Conway and Buck

Meet Conway & Buck

Hello and “你好ni hao”! We are honored to share with you about our lives and the world we hope to build as a future family. Our decision to adopt crystallized early. “I am so lucky,” is a common expression between us; and every time, the other person will respond, “No, I am the lucky one.” We are lucky to be considering adoption, given our stable relationship, the home we’ve made, our finances, and the friends and family who support our hope for growing a family. Buck’s father used to say “Love grows each time someone is added to a family.” The belief that love can grow is part of the value that we want to pass on to the next generation. In every step and decision, we pray that love will guide us.

About Us

Where We Live

We live near great public and private schools. Near us: Shorebird and wildlife reserve, High-schoolers working in shops in Alameda. We love watching parents walking their little ones to school while carrying house mugs of coffee. The annual Christmas Tree Lane is spectacular!

Favorite Holidays

Thanksgiving, Mardi Gras

Values we cherish and live by

Live simply & give easily, Say hello to ourselves in quiet moments, Take time to reflect, Promise to show up for people and honor that promise, Embrace difficult conversations with patience and courage, Always believe people are trying their best.

Fun Facts about Conway

Ugly cries at movies, Speaks Mandarin, English, Malay and a few Chinese dialects. Dessert to make: Autumn Spice Cake. Ice cream flavor: Cookie Dough. Watch: An old-school Casio. We both love fun and colorful socks!

Fun Facts about Buck

Grew up dancing at parades in New Orleans. Good enough Mandarin to get out of trouble, good enough Latin to read old inscriptions. Dish to make: Gumbo Z’Herbes. Favorite sweet treat: Ginger molasses cookies. Watch: Fitbit. We both love getting our hands dirty in the garden!

All About Us

We bring a complementary and cooperative approach to our relationship and our parenting styles. Conway is good at making sure we get things done, Buck is good at reminding us to slow down and reflect on where we are. Both of us are good at listening and brave about having difficult conversations with patience and understanding. We will parent with that same patience, listening, love, and consistency. The child we care for will always be heard, will always be given a reason, and will always have us there for them even when we can’t help make things better except by being present.

About Conway

Conway shows up for people. He remembers birthdays, picks up friends from the airport, takes the time to call an old friend. He accepts responsibility with easy joy. He is present for every kid in music class, for every church elder sharing the history of their neighborhood, for neurodivergent friends, for godchildren, for our neighbors, and for me. Conway brings centeredness and joy to everyone. He grew up in Malaysia, and has lived in California for almost twenty years as an adult. He grew up with his uncle, who adopted him. He speaks with his birth parents multiple times a week. Conway communicates love in many ways, especially with careful listening.

About Buck

Around the house, Buck is always humming – probably a tune he’s just made up. Buck’s creativity also translates to the kitchen, whether re-creating New Orleans favorites or inventing a new dish. As a Harvard-trained economist, he sees the big picture and translates it for others. People who know Buck know that he is charitable in his relationships and that he always listens with his heart. Buck loves walking. When he commutes to San Francisco, he will sometimes walk an hour to the ferry station while listening to some insightful podcast. On Buck’s nightstand, you can find sci-fi and philosophy books and precious memorabilia, like the ticket stubs from our first dates.

Our Home and Community

We live in Alameda, CA in an apartment unit adjacent to a spacious communal courtyard with a fountain, where ducks visit and our neighbors’ children play. Our neighbors are reliable and caring. Alameda’s diversity is celebrated in events like the July 4th Parade,, Alameda Pride, and a Sandcastle and Sculpture Contest. But the best part is that we are a 10-min walk to the beach and to two old fashioned ice-cream parlors (including our favorite in the Bay Area!).

Our Extended Family

Our communities center around our hobbies and faith. Buck plays Dungeons & Dragons; Conway ministers with a group to adults with special needs. A child of ours will be loved by biological and chosen family: Buck’s mother plans to move close by when she retires in a few years. We live near close friends, some with little kids, all who love to pitch in as aunts and uncles. Outside Alameda, we belong to a Black Catholic parish in Oakland and an LGBT-friendly one in San Francisco.

Thank You

Thank you for taking the time to get to know us. We hope to get to know you, and to discover together if we are a good fit for you and your child. If you and we create an adoption plan together, we want you to have a place in your child’s life that makes sense for you, that respects who you and your child are, and that comes out of an honest and loving conversation throughout your child’s life. Thank you.

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