Introduction
Dear Expectant Parent(s),
Hello. We understand that you are considering adoption because you want a loving future for your child. We respect your commitment to them, and the strength this decision requires of you. Thank you for taking time to learn about us, and for considering our family for the baby you are carrying. Whatever your choice, we wish you courage and peace as you navigate this difficult time.
There is so much love in our household and in our lives, and we are eager to share it with another child. Natasha has always longed to parent a child from the start, and Cory is excited to do this with her. Family is extremely important to us both, and we cannot wait to have a new member of the loving, creative, and supportive family we have made.
Our Family
We are an experienced and caring parenting team with a blended family. Cory’s wonderful kids only live with us half of the time. When they are here, we enjoy being all together, whether hiking, reading, playing games, making art, listening to music or just talking. As a carpenter and a gardener, we have the time and flexibility to enjoy our happy, humble life surrounded by friends in the hills of Massachusetts.
Our Story
We met in the woods when Natasha lived just over the ridge from Cory. Natasha connected immediately with Cory and the kids. When we began dating in 2020, the pandemic gave us time at home to bond as a family. After Natasha moved in, we went straight to our lake house in Maine to spend a joyful week swimming, boating, eating ice cream and reading aloud together.
Cory feels so lucky to have found a partner who loves being with his kids as much as he does. Natasha feels blessed to have finally found someone experienced and stable to raise a baby with, and to have landed in a family of people who genuinely like each other.
Our Relationship
We are deeply in love and were married this year, after four years. We are great friends who have a lot of fun together. We find it easy to respect and accept one another. We really do care about each other’s health and happiness. We’re that couple who tells each other everything, and we make sure not to let resentments build up.
There is a rare ease between us that makes life together sweet. It’s important to us to make time for beauty (hikes in the woods), relaxation (watching a show) and play (a game of ping-pong) when life feels too serious.
We knew from the start that we wanted to raise a baby together. Trying for a baby was a long, painful and ultimately unsuccessful process for us, that led to a series of heartbreaking losses. During those hard times we learned what a comfort and support we can be for each other. Now, we know we can do anything together. We are so ready to share our steady love with a new child!
Natasha
I know how real and life-changing adoptive love can be. I was raised by my biological mother and adoptive father. I realized I wanted to be a mom when I began taking care of my half sister. I always pictured having one bio kid and adopting another. I believe in the power of chosen family.
For several years I taught yoga, mindfulness, and social and emotional skills to kids. I especially loved watching my students gain confidence and a sense of belonging in the classroom. I’ve long been fascinated by how babies grow into adults, and by every tiny discovery along the way. Accompanying people on this journey feels like the most important and exciting thing I could possibly do.
I look forward to staying home with this little one in their first few years, to snuggle them close, shower them with love, and give them a good start. I know I will take great delight in seeing the world afresh through their eyes.
From Tomlin, former roommate: “While living with Natasha when my daughter, Saoirse, was two, Natasha became Saoirse’s best friend, meeting her exactly at her level. They spent hours drawing, singing, and dancing together. Natasha speaks the language of children like no one else, and knows how to nurture their learning with absolute patience, curiosity, and imagination.”
From Cory: Natasha has a way of shining the bright light of her attention and enthusiasm, and my kids benefit by feeling her focus and care. Natasha tracks their interests and their inner emotional worlds – as well as the practical matters, such as their favorites. She talks with them about their lives, and keeps track of their relationships. When the kids return from their mom’s, they are always full of updates for Natasha.
Cory
Being a dad has been the most meaningful and enjoyable part of my life. I have loved watching my kids grow, and I miss some of the things we used to do when they were little. I am so looking forward to having another go at it!
These days I love getting up early enough for some morning time, especially when Lysander is here and we just chill side by side, slowly waking up (I have to wake VII up or they would sleep until noon!). I make a hot breakfast for the kids every day before getting them off to school. I’m glad I determine my own work hours as a carpenter, because I can always be home with my kids if they don’t have school or wake up sick. I am glad I will be able to spend quality time with a newborn, bonding with them in their first few years.
From Natasha: A real sweetheart, Cory is a gentle guy who loves shepherding his kids through the world. He is deeply kind and practices patience daily. Cory has an unspoken do-no-harm philosophy you can feel in his words and actions. Even if he’s frustrated, he won’t blame others for his experience. I have never felt safer with anyone than I do with him. We love him to pieces! But you don’t have to take my word for it…
On Cory’s last birthday, the kids wrote a list of things they love about him. Highlights from Vii: “You can make anyone feel comfortable with your presence”, and “I feel like I can tell you things when I need to”. Lysander wrote: “you always offer to help without hesitation” and “you never say mean things”.
(Cory) I’m excited to share our world with a new child, the same way I did when my kids were young. I loved helping them explore both the natural and the social world. There is plenty to do in our own wooded backyard, but also within a half hour drive there are restaurants, libraries, playgrounds, bike trails, lakes for swimming or kayaking, and enrichment classes. I enrolled my kids in art class, music, ballet, fencing, Spanish lessons, gymnastics and swimming. I also enjoy simply taking them to the local fairgrounds where we can ride our bikes and have a picnic.
Vii & Lysander
Both of the kids are smart, curious, and engaging. They are also great friends.
Vii is a music lover and avid reader. They are a geography wiz and enjoy drawing, writing stories and poetry, acting, and playing games. Vii is either full on—talking up a storm with us or their friends—or quiet like a cat in their room. Vii dabbles in music—mostly flute, piano, and drums. They also love singing karaoke, and being DJ for long car rides.
Lysander enjoys reading and watching Anime, playing games, gardening, sculpting, and helping fix things. He plays clarinet and loves to sing in the shower. He likes wintertime most of all, and in addition to sledding he recently learned to ski. Lysander has an incredible sense of humor. He gets along with everyone, including younger kids.
Our Parenting & Our Promise
Our main priority as parents is to develop and maintain good trusting relationships with our kids. We want them to feel comfortable coming to us and talking with us about anything. It is important to us that they know we will always love and support them. Everyone’s lives include pain and disappointment, but we will do our absolute best to keep them safe, and lovingly accompany them through their lives. We will work hard to provide them a happy and supportive home.
Our Home
We live in a small town, with a large sense of community. Our house sits on a sunny ridge overlooking distant mountains. It’s a warm, sunny space full of books, art projects and musical instruments.
Our land has a stream and waterfall, and two minutes down the road is a glorious swimming hole. While our neighborhood is rural, it is far from sleepy- within 10 minutes of us we enjoy many events, including wood-oven pizza nights, live music, and karaoke. Nearby friends have animals, orchards, gardens and trampolines. Our community is a vibrant one, the kids have found their place here, and we can’t wait to share this special place with the newest member of our family.
A half hour away are several colleges and towns with abundant cultural and educational opportunities, including many good public, private, and charter schools to choose from. The child we adopt will enjoy all that our community and region has to offer, and we are committed to enrolling them in the school that is the best fit for them.
We are playful and curious people. On any given day, you will find us all together in the living room or the basement – in conversation about what we are learning, reading aloud (Cory does the best voices!), watching a movie, playing board games or video games, making art, or rocking out to music together. Or you might find us outside, playing badminton, frisbee or ping pong, sunbathing, or making a fort in the woods. We cook healthy, delicious food, and have dinner as a family every night. Our table is a place of lively debate and warm conversation.
Travel has been important to both of us for expanding our world, and we try to offer our kids similarly expansive opportunities.
Our Seasonal Traditions
Winter is full of celebrations. Leading up to Christmas, the kids receive daily gifts for advent in December.
In January, we join the indoor rock climbing gym and climb until it gets warmer outside. We celebrate Vii and Lysander’s birthdays in February, and turn maple sap into maple syrup each March.
In Spring, we plant a garden so the kids can experience picking fresh vegetables like strawberries, peas, and carrots. We decorate fancy Ukrainian-style eggs with friends at Easter time every year.
In summer we often act in the annual community theater play, and spend a week or two at our lake house in Maine. We love to hike and camp and boat and swim in this season, and relish all that these beautiful hills has to offer.
Last September, our grape vines matured, and we made juice and even Jell-O! And of course, in October, we make elaborate, homemade costumes for Halloween.
Our Community is ready to welcome a child. When having a biological child together seemed unlikely, the turn toward adoption felt natural. Both of our families and our wide community of close friends are thrilled about our plan to adopt, and ready to welcome this kiddo into their loving arms. Our parents all live nearby, as do all of our siblings. Many of our friends have young kids, so there will be lots of similar-aged playmates. A child who joins our family will be surrounded by love and support.
Thank You
Thanks for considering us! This is an important choice. We hope we get to meet you.
Obviously, you are an important figure in this child’s story. We will be open with our child about their origins and how we became a family. We promise to remind them of the loving choice you made to place them with us. Please know that if you would like to have future contact with them, we are open to figuring that out together.
Sincerely,