JASON + anuel M jason + manuel's ADOPTION JOURNEY
DEAR
W
HELLO + WELCOME
Birthmother
e would like to introduce ourselves to you. Our names are Jason and Manuel, and we appreciate you taking the time to take a look into our lives. Though it’s hard to capture everything, within the next few pages we hope you get a sense of how much we love each other, children, and how much we hope to make our family (and hearts) complete. WE ADMIRE, RESPECT AND APPRECIATE the fact that you are doing such a selfless thing by creating this possibility for us, and for your child. It is important that we express to you our commitment and promise that we will welcome your child with open arms, love and cherish her for our lifetime, and will dedicate our Lives to loving her to the best of our ability. We are a loving couple with so much to offer, and we so much want to share our lives and our love with a daughter.
ABOUT US
WE MET ON AN ONLINE DATING SITE BACK IN 2009. Our first meeting was at a Denny’s over coffee. 4 hours and 5 cups of coffee later, our first date jumpstarted our life together. Originally from Northern California, Jason was a transplant to Southern California where Manuel was born and raised. Surrounded by supportive family and friends, we have been so blessed to share so many experiences since meeting. Whether it was moving in together, getting our first dog Venus, traveling the world, becoming domestic partners, or welcoming our son Mason into our lives, we have been so fortunate to have shared so much love and experience so much life in the time we have been together. We are madly in love with one another, and even years later, still find the time to share with one another how much we mean to each other. We consider each other our best friend, soul mate, and partner for life. We became engaged in the Caribbean back in 2011 and will be married once it becomes legal to do so in the State of California.
» BEING TOGETHER
THINGS THAT MAKE Happ� US
»B EING IN SANTA CRUZ AT THE BEACH »O UR SON'S AMAZING SMILE AND OUR CUTE DOG'S WAGGING TAIL » A HOME COOKED MEAL » BEING OUTDOORS
OUR ADORABLE "TEDDY BEAR," MASON
FROM ABOVE » SO IN LOVE / TAKING IN A BEAUTIFUL VIEW / PINK CONVERTIBLE RIDE!
HAVING FUN AT A WEDDING
WE LOVE BEING DADS!
DINNER TOGETHER
Jaso�
MEET
BY MANUEL
J
ASON IS WISE, INTELLIGENT, AND DRIVEN. Jason is a very sensitive man, who was born to be a husband and a father. Being a father comes so natural to him. I am attracted to his looks, sarcasm, charm, and wit. He's a loving man with a lot to offer his family. Jason has been in education his entire adulthood, and his experiences range from being a classroom teacher, to the principal of a school. He currently works as an educational consultant for K-12 schools. We both share a passion and love for children, which is why we got into the fields we work in.
» I 'M QUITE THE GOOD COOK AND CAN MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF ANYTHING YOU HAVE IN YOUR KITCHEN
PERFECT DAY FOR JASON WOULD CONSIST OF... PERFECT DAY FOR JASON WOULD CONSIST OF COMING HOME FROM WORK AND COOKING A MEAL FOR THE FAMILY. HE LOVES TO COOK FOR OUR FAMILY, BUT ALSO ENJOYS HOSTING A FEW FAMILY AND/OR FRIENDS AS WELL! JASON WOULD SET THE TABLE, COOK SOME DELICIOUS FOOD, AND ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION, AND AFTERWARDS, UNWIND OVER A HOT CUP OF COFFEE WHILE WATCHING SOME TV. PERFECT!
» I 'M PRETTY HANDY AROUND THE HOUSE AND HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO FIX THINGS I DIDN'T THINK I COULD » I LOVE THE SUN AND HOT SUMMER DAYS » MY PENMANSHIP IS VERY NEAT »M Y LONG TERM CAREER GOAL IS TO START UP MY OWN EDUCATION CONSULTING FIRM » I LIVED IN SPAIN FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS WHEN I WAS YOUNGER SO I CAN SPEAK SPANISH
ABOVE » JASON & VENUS, AREN'T THEY CUTE?
Manuel
MEET
BY JASON
M
ANUEL IS THE SINGLE MOST LOYAL PERSON I KNOW. He's a handsome guy with charm, humor, a wink & a smile that makes me melt. He's the man of my dreams, & I am so lucky to have him to spend my life with.
Manuel is currently a stay at home dad. Though he knows it may sound odd, this was his dream of his since he was a child; to be a stay at home dad. Before that, he was a foster care social worker for over 6 years. Working with children in foster care, ages 0-18, Manuel has had years of hands on experience with children from all walks of life. A PERFECT DAY FOR MANUEL WOULD BE... TO GET SOME COFFEE, ENJOY IT WHILE SITTING OUTSIDE, AND THEN GOING TO WATCH A MOVIE AT THE MOVIE THEATER. MANUEL LOVES TO LAUGH SO A GOOD COMEDY IS ALWAYS A GREAT THING TO SEE FOR HIM. HOWEVER, HE ALSO LOVES SCARY MOVIES, AND LOVES TO GET FRIGHTENED EVERY NOW AND THEN WITH A GOOD THRILLER. HIS ABSOLUTE FAVORITE THING IN THE WORLD TO ENJOY IS VANILLA FROZEN YOGURT.
» I LOVE THE RAIN AND COLD WINTER NIGHTS »M Y FAVORITE PART OF THE PIZZA IS THE CRUST » I 'M USUALLY ON TIME » M Y PENMANSHIP IS SLOPPY » I HATE SPIDERS » I PLAY THE PIANO »A FRIEND ONCE DESCRIBED ME AS A PUPPY WHO THINKS HE'S A "BIG DOG" »H ONESTY IS MY GREATEST STRENGTH » S PANISH IS MY CLOSE SECOND LANGUAGE
LEFT » A MORNING CUDDLE SESSION BELOW » MANUEL IS THE LIFE OF THE PARTY!
FOR FUN
WE ARE ALWAYS HAVING FUN TOGETHER! We enjoy going to the movies, having dinner parties, and going out for walks/hikes/runs. We enjoy laughing together, and our greatest mutual passion has been to travel. We spend a lot of time with our families and friends. Our holidays are usually spent with either Jason’s family or Manuel’s. Individually, Jason's interests include sports, cooking, gardening, outdoor activities, exercising, and keeping fit and healthy. Manuel's interests include singing, dancing, running, film, and spending time with his family and friends. Manuel is also the "musician" and plays the piano!
FROM ABOVE » HAVING FUN AT A FOOTBALL GAME / ZIPLINING ON VACATION
WE LOVE TRAVELING
WE MADE IT! KAYAKING TOGETHER
SOME WINTER FUN
OUT FOR A RIDE
BEST FRIENDS, MASON & VENUS
A FAMILY PORTRAIT
OUR SWEET MAN, MASON
Masoďż˝
MEET
MASON WAS BORN ON HALLOWEEN DAY, AND WHAT A HALLOWEEN MIRACLE HE WAS! Daddy & Papa have grown to love their precious little boy, & as he nears 7 months, he continues to grow more & more each day. Mason has a great disposition & he's usually smiling or laughing. He is very predictable, he wakes up every day at the same time (6:30), & usually starts to express that he's hungry at the same times each day, every day, & naps at the same times each day. We call him "our little clock." Sometimes we don't even need to look at the clock, he tells us the time with what or how he babbles. He is our pride and joy and we can't wait to raise him alongside his baby sister.
ON PARENTING
When we think about parenting, it’s our dream and hope that we can share the abundance of love that we have with our children. We feel our guidance, direction, love, and support is something any child would be so lucky to have, especially considering that we have both come from a childhood full of love and support. We both have families that are ready to spoil, pamper, love and nurture a child. We have families that love and adore children, and are so excited about this journey alongside of us. As a parent, we want to travel with our children, expose them to other cultures, people, experiences, places, and things. We would love for our children to learn to speak Spanish as well as English. We want to expose our children to the arts, music, dance, and creative outlets, as well as involve them in a sport or two of their chosing.
LOVED
Ones
J
ason comes from a family that lives in Northern California. He's from a very close knit family who is supportive, and continue to remain close to us. We make frequent trips to visit them up in Northern California, and they frequent Southern California as well. Jason is the oldest of two, and is extremely close with his sister Allyson, and his two nephews. He grew up in a Christian family, and spent a lot of time in his childhood at the beach with his family and friends. He grew up with horses, and hopes to continue the tradition of raising his child in a home environment where animals are as loved as they were when he grew up.
TRAVEL IS OUR GREATEST PASSION. Camping, long & short flights, road trips, & quick little get-a-ways are all a big part of our lives. Travel was a part of both our families growing up & we want to continue it with our family. WITH MANUEL'S FAMILY
A FAMILY TRIP TO DISNEY WORLD!
M
anuel comes from a very large family that migrated from Cuba in the 1960's. All living in Southern California now, his family is a large extended one that are also very close and united. Frequent family gatherings call for a loud, loving and supportive environment for children to grow up in. Manuel is the oldest of two, and is close with his brother Miguel. Manuel is a doting uncle to his two nephews. He grew up around the outskirts of Los Angeles, spending a lot of time engaging in Cuban Festivals, where dancing was the main activity of his childhood. Manuel hopes to instill his families musical and creative traditions. They include singing and salsa dancing. GREAT GRANDMA & MASON CUDDLING
MANUEL & HIS MOM
HAVING A BLAST WITH OUR NEPHEWS
AN EVENING WITH JASON'S PARENTS
We feel we were both raised with such unconditional love and we want to pass that down to our children. We want to give to our children what was passed down to us from our families. We grew up in a world where being gay was different, and yet both our families loved and supported us regardless. That’s the kind of environment we want to raise our child in—one where it doesn't matter if you're gay, straight, black, white, male, female, Christian or Jewish—WE WILL LOVE OUR CHILDREN UNCONDITIONALLY FOR OUR LIFETIME.
ENJOYING A BEAUTIFUL DAY
WITH BOTH OF OUR WONDERFUL MOTHERS
MEET VENUS OUR DOG VENUS IS PART OF THE FAMILY TOO! We got Venus when she was just 8 weeks old, & since then, we've been inseparable. She goes everywhere we go, loves the beach, walks, & goes crazy for the park. She is a petite Boston Terrier with so much love & life. She is very playful & absolutely LOVES children. She could spend hours playing fetch, & she loves to cuddle on anyone's lap while they watch TV.
JASON'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY
OUR
MANUEL + JASON
Favorites
athlete
M » BRIAN WILSON J » BUSTER POSEY
app
M » INSTAGRAM J » FACEBOOK
tv show
clothing brand
hobby
food
subject in school
game
holiday
movie genre
musical artist
place to take a child
actress
children's book
M » I LOVE LUCY J » BREAKING BAD M » COUNTRY LINE DANCING J » EXERCISING M » ART J » ENGLISH
M » HALLOWEEN J » THANKSGIVING M » I'M A HUGE MADONNA FAN J » DANCE MUSIC IN GENERAL M » KATHY BATES J » MAGGIE SMITH
childhood keepsake BOTH » PHOTOGRAPHS!
M » OLD NAVY J » BANANA REPUBLIC M » ITALIAN J » SUSHI WE LOVE TO HANG OUT IN OUR BACKYARD
M » RISK J » TABOO M » THRILLERS! J » HISTORICAL PIECES BOTH » THE BEACH
M » THE GIVING TREE J » OH, THE PLACES YOU'LL GO
OUR HOME
W
E LIVE IN A SUBURB OF LOS ANGELES, IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY. We live in a 3 bedroom, one story home. We have a garden in our backyard, and play area for children. We live in a safe and child friendly neighborhood with parks and schools within walking distance. The exterior is blue and gray. The interior is quite different in that each room has it’s own unique color. We love to decorate our house
RIGHT » OUR BRIGHT AND COZY LIVING ROOM
with lively colors so our office is a light blue, our bedroom is a popping red, our son Masons room is navy blue, and our future daughter's room is a light purple. Our home is situated in the heart of town and is conveniently located next to great shopping and a grocery store. We are within 2 miles of a movie theater, large shopping center, and several churches of several denominations including a Catholic, Greek orthodox, Baptist, and non-denominational Christian church. Our closest elementary school is within half a mile as well. GLENDORA COMMUNITY CENTER HAS WEEKLY ACTIVITIES, SEASONAL GATHERINGS, OUTINGS, FIELD TRIPS, AND EVEN GET AWAYS WITH OTHER FAMILIES.
ABOVE RIGHT » WE ENJOY LOCAL SPORTING EVENTS BELOW RIGHT » WE ALSO LOVE GOING TO THE BEACH!
IN
Closin�
THANK YOU for learning about us
F
rom as far back as we can remember—even long before meeting one another—WE ALWAYS DREAMT ABOUT BEING FATHERS. We've always envisioned ourselves raising children— loving them, caring for them, embracing them, and providing them with the love, nurture, care, and warmth children require. This is our wholehearted promise and commitment to our future daughter; to love her for her lifetime. We have a home that is ready to welcome a little girl, and hearts that are open and ready to embrace her. Our dream come true is to meet and hold her one day soon.
If you have any questions for us or would like to speak to us about adopting your child, please contact your Adoption Advisor at ADOPTHELP by calling 1 - 8 0 0 - 6 3 7- 7 9 9 9 toll free.