Hello from Alameda, California! We've been together for five wonderful years and married for two. Our lives are rooted in strong family values, a deep appreciation for education, and a love for life's simple joys. Oscar, a recent San Francisco State University graduate now working in finance, enjoys competing in Spartan Races. Valerie loves crafting, spending time outdoors, and has built a career in sports marketing. Together, we enjoy traveling, exploring community events, and watching Disney movies with our two cats. We look forward to sharing these experiences with our future child and appreciate you taking the time to get to know us!
Dear Birth Mother
Why Adoption
Valerie has always dreamed of being a mom, and Oscar is excited to be a dad again. We met a little later in life, and after two rounds of IVF treatment, we’ve realized that a natural birth isn’t in the cards for us. However, our desire to raise a child together is stronger than ever. We believe that through adoption, we can create the family we’ve always envisioned, and we are eager to share our love and experiences with a child, providing them with all the opportunities in the world.
Our Story
We connected on our shared values right from the start! Our first date was at a Star Wars movie, and we almost missed it because we were so wrapped up in conversation. I loved hearing about Oscar’s close bond with his family, which resonated with my own strong family values. We’ve tackled adventures together—from camping near Yosemite to hiking for waterfalls—creating wonderful memories and growing closer each day. Over the past five years, we’ve traveled to incredible places, fully embracing our adventurous side. One memorable moment was getting lost in Paris and hilariously attempting to speak French to find our way! Our marriage is strong because we value family, understand each other’s backgrounds, and share a great sense of humor. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come in our education, careers, and as new homeowners. Now, we’re eager to expand our family!
Hobbies and Interests
We’re all about exploring and enjoying life! We love visiting local festivals, like the Day of the Dead festival in Oakland, where we soak in great music and indulge in tasty tacos. The Charles Dickens Christmas Fair is another favorite—dressing up and diving into the charm of Victorian England is always fun! We’re also big fans of the outdoors. Whether it’s hiking, camping with family and friends, or relaxing at the beach flying kites with our niece and nephews in the summer - we love spending time outside! Crafting and painting are close to our hearts, too. They allow us to express our creativity, especially when we host holidays with family. And we can’t forget about sports—we enjoy attending Warriors basketball games and women’s soccer matches, cheering for Bay Football Club. Plus, Oscar is a die-hard Cowboys fan, so we connect with his family to watch a few games together. With all these fun activities, we're excited to introduce our future child to a world full of adventure and creativity!
About Valerie
I'm a first-generation Peruvian-American, and my parents came to California to start a family. Every other year during our childhood, our parents took my brother and me to Peru to connect with our family there. Each trip deepened my connection to both my family and my Peruvian heritage. Later, I traveled to England to earn a Master’s degree and spent my weekends exploring various parts of Europe. It was an exciting time, and I loved connecting with different cultures. Still, I missed my family immensely while I was abroad. Now back in California for many years, I met Oscar, and we love spending time with our families. I enjoy that his nieces and nephews call me “Tia,” and I’m happy to share my Peruvian culture with them, especially through the dinner dishes I prepare. I'm most excited about becoming a parent and passing on my cultural traditions, like enjoying ceviche on Peruvian Independence Day, while fostering that deep connection to family!
Valerie, by Oscar
Valerie is an amazing woman who embodies genuine care, love, and unwavering support. She has a natural ability to connect with children of all ages, and I’ve seen her nurturing interactions with my nieces and nephews. Whether engaging with curious toddlers or sharing laughs with teenagers, she brings warmth and understanding to every moment. Valerie loves family activities, from playing board games to painting together, and I know she’ll be absolutely thrilled to introduce our future child to our favorite beaches. She values education deeply and has played a significant role in guiding my son through college decisions as a dedicated and loving stepmother. Excited to be involved in our child’s school, activities, and sports, Valerie will eagerly volunteer her support and be a strong advocate, ensuring they have every opportunity to achieve their dreams. I have no doubt she will be a fantastic mother, offering the love and encouragement that will help our future child thrive.
Fun Facts About Valerie
- Valerie has traveled to two NBA Finals while working for the Golden State Warriors.
- She has a special love for ceviche, a Peruvian dish her mother taught her to make.
- Valerie can’t resist singing along to “The Sound of Music” whenever it plays. It’s her favorite movie.
- She enjoyed backpacking through the Highlands of Scotland, especially in the fall when the foliage is stunning.
- For dessert, she’s a fan of Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia ice cream.
- Valerie speaks English, Spanish and 15% German.
About Oscar
I'm a proud father to two adult children, and raising them has been one of the greatest joys of my life. As a second-generation Mexican American and the oldest of three brothers, I grew up in a large family filled with cousins, aunts, and uncles, sharing countless memorable moments during family gatherings. I can’t wait to introduce our child to those events. Education has always been valued in my family; when my children were older, I returned to school to study finance, leading to my career in wealth management. My parents supported my brothers and me in our soccer and martial arts pursuits, and I love cheering on local sports teams with my family, whether we’re watching games at home or attending them in person. I also enjoy camping and discovering new hiking trails, exploring the great outdoors with family and friends. I’m thrilled to embark on the journey of parenthood again with my wonderful wife and I can’t wait to see what passions our future child will develop.
Oscar, by Valerie
Oscar is a phenomenal husband and an incredible father. From the moment I met him, I felt the deep connection he shares with his children. He is always there to support them and enjoys playing with them in a spirited game of chess or having fun on the Nintendo Wii. One of my favorite things about him is his sense of humor; he often recreates the scene from The Lion King with our cats just to make us laugh. His adventurous spirit is unmatched; he’s joined me at the Renaissance Faire (in costume!) and embraced an ATV ride through the jungles of Mexico in the rain. I deeply admire his determination as well. After focusing on raising his kids, he returned to college with unwavering commitment, taking tests and completing assignments multiple times until he achieved 100%. His dedication is truly inspiring, and I can’t wait for him to embrace the role of father again as we create beautiful memories together as a family.
Fun Facts About Oscar
- Oscar has competed in over 30 half marathons throughout the West Coast.
- He’s a big fan of deep dish pizza, always craving that cheesy goodness!
- Oscar loves watching professional sports teams in action.
- His favorite movie is “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” a timeless classic he loves to rewatch every year.
- He had a memorable trip visiting the Columbia Gorge Waterfalls in Oregon with Valerie and his children.
- For dessert, Oscar’s favorite is a secret family recipe that has been passed down through the generations, featuring strawberries and cream.
Our 5 Life Lessons
- Kindness is where it starts. Even the smallest gestures can light up someone’s day.
- Imagination is key. We’ll give our child the freedom to express themselves through art, dance, or storytelling.
- Family means the world to us. We’ll celebrate our traditions and always support one another.
- Hard work can be fun. We’ll show our child that effort is the key to achieving dreams.
- Learning never stops. We’ll help our child discover there’s always something exciting to learn.
Home Sweet Home
After five years in the East Bay, we recently moved to Alameda, a charming city in Northern California, where we found our forever home in a quiet, family-friendly neighborhood. Our neighbors are incredibly friendly, and everyone gets into the Halloween spirit with decorations—our home is now known as the “Nightmare Before Christmas” house! We’re close to a beautiful beach with warm sand and gentle water, perfect for dipping our toes in during the summer or flying kites. Plus, there’s a local farmer’s market every Saturday where we love to pick up fresh flowers and produce for juicing. One of our favorite community events is the Dia de los Muertos festival we attend each year. It’s a wonderful way to honor our Latin heritage while celebrating with friends and neighbors. We’re also enjoying our new home, especially watching our cats race up and down the stairs! Our home is so spacious that we can now host more family for barbecues and football games. This community has so much to offer, and we're excited about the adventures that await us as we grow our family!
Our Loved Ones
Our extended family is a big part of our lives, and we love spending time with them! Valerie’s brother is an amazing cook, and he always whips up massive BBQ dinners filled with various spices, rubs, and delicious side dishes. Whenever we visit, we know we’ll leave with full tummies and plenty of leftovers to enjoy at home. It’s always a treat to gather around the table and indulge in his culinary creations. Oscar’s family also brings a lot of joy to our lives. They’re huge sports fans, so whether we’re huddled around the TV watching football, heading out to the Cali Classico soccer match, or bundling up to catch an ice hockey game, the excitement is always in the air! Watching Oscar’s nephews play football is another highlight; their enthusiasm is contagious, and we cheer them on from the sidelines. Family gatherings are filled with laughter, great food, and plenty of shared memories. We cherish these moments together and look forward to creating even more as we grow our family. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that our future child will be surrounded by such loving and supportive extended family!
Family Traditions
- Our summer tradition is to spend a weekend in our Yosemite cabin, hiking and enjoying the outdoors.
- For Halloween, we have fun coordinating costumes and decorating the house.
- Making ceviche and celebrating other cultural traditions on Peruvian Independence Day.
- We look forward to our annual vacation where we can adventure and explore the local culture and cuisine.
- We have many Christmas traditions! We gather to make tamales as a family on Christmas Eve. When Oscar’s son lived with us, we discovered we all had Star Wars-themed Christmas shirts, which became a fun tradition for our holiday card. After decorating, we watch a Star Wars movie.
On Parenting
In our parenting journey, we aim to create a nurturing environment where our child feels loved and valued. We believe that kindness and empathy are foundational values, and by modeling these traits, we hope to inspire our future child to treat others with compassion and recognize the importance of connection— showing how a small act of kindness can make a difference. We’re dedicated to supporting their dreams and passions, instilling strong family values through cherished traditions (like making tamales on Christmas Eve) and sharing adventures. We also want to expose them to diverse cultures and experiences to nurture their curiosity. Traveling to new places, attending cultural festivals, and exploring various cuisines will broaden their horizons and foster an appreciation for diversity. Education and a love for learning are central to our family, and we look forward to inspiring our future child with these values. Ultimately, we hope to raise a confident, compassionate individual who knows they can always count on our love and support.
In Closing - Thank You
We want to sincerely thank you for taking the time to read our story. We know this is a difficult decision, and we truly admire your strength and courage. We have so much love to give, along with strong values that we’re excited to share with your child. They will grow up in a loving home surrounded by family and friends who will support them. We promise to provide a sense of adventure, connect them to our vibrant community, and prioritize their education while ensuring they have fun and enjoy life! We are eager to embrace the opportunity to be wonderful parents and guide your child as they grow. Thank you for considering us to be part of this beautiful journey!