We both feel passionate about science and medicine because we share a fascination with problem solving, honesty, and discovery. Some of the magazines on our coffee table include things like "the Scientific American" and "Nutrition Action Newsletter." For our honeymoon we visited the Large Hadron Particle Accelerator in Geneva, Switzerland and we love going to places like the Smithsonian or even just a local zoo. We are filled with a love of learning new things and discovering the world, and that influences everything we do/where we go.

A love for the natural world grows naturally from that first passion. We regularly go hiking, camping, backpacking, and skiing (and Fraser also loves rock climbing!). Even though we both have scientific/medical jobs in labs/hospitals, there is something just wonderful about unplugging and being in nature. We live close to the White Mountains in New Hampshire, and usually go on multiple hikes/trips each year. Sometimes we go outside the country just to go hiking (the Alps in Italy and France, the Andes in Peru, the Glaciers in New Zealand).

Kelly is also a proficient piano player and Fraser...well, he certainly likes to listen to her play!

Fraser About Kelly: I have always loved Kelly's intellect, how her mind works. She makes the most complex thing seem simple, and with a kind of quirky humor that I can never get enough of. Most of all, though, I admire her dedication to the things to which she sets her mind. It translates into how she loves. She loves with a fierceness, such earnestness and abandon that it's like nothing I can really describe. When we wrote our vows, she composed my favorite lines: "I promise to share a marriage grounded in equality and partnership, and to tell you the right words, instead of just the easy ones." I never have to wonder where I stand with Kelly, because she is always there, next to me: solid, honest, and utterly devoted.

Kelly About Fraser: Fraser has been one of my favorite people since day 1. He is so incredibly positive and can always see the light at the end of the tunnel. He also has an amazing sense of humor. Sometimes I think people are only friends with me so they can also be friends with Fraser! He can seemingly instantly connect with people because of his wit and kindness. It's hard to find someone who is so funny but also actually cares about people. I admire the way Fraser can empathize with so many people, the way he can see different perspectives and calmly react in emergencies. He's a true rock, someone I can love and can count on forever.

We both see education as the way a child can understand the world around them and gain opportunity. Our parents put premiums on rigorous study in K-12 years and college, learning a trade, or military service was an expectation after high-school. Of course, nobody knows what a child will want to do once they finish high school, but we would offer similar encouragement.

We both had extracurricular exposure to sports, music, and other activities that we would want to include this in our child's life. Kelly's piano lessons as a child opened the door for a life-long love of music, while her childhood soccer and volleyball exposure formed her into a college athlete and someone who values health/ fitness even as a professional. At one point she traveled to Denmark in the "People to People" program, which opened her to a more global view of the world. Fraser took music lessons all through his childhood (clarinet, violin, cello), and while he never quite got the hang of sports, he did take up outdoor hobbies through education in wilderness/ camping where he also discovered a love of rock climbing. Similarly, Fraser went to Washington DC to learn government in the "NYLC" program, which opened him up to how our country's government works.

We live in Somerville, MA, which is a small city outside of Boston. It's quite densely packed, but is very diverse and the city has lots of libraries, farmer's markets, and has tons of community events. One of our favorites is the "Supper Club" which is a monthly gathering at the local library where people cook recipes out of a rotating cook book and bring them to a pot-luck at a local brewery. We live near a bunch of parks, as well as a local swimming pool (key in the summer), and we live close to Tufts University, so lots of college-town events/ art displays/ music festivals occur through the year.

Our home is a 3 bed-2 bath condo in a 2-family house on a sleepy one-way residential sweet, with a back-yard (small). Our favorite room is really the dining-room/ family room/ kitchen, which is really one big area. It's so open, with natural light, and it's great for just being with friends/ family/ each other. Our neighbors are lovely; one is an opera singer and we regularly hear her practicing throughout the day! We even have an annual block party on our street!

We live pretty close to our families. Fraser's Mom lives in Maine and his Dad/Step-mom live in Maryland. His sister is in Pennsylvania and brother is in DC. Kelly's Parents live in NY, her brother Eric and his wife have 2 kids and live 50 minutes away in New Hampshire. We all get together multiple times each year, with big gatherings around Christmas time and Thanksgiving, but usually there will be one other gathering in New England. Gatherings are usually noisy affairs, with lots of food and games.

We have a special link to Kelly's 2 brothers. Eric, since his family is so close in NH. Eric's sons are 5 and 8 years old, and we usually babysit them/hang out for dinner, or they will come down to MA and explore the Boston area. Kelly's other brother (Michael) lives out in Washington State with his wife and two daughters, and we make a point of visiting them out west every year, with them coming east every year as well. We make it a point of being in their lives, especially since we are Mike's daughter's guardians should anything happen to them.

Our families are extremely supportive of our adoption plans and are looking forward to having another kid running around at our get-togethers!

Our names are Fraser and Kelly. We want to introduce ourselves, our lives and what we hope for our future with a new child. We understand the decision you face is incredibly challenging, and we admire your courage. Most of all, we thank you for considering us for your adoption journey.

Our journey began 15 years ago when we met in college as classmates. We started out as friends and grew close over our shared view of the world, nature, and a love for learning. After college, we both went to the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where we fell in love and got engaged. We married in 2015 on the top of a mountain, surrounded by friends and family. Fraser has a mixed family (his parents divorced and both re-married) and he has 3 half-siblings. Everyone lives on the east coast (Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Maine). Kelly's parents live in New York, while her two brothers have their own families with younger kids (Michael lives in Washington state with his wife and two daughters, Eric in New Hampshire with his wife and two sons). We love getting together multiple times a year. We have holiday gatherings that are loud and chaotic, but full of food, family and love.

Fraser is a doctor in the ICU and Emergency Department in one of Boston's hospitals. Kelly holds a PhD and leads a global team in developing new medical devices for heart failure. Though our careers are fulfilling, our joy comes from time spent together doing our favorite things outside of work: we love to cook, to go camping and hiking, garden, and travel to new places. We even take ballroom dance lessons! Our balance of science and medicine with human connection reflects our belief in the importance of being well-rounded, and of finding joy in everyday life.

Despite our professional and personal success, we felt it was incomplete without growing our family. We tried to have children biologically, but after months of trying and doctor visits, it became clear that it wasn't possible. It took a long time for us to accept that we couldn't have a child together naturally. First we were angry, then sad, and more than anything just surprised. Through it all, though, the desire to provide a loving, nurturing home for a child didn't weaken. Our hearts remain full of love, and we are so eager to share our lives with a child and give them a life of warmth, support, and opportunities. We are committed to providing a child with an environment that fosters creativity and supports their dreams. We will build annual traditions, with holiday gatherings and weekend outings. Their lives will be rich with love and laughter. Our family shares our excitement and commitment to providing a loving and nurturing environment for this baby. Together, we will ensure that he or she grows up with a sense of belonging and the security of a strong extended family.

We also believe in the importance of maintaining connections with this child's birth family. If you choose us as adoptive parents, we promise to keep you updated with regular letters and pictures. This baby will always know about the love and courage that led you to make this decision. Your story will have a place of honor and pride in our home.

Thank you for considering us as adoptive parents for your baby. His or her well-being and happiness will always be our top priority. We acknowledge this is a deeply personal and emotional process. At the end of the day, though, all of us are trying to love a child the best we can. In that, it is perhaps the most ordinary, wonderful, and miraculous thing a person can do.

We would love to answer any questions you have about us and our lives. Please feel free to reach out to us at any time.

With gratitude and respect,

Fraser & Kelly