Hello, my name is Amy. Thank you for choosing to hear my story and learn more about me as a prospective parent. I have wanted to have children since I can remember; pushing baby dolls in a stroller at a very young age. I dreamed of getting married and having children. Unfortunately, I have not met the person I want to spend the rest of my life with yet, but I still have a great desire to make a loving and nurturing home for a child. I am taking this journey as a single woman with lots of love and support from family and friends. I cannot wait to welcome a beautiful child into my life through adoption.
 
I am a hard-working, easy-going person with a close support system of family and friends. Attending church is an important part of my spiritual life. I know God is leading me on this amazing journey. Zoe, my 9-year-old Cavachon, is the joy of my life and we are both ready to welcome a baby into our family! We can’t wait to go on walks together, snuggle up on the couch, and play games in the backyard!

My home is a comfortable rancher with a fenced-in back yard and large driveway. It has 3 bedrooms on the first level and 1 additional in the basement. There are two full bathrooms. My kitchen and dining room are connected, providing a large space for eating and gathering. There is a lovely sunroom in which I spend a great deal of time.  I also spend many hours on the front porch and enclosed back deck taking care of my flowers, reading, cooking out, and talking with neighbors. The finished basement of my home will provide a wonderful space for a playroom since it was recently renovated. In anticipation of becoming a parent, I have transitioned a spare bedroom into a nursery. I recently renovated the living room to make it more modern  

I live in a small suburban town that is very safe, child-friendly, and quite peaceful. We have our own community park, local restaurants, antique shops, clothing boutiques that bring character to our town.  We have wonderful year-round events for families.

• Fall – Halloween parade and trick-or-treating, fire safety activities
• Winter – Christmas caroling, recitals, carriage rides, house and ornament decorating contests, craft bizarres
• Spring – Easter egg hunt for the community, church/community picnics
• Summer – local band performances, picnics, fireworks, historical reenactments, 5K runs, car shows

The larger surounding community is full of cultural, musical, and sporting opportunities. We have theaters, semi-professional sports teams, county parks, river activities, concert venues, and fairgrounds. There are schools focused on arts, foreign languages, technology, agriculture.  There are many places to shop, spend time on the water, walk in nature, learn about history and just have a great time! 

Family is the central part of my life. A child will be surrounded by many loving people. My immediate family consists of my father, my two brothers (and their spouses), two nieces, a great-nephew, a baby great niece and my adorable dog, Zoe. Sadly, my mother passed away a bit unexpectedly in December 2020.  Her greatest desire was to become a grandmother again and I intend to make her memory a large part of a child's life.  My parents had me in their 40s after parenting my 3 older brothers over 10 years prior. I think having older parents was a great benefit to me because they were able to share many experiences with me they could not have done at a younger age  

My family cannot wait to be a daily part of a new baby’s life! We all live within a 10-mile radius of each other. We always spend Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter together, sharing gifts, recounting great stories of our childhood, and eating lots of delicious home-cooked food. Spending time with my family was a huge part of my childhood, and has continued into adulthood.
 
My extended family is ethnically diverse with Caucasian, African American, Hispanic, and Asian relatives all blending seamlessly. Though my extended family lives a greater distance away, I am still able to spend time with my aunts, uncles, and cousins several times a year. We attend one another’s weddings, graduation parties, family reunions, and picnics regularly. I can’t wait to share these family events with a child!

In my spare time, I enjoy lots of different activities— at the center is my love of music. I have played the piano since age eight years old and the organ since age 18. As an adult, I have taken several years of voice lessons. I have been involved in musicals, played keyboard for a jazz band, provided music for many weddings, funeral and civic functions, and sang in community and church choirs. I’m hoping to pass on some of my musical interests to a child. 
 
My family is also very interested in sports. We have all played a sport at some point in our lives, mine being basketball and volleyball. I also enjoy a good tennis match or ping pong when I’m not in the mood to run as much! I am an avid baseball fan and a great supporter of the Washington Nationals! I love to participate in 5K races when there is time to prepare!

I love to participate in many activities such as reading, walking, cooking, gardening, solving word puzzles, exploring the outdoors, attending musicals and concerts, and visiting as many places as I can. I had a wonderful childhood, in which I was able to participate in music programs, sports teams, gymnastics, church groups, and volunteer organizations. I want to share and explore all of these interests with a child. 
 
Some of my favorite things are:
·     TV Shows – Golden Girls, The Office, Chicago Fire, Gilmore Girls, See No Evil, Forensic Files
·     Movies – You've Got Mail, The Proposal, Speed, The Parent Trap, Grease 
·     Books – Mystery Series - Women's Murder Club, Alex Cross, Lincoln Lawyer, NYPD Red, Mary Higgins Clark
·     Music Groups – Pentatonix, Ed Sheeran, U2, One Republic, Bruno Mars, Coldplay
·     Games - Pictionary, Scrabble, Rummikub, online word games
·     Foods - Pizza, Spaghetti, Chicken Alfredo, Taco Salad, French Fries, Quesadillas, Fajitas, Lasagna, Ziti, Greek Salad, Shrimp Scampi
·     Season – Summer (hot weather is the best)
·     Holiday – Christmas
·     Sports - Baseball, Volleyball, Tennis

My friends are an extension of my family. I have developed lifelong friendships that I continue to nurture. I have several friends whom I have known since elementary school and many I have met along life’s journey. I enjoy going to dinner, sporting events, cultural shows, outdoor events and movies with friends. Two of my favorite places to visit are New York City and Florida! I can’t wait to take a child on adventures with our friends. Amusement parks, shows and trick-or-treating will be so much fun with a child! 
 
Since I will be a single parent, my friendships are even more meaningful to me. I have amazing friends from all walks of life including work, church, school, and my neighborhood. Just as I have taken an interest in my friends’ children, I know they will do the same for me. My friends are eager to share their unique gifts with a child.

I can’t completely describe myself without mentioning the fact that I’m an elementary school teacher. I have experience as a fourth grade, third grade, first grade, pre-k and reading intervention teacher.  I love my job because I get to work with young children every day! I make learning fun by being silly and interacting with my students on their developmental level. Watching them learn and grow is the best part of my job. I have taught hundreds of elementary-aged children during my career and each one has held a special place in my heart. Knowing how important parents are in the lives of my students makes me want to be the best parent possible!
 
I strongly believe teaching for so many years has helped prepare me to be a parent. While parenting will be a learning experience for me, I think I am well prepared to help a child live the best possible life. I loved school as a child and love it still as an adult. I hope to pass that love on to a child through daily reading experiences and a lifelong commitment to learning.   

I hope you have learned a little about me through my words, pictures and videos. While I will be a slightly older parent in my early 40s, I do not see that as a hindrance. I've had many life experiences that have propelled me to the place I am today. I am young at heart and physically in good shape. I still feel as though I'm 25 and can't wait to share my life with a child!

Thank you for taking the time to learn a little about my life. I hope you got a little glimpse into who I am. Loving and taking care of a child is the greatest priority in my life. I can’t imagine what you must be feeling or thinking, but I know you only want what is best for your baby.  
 
I promise to give your baby everything I can—love, excellent health care, financial stability, an education, and a loving family. Regardless of the level of openness that you prefer, I will ensure your child grows up knowing your story and the difficult decision you made to give him or her the best life possible.   
 
I hope you ultimately make a decision that is true to your heart. Bless you, in your journey! Thank you, again, for considering me as an adoptive parent for your baby.