What does "Family Life" mean to you?
Unconditional love. Building beautiful memories. A lifetime of hugs, kisses, love and laughter. Loved ones that you can depend on for anything. Nurturing one another, listening to each other. Sharing new experiences together.
Describe your childhood:
Adoptive Mom? I had a very happy and active childhood. I grew up with four siblings and parents who were very involved in our lives. My parents were always carpooling, attending tennis practice, basketball, cheerleading, dance, and school pep rallies, as well as volunteering at the church. With five children you would think it would be hard to juggle everything; but, for my parents, they made it seem effortless. Us kids had a full academic, sports and church activity calendar. Dad was very outdoorsy and we joined his hunting and fishing excursions. I still remember the many boating trips and adventures to the hunting camp. And the holidays are etched in my memories. My parents really made it special…picking out the Christmas tree together; decorating the house with wreaths on the windows, lights in the trees, holly and cedar throughout the house and outdoor garden; baking cookies and holiday treats in the large kitchen, and hosting the neighborhood Christmas Eve party with Dad cooking up his special Italian sausage for family and friends. The antebellum home we grew up in was a picture perfect setting for the holidays. To this day, we continue these traditions.
Adoptive Dad? I had a wonderful childhood. I have a younger sister and brother. My parents are young and were very active in our lives. All three kids were involved in variety of fun activities: soccer, football, basketball, skiing & swimming lessons; piano, trumpet & guitar lessons; scouting, hiking & camping; Summer Vacation Bible School; family vacations to the beach, mountains & even cross-country vacations. During the summers we also took a lot of recreation classes, like circus camp or art classes. It was a lot of fun. My parents volunteered in our activities, too, staying active as a homeroom mother, coaching, scout leaders, and in the school PTA. They always made sure our homework was done on-time, and we all earned at least a college degree. My parents were wonderful role models on how to be a great parent.
Tell us about your home?
We have a four bedroom, colonial home with a beautifully landscaped yard. It is located in one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the area with the school district ranked nationally in the top 20. Just outside our front door are so many wonderful amenities…parks, hiking trails, quaint restaurants, coffee shops, toy stores, boutiques and grocery stores just to name a few. There is no need to get in our car to drive…It’s all within walking distance. We have numerous young children on our block and many neighborhood BBQs and parties throughout the year.
When you have a 3-day weekend, what do you like to do?
Most weekends we enjoy spending time with family and friends. However, for a three-day weekend we usually take advantage of our access to the beach or the mountains and plan for a family getaway. We are blessed to have wonderful jobs with great flexibility, so we have many extra three-day weekends we take. Just this year, we were able to enjoy multiple family trips to the beach, our family lake house, New York, Nashville, New Orleans, and Seattle, to name a few. We also enjoy the parks and museums in our immediate area and take advantage of these on a weekly basis.
Do you have pets? If so tell us about them?
We recently lost our dog Mickey. She was a sweet boarder collie, black lab mix. We miss her terribly and plan to adopt another pet when Samantha and our newest child are a little older. We want our children to help decide what type of pet to get. Of course, they get to name the new pet, too!
What is your favorite food?
Steve and I enjoy so many different types of ethnic foods…Mexican, Italian, Thai, Lebanese, etc.; however, our favorite is good old Cajun style cooking. I love the spices in gumbo, jambalaya, crawfish etouffee, and red beans and rice. We also like chocolate, if that counts as a food.
What do you hope to teach your children?
We believe that a secure and loving home life is the foundation for raising healthy and happy children. We hope to show and teach our children love, respect, happiness, honesty and balance. Our children will know they have our unconditional love.
Do you play any musical instruments?
Steve is a very talented musician. He plays the guitar, pedal steel guitar, banjo and piano. I played violin when I was younger and enjoy hearing Steve play. He actually started teaching me to play bass guitar.
Describe your neighborhood?
We are very blessed to live in our beautiful neighborhood. We live in one of the top school districts in the country. The streets all have sidewalks and bike lanes; so, families can safely walk or bike to nearby schools, parks, restaurants and stores. We can even walk to more than one ice cream shop and three parks!
Share something about your spouse that only you know:
Adoptive Mom? Steve is incredibly humble about his musical abilities. He could be a professional musician, but he prefers the stability of his day job. He would rather be at home with his family than touring with a band.
Adoptive Dad? When I watch Lesley with other children, it’s almost like she becomes a child herself. She has such a wonderful and playful imagination. She loves children and they seem to pick up on that. Lesley makes everyday fun.
Describe the last romantic thing you did together?
We do a lot of little things for each other, like stop by and pickup coffee on the way home (if one of us is out running errands.) We also surprise each other with a favorite cookie, ice cream, flowers or a note. We enjoy taking long walks, holding hands and laughing together. The most recent romantic thing we did together was a spontaneous trip to New York City to eat at our favorite Italian restaurant in Little Italy.
What will you tell your child about their birthmother?
How amazing and selfless she is and what a blessing she brought into our lives and those of our child. She will forever hold a special place in our hearts.
It's Daddy's day - what activity do you want to share with your child?
I’d love to spend the whole day with our child, from cooking and eating breakfast together in the morning, playing at the park, going out for lunch and ice cream, going to the zoo (or a museum, if it’s raining), maybe napping together in a hammock, then cooking dinner together, and reading some bedtime stories before going to bed. Then I’d like to wake up and do it all over again!
Do you plan on sharing with your child what their birth parents were like?
Yes. We want them to understand how wonderful their birthparents are and what a blessing they brought into lives. We want them to know how special and loved they are and how incredibly brave their parents were to share their blessed gift with our family.
What kind of education are you hoping to provide for your child - Private or Public?
The public school system where we live is one of the best in the country. We plan for our children to take advantage of this wonderful amenity. We have already saved for their college education; so, they can attend any college they desire, public or private.
How did you come to the decision of adoption?
We have so much love to share. Children are such a blessing to us and there is nothing more that we enjoy than being parents. It just feels right.
What faith will you raise your child?
We are active in the Presbyterian Church in our neighborhood. We will continue to raise our children in this faith.
How will you help your child accomplish their dreams?
From an early age, we will work to instill feelings of self-confidence and love within our child. Education will also begin early, too, as we will read to our child several times each day and play fun learning games. As our child grows older, we will involve them in sports and other activities to teach them the importance of teamwork. We will also have them help out with chores around the house so they learn to be responsible. We enjoy international travel, and will take our children on extended European vacations. This will allow them to experience different cultures and help broaden their perspective of the world and of others. On a daily basis we will be supportive and loving in our child’s life…they will always have a mentor. Nothing would make us happier than to help our child fulfill their dreams.
What kind of a relationship do you hope to build with your birthmom through her pregnancy?
We will be available to the birthmother via phone, e-mail, video chat, and in-person meetings. We are open to whatever kind of communication the birthmother is comfortable with.
How did you meet?
Although we had seen each other before in an office elevator, we were introduced to each other by mutual friends at lunch. I asked Lesley for coffee the first chance I had. We spent the time laughing and talking together as if we’d known each other for years. Soon we were going for coffee together everyday. We’ve been together ever since.
What was your relationship with your parents like?
Our parents were very active in both of our lives. They raised us in a fun, loving and supportive environment. Both of us have very fond memories of our childhood. Our parents were mentors to both of us and are still very active in our lives.
What attracted you to each other?
I think both of us were attracted to each other for the same reasons. We enjoyed each other’s laughter, sense of humor, intelligence, optimism, and kindness. In addition, we have the same goals and dreams for our family.
Please describe your personalities:
Adoptive Mom? I’m very social and quite talkative. I really enjoy spending time with my family and friends; and, I can make the most boring of tasks fun and eventful. Most of our close friends have young children, so our activities are always family oriented.
Adoptive Dad? I think I’m pretty easy-going and laid back. I am hardworking and driven; but, with a balance. My family is extremely important to me. I try to enjoy every minute of the day, and help others find happiness, too. I think there is something positive to be found in almost any situation. Nothing makes me happier than spending time with my family.
What are your hobbies (please share those you enjoy as individuals and those you enjoy as a couple):
Adoptive Mom? I have several hobbies. Being outside in the fresh air is so enjoyable to me. We are always taking advantage of the hiking trails right outside our front door and I simply love working in our garden. I’ve planted tomatoes and peppers; and I look forward to picking a successful crop of fresh veggies off the vine. I enjoy a great read, whether it is fiction, non-fiction, biographies, or history. Some of the more recent books I’ve read include “The Blind Side”, “A Different Kind of Me”, “Desert Queen: The Extraordinary Life of Gertrude Bell”, “Water for Elephants”, and “Thursday Next: First Among Sequels”.
Adoptive Dad? I enjoy playing guitar, piano, banjo and pedal steel guitar. I also enjoy reading, and running or lifting weights. Together, we enjoy hiking, skiing, tennis, drinking coffee and laughing.
When you close your eyes and see yourself holding your precious baby in your arms what are your thoughts regarding the birthmother?
What a wonderful, brave and selfless person she is and how thankful I am that she’s bestowed upon us such an amazing blessing.
How will a child enrich your life?
I don’t think there is anything more rewarding than loving a child and helping him/her grow to be a confident, successful adult. We will work to ensure our child feels loved and laughs often. Hopefully, they can pay us back one day by making us grandparents.
Why did you each choose the career path you decided on?
Adoptive Mom? Family is most important to me; so it was important for me to have a career that provides me with life and work balance. I selected my position because it provides me with the flexibility I need to work in my field, and take care of my family at the same time. I enjoy my job, but I love my family. And I will always be able to put my family first.
Adoptive Dad? I pursued a career as an Internet Network Engineer because I’m always interested in the newest apps (applications) and gadgets like the iPhone, video chatting, twitter, etc. I enjoy understanding how these devices work. Plus, because I’m working with technology, my field is always changing. It keeps my job new, exciting and challenging. It’s never dull.
What makes a birthmom special?
She is unselfishly giving the greatest, most precious gift of life. Her child will bring immeasurable happiness and joy to our lives. For that, we will be eternally grateful.
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