Hello! ¡Hola!

We are Brian and Noel from San Francisco, California. We count ourselves lucky to have found each other and created a life together, and now we can’t wait to welcome a child into our home. We are a multicultural family. Our child will grow up speaking both Spanish and English, learning about Latin American culture, and traveling every year to Puerto Rico to visit family and friends. We are also lucky to live in a diverse city, and we plan to take advantage of the opportunities this provides for connecting with different communities.

We admire your decision to consider open adoption, and appreciate your taking the time to learn a bit about us.

Our Life Together

We fell in love when we first met on a beach in Puerto Rico 12 years ago and have been together ever since. We are married, have a stable and loving relationship, and a supportive network of friends and family. 

We love to get out of town, whether taking a drive down the coast, hiking in a redwood forest, or camping in the mountains.

We surround ourselves with music, books, and art, and we love hosting our friends and their children at our place. On weekends, you can find us visiting the local farmers’ market, attending musical performances, or seeking out new corners of San Francisco that nobody has heard of!

Our Home

We bought our house in 2013 and immediately began remodeling it ourselves, room by room. We knew next to nothing about home improvement when we started, but Brian’s dad is a contractor and has been a great teacher.

We have spent many weekends together making plans and swinging hammers. Over the last two years, it has all come together, and now we have a cozy home that is just waiting to provide a nurturing environment for a child.

Our home is in a quiet residential neighborhood in San Francisco. We live within walking distance of parks, playgrounds, and the local elementary school. Many of our neighbors have young children, so there will be no shortage of playmates for our child!

About Brian (by Noel)

Brian is a devoted partner, son, brother, and uncle. He has always been intensely curious about the world around him. He devours information and is passionate about sharing his love of learning with others, especially children. I can’t wait to see Brian teach our child about the solar system, Beethoven’s symphonies, and what life is like in remote parts of the world.

Brian has dedicated his career to giving a voice to people society often ignores. As a lawyer for the Department of Labor, he helps enforce laws that protect vulnerable low-wage workers from abuse.

A native Californian, Brian has a deep love of nature and spends a lot of time outdoors, whether it’s going on a backpacking trip or growing vegetables in our garden. In his spare time, you might find him playing the piano or reading a new novel. He also loves to bake - I’m looking forward to all the birthday cakes he’ll make for our child!

About Noel (by Brian)

Noel’s defining quality is his kindness. I know that I can always look to him as a moral compass. On top of that, he is energetic, engaging, outgoing, and just plain fun! Whether it’s telling ghost stories around a campfire or teaching our nephews how to dance salsa, he’s always the life of the party.

Noel has a unique ability to communicate with people, and he has turned this talent into a successful career. He is currently in charge of public affairs for a non-profit organization that coordinates organ transplants and encourages people to sign up as donors. Meeting people whose lives have been saved by the generosity of others gives him a positive outlook that I know he will encourage our child to share.

Noel grew up in Puerto Rico, and the island will always be in his blood. So will its music! Noel is always singing and has been in several music groups. He is also an adventurous chef and is not afraid to add a touch of the island to new recipes. He is excited to pass on his grandma’s kitchen secrets to the next generation.

Our Family

We were both born into large families. We have lots of cousins, aunts, and uncles, which makes for exciting family gatherings. Brian’s family is just a couple of hours away, so we get together with them often.

We are very close with our nephews in Sacramento – James (5) and Elliott (2) – and our child will spend lots of time with these older cousins. We will also be excited to introduce our child to his or her cousins in Puerto Rico: Kaminchy and Aryaliz (14), Amaia (6), and infant Caleb.

We look forward to getting together with our families and our friends for summer barbeques, trips to our family cabin in the mountains, and outings to the many parks and museums in San Francisco – including our favorite, the Exploratorium.

Our Adventures

We have both always been eager to get out and explore the world. Together, we take every opportunity to travel to new pl­aces and meet new people. We have driven across the United States and have visited more than ten countries together.

We look forward to continuing to travel with our child, and to instilling in him or her our sense of wonder at the world.

Our Hope

We have been blessed with good fortune, loving families, steady jobs, and a strong support network. Nothing would make us happier than sharing these blessings with a child. Thanks for considering us as you make this important decision.