Hello! We are Nadina and Ricardo from Encinitas, California. We can’t fully imagine what you’re feeling, but we deeply admire your strength and the love behind your decision for your child. We’re a warm, adventurous couple ready to welcome your child into a life filled with love, stability, and joy. With roots in Greece and Portugal, we’ve lived in many places around the world—but now call sunny Encinitas, California home. Our days are filled with laughter, beach walks, and a deep appreciation for different cultures. We’re so excited to become parents—not just to any child, but to your child—and we cannot wait to raise our child in a home that celebrates diversity, kindness, and adventure. Thank you again for considering us. It truly means the world!

Although growing our family biologically didn’t happen for us, adoption has always been close to our hearts. We believe with all our souls that family is built through love, not just biology - and we feel so ready to pour our love, support, and joy into a child’s life. One of the greatest reasons we want to become parents is our deep desire to nurture, to share our experiences, and to pass on the values that guide us - kindness, curiosity, resilience, and a deep appreciation for the world and its people. This journey means everything to us, and we’re truly excited about the beautiful possibility of becoming parents through adoption.

We first met while we were at Oxford University during the traditional rowing race at a cozy English pub. We’ve now been together for over a decade, and through all the changes life has brought, our love and respect for each other have only grown stronger. The values that define our relationship are kindness, acceptance, resilience, and a deep respect for people from all walks of life. We’ve lived in several countries together and now we’ve made our home in sunny Encinitas, California. We live just a short walk from the ocean, and we’re often out hiking, enjoying sunsets with our playful dog Riley, and cooking for friends. We love to travel and learn from the world, and we carry the friendships and life lessons we’ve gained across cultures close to our hearts. What we look forward to most is sharing this love and life with a child - supporting, nurturing, passing on our warmth, laughter and values.

We’re naturally curious and love spending time exploring, creating, and connecting, both with each other and the world around us. We love traveling and have lived in many places—Greece, South Africa, Portugal, England, Germany, and Scotland. Each country has taught us something new about people, culture, and what it means to feel at home. One of our favorite things is being in nature: hiking, beach walks, and snorkeling when the water is warm. Living just minutes from the ocean in Encinitas, California, means daily sunsets with our sweet dog Riley. We dream of taking our child camping in national parks, exploring Europe, and passing on the languages, stories, and traditions that have shaped our lives.

At home, Nadina enjoys painting and writing imaginative short stories. Painting has become such a meaningful part of her life. We imagine her painting with our child, making up stories before bedtime, coloring outside the lines, or simply creating a joyful mess. We’re excited to nurture imagination and self-expression in our future child. Ricardo loves to cook, take photos, and build Legos. He’s excited to one day hand a camera to our child, teaching them to see the world through their own lens. We imagine weekends filled with art projects, shared meals, storytelling, and forest walks, where curiosity and creativity are always encouraged. More than anything, we’re excited to experience all of this through a child’s eyes, nurturing their imagination and sense of belonging.

I was born and raised in beautiful Greece where childhood was filled with family, neighbors, hide and seek, and endless curiosity. I was especially drawn to science. My academic path led me to Oxford for my PhD. Oxford shaped not only my career but also my perspective on life. I learned the value of meaningful conversation, quiet reflection, and the richness of friendships that cross cultures. During my journey through Berlin, I embraced my creative side and started painting, and discovered how beautifully science and art intertwine. Today, I lead Research and Drug Discovery at a biotech company that develops personalized medicine for children with neurological conditions. Meeting these children has been one of the most meaningful parts of my life and has deepened my dream of becoming a mother. To me, parenting means offering unconditional love, sparking curiosity, and creating a joyful, nurturing home. I can’t wait to share science, creativity, our cultures, and above all, a love that makes our child feel deeply cherished.

Nadina is the most deeply compassionate and loving person I know. From the moment we met, I was drawn to her joyful, warm (and loud) laughter. She has a way of making everyone feel cared for. Nadina has a brilliant mind and her passion for helping others runs deep. In her job she leads the research for a company that creates personalized medicines for children with severe neurological conditions, giving them hope. She meets these children and their families, and the care and tenderness she shows to them is one of the most powerful examples of her big heart. Watching her connect so naturally with our friends kids in Portugal reminds me constantly of what a devoted, nurturing mother she will be. In her free time she paints, writes stories, and loves inviting others over. I know she can’t wait to one day paint with our child, encouraging their voice and imagination. She’s my rock, my constant, and I know that as a mother, she will fill our child’s world with laughter, support and a deep sense of security. There is no one else I would share this journey with.

I was born in South Africa. Growing up between cultures taught me to feel at home wherever I was and sparked a lifelong love for learning. I’ve lived in many countries so was eager to explore the world during my PhD in Finland (also found out that I don’t like cold winters!). I was passionate about photography and always used microscopes during my research in the lab. At Oxford we started a microscopy company, which allowed me to work with scientists all around the world to give them the tools to accelerate their research. I’m still with that company and moved to California to set up a second office. People often describe me as warm, curious, and always up for an adventure. I love telling stories, cooking, photography, and building Legos. I love the outdoors and spending time with our dog, Riley. What I look forward to most is sharing this life with a child passing on what I’ve learned, nurturing their imagination, and being their steady, loving presence as they grow into whoever they’re meant to be.

Ricardo is, without a doubt, the most loving, joyful, and caring person I’ve ever known. He lights up every room with humor and warmth. But it's not just his energy; it's his deep thoughtfulness, like when he gently asks, "do you want me to listen, or give advice?" He’s also incredibly adventurous and curious, always ready to try a trail, recipe, or idea, and his playful, open-hearted spirit brings so much joy to our life. One of the most beautiful things to watch is how naturally he connects with children, especially our friends’ kids, who adore him. He listens, engages, follows their lead, and makes every child feel heard and included. These days, his favorite moments are play time with our dog Riley, who absolutely adores him and their bond says so much about the steady, loving presence he offers. Ricardo is my calm in uncertain moments. I know without a doubt that he’ll be an incredible father, one who supports, encourages, and celebrates a child for exactly who they are, and who brings laughter, love, and a deep sense of safety to their world every day.

We live in a cozy home in Encinitas, California, just a 10-minute walk from the beach. There’s plenty of space to grow our family, and our favorite spot is the garden. Ricardo loves growing vegetables, and Nadina often paints in the quiet corners. We love hosting dinners for friends and neighbors, whether it’s a summer meal on the patio or a cozy gathering indoors. Our community is warm and welcoming, with lots of young families and a real sense of connection.

We truly love the holidays. Christmas is especially magical, with Nadina filling the house with lights and music. We honor both our cultures and have created traditions that feel uniquely ours—decorating the tree, baking cookies, and making memories that sparkle. Halloween is another favorite, and our neighborhood goes all out with decorations and costumes (Riley included!). Each Thanksgiving, our friend Sacha visits from Australia for a road trip to explore a new corner of the U.S. Living so close to the ocean is one of the greatest gifts of our life here. We both love swimming when the water is warm and soaking up the simple joy of being in the sea. We picture our child splashing in the waves, building sandcastles, and laughing with neighborhood friends under the California sun.

Our home wouldn’t be complete without Riley, our sweet, gentle and very playful King Charles. He’s full of love, always ready for a beach walk, cuddles and belly rubs. He brings so much joy to our everyday life. Riley has a calm, affectionate nature, especially around children, and we know he’ll be a loyal, playful companion to our future child. He absolutely loves playing tug, curling up next to us for naps, and even ‘hugging’ us with his little paws. Riley is part of our family, and he’s ready to welcome a little one, too.

We both come from Mediterranean backgrounds, with a shared foundation of warmth, hospitality, and a deep joy in life. Nadina’s parents live in Greece and her sister in Denmark, and though they’re far away, they stay closely connected through regular video calls. Nadina cherishes Greek Easter and dreams of sharing its rich traditions with our child. Having lived abroad from a young age, she’s also built a chosen family of friends from around the world who feel like siblings, aunties, and uncles to us.
Ricardo’s family in Portugal is warm and supportive—his parents are thrilled to become grandparents, and his brother can’t wait to share his love of history. Ricardo looks forward to passing on his culture through cooking, especially teaching our child to make family recipes like Portuguese tarts. Here in Encinitas, our welcoming neighborhood already feels like extended family. Our child will grow up surrounded by love, learning different languages, and supported by a vibrant, inclusive community.

We live by values like kindness, empathy, gratitude, honesty and unconditional love. Curiosity and a love of learning are part of our life. Whether it's through exploring nature, asking questions, reading stories, or creating art. We believe that a thankful heart leads to a joyful life. We value diversity, acceptance. Our child will grow up in a home that celebrates different cultures, languages, and perspectives. Our child will know they are enough exactly as they are, and that they are loved, supported every day. Our greatest hope as parents is to raise a child who feels deeply loved, safe, and confident in who they are. They’ll grow up surrounded by creativity and curiosity: painting with Nadina, taking photos with Ricardo, and hearing bedtime stories where animals talk and dreams take flight. We’ll teach them to be kind, compassionate, and open to the richness of different cultures, languages, and perspectives, including our own Greek and Portuguese roots. Most of all, our child will know, every single day, that they are unconditionally loved.

Becoming parents is the most meaningful and heartfelt dream we share. For us, parenting is about showing up every day with love, presence, and intention. We want to raise a child who feels deeply loved, safe to be exactly who they are, and confident in the knowledge that we are always here for them. Our parenting will be rooted in kindness, respect, emotional connection, and play, guided by curiosity and the unique personality of our child. We value open communication, emotional honesty, and the kind of steady presence that helps a child feel secure and seen.

We look forward to sharing our passions, our child will grow up learning Greek and Portuguese, experiencing the family traditions and cultures that shaped us, and traveling to places like Greece, Portugal, or Oxford. They’ll grow up not just hearing about different cultures, but truly experiencing them, with open eyes, an open heart, and a sense of wonder. We will celebrate their story fully, with joy and pride and if open adoption is your wish, we’re committed to honoring that connection with compassion and care. Above all, our child will grow up in a home filled with unconditional love, laughter, and belonging.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for taking the time to get to know us. We hope you’ve felt the love and intention behind our dream of becoming parents. If you choose us, your child will grow up in a home filled with joy, compassion, and unwavering support, a place that celebrates who they are and where they come from. We will raise them with honesty, kindness, and curiosity, surround them with diverse cultures and experiences, and guide them with love through every chapter of life. Their story, including yours, will always be honored and cherished.

If open adoption is something you’re considering, we would welcome the opportunity to build that connection with care, honesty, and respect. You are incredibly brave. No matter where your journey leads, we hold deep admiration for your strength. And if you feel a connection with us, we would be honored beyond words to hear from you, and perhaps begin a lifelong story rooted in love.

With Love, Nadina & Ricardo