
Fast-forward seven years when the two of us reconnect: I moved back to the Bay Area, and Jamie had just returned from a big adventure in Africa. Jamie still remembers the night he dialed 411 to track me down. Both of us were ready for a new chapter of life to begin. That year was a time of renewing our friendship, exchanging stories about life, and starting once again to hang out. We went on hikes, ate dinners together, and laughed. Just like before, and so it continues to be, the laughter came easily. So, when cupid finally pulled his arrow for us, he pulled it hard. All of that laughter between us bubbled up and created a big, wide, easy romance. That’s twelve years ago now, and we’ve been together ever since.
Along comes Isaiah
Isaiah came in 2003, a little star in our sky. He is Mr. ready-to-roll, Mr. I love running around, playing games, and making things. Mr. Christmas decorations are great, and “can you show me how to build a machine?” Mr. “let’s ride bikes!” and I love you, Mom and Dad. He is a second grader now. He is part of Cub Scouts and plays basketball and baseball after school. Being a parent has opened up dimensions in life and ourselves that we didn’t know existed. We have loved the adventure and sweetness of being parents; the nurturing and the love. The crazy, early mornings when Isaiah comes running into our room because he’s got something to tell us. And the sleepy, fall-on-your-pillow nights after a long day at the beach, touching sea anemones and chasing the tides. This is life now, and we love it. We are ready for more.
Why we are choosing adoption
We always have wanted a larger family. After Isaiah was born, we were pregnant twice but unable to carry either pregnancy to term. It was a rigorous lesson in letting go and frankly, the miracle of life. We have not been able to get pregnant again and are truly grateful for the opportunity to expand our family through the miracle of adoption.
Our Home and Life
Our home is about 15 miles northwest of San Francisco in Marin County, in a beautiful small town with excellent schools. We live on a cul-de-sac in a very special neighborhood that includes a beautiful old horse stable and a pasture for goats, sheep, chickens, and sweet little black pig named Chloe. The heart of the neighborhood is the community pool, which attracts kids in the summer to play and for the swim team. It brings the neighborhood families together in the evenings for barbeques and just hanging out. All around us there are trails through miles and miles of open space. We hike, play and ride bikes on these trails all throughout the year. Our home is spacious and comfortable and there are rope swings and a play structure in the backyard. We truly feel blessed to be able to live here.
Adventures and outings
The weekends are a chance to get together with friends, go on adventures, and make time for relaxation. Though what we do evolves as Isaiah grows, we love spending time outside. We go hiking with our dog, Sammy. We go swimming, shoot baskets, bring a picnic to the beach, or take a bike ride. This summer we went canoe camping in Minnesota and we are looking forward to going to Italy soon to enjoy the food and some time exploring the country. Sometimes we meet up with a few families for pizza or just have some special friends over to our house for an easy dinner.
Spending Time Together
And then there’s the time just for relaxing. I like to cook something most everyday, making a homemade soup, a roast chicken, or one of my mom’s legendary pies. I love going to the local farmer’s marker and we are lucky to have beautiful produce to choose from here all year round. We try to eat dinner together each night. We pause to say a short thank you for the food and the day before beginning. Each night at bedtime we set aside some time to read. We often read to Isaiah, although he now he reads to us as well. Every few weeks we have a “movie night,” a night of just relaxing on the couch with snacks and a good story. Late at night before bed is Jamie’s and my time to catch-up, just the two of us. It is a peaceful end to a usually full day.
Our families are local, so we frequently see them as well. We get together for birthdays and holidays, and travel occasionally for the out-of-town wedding. Jamie’s family has a cabin near Tahoe, which has become the site for both relaxing and adventurous vacations year-round. We would love to share this life as we expand our family with a new child.
About Carol, by Jamie
Carol is my wife, my friend, my true companion. As you have read, we go back a long way. Carol has so many talents. She is bright and creative and manages her work life and the flow of our home with energy, spontaneity, and balance. I love Carol’s warm and positive energy and her ability to laugh easily. I like how kids feel welcome, safe and comfortable in our home. In life, Carol has the courage to follow her heart and often pursues paths way ahead of the curve. She traveled abroad in high school, began practicing yoga way before it was cool, and taught an Afro-Brazilian dance class for several years after her time in South America. Carol has had a career that spans both teaching and health care. She has been a complementary health care practitioner with her own clinic for the past 10 years. And while there is so much I love about Carol, it is ‘Carol the mom’, whom I am most proud of and thankful to be married to. She is incredibly patient, creative, and kind. And she is just always there for Isaiah on every level. I know she will be just as devoted to the next little being who comes into our life. And I look forward to seeing her in action again.
About Jamie, by Carol
Jamie is a sweet, lovable, funny guy. After knowing for so long, I can say he is a true-blue good guy. I am proud to know him and be his wife. By day, he is an attorney who navigates through complex deals with grace, intelligence, and a sense of humor. By night, he transforms into a bath-giving, story-reading, guitar-playing wonderful dad and husband. Jamie is an accomplished athlete (he played college baseball, and can pick up new sports in a flash), a natural coach (he coaches Isaiah’s basketball and baseball teams), and with a little coaxing, willing to fix all the little things around the house. Jamie has gotten up early with Isaiah over the years to color, complete find-and-search puzzles, and learn more about magnets --whatever Isaiah has been into. In short, Jamie shows up. Jamie loves planning our travels and makes the occasional splurge for our family with enthusiasm. He’s a baseball fan and truly appreciates a beautiful song. Jamie gets along with most everybody and his heart is wide open, ready for this next little being.
A big support network
Because we are both native to the Bay Area, we have a large web of family, old friends, and newly made friends that keep life balanced and full of love. These people are the bread and butter of our life. We see each other for special occasions, holidays, and birthdays. They are there for us when we get sick or when we may need a helping hand, just as we are there for them. Both of our parents’ marriages have been going strong for nearly 50 years. They’ve been good role models on how to surf the rollercoaster of life and move with the ebb and flow of time.
We are ready!
We are ready to welcome a baby into our loving home. Isaiah talks with excitement about getting to play with the new baby that joins our family. “Each of us”, he says referring to himself and the new baby, “will get to be a brother or sister”. We have an extra bedroom and lots of baby books and toys just waiting for this being. Mostly, we have a lot of room in our hearts. We hope our new family member will come soon.
We will give this new baby the love, space and opportunity to grow up healthy and strong. We will help them find their way in this world with support, love, laughter, and hopefully, a little wisdom. I plan to be at home with the baby for at least the first year. At that point, we’ll plan for a future that may involve a transition back to work part-time. We welcome a new addition to our family and are excited to provide a secure and loving place for him or her to grow up.
Thank you for spending some time reading about us. We look forward to learning more about you.
We wish you the best!
Carol, Jamie, and Isaiah
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