Tara & Paul

Our careers let us spend a lot of time together: Tara is a stay-at-home mom who works part-time from home in publishing. Paul is a college Professor with a flexible schedule (Friday's off and summers off, all those fantastic vacations and holidays!) allowing him to be with family often. We have such fun together going to concerts, competing at put-put golf or darts or pool or ping-pong, hiking, kayaking, cheering on our favorite sports teams, meeting with friends, or just talking. We look forward to sharing all this love and happiness with another child.

We met in graduate school in 1994. We've been married for going on 10 years. We are committed to each other and so in love.

Tara (by Paul)

I created the following list of words/phrases to explain why Tara is such a wonderful wife, mother, and person.

Pillows of Fun: Early in our relationship, Tara cracked up my then 4 year old nephew by tickling and tapping him with pillows. This joyful spirit continues with our son. Few things make me happier than listening to her make Noah laugh uncontrollably.

Jalapeo Peppers: My wife is hot! Seriously, she is a bright flame in my life offering stability, support, comfort, intelligence, hope, and love.

Furry: Tara has chosen each of our pets. (see Serman cat above) She is a loving person who cares deeply for others, including our furry four-legged friends. I wish you could witness her loving devotion to her family, to her friends, and to our son, who is not furry for the record.

Kung Fu Goddess: Tara takes karate lessons and is excelling because she is the hardest working woman I know. This extends into all facets of her life: her education, her employment, her marriage, her parenting. This is one of her greatest strengths. Besides, I think she wants me to mention that she thinks she can kick my butt!

Pink Floyd: Tara has a love for good music, crafts, painting, and photography (she took most of the photos in this profile). She loves singing (quite poorly) with Noah, especially songs they make up. She shares these passions with her family to enrich our lives.

Trust: No jokes here. There is no one in the world I trust more than Tara. She is responsible, and she won't allow herself to let down those whom she cares about. I know I couldn't have found a better partner in whom to entrust my life, my love, and my son. I hope you'll understand that you'll be hard-pressed to find a more caring and loving adoptive mother for your child.

Paul (by Tara)

Paul is my best friend and devoted husband. I was first attracted to Paul's sense of humor, then excitedly learned he's also a great cook and generous with foot rubs! Plus, he can fix anything and built our backyard deck, a bed for our beagle, and a family room in our home. Paul's desire to help others shows in his volunteer work at the animal shelter as well as his choice in making a difference in peoples lives by becoming a teacher.

Paul is an amazing husband and accomplished teacher, but he most loves being a dad. He is involved in every aspect of Noah's life. As a new a father, Paul was always helpful, changing diapers and getting up for 5am feedings. Paul taught Noah how to ride a bike and takes Noah to all his swimming lessons. Paul is also known as the silly uncle with his many nieces and nephews.

Paul continues to enrich our marriage daily: he makes me laugh until my belly is sore; he compliments and kisses me everyday; he supports me in all my endeavors; he listens to me whether I make sense or not. He's absolutely irresistible to me.

Noah

Noah is a loving, friendly, and happy four-year old full of curiosity and energy. His pre-school teachers describe him as the 'story-teller' amongst his classmates. He is looking forward to being a big brother, sharing all his special toys, and introducing his sibling to his cousins.

If Noah could write his own profile, this is what he would want you to know: He loves entertaining people by singing silly songs and making funny faces. He would give you a list of his most-enjoyed books, ask if you had seen his favorite movies (Wall-E, Toy Story, The Incredibles), tell you the names of his stuffed animals, explain to you his super powers, and show you his way-cool dance moves.

Our Home

We live in scenic upstate New York in a cozy home with a large backyard. We are walking distance from a public park with a lake/beach area, lifeguards, and playground. We spend the warmer months canoeing and kayaking on the lake, hiking, biking, or just running around the yard playing ball or tag with neighbors and classmates. In the winter, we sled, tube, and ski, or on lazy days drink hot chocolate (loaded with mini marshmallows) and stay warm by the fire.

Our Family

Ok - so everyone probably claims to love their family in these profiles, right? Let us prove it. We lived in Florida for 7 years but we moved back to New York to be closer to our families. You read that right. We left the sun, beaches, and warm Decembers because we didn't want to be far from our families. People think we are crazy when they hear this, but they haven't met our wonderful folks! We get together a lot for family traditions beyond holidays and birthdays: including annual sleepover weekends (which the kids love) every autumn, winter, and summer. Our family looks forward to the addition of another child, so your child will be loved by a warm and welcoming family.

Our Promise To You

Thank you for taking the time to learn about us and for considering us as adoptive parents to your child. Your child will grow up understanding the adoption plan you made was done out of courage and love for them. We assure you that your child will thrive in a loving, caring, and fun home.

Paul, Tara & Noah