Clay and Lauren began their adoption journey over two years ago. Rooted in their faith, the couple felt called to adoption, but like many couples, they experienced many ups and downs in the process. The adoption process is not for the light-hearted. To say the least, it can be an emotional rollercoaster. Luckily, Clay and Lauren found themselves surrounded by a village like none other. A village consisting of family, friends, and people they’ve never known that came around them to rally them to the finish. After a long wait with many doubts that it would ever happen, their prayers were answered, not with one baby, but twins!

Orlando’s own Addendum 185 became an ardent support of Clay and Lauren. As a newly founded 501(c)3 non-profit that is committed to supporting adopting families, Addendum 185 awarded its first-ever adoption grant to this couple. But the support didn’t stop there. Erica Diaz, the organization’s President, quickly became one of the couple’s biggest supporters. Daily phone calls and emotional support accelerated their relationship into a true friendship over the course of nearly three weeks spent in a local Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Addendum 185 also partners with central Florida businesses and organizations to help support their families. For Clay and Lauren, this included a newborn photography photoshoot with SteinArtStudio, a multi-international baby photography award winner and Orlando’s number one luxury newborn and maternity photography studio. Kristinka and Katelyn, the mother-daughter photography duo, captured stunning and masterful moments of the newly adopted twins over a six-hour long photo shoot. “We feel so extremely blessed for SteinArtStudio for providing such a beautiful and meaningful gift to our growing family. We will cherish these  photographs and will be forever grateful to these amazing women for all that they did for our family. They are true professionals” – Lauren.