Welcome! Meet:

Michael + Daria

Physician Assistant / Athletic Trainer

Connecticut

Caucasian

Catholic

All About Michael & Daria
Why Adoption?
Gallery
Family and Home
How We Met
Advice to Future Child
Perspectives on Open Adoption
Favorites

All About Michael & Daria

A few things we would love for you to know about us:

We deeply value time spent with our family, especially our four nieces! We are very involved in our nieces lives and they have brought us more joy than we can put into words.
We live in a beautiful community with great school systems and lots of recreational activities for families to enjoy. We’re also in close proximity to Daria’s sister and her family as well as Daria’s parents, which makes it easy to get together often!
We were both raised with a strong sense of family, and our parents instilled in us the value of people, our Catholic religion, and education - values we hope to pass on.
We enjoy celebrating Daria’s Italian Heritage and upholding family traditions such as Sunday family dinners, holiday feasts and Friday night pizza, just to name a few.
We share a passion for sports, and you can always find us cheering for the Phillies, Eagles, Flyers, Yankees, Italian Soccer, and UCONN Basketball.
We value our time together. Whether it’s cooking and eating dinner, watching sports or catching up on our favorite TV show, gardening or shopping at our local grocery store, fishing on the lake or going out on the boat, traveling somewhere new or sitting on our deck looking for wildlife, it doesn’t have to be big, it just has to be intentional.

WE ARE A LOVING, AFFECTIONATE, PERSONABLE, AND HARDWORKING FAMILY, AND WE CANNOT WAIT TO BE PARENTS!

Why Adoption?

OUR BIGGEST DREAM HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO BECOME PARENTS AND WATCH OUR CHILDREN GROW. WHILE WE HAVE FACED CHALLENGES IN GETTING HERE, WE HAVE LEARNED HOW TO COMMUNICATE CLEARLY, LOVE DEEPLY, AND LEAN ON EACH OTHER FULLY.

WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH A STRONG SENSE OF FAMILY, AND WE CANNOT WAIT TO BRING A CHILD INTO THAT FAMILY.

Soon after we were married, we began trying to grow our family. We did not know at the time the long road of infertility that would stretch out before us. And yet, after years of being unable to conceive biologically, our great desire to be parents and have a family has never wavered. We can honestly say that parenthood is what we want most out of life, and while we know we can never be perfect, we are committed to making our family a priority, whatever that may look like. We are so excited to finally begin this chapter of our lives, and we are all in - for the good moments and the hard, the big and the small.

We also want to share that adoption is not new to our community of people. We have family and friends who have adopted children, some are still very young and others are now adults with children of their own, and each has been a powerful example for us of family that goes so far beyond DNA.

Not only do we hope to provide a beautiful, rich life to a child that is filled with love and affection, but we know they will bring immense joy to us, as well. We cannot wait to get to know the dreams and desires of their heart, to listen to them and learn from them, and to build a family of safety, security, and belonging.

Family & Home

OUR HOME IS OUR SAFE PLACE, FILLED WITH MEMORIES, LAUGHTER, AND LOVE.

We live in a raised ranch-style home in Connecticut. We like to say it’s “country quaint” and welcoming! We believe home should be a place where we can rest, where the people we love can gather, and where we all can feel relaxed as memories are made. The moment you walk into our home, you’ll know what season or time of year it is due to the decorations around the house. Daria loves to decorate for each season and believes it adds to the warm, welcoming atmosphere of home always ready to entertain! In any of the rooms in our home, you can find a little touch of Disney magic, a tribute to Daria’s Italian heritage, or our love for the beach. These are some of the things that have brought joy to our lives throughout the years, and we love being surrounded with the memories.

WE LOVE THE LOCATION OF OUR HOME! IT’S VERY PRIVATE WITH A LARGE YARD, AND WE GET TO EXPERIENCE ALL THE SEASONS - THE GREEN OF SPRING, THE FLOWERS IN SUMMER, THE FOLIAGE OF FALL, AND THE SNOW IN WINTER - FROM OUR COZY FAMILY ROOM.

A BIT ABOUT OUR TOWN. Our town is a small, rural community with a lot to offer! We have a great school system, a public library, a pool, multiple parks, and lots of hiking trails. The community hosts seasonal events like an apple and strawberry festival, farmers markets in the summer, and a Memorial Day parade. There are also local farms and nurseries to visit, town fairs, and high school sporting events to get excited about! We love the small town life, and cannot wait to share it!

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:

We are only an hour from NYC and 2 hours from Boston.
We have a large deck that we can sit on, take care of our herb garden, and read our books.
Daria is always cooking in our kitchen and our dining room has been a host of many holidays and celebrations.

Family relationships:

THERE IS LITTLE THAT MAKES US QUITE AS HAPPY AS SHARING OUR FAVORITE TRADITIONS AS A FAMILY.

Some of our favorite family traditions:

Christmas season includes: season movies, a giant Christmas village started by Daria’s grandfather, gingerbread houses, visits to see Santa, the Feast of the Seven Fishes and Sturfoli (honey balls) on Christmas Eve, waking up to presents under the tree, church, and family feasts!
News Year's Eve always holds a celebration at Daria’s sister's house where we make “Stromboli’s” and other food. We gather again on New year's Day for church and Lasagna.
We celebrate Palm Sunday with lasagna, stuffed artichokes and Anise Bread and Easter with an Easter egg hunt.

Daria always dresses up on Halloween, and we go trick-or-treating with our nieces. We have a Halloween party on the weekend before with lots of food and decorations.

We eat zeppole on St. Joseph's Day - Daria’s paternal grandmother’s favorite saint.
Every birthday in our immediate family is celebrated with cake, presents, and the Beatles birthday song! We all sing and dance and play “ air instruments”
We go strawberry, blueberry, apple, and pumpkin picking and enjoy carnivals, fireworks and lots of swimming in Mike’s parents pool throughout the summer months.

We also love to travel and take yearly trips to places like Ogunquit, Maine, Disney World, Newport, Rhode Island, the different National Parks, Italy, and Myrtle Beach.

How others describe me

MEET DARIA A FRIEND DESCRIBED ME AS WARM, WELCOMING, AND THOUGHTFUL!

IN MICHAEL’S WORDS “Daria is the most personable, loving and hardworking person I know. She has helped me get through school to become a Physician Assistant with love and inspiration as well as being my strength and support throughout our marriage. She also watches our nieces every morning before work and is someone others know as a friend who is always willing to lend a hand. I often joke, calling her the town mayor because everyone in town seems to know her and loves to say hello. It’s a given that if we go to a supermarket, Daria will be stopped in every aisle to talk, but she doesn’t mind one bit. Daria is warm, patient, and very bubbly! She cares deeply about other people and is going to be a wonderful mother who not only knows how to have fun, but also listens, leans in, and loves with her whole heart.”

I AM... FRIENDLY, KIND- HEARTED, AND COMPASSIONATE. I’M ALSO TALKATIVE! EVERYONE CALLED ME “CHIACCHIERONE” GROWING UP, WHICH MEANS CHATTERBOX IN ITALIAN

A few of Daria’s favorite things: My family • Spending time with my nieces • Pizza, Macaroni, and Ice Cream • Disney • Hallmark movies • Italy • Soap Operas like Young and Restless and General Hospital • Cooking • Reading Books • The beach, palm trees, and collecting sea shells • New Kids on the Block • Italian Soccer, the New York Yankees, and Tom Brady

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST ABOUT BEING A MOM. Honestly, everything!! I cannot wait to spend the rest of our lives watching a child grow and become an independent person. I look forward to singing songs to them that my mother used to sing to me, watching them play with their cousins and interact with their grandparents, and enjoying every stage that parenthood brings. I also look forward to celebrating holidays, birthdays, graduations, and everything in between, and watching them find joy in what they enjoy.

MICHAEL…

MEET MICHAEL A FRIEND DESCRIBED ME AS RELIABLE, LOYAL, AND SOMEONE TO LEAN ON.

-IN DARIA’S WORDS “Mike has so many endearing qualities. He is kind, loving, thoughtful, and patient. He has done so much through the years not only for his family but mine, as well.. He has sat in nursing homes with me to visit my grandparents and made trips to Florida simply to decorate a Christmas tree. He is extremely smart and hard working. He finished top in his class in PA school, and others are always seeking him out for guidance or advice. More than anything, he is an amazing uncle. He loves spending time with his nieces - reading stories, attending school events, taking them on the boat, teaching them to garden, or playing a game. He never misses a birthday and loves a good movie night. His heart for them shows me what his heart will be like as a father and I cannot wait for this adventure together.”

I AM... SMART, HARDWORKING, AND GENUINE. I AM QUIET AND ALSO CARING. I LIKE TO GET STRAIGHT TO THE POINT, BUT I WILL ALWAYS TAKE TIME FOR THE PEOPLE I LOVE.

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS:Spending time with my family • Being on our boat and fishing • Helping people, whether with small or big tasks • Cooking (BBQ) • Sunday football and Phillies games • Working out and staying healthy • Gardening • Reading to my nieces, teaching them to fish, or playing Uno together

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST ABOUT BEING A DAD. Raising a child is important to our life and something I’ve hoped to experience for a very long time. I look forward to raising a child in the big moments but also in the everyday. I want that responsibility and can’t wait to bring them to school, go to their activities, and tuck them in at night. I also look forward to sharing activities with them that Daria and I enjoy, such as boating, fishing, traveling, and being with family. Being a part of my nieces’ lives is such a joy, and I cannot wait to love, protect, and provide for our own son or daughter.

How We Met

We first met at Sacred Heart University where we were both working as Athletic Trainers. What started out as friendship slowly grew into something more. “A year after we met, Mike finally asked me out for ice cream...except I didn’t know he was asking me out, and I brought a friend along!” (Daria) Afterwards, Mike confessed his intentions, we laughed, and planned our second date at a seafood restaurant... this time just the two of us!

As they say, the rest is history. “Mike proposed in my childhood home after a night of Mary Poppins on Broadway (my favorite!) and strolling through Manhattan '' (Daria). We were married two years later at a Catholic church followed by the best party with our family and friends at a country club in New York. It was the start of something beautiful and a day we would live over and over again.

Advice to Future Child

We hope these few short pages have given you a glimpse into our lives and the unwavering love we will have for a child. When we got married, we made a commitment to each other that whatever life brings to us, we would always be there for each other. If you decide that adoption is right for you and your child and you see us as the ones to join you in loving them, we want you to know that this commitment extends to you both, We also promise to...

01 Love and cherish this child with all of our hearts, giving guidance or simply a listening ear as they grow.

02 Provide them with a safe, loving home full of joy and laughter and a community of people who love them.

03 Give them every opportunity in life to succeed and find what brings them joy, like our parents gave us.

04 Expose them to athletics, religion, music, art, and science all of which exist within our family.

05 Honor your child’s story and culture, speaking openly with them about who they are and where they come from.

06 Share of your courage and the love you have for them, always speaking of you with reverence and honor.

WITH LOVE - MICHAEL AND DARIA

Perspectives on Open Adoption

Nothing can take away the place you will have in the heart of your child, and we will always hold space for that. Should you desire a relationship with us, we would be honored to hear the dreams and desires you have for your child and how we can be a part of those going forward. For now, please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you, and we wish you the very best.

Welcome! Meet:

Michael + Daria

All About Michael & Daria

Why Adoption?

Family & Home

How others describe me

How We Met

Advice to Future Child

Perspectives on Open Adoption

Favorites

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