About Us

About us…
We met in 7th grade, quickly became friends, and dated through high school. While in college, we followed our own paths but kept in touch. Always feeling that we were destined to be together, we reconnected 11 years ago and have been together ever since. We’ve always known we wanted children and have tried many methods to have a biological child. Though unsuccessful, this process has prepared us for the day a child is brought into our lives and hearts. We are grateful for the possibility of building our family through adoption.

We are the best of friends! Whether we’re traveling, canoeing on the river, or blueberry picking, we enjoy spending time together and making each other laugh. We love having conversations about what our lives will be like when we are parents. We imagine excitement, chaos, and of course, sleep deprivation!

As parents, we will provide love, support, and encouragement. Your child will be welcomed into a large and affectionate family in which every child is showered with unconditional love and acceptance.

Raising a child to be secure and confident is very important to us. Your child will know he or she is capable of amazing things. We believe in treating all people with kindness and respect. We value education, creative self-expression, and exploring areas of interest. We can’t wait to be parents and have our lives filled with all of the excitement we know that will bring. Family has always been – and always will be - our first priority.

Since childhood, animals have always played a major role in both our lives. Our dog, Ellie, is the sweetest dog ever. She loves people and is great with kids.

Peter about Gretchen…
Since high school, I’ve always known I wanted to marry Gretchen. Gretchen is a counselor and the director of a community mental health center. She’s compassionate and a good listener, qualities that make her a good therapist, friend, wife, and someday, a wonderful mother. Gretchen is very loving and cares deeply for her family and friends, supporting them during periods of stress and celebrating with them when they are happy. She measures success not by money or the collection of things, but by the positive impact we have on other people’s lives. Gretchen takes care of our family and makes sure things are running smoothly.

Gretchen loves Yoga, going for walks, reading, going to the beach, cooking, crafting, and gardening. During the holidays, you’ll find her in the kitchen whipping up some of her specialties as gifts for our friends and neighbors. Gretchen has very fond memories of baking with her mother and looks forward to including our child in this tradition. She will read stories, sing lullabies at bedtime, explore the outdoors, and help with homework. Gretchen is very creative and can’t wait to introduce music, dancing, and crafts to our child. In addition to her nurturing side, Gretchen is very funny and silly. She laughs at my jokes and sings and dances to songs on the radio. Gretchen will be an amazing Mom.

Gretchen about Peter…
Peter loves children and they flock to him when he enters the room. The qualities that drew him to Peter at the age of 12 are those that draw me to him now. Peter is kind and exceptionally empathic. Family and friends know they can count on him when they’re in need of advice, honest feedback, or just a sympathetic ear. Peter also has a wonderful sense of humor, while at the same time he is very grounded, even-tempered and positive. This has been a great asset to him in both his work and our personal lives.

Peter began his own business 5 years ago, now a thriving technology company. His work allows him a great deal of flexibility, something he knows will be important when we become parents.

As a parent, Peter will be very loving, kind and supportive. He will encourage our child to try new things and explore areas of interest. He will introduce our child to music and sports and will attend all extra-curricular events. He will laugh, play and be silly. He will also set needed limits and teach our child to be honest and responsible. Peter will be a wonderful father.

Our family and friends….
We feel so fortunate to be surrounded by family and childhood friends. We are very close with both of these groups and spend time with them often. We have been very involved in the upbringing of our nieces and nephews. During summers and holidays, large family gatherings are filled with laughter, story telling, and games. A unique aspect of both of our families is that we are surrounded by adoption. Together, we have 8 family members who are adopted!

Like us, many of our childhood friends moved from the area and later returned to start their families. With children between the ages of 3 months and 9 years, spending time with friends is both frenzied and fun. Our family and friends are so excited about our choice to have children through adoption!

Our home…
We live in a family-friendly coastal Maine community. Less than an hour from Boston, we enjoy the pleasures of small town life and all the diverse events a city has to offer. Our town has excellent schools, four public beaches, a big library, museums, a state-of-the-art hospital, and lots of open conservation land with amazing hiking and biking trails. We appreciate our community and all it has to offer.

Our home is happy, warm, and inviting. We have a big yard, perfect for a child to play in. We love to entertain and open our home to friends and family. In the summer, we set up a slide projector outside and watch movies on a large screen with our friends and their kids. We live adjacent to a golf and tennis club extending our yard to include golf, tennis, and great places to ride bikes, sled, and cross-country ski. Our home also borders a small river on which we canoe, fish, skip rocks and look for crabs.

Thoughts on being parents…
We believe that raising a child to be healthy and happy is the most important thing we will ever do. We will provide a loving, supportive, and fun life for your child. We’ve completed our home study. As parents, we will work as a team to provide consistency and stability. Your child will feel safe and secure, welcomed into a large and loving family that is eager to embrace our newest member. Raising your child to believe in him/herself is very important to us.

Thoughts on adoption…
It is our belief that choosing adoption for a child is one of the most selfless and courageous things a person can do. We promise you that your child will always know that you chose adoption out of love. Your child will also know how much we admire and respect you and your decision to choose adoption. We will absolutely honor your wishes for your involvement in your child’s life.

Thank you for reading our letter and considering us as adoptive parents for your child. If you feel we may be the kind of family you would like your baby to grow up with, we would love to talk with you.

Please contact Cindy Simonson at A Loving Alternative, 1-800-5565635.

With respect,
Peter & Gretchen