Lavinia & José

Hi, we are Lavinia and José, and it is so nice to meet you! We are incredibly grateful that you’re taking a moment to get to know us by reading our story. We know you’re facing a very hard and personal decision, and we want to acknowledge the strength and love behind the choices you’re making for your baby. We can’t pretend to fully understand what you’re going through, but we deeply respect the courage it takes to make decisions like this. In our own lives, we’ve also had to make difficult choices, and while different from yours, these have taught us how much love and strength these moments require. We see that same care in the decision you’re considering, and we truly appreciate it. If you choose us, know that your child will be surrounded by love, stability, and protection, and we’ll make sure they have every chance to grow, learn, and feel loved and supported not only by us, but by our large extended family..

We are here to answer any questions you have for us and hope we can get the chance to know you too.

With love and gratitude, 

Lavinia & José

About Lavinia

I was born in Italy and grew up in a small town. My childhood was basically family, friends, food, school, and a lot of time with my sisters, cousins, and the people around us. We were always together: beach trips, amusement parks, youth groups, swimming lessons, movies, shopping, and big holiday gatherings. I spent a lot of time with my grandma and even my great-grandpa before he passed, since we all lived in the same building. My parents taught me kindness, generosity, respect, and helping people who need it, mostly just by how they lived. 

I’ve always loved languages, history, art, and traveling, so during high school I studied for one year abroad in California, and then went on to study in the UK, and France. Eventually I ended up working in child protection and humanitarian services. I spent years in Uganda, Congo, Mali, and Ivory Coast, and now I’m settled in New York. 

I’m very close to my family: my parents have been married for 53 years, my sisters are basically my best friends, and I talk to them all the time. And I really love spending time with children. I adore my nieces and we do everything together when I’m in Italy, and when they come to New York. We speak on the phone constantly, even just for quick updates or silly things. They bring so much joy into my life. 

As a parent, I want to encourage your child to explore, to be curious, to be kind and respectful, to stay close to friends and family, and to grow up with a deep respect for others. I promise to help them explore who they are and will always be there to support them, no matter what.

Lavinia through José’s eyes

Lavinia has been in my life for 12 years now and has become my best friend and partner ever since. We met during very hard conditions while working in the heart of Africa. As she likes to say, I was probably rolling my eyes at her unintentionally in our office compound, but she soon made her way into my life, and my group of friends, and we became close and got to know each other more. Now, she probably knows me better than anyone else, inside and out.

Lavinia is a very kind and genuinely good person, always putting other people’s needs ahead of hers. She is very sweet, extremely reliable, and a lovely human being. Sometimes she is a little too naïve, which is too cute.She likes to pack light, I don’t, so we have learned to compromise, or maybe I have.She likes to pack light; I don’t, so we’ve learned to compromise – or maybe I have  She is well educated and knows a lot; she always comes up with “fun facts” about random things. 

She is extremely hard-working, polite, and always shows a great deal of patience with me. I’m sure she will do the same with your child. I like the way she relates to her family, how she cultivates strong relationships with her nieces, caring for them and always thinking about their needs and projects. She spends quality time with her family as much as possible, and they go on holidays together during the summers.

Something that means so much to me is the very strong relationship she has built with my mom. She is also extremely supportive of me and my dreams. She’s a good listener, always providing very good advice. I often joke with her when I say that I need her wisdom to resolve a challenge in my life, but it’s honestly good to have her opinion guiding me in uncertain times.

I value that we share the same vision of the world and society at large; and I know I can always count on her. She will absolutely be the very best mom there is!

Our Home

We live in Brooklyn in a cozy two-bedroom apartment with beautiful views of the city and the East River. Our home is filled with light and has become a place we truly love. Our building has outdoor terraces where we enjoy grilling, as well as an indoor swimming pool, tennis court, and a children’s playroom. There are many young families in the building and even a daycare, making it a particularly welcoming place for children.

One of our bedrooms is already set aside for your baby, and we are excited to make it warm and welcoming. Our neighborhood is lively, safe, and family-friendly. We are close to the waterfront, parks, playgrounds, restaurants, and cultural activities. At home, we enjoy cooking together, swimming, playing tennis, reading, watching movies, and having friends over.

We also look forward to sharing our families’ homes with your child. In Italy, there are big family meals and cousins gathered together, while in El Salvador, we hope to spend sunny holidays at the beach with José’s family. We hope your child will grow up feeling at home in many places and surrounded by love, culture, laughter, and family.

Holiday & Traditions

We love celebrating holidays and bringing together traditions from Italy, El Salvador, and the United States. Christmas is especially important to us. We love decorating the tree, cooking big meals, and spending time with family and friends. We also enjoy Thanksgiving, Fourth of July celebrations, birthdays, and creating special occasions to bring people together. Because we have lived in different countries, we have collected traditions and memories from many places. We look forward to sharing our favorite traditions with your child while also creating new ones together as a family of three—holidays filled with warmth, fun, good food, and the people who love us.