Anthony & Joseph (JJ)
– New York –
Introduction
We admire your strength and courage in considering adoption, and we’re so grateful you’re here. We live in the Catskill Mountains in a cozy, creative home. As foster parents, we’ve learned so much from the children who’ve shared our home. We value education, creativity, and kindness, and we’re excited to raise a child who feels safe, celebrated, and free to explore. Our families are ready to welcome a new little one with open arms. Thank you for considering us — we hope our story speaks to you.
Quick Facts
Location
New YorkNeighborhood Type
RuralAdopted Before
NoRelationship Status
MarriedPets
1 Dog, 3 CatsChildren
None
About Anthony
- EthnicityWhite/Caucasian
- SpeaksEnglish
- ReligionNon-religious
- EducationCollege Degree
- OccupationSupervisory Patent Exaimner
Meet Anthony (by JJ):
When I think about Anthony, the first thing that comes to mind is his empathy and deep emotional intelligence. He has a remarkable ability to put himself in others’ shoes, truly feeling what they are experiencing. Everyone that knows him says he is a compassionate friend.
He’s also one of the most generous people I know, giving his time to causes he cares about. He volunteers at our local food bank and with LGBT seniors, offering support and companionship where it is needed in the community. In addition to his kindness, he’s incredibly smart and driven. A Yale graduate, he’s worked for the same employer since he graduated, advancing to a supervisory position. His success speaks to his dedication and goal-oriented mindset—qualities that make him a wonderful role model. His strong work ethic comes from his upbringing on a farm, where he had many responsibilities and learned the value of hard work. Working on a farm gave him a knack for solving mechanical issues which he continues to put to good use in our everyday lives. Beyond that, he’s a gifted teacher with a passion for pottery. He’s shared his love of this art form with countless others, including me. His intelligence, kindness, and unwavering commitment to his goals in life inspire me every day. I know these qualities will make him an extraordinary parent and a source of love and guidance.
About Joseph (JJ)
- EthnicityWhite/Caucasian
- SpeaksEnglish
- ReligionNon-religious
- EducationCollege Degree
- OccupationDigital Director
Meet JJ (by Anthony):
Trust me, you’d love JJ. When I met him, I found it hard to believe such a wonderful man existed. He’s just the right combination of funny and smart. Do not try to watch Jeopardy with him because he will know nearly every answer. When he says he’s going to do something, he does it. Last spring he decided he was going to build a 800 square foot deck onto our house (having never built one before), and after countless hours of work he completed it before winter.
He loves animals. Besides working for the ASPCA, JJ pushed us to adopt 4 pets who fill our home with joy. When (not if) he gets his way, there will be at least one more. He gets sad when he sees roadkill and would run the car into the ditch to save a squirrel. JJ is fun to be around. He’s curious about everything and seeks out opportunities to try new things. When we travel, JJ researches each place we visit and then packs our schedule with hikes, tours, and museum visits. He’s a sweet, caring parent. When we have foster children in our home, JJ instantly becomes a doting father. During an infant’s stay, I found him calming her by carrying her slowly around the yard while describing outloud the trees, birds, and flowers. JJ has a gentle touch. He’s outside pounding nails into the deck one minute and delicately bathing a tiny infant the next.
Building Our Family Through Adoption
- Our Letter
To You - Adoption
Preferences - Our Parenting
Style
Our Letter To You
Hello,
We’re JJ and Anthony—and we’re really grateful you’re here.
If you take anything away from reading this, we hope it’s this: there is so much love waiting for your child in our home. The kind of love that shows up every day—in small moments, in big moments, and in all the in-between.
We admire the strength it takes to even consider adoption. We can only imagine how much thought, care, and love is going into your decision, and we have deep respect for that.
We’d love to give you a glimpse into who we are—not just what we believe, but what life actually feels like in our home. The quiet mornings, the laughter, the creativity, the support we show each other, and the kind of parents we hope to be.
Adoption Preferences
- Preferred GenderOpen to either gender
- Preferred AgeNewborn - 6 Months, 7 Months - 1 year of age
- Willing to AdoptOne Child, Twins/Triplets, A Sibling Group
- Preferred Adoption TypeOpen, Semi-Open, Closed
- Child's EthnicityWhite/Caucasian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian/Asian American, Native American, Pacific Islander, Any racial/ethnic background, Other
- Special NeedsYes (on a case by case basis)
Our Parenting Style
We believe raising kind, curious, and confident children starts with a home where they feel safe, seen, and deeply loved. One of our biggest hopes is to give our child a wide view of the world—through travel, conversations, friendships, and everyday experiences—so they grow up open-minded, empathetic, and comfortable being exactly who they are.
Creativity is a big part of our lives. As artists, we want our child to feel free to express themselves however that shows up—painting at the kitchen table, making up stories, dancing in the living room, or just seeing the world in their own unique way. We believe creativity builds confidence and helps kids understand themselves.
At the same time, we also love being active and involved. Growing up, sports, clubs, and school activities played a big role in shaping who we are, and we’re excited to support our child in exploring whatever sparks their interest—whether that’s soccer, theater, science, or something completely their own.
Education matters a lot to us, but not just in the traditional sense. We want to raise a child who asks questions, explores, and stays curious about the world. Whether it’s reading books together, visiting museums, being outside in nature, or just having meaningful conversations at the dinner table—we’ll be there, encouraging them every step of the way.
Most of all, we want our child to grow up knowing they are loved—fully, unconditionally, and always.
Our Story
Our Home
In March 2021, we found our dream home in the Catskill Mountains — a place that immediately felt like the right spot to build a family. We’ve filled it with the things we love: a cozy art studio where we spend time making pottery, a big kitchen perfect for cooking and baking together, and plenty of space for little ones to play, explore, and be surrounded by love — whether with toys, games, or our sweet pets.
Our house sits on five acres of land, giving us a wide-open yard where kids can run, play, and discover. In the warmer months, we spend a lot of time in our garden, growing vegetables and tending to our fruit grove, which is home to apples, cherries, blueberries, and grapes. It’s a peaceful, joyful space — one we’ve shaped with care through home projects that make it feel warm, welcoming, and uniquely ours.
We love living in the Catskills because it offers the best of both worlds: quiet nature and a strong sense of community. There are beautiful hiking trails just minutes away, and we often find ourselves out in the woods, soaking up the fresh air and dreaming about the day we’ll share these adventures with a child.
Our Pets
We love our pets and consider them part of the family. We have three cats and one dog.
Ziggy, our first pet, is a gray tabby and runs the household. He knows he is the boss. He is very cuddly and friendly and like to be picked up and look out the window at birds. He's a lap cat and cuddles up whenever it gets chilly out.
Daisy was the second pet we adopted and she is a tiny tortie. She was rescued from a difficult situation, and even though we have had her in our home for years she still gets a little skittish. She adores Ziggy and can often be found cuddling up next to him.
Roscoe is our dog and he is a bundle of energy. He is a lab/boxer mix and is always up for a walk or hike and loves to play keep away. He is always near his people and is a big cuddle bug when we relax and watch movies at night. He is very protective of our family and loves to spend time outside chasing deer out of the yard.
Our most recent addition to the family is Penny - a gray shorthair. She has been with us for less than a year and is still warming up to the other pets, but she sleeps in our bed every night and likes to cuddle on her own terms. She's very mischievous - she can often be found in the kitchen sink trying to find any food scraps that have been left there!
Our Family
Family is at the heart of everything we do. We’re foster parents, which means we occasionally welcome children into our home — and into our hearts. Whether they’re with us for a few days or a few months, we love these kids deeply and consider them part of our family. Sharing our home with them has taught us so much about compassion, resilience, and the joy of creating a safe, loving space for every child who walks through our door.
We’re also incredibly close with our extended families. Anthony is one of seven siblings, and JJ has two siblings — which means our family gatherings are full of laughter, stories, and lots of little feet running around. We make it a priority to visit each other often, and we’re so excited to add another cousin to the mix for our nieces and nephews to play with and grow up alongside.
Our child will be surrounded by a village of people who love fiercely, show up fully, and celebrate every milestone — big or small. From grandparents who can’t wait to share bedtime stories, to aunts and uncles ready to be the fun ones, our family is ready to welcome a new little one with open arms and open hearts.
More About Us
Our Story
We met dancing at a club in New York City in October 2013. JJ is rather tall, and after spying him in a crowd, Anthony introduced himself. We danced the night away together, but managed to exchange numbers before parting. Several days later, we met up for drinks and were supposed to go out for dinner after, but got so lost in conversation we almost forgot. We bonded over our Midwestern upbringings, science, music, fashion, art, and our shared curiosity about the world. After that first date we fell hard and fast for each other and became inseparable.
Three months later we moved in together and lived in Manhattan for seven years. During this time, we went through the ups and downs of a new relationship, and our love for each other just kept growing. JJ played in a volleyball league, ran a marathon, and changed jobs. Anthony learned pottery, played in kickball and dodgeball leagues, and started volunteering. We bought furniture, adopted two cats, visited National Parks, and traveled to places like South Africa, Israel, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic. We grew and matured together until May 2019, while on a trip to Iceland, JJ popped the question, and Anthony accepted.
The Covid-19 Pandemic altered our initial October 2020 wedding plans, but we married in June 2021 at the TWA Hotel in NYC. During the interim, we decided to move out of the city with dreams of expanding our family, raising a vegetable garden, and building a pottery/art studio in our home. In March 2021, we packed up our belongings and moved up to the Catskill Mountains. Here we have made our home. It is filled with us, our three cats Ziggy, Daisy and Penny, a dog named Roscoe, and two extra bedrooms ready for their owners.
