Jordan&EdEVIE
Hi There
Thank you for taking the time to read our book and to learn a bit about us. Our names are Ed and Jordan. Although we cannot fully appreciate how challenging the decision you are making must be, we are so grateful that you are considering us to love and raise your baby. We have enormous respect and admiration for you.
As adoptive parents we promise to raise your child with all of the love, devotion, and empathy we have in our hearts.
Our own life experiences share two very similar traits: devotion to family, and the ability to build a deep sense of community among the people in our lives. We think it is these qualities that make us loving and strong parents, while also fully realizing there will be many challenges along the way.
We pray that this short book provides some insight and peace of mind to you during this very important time in you and your baby’s lives.
We met in Massachusetts in the spring of 2012 when Jordan joined Ed’s soccer league. Jordan was such a good player that at first, Ed thought he might be a pro who joined the wrong team! We soon learned that we had a lot more in common than soccer. We both share an independent streak that led us to start careers far from home (Ed is from the New York City area, Jordan is from North Carolina). We have strong loyalty to our families, who we see as much as we can. And we both knew from early on that we wanted to adopt.
Tailgating with our soccer league, the Strikers. This is one of the first days we got to know each other.
Getting ready to celebrate Boston Pride by marching in the parade with our soccer league. Beads and soccer jerseys required!
Attending the U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows, NY. Tennis is one of our favorite sports to watch (and play!) together.
Walking down the aisle after our wedding at the JFK Library surrounded by all of our friends and family.
Holding our daughter, Evie, on one of the first days we brought her home from the hospital.
Our Story
through the eyes of Edward:
Jordan’s time with our soccer league illustrates what makes him such a wonderful person, and what makes him a great dad. Soon after joining the league Jordan quickly took a leadership role and immediately worked to create an environment where everyone felt included. Jordan is so good at giving encouragement to all players and making sure everyone is learning the game and having fun. Jordan is the best dad at taking Evie out and teaching her how to kick a ball, and will be the same with our second child. At the same time, if our second child has no interest in sports Jordan will be so great at encouraging whatever they are interested in, and learning everything about it.
Jordan is also a terrific provider. As a finance manager, he works really hard, getting in early and staying late when needed. He rarely complains if an assignment is tough -- he just puts his head down and gets the job done. The same can be said for Jordan’s approach to parenting: he is super thoughtful and organized, always planning fun outings and activities and making sure we’re always signed up for things like swimming lessons and gymnastics class. He is also a fantastic cook, always prepping healthy meals for our family, and is terrific at teaching Evie to appreciate all different types of food. His outdoor pizza oven in the summer is always a hit!
Probably the only bad thing about Jordan is that on long car trips he insists on blasting Adele or Beyonce (his two favorites) and singing at the top of his lungs. Jordan’s parents taught him to be himself, be proud of who he is, work hard, and treat others with respect, and everyone who knows Jordan sees those qualities in him every day. I cannot wait to watch as he passes those values on to our new child.
through the eyes of Jordan:
I remember bursting into my apartment gushing to my then roommate about the kind, smart, funny, and cute guy named Ed who drove me back from my first practice with our soccer team. I was nervous when I first joined not knowing anyone, but knowing Ed would be there every week at practice made showing up more than worth it. After a couple years of friendship we both realized that we shared more than just a love for soccer.
It’s obvious when you meet Ed that he loves learning about the people around him and finding out what makes them tick. He’s better than anyone I know at keeping in touch with friends from throughout his life - most impressively with an amazing friend named Jess from preschool who we still see every few months! He can often be caught having long chats with friends about everything from the book he’s reading about naval battles to a hilarious episode of 30 Rock.
But nothing is clearer about Ed than his love for his family, and for good reason. He is never more himself than when he’s spending time with his niece and nephew and the rest of his incredible family. He can go from caring brother to goofy uncle to nagging son all in the span of an afternoon at the pool.
Watching Ed add loving dad to that list has been a highlight of the last few years. He’s exceptional at letting Evie discover her own interests and then diving in head first to explore them together. As long as I’ve known Ed he has had this uncanny ability to connect the people around him and build diverse communities - whether it be in his community gardens, his volunteer work with a local after school program, or simply with our closest friends and family. I am endlessly lucky to have married him and am so excited to grow our family together.
through the eyes of Jordan and Ed:
There aren’t enough words or ways to describe how Evie (pronounced like the letters E V) brightens every day. She is sweet and stubborn and caring and funny and we’re so lucky to be her dads. Evie loves to laugh and there’s nothing more infectious than one of her giggle fits from making funny faces or reading funny books. We also listen to lots of music which Evie loves singing and dancing to.
Evie loves to spend her days running and jumping and swimming with her friends before spending her nights reading an endless amount of books. She has been doing swim lessons since she was a one year old and can now swim all by herself, though we still join her in the pool to be extra safe. Evie also started doing gymnastics this winter which she loves. It’s a great way to learn how to follow directions while having fun on the trampolines, balance beams, and parallel bars.
At school, Evie has lots of friends that she’s been in class with since she was one. It’s so fun watching her and her friends learn new skills like writing their names and solving puzzles. Her teachers say that she loves to participate in all the activities and she especially loves getting a “special job” like door holder or snack helper. When she turns four she will graduate to a Pre-K classroom before she goes to the public elementary school in our town.
Evie is a very good sharer and she will love introducing her baby sibling to all of her friends (aka “stuffies”) and favorite books and toys. We’re so excited about the possibility of growing our family and we know that Evie would be such a loving and caring big sister.
Our Home
Our home is located on the corner of two quiet streets with easy access to hiking a short walk away, and only a 20-minute drive to the city. It is spacious with 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and room to expand should we need more space. We have a big kitchen where Jordan cooks up yummy dinners (while Ed and Evie ask when they’re going to be ready ;-).
Out back we have a big yard where Ed spends a lot of time making things look beautiful. We also have a pool that we pretty much live in during the summer, with friends and neighbors always coming by. We always make sure to use it safely. Last fall we worked together to build a raised garden bed, which is home to an assortment of fruits and vegetables every spring and summer. We even inherited a playground set from our neighbors that Evie and her friends love playing on when it’s warm enough.
Our neighborhood is close-knit and quiet. We moved to our town after several of our friends moved here, which makes it feel special. We’ve also made lots of new friends with young families which makes getting together for playdates or even just a walk around the block very easy. One family a few houses down the street has 4 teenage daughters who all love to babysit for Evie, and they’re exciting about us having a second!
Our town has great schools and several fun playgrounds that are within a 10 minute drive, including one that is right next to Evie’s daycare. We love meeting up with friends at a playground and then going for a walk to get a little treat at the bakery or ice cream shop nearby.
ILY FAM
Ed’s Family
I am lucky to have a terrific family who we see as often as possible. Sadly my dad died quite suddenly when I was 17. The only good thing to come from that was it forced me, my mom, my sister Clare, and my brother Will to realize that family is something to appreciate every day. From my mom I learned some really important life lessons, like always keeping a good sense of humor even in tough situations, and taking a real interest in other people. I hope to pass those down to our children. My sister, Clare, is a special education teacher and is amazing with kids of all ages and abilities. She is incredibly patient and thoughtful, and we know she will be such a great aunt to our children. Both my mom and Clare live fairly close by and they visit often and play a big role in our child’s life. My brother’s kids, Rhys (14) and Bea (12), were the ring-bearer and flower girl in our wedding, which was one of our favorite parts of the day. We visit them every a couple times a year and love nothing more than playing soccer or slip n’ slide in the yard. They are so excited about the possibility of having a new cousin!
Getting together with my family often requires thick skin and maybe some ear plugs. We’re loud and opinionated and (I think) a ton of fun. We are an active family that likes to go hiking, cook big dinners, and laugh A LOT. As the youngest of one sister and two brothers I learned quickly how to be a peacemaker, especially between my two brothers who were always butting heads. Growing up in my house was pure chaos and to this day I still do not know how my parents did it. But somehow they figured out how to raise us all as independent, fun, light-hearted, and loving people. They passed on the importance of faith, education, and health which I am passing on in our family. They also made sure we didn’t take ourselves too seriously and always made room for laughter and a bit of tough love. With a sister close to us in Massachusetts, one brother in Washington DC, and the other in North Carolina, we see each other as often as we can, and when we do it’s mostly big smiles, delicious food, and new memories.
Jordan’s Family
F R I
E N D S
We work really hard to maintain great friendships and enjoy planning activities with lots of different groups. A lot of our friends also have young children which makes getting together a blast (and loud!).
HOBBIES
SNOW TRAVEL SOCCER HIKING
COOKING
Thank you for taking some time to read this book, and for considering us for the adoption of your child. It’s hard to fit everything that’s important to us in just a few pages, but we hope this book has given you some sense of our personalities and our values. Please know that if you choose us as your child’s adoptive parents we will love, protect, and cherish your child and we will be forever grateful to you for helping us grow our family. We will be happy to keep in touch over the years if you’d like to stay connected. We hope this is just the beginning of our story together.
Thefollowingisourfavoritepoemandcapturesoursharedvaluesinlife.
Human Family
By Maya Angelou
I note the obvious differences in the human family. Some of us are serious, some thrive on comedy.
Some declare their lives are lived as true profundity, and others claim they really live the real reality.
The variety of our skin tones can confuse, bemuse, delight, brown and pink and beige and purple, tan and blue and white.
I’ve sailed upon the seven seas and stopped in every land, I’ve seen the wonders of the world not yet one common man.
I know ten thousand women called Jane and Mary Jane, but I’ve not seen any two who really were the same.
Mirror twins are different although their features jibe, and lovers think quite different thoughts while lying side by side.
We love and lose in China, we weep on England’s moors, and laugh and moan in Guinea, and thrive on Spanish shores.
We seek success in Finland, are born and die in Maine. In minor ways we differ, in major we’re the same.
I note the obvious differences between each sort and type, but we are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike. We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike. We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.
