Leslie and Michael's Profile

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT US...

1-800-571-8561

contact@leslie-and-michael.com

www.leslie-and-michael.com

Independent Adoption Center • adoptionhelp.org/birthmother • 1-800-877-6736 (OPEN)

a Leslie &

Michael

RABBIT PEACHES MANGO

BLACK BEAN

Dear Birthmother,

HELLO!

We are Leslie Moreno and Michael Weiss-Malik from Campbell, California.

Thank you for taking the time to read our letter and learn a little about us. We’re excited about open adoption and all the possibilities it offers for beginning a family. We’re committed to creating a relationship that works for everyone and

ensures that your child knows you and your love for them. This will be an amazing journey, and we can’t wait to become parents! We’re looking forward to talking to you and getting to know each other.

a ABOUT

US

FUN FACT> FAVORITE CHILDREN’s BOOK: THE ROBOT & THE BLUEBIRD

W

e met in Arizona about ten years ago, when a mutual friend noticed we had the same taste in music and insisted that we’d get along like gangbusters. She was right! Our first date was a double date. We all went sailing together. The two of us were immediately comfortable around each YOU CAN OFTEN FIND US... other. Since then, we’ve enjoyed traveling • going to concerts countless more adventures together.

• cooking together • watching

a

HORSING AROUND AT THE SAN JOSE ROSE GARDEN

lots of movies • making time for We share a passion for knowledge visits with friends and family, and learning. We also have strong both near and far. shared values around honest and open communication. These qualities have helped us build a very close relationship that we both value deeply. Neither one of us can picture a life apart from the other, and we can’t wait to experience parenting together.

MICHAEL

HOME & COmmunity W

e live in beautiful Campbell, California (an hour south of San Francisco) and are fortunate to have both a local farmer’s market and an 11-mile nature trail within walking distance. We can’t wait to take our child to the beach in Santa Cruz and the snow in Tahoe!

f

a

5 REASONS WHY WE LOVE OUR BACKYARD We like to barbecue Leslie has a veggie garden, and the dogs love to run around and play in the grass. We have two dogs, two cats, & a lively fish tank at home.

One day, Leslie would love to add some chickens to the mix.

We often have friends over and look forward to having their little ones meet ours.

Our house has a warm and loving atmosphere. It’s a great environment for a child to grow up in.

LESLIE MAKING VOLCANOES IN THE SANDBOX WITH HER PRESCHOOL CLASS

MICHAEL AND HIS NEPHEW WESLEY LOVE TO HANG OUT

a a FEW of

OUR

FAvorites

CHILDREN’S MOVIE Both: Despicable Me

MUSICAL ARTIST Both: We’re HUGE Nine Inch Nails fans LESLIE IS ROBBEN’S FAVORITE TEACHER AT SCHOOL SHORTLY BEFORE WE FLIPPED THE BOAT ON OUR FIRST WHITEWATER RAFTING TRIP

PLACE TO TAKE A CHILD Both: the beach

M

by Leslie

ichael is my favorite person. I am awed by his ENJOYING A HELICOPTER RIDE patience, his quiet strength, OVER AUSTRALIA’S GREAT and his general good nature.

BARRIER REEF He is supportive and loving. He excels at his job, making maps for an internet company, and loves the challenge of solving hard problems. He works hard, but is always home in time for us to make dinner together. We are fortunate that he has a job with the flexibility to work from home and lots of vacation time for us to travel together.

Michael always leaves the porch light on for me if I’m coming home late. He can cook a delicious dinner without a recipe. He is calm and patient and the perfect balance to my personality.

I love many things about him, but the thing I love the most is knowing that he’s going to be an amazing father. I see glimpses of it all of the time. He has a love for learning that he enjoys sharing with children. I can’t wait to see what fun awaits us as we start our family.

a

LESLIE

by Michael

I

'm lucky... I'm married to the best friend I've ever had.

She's loving, thoughtful, and caring in ways that inspire me to be more so. She’s very active and adventurous, and brings it LESLIE’S FAMILY MAKES out in me wherever we go.

CHRISTMAS COOKIES EVERY YEAR Leslie's love of kids and animals is infectious, and has nurtured my own appreciation for both. She's careful to always see things from their perspective, in a way that most adults don't, and I think it's the biggest secret to her success as a preschool teacher. She's been working with young children professionally for many years, and now runs a licensed preschool out of our house. Her job allows her a lot of flexibility for splitting her attention between home and work, which will make it easy for her to spend lots of time with our child.

On top of all of that, she never shies away from a challenge, and is incredibly hard-working. I have tremendous respect for her strength, and the ways that she mixes independence with loyalty. She's also honest to a fault, and incredibly open — the two things that I value most about her. I think she'll do a great job of instilling all of these values into our children. I can't imagine raising kids with anyone else, and can't wait to start a family with her.

a FAMILY

...those close to our hearts!

W

e have a large family with seven siblings between us, and lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Some of them are pretty spread out, which gives us good reason to travel! All told, we have family in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Utah, Indiana, and Texas.

Holidays are busy with Michael’s young nieces

a WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU!

and nephews running around. Our child will fit right in, and have lots of young cousins to play with.

MICHAEL MAKES A GOOD SUBSTITUTE TEACHER IN LESLIE’S CLASSROOM

HIKING NEAR SAN FRANCISCO BAY WITH FRIENDS HAVING LUNCH WITH FRIENDS IN ONE OF OUR FAVORITE PLACES: HAWAII

“Everyone around us is excited and supportive of us growing our family through open adoption.”

WATERING THE GARDEN WITH LESLIE’S NIECE ZOE

1-800-571-8561

contact@leslie-and-michael.com

PAINTING TREE STUMPS WITH LILA, ONE OF LESLIE’S STUDENTS

www.leslie-and-michael.com

Independent Adoption Center • adoptionhelp.org/birthmother • 1-800-877-6736 (OPEN)

THANKf YOU! T

hank you for taking the time to learn more about us -- we can’t wait to learn about you. We welcome you as a member of our extended family, in whatever way is most comfortable for you. Both of us strongly believe in the benefits of open adoption, and intend to honor our child’s roots and adoption story. They’ll always know that your love is what brought them to us.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us by phone or e-mail. Our home and our hearts are open to you and your child.

Wishing you the best,

POSING AT THE TOP OF THE SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE, IN AUSTRALIA