LaurenRalph

AND

THANK YOU for taking the time to learn

about us as you plan for your baby’s

future. We are HONORED to be in your

consideration, and admire your courage

and loving decision to consider adoption

for your child. Adoption has been the

greatest gift we have ever known. We

hope our profile will share with you our

family life and dreams.

Elizabeth, “Lilla”, is our almost 3-year-old

daughter we adopted through Adoption

Alliance. Lilla’s birthmother holds a

special place in our hearts and lives as we

continue to exchange letters and photos.

If you are comfortable, we would enjoy

doing the same with you.

We are excited to grow our family again

through adoption. The desire to love and

welcome another child is heartfelt and

beautiful to us. Lilla loves the idea of being

a big sister and we feel it is important that

she share in her Texas adoption history

with her sibling. We love our family and

hope to share it with your child. Thank you

again for learning about us. Please never

hesitate to ask us, or anyone through your

journey, any questions you may have.

FROM BEAUT IFUL

NORTH CAROL INA!

RALPH, LAURENAND L I L LA

Hello, we are

Winterfest Holiday Fun

Cruising to Bermuda

Journey

Celebrating our anniversary

Our first family football game

Starting a family was a difficult road we would

gladly walk again as we are now the parents of

a very wonderful little girl. We learned our true

strengths, weaknesses, resilience, and a deep

appreciation for the family we are today and the

family foursome we hope to become.

Our lives are filled with the love of family and

friends, passion for new experiences, and

compassion for others. The world is so much

bigger and brighter through our daughter’s eyes.

Days fill with trips to pools, playgrounds, toddler

OUR LOVING

WE MET IN COLLEGE MOVING INTO

OUR DORM. Ralph was the quiet,

studious type from NC while Lauren

was the outgoing, fun-loving girl

from NJ. The epitome of “opposites

attract”, our different personalities are

complimentary in many ways allowing

us to be the great team we are today!

Life is a roller-coaster, full of ups

and downs, that we have loved,

supported, and inspired each other

through as we just celebrated 19

years of marriage.

classes, amusement parks, movies, family dinners,

singing, dancing, playing, and jumping. We love

a good car trip to the mountains and beach,

vacations with friends, and cruises with family. Life

is an adventure that we can’t wait to begin each

day then snuggle over each night.

Back home after a big day

Once in a lifetime Indy experience

RALPH CHERISHES BEING A FATHER

and takes Lilla to Discovery Place, our local

splash pad, and Target for stickers and cookies

- coming home with bellies full of goodies

and cracking up from their adventures. Lilla

insists daddy does her hair, reads her bedtime

stories, and teaches her video games on the

full-size arcade he built. He’s also incredibly

considerate, Ralph carried 8 wrapped slices of

pizza on a plane from Chicago so Lilla could

try her first deep dish pie… We clapped,

cheered, and loved every bite! Ralph has

been an Information Technology Manager

with an international company for 12 years

that offers great flexibility and support. He

is naturally creative, detail oriented, calm,

and structured which allows him the honor of

doing what he loves for a living.

Likable is the best word to

describe Ralph. His respect

for others, polite nature,

and quick wit make him

an awesome husband and

incredible father. He’s able

to shed light, offer hope,

and erupt laughter through

challenging times.

INTRODUCING Ralph

Daddy and Lilla’s favorite ride! Mmm...donuts!

Mommy teaching Lilla to swim

Carousels are our favorite Skating rink Toddler day

Adorable Pony ride

When sudden rain poured at my company

picnic, Lauren danced in a dress with no

shoes in the muddy grass encouraging

the kids to join. As laughter filled the

air and mud began to fly, she laughed

“Stains come and go, but memories last a

lifetime”. THE KINDNESS, NURTURE,

GUIDANCE, AND LOVING HEART

SHE HAS FOR LILLA IS MORE THAN

I COULD HAVE IMAGINED, SHE IS A

PHENOMENAL MOTHER AND WIFE.

Formerly a Realtor, Lauren is now a stay

at home mom embracing every moment.

She loves the play dates, ‘mommy and

me’ classes, toddler gymnastics, and more

and believes this is the most important,

rewarding job she will ever have.

Lauren is the most positive

influence in my life. Her sound

advice, encouragement, and warm

personality have made me the

man I am today. She always makes

sure everyone is included, has the

ability to bring people together,

and empowers others to make an

ordinary moment extraordinary.

INTRODUCING Lauren

TINY NEIGHBORHOOD in the big city

Everyone calls our home “The Dollhouse”. We built it 18 years ago

planning for a family, large gatherings, and decorations for every

holiday! We have a large playroom, yet toys in every room of the

house - WE LOVE IT! Our small, safe neighborhood has a pool,

park, and is full of loving families and diversity. It’s within a large

village community with great schools, restaurants, grocery, sports

and rec center, and movies in walking distance. Friday

nights we pull our red wagon for pizza with friends.

A minutes’ drive to Uptown (10), Lauren’s family (20),

Ralph’s family (30), and annual passes (10-30)!

WE ADORE ANIMALS!

We love Santa!

There’s no place like home

1. LOCAL AMUSEMENT & WATERPARK

2. AQUATIC CENTER & MANY YMCA’S

3. DISCOVERY MUSEUMS: KIDS, SCIENCE, & NATURE

4. NC ZOO

5. BOTANICAL GARDENS

We have always been a dog family. We lost

our labradoodle Fozzie Bear (14) in August, then

our maltipoo Krimpet (18) in February. They

were wonderful with Lilla and we’re incredibly

appreciative for our precious years together.

Their pure love, light, and joy will forever warm

our hearts and smiles. We hope to rescue a

dog again when our children are old enough to

understand the process and great responsibility.5 FAMILY ANNUAL PASSES we LOVE

Lilla on our home “race track”

Water table fun!

Summer picnic smiles

FAMILY OUTINGRALPH Panthers Football gameLAUREN WinterfestLILLA Baseball games

and fireworks

FAVORITE DESSERTRALPH Heath BlizzardLAUREN Peanut Butter Brownie

LILLA Birthday Cake

FAVORITE HOLIDAY RALPH ThanksgivingLAUREN Halloween

LILLA Christmas

CREATURE / ANIMALRALPH Jackalope / KangarooLAUREN Unicorn / Dolphin

LILLA Dragon / Bunny

FAVORITE VACATION RALPH AlaskaLAUREN Australia

LILLA Dr. Seuss Cruise

SCHOOL EXPERIENCERALPH 4.4 GPA in High SchoolLAUREN Love learning / hate tests!

LILLA I can count to 20!

our favorite things

FUTURE BIG SISTER Lilla

Excited for Thanksgiving dinner

We’re eternally

grateful and

privileged our daughter’s birthmother chose and believed in

us. Now almost 3, Lilla is funny, smart, beautiful, determined,

giving, and loves animals. She’s an adventurous eater, yet

cautious when trying new activities. Holding her newborn

cousin’s hand, singing him to sleep, and reading to him is very

important to her. She loves to engage and chat up new people,

always opening with her pink/ sparkle/ Minnie Mouse Crocs!

Lilla is biracial of African-American and

Caucasian decent. It’s important to us

and her birthmother that we live in a

large city encompassing many cultures,

ethnicities, and opportunities. Lilla

loves her variety of classes including

mini-chefs, art, science, clay, and

swimming...she can’t wait to begin

pre-school in the fall! This will allow

lots of one-on-one time for Lauren

and the baby.

We have a close circle of family and friends which have

spent countless holidays, birthdays, and cruises together

(14 of us went on a birthday cruise in September). Lilla

is happiest with her grandparents, cousins, loving friends,

and everyone in between...especially when Birthday Cake

is involved!!!

Lauren’s parents and sister live in NJ, so we Facetime

daily and see them every 2-3 months. Her niece attends

Veterinary School just a short drive away. Ralph’s parents

are nearby and over often to spoil their grandchild in

every way. Lauren’s 3 cousins’ families (1 newborn) and

OUR Life LineFA M I LY & F R I E N D S T H AT W E L O V E A N D C H E R I S H !

Thanksgiving Gingerbread Turkey Annual friends beach trip

Grandparents at Lilla’s birthday party

Newborn cousin love

Easter Egg Hunt with cousins

Birthday with cousins

Favorite Aunt

and Uncle live

close by at the

lake for countless

gatherings,

boating, and fun.

Our friends have

been with us for

decades having BBQ’s, celebrations, and even

traveling the world together. Ralph’s best friend

lives on our street and Lauren’s 3 closest friends

have toddlers too. Our network is a huge and

everlasting family full of love and joy. Your child

will absolutely light everyone’s life and melt their

hearts.

OUR TO YOUPromise

Bahamas Beach Day The pitcher handed Lilla the ball!

We both have loving,

nurturing, and supportive

families. They believe in

positive reinforcement and

guiding toward achievement

rather than stopping with

consequences.

Emphasizing fun and

exciting life experiences,

maintaining a solid

partnership, and being

strong role models is our

promise as parents. Our

goal is to encourage our

children to pursue their

education, talents, interests,

and aspirations so that

they may establish a life of

happiness and uniqueness.

We promise to provide

admiration, support, and

mutual-respect throughout

our children’s lives with

laughter, love, and joy to

their hearts. While giving

them a childhood filled with

creativity, imagination, and

wonder, we will strive daily

to ensure they have the

choices and opportunities

in life to control their own

destiny.

Championship game

THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF

OUR HEARTS. It is an honor for you to have

read our profile. The love we have for our

daughter spans from here to eternity and to

share that love with another child would be a

blessing and truly humbling. Our lives would

be forever changed beyond that which we

have ever wished or dreamed.

If you have additional questions for us or would like to speak to us, please contact The Adoption Alliance by calling 1-800-626-4324.

WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!

ONE LAST Thank You

We can’t imagine how emotional and difficult

this must be for you, and we wish you the love,

support, and peace that you deserve. If you were

to choose us as your child’s adoptive parents, we

will devote our lives to providing them with love,

stability, and happiness. Everyday your child will

know they are loved and cherished by us all.

Sincerely, Ralph, Lauren & future big sister, Lilla