We are Brigid, Francois and Camille Hedouin.
We absolutly love being parents and can't wait to share our future with another child. Our lives have changed in wonderful ways we never imagined when we adopted Camille Rose in June 2003. The three of us are so excited about adding another child to our family. It is our desire, through this letter, that you will get a good sense of what kind of family we are and hopefully find that we share dreams and values that you have in mind for your child's future.
We met 13 years ago while traveling in Ireland. We found a connection in each other and became inseparable. After spending three years living in Paris we moved to San Francisco where we got married 10 years ago and settled down to our careers, creating a home and life to build a family. What drew us together keeps us together...our love and respect for each other and 'joie de vivre' (the 'love of life' as they say in France). It has been a wonderful journey that keeps getting better with each joy and challenge we have shared.
We live in San Francisco in a small and quiet neighborhood where folks are friendly, helpful and care about each other. There is so much to do in this culturally rich city...museums, parks, street fairs, ethnic and holiday celebrations, and cusine of every kind. Just beyond the city are the majestic Redwoods, miles of vineyards in Napa Valley and the Sierra mountains. Our home is warm and inviting, alive with color, laughter and conversation. Family and friends love to visit. The backyard garden is one of our favorite places to hang out whether it is just the three of us or a gathering of friends to barbeque. We share our home with a kid-friendly Black Labrador Retriever named Lola, and two stiped cats named Sadie and Tomasito.
Our life is family focused. Daily routines include: waking up to hugs & kisses, play-dates, work (for Francois), shopping for dinner and then playing Camille's favorite game together while we eagerly wait for Francois to come home from work. Each evening we share dinner as a family and end Camille?s day with good night kisses for everyone after her bath and a bedtime story (or two). Every Sunday is 'family day' starting at church (we are Catholic) and afterward a family adventure. Whether it is a drive along Highway 1 with a picnic and hike at the coast, exploring a charming nearby town, visiting the zoo, or walking along the beach looking for the perfect spot to build a sand castle...what ever strikes our mood! We wonder what our next child's favorite Sunday adventure will be...perhaps the Exploratorium (a hand's on kids' museum) or the aquarium. We have an extended family that we love to spend time with. Brigid's parents live just up the street and we get to see them frequently. They enjoy being active grandparents and are excited about meeting their next grandchild. In the Bay Area there are cousins, aunts, uncles and family that we see often to celebrate holidays and birthdays. Francois' family live in France and we are very close to them even with the distance between us. We stay in touch with regular phone calls, emails and every year a month long visit with them. While in France we also love the opportunity to do some sightseeing and visiting with old friends. Everyone is thrilled about our plan to adopt again and can't wait until we visit as a family of four!
As parents we feel it is important to give our children a sound educational, cultural and religious foundation. We value and foster individuality and creativity as well as providing our children with unconditional love and support to explore the world with honorable values and healthy self-esteem. Our children will grow up in a bilingual household and we will encourage them to learn other languages and cultures as well. We understand how a solid educational foundation with college degrees has benefited our quality of life. We will provide the opportunity for our children to receive the highest quality education from Pre-school through University. Thank you for taking the time to read our letter. We look forward to getting to know you and your hopes and dreams. Warmly, Brigid, Francois and Camille
The three of us will cherish and love your baby. We are open to a relationship with you on whatever level is best for you. You will figure out what is right for you and we are open to whatever that might look like now and in the future. We think the world of Camille's birth mother and birth father. We are writing this letter because we know that we have a special place in our hearts and in our lives for our next child and his or her birthparents. We admire your strength and courage as you search for the best for yourself and for your baby. We would love a chance to talk to you and meet you! Please feel free to call us to chat anytime toll-free at: 1-866-280-4047. You can find out more about us on our web site at: www.geocities.com/francois_hedouin/bm or email us first if that is more convenient at: [email protected]. There are also great birth parent counselors and resources through the Independent Adoption Center, you can reach them toll-free at: 1-800-877-OPEN (6736) or visit their website at www.adoptionhelp.org.
