We met at work in the US Senate. Drew had been a longtime staffer for the Senator who was taking on a new committee, and Julie was joining that committee, although she had already spent over a decade working in the Senate herself in different offices. We hit it off right away.

Drew was the committee's communications director and Julie led the national security and cyber policy work, which meant we spent a good chunk of our days on opposite sides of the table. In Senate offices, there’s almost always a healthy tension between communications and policy staff, and our office was no exception. We'd spend the day debating strategy and pushing back on each other's recommendations, and we both loved it. Going toe-to-toe with each other was fun and challenging.

When things started to develop personally, we wanted to make sure we handled it the right way, so we told our boss early on to ensure we were following our office policies. But we kept things quiet from most of our colleagues for a while. Looking back, that's one of the funnier parts of the story. So many of those coworkers are still close friends, and eventually coming clean and watching their reactions was genuinely entertaining. Nobody had any idea we were dating.

At its core, being parents means showing up, fully and consistently, for another person as they figure out who they are. We're genuinely excited for all of it. Drew's dad had a gift for challenging him to look at things from multiple angles, to stay curious and ask questions rather than accept easy answers. That approach shaped how Drew moves through the world, and it's something he's excited to pass on. There's something really meaningful about helping a child develop their own way of thinking and seeing things.

Julie is most looking forward to simply being available, present, and supportive. Despite working fulltime as a lawyer, her mom showed up for everything, and that presence meant a lot. Julie wants to do the carpools and chaperone the field trips, be in the stands at the game or in the audience at the recital or the art show, whatever their child is into. She also wants to be someone their child can honestly communicate with, whether things are going great or are really hard. Together, we're excited to introduce our child to the things we love, help them discover what lights them up, and give them the kind of support that lets them take risks and know they have a soft place to land. Parenting is one of the most meaningful things a person can do, and we're ready to give it everything we've got.

Drew brings a lot to the table. He's deeply thoughtful and genuinely caring, the kind of person who considers things from every angle. He's strategic and sharp and has an impressive knack for knowing a little about a lot, which also makes him a dangerous trivia partner. But what makes him really easy to be around is that he doesn't take himself too seriously. More often than not, you'll find him on the floor making silly noises and playing tug of war with our dog, Paws. He has a great sense of humor, knows how to laugh at himself, and has a rare ability to stay calm and clear-headed when things get hard.

Julie is a straight talker and a natural problem solver. She's tactical and direct, which balances Drew's big-picture thinking really well and makes them a strong team. She's fiercely loyal and deeply invested in the people she loves. She also makes it a point to be a bright spot wherever she can, whether that's a well-timed joke, a genuine compliment, or just showing up when it counts. And she has zero respect for Paws' personal space, always angling for smooches and a cuddle whether the dog is interested or not.

We're lucky to be close with our extended family on both sides. Drew's mom Sandy, stepdad Tom, and brother Chris and his family are all out in Colorado. Visits there mean daily walks and hikes, usually around their neighborhood, but sometimes in Rocky Mountain National Park, and long evenings around the table playing the card game Euchre. Drew's competitive side comes out in full force during those games and he's been known to jokingly place a hex on the opposing team, something Sandy tolerates with very little grace.

Julie's parents Sue and Bob are close by in Maryland, so we see them regularly. They're great about watching our dog, Paws, when we travel and they love coming into DC to hang out, catch a show, go shopping, and enjoy one of Drew's home-cooked meals. Paws has correctly identified Bob as the soft touch of the family and stations herself next to him any time food is involved. Bob has a quiet personal policy of "one for me, one for you" when eating popcorn, which he and Paws consider a perfectly reasonable arrangement and the rest of us find completely maddening.

Our families have a lot of love to go around, and we can't wait for a child to be right in the middle of all of it.

We live in a two-bedroom apartment with a large private terrace in a big residential building in Washington, DC. The building has a lot going for it, including a rooftop dog park, a swimming pool, a gym, and multiple lounge and BBQ areas. Paws has a standing "yappy hour" with her building friends every evening, and those rooftop hangs have turned our neighbors into some of our closest friends, many of whom have kids under two. The neighborhood is genuinely great for kids. Directly behind our building is a rec center with basketball and tennis courts, a soccer field, and a playground that gets constant use, and there are several elementary schools within a few blocks of us.

Inside, our living room and kitchen flow together as one open space, which makes it the natural center of gravity for pretty much everything we do. A big sectional couch anchors the living room and is perfect for sprawling out as a family. Drew, Julie, and Paws are usually piled on it together, wrapped up in one of the blankets we keep by the couch. We spend most of our time here, chatting while Drew cooks and watching a lot of sports and TV. The terrace just outside has two seating areas great for entertaining, and Paws has claimed the couch nearest the door as her personal post, where she alternates between napping and supervising Drew's gardening.

We want to start by saying thank you. Whatever brought you to this page, whatever you're feeling right now, we want you to know that we see the love in this decision.

We're Drew and Julie. We've been together for nearly ten years and will celebrate five years of marriage this summer. Drew is thoughtful, funny, and an incredible cook who has turned our kitchen into the place everyone wants to be. Julie is direct, fiercely loyal, and the kind of person who shows up fully for everyone she loves. We laugh a lot, we balance each other well, and we genuinely like each other, which after ten years we don't take for granted.

We both grew up knowing how lucky we were. We come from families who loved and supported us, homes where we always felt safe, and we had the benefit of good schools and teachers who taught us to love learning. That foundation is a big part of who we are today, and it's exactly the kind of foundation we want to give a child of our own. We've built a great life together, one full of laughter, good food, great friends, travel and new experiences, and a dog named Paws who runs our household and knows it. And we're surrounded by family on both sides, parents, siblings, cousins, nieces, and nephews, who have always shown up for us and who we know will show up for your child too.

We want to be honest with you about our journey, because you deserve that. We spent years trying to have a family, and it was hard in ways that are difficult to put into words. There was a lot of loss and a lot of disappointment. But we kept showing up for each other, and we came through it with our relationship stronger and our desire to be parents as alive as ever. Adoption isn't a consolation prize. The more we learned and the more we opened ourselves to it, the more we knew it was the right path for us. We're good at loving the people in our lives, and we know we will love a child with our whole hearts.

We won't be perfect parents because no one is, but we promise to love your child as perfectly as we can. We won't just make sure they are safe - we'll make sure they feel safe. They will know they are loved without condition and that there is nothing they can't bring to us.

We also don't take lightly what it would mean for your child to know where they came from. We will make sure they grow up knowing their story with honesty and with love, and that means knowing you. We will send letters and photos regularly so you can watch them grow, and we are open to exchanging emails, phone calls, and visits if that's what feels right for you. We'd love to figure out together how to make sure your child is loved by all of us from the moment they're born. Your story is their story, and we will make sure they are proud of it and proud of you.

We know this letter can only tell you so much. What we can promise you is this: your child will be deeply loved, fiercely supported, and will never for a single day wonder if they can come to us with whatever they need. They will grow up in a home full of warmth, laughter, great food, and a gentle dog who will absolutely love a playmate and almost definitely hog the couch. They will be known and celebrated for exactly who they are, and we will spend the rest of our lives making sure they have every opportunity to thrive.

Whatever you decide, we mean it when we say we are rooting for you. What you are doing is hard and brave and loving, and your child is lucky to have someone fighting for their future the way you are. It means more than you know that you took the time to read our letter and consider us.

Warmly,

Drew & Julie