When I first met Jim, I noticed his outgoing personality. He won my heart when he returned home from a trip to Lake Tahoe, his truck loaded with ice chests full of snow for my niece and nephews to play with. They still talk about how much fun they had that day, playing in snow in 70-degree weather. Jim enjoys being a dad and is looking forward to cuddling and continuing family traditions such as pumpkin decorating and carving at Halloween. Each one of us gets a pumpkin to decorate as a favorite character, something spooky, or just plain silly.

We first met and became friends while working for the same company, where Jim would often come by Candy's desk to strike up a conversation. As our friendship blossomed, we knew we were meant to be together and got married a couple of years later! We are still best friends, and have a very strong relationship based on trust and respect. We want to provide our children with traditional values, support whenever needed, lots of love, and encouragement. We are so excited to begin this next journey as a family and welcome another child into our hearts.

When Candy and I both worked at the same company, I would find reasons to go see her. I knew early on that she was someone very special. Candy is the sweetest and most caring person I have ever met. She is very nurturing and adores children of all ages. Candy loves reading bedtime stories in different voices, singing lullabies, and doing arts and crafts projects. She is looking forward to more midnight feedings, diaper changes, and slumber parties!

Alex is a loving, silly, and sweet little boy that looks out for the smaller children at daycare. He loves to sing and dance, blow bubbles, and play hide and seek. We are lucky enough to have a good relationship with Alex's birthmother and her family, and love when we get the chance to meet with them. We know Alex will make a wonderful, loving big brother. He is looking forward to reading Splat the Cat stories, and singing the Speckled Frog song to his new sibling.

Our cozy home in Tracy, CA has a great backyard with a fort and swing set that is perfect for playing. There are also several parks in our neighborhood where we can play with lots of other kids. We share our home with our pets - they are also part of the family. There is Bo, the cat who thinks he is a dog, and Bear, our very playful yellow lab. Bear's favorite pastime is playing catch, and we can't wait to welcome our newest little pitcher.

We enjoy taking several camping trips a year with as much of our family as possible. We look forward to making gooey s'mores, going for family bike rides and hikes, and enjoying nature with our little ones. Candy loves to be creative, whether knitting comfy hats and blankets for the little ones, or playing the violin. Jim likes to hang glide when he gets the chance, and take the kayaks out on the water. We also love to have game nights with our friends, which includes Wii dance games where the kids can be extra silly.

Our family is an important part of our lives, and we love spending time with them. The majority of our family is less than an hour drive away. Our family embraces and supports our decision for open adoption. There are lots of aunts, uncles, and grandparents that are excite to welcome a new addition to the family. We are lucky that there are many cousins in our family that can't wait to play with the little one. There will not be a shortage of playmates, arms to be snuggled in, or laps to sit on!