What does "Family Life" mean to you?
“Family Life” means something bigger than just the two of us. It is the transition from being husband and wife to becoming a child’s mother and father. We dream for the opportunity to share our love and commitment for each other with our children and complete the circle we started on the day we married.
Describe your childhood:
Adoptive Mom?
I grew up in a very close-knit, loving, fun family with my parents and my three younger brothers. All of my many aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents lived within one mile of our home and we gathered for family dinners almost every Sunday night. My neighborhood was full of families and full of fun. I feel very fortunate that I met my closest friends, still to this day, through the yards and down the street. I learned such a sense of community from my family and neighborhood and feel very lucky to have been raised surrounded my love, laughter and incredible role models.
Adoptive Dad?
I come in at number five of six siblings, with two older brothers, two older sisters and one younger brother. My parents are hard working, blue collar people who raised us in a predominantly Polish, Catholic neighborhood. With my mother being the youngest of eleven children, we grew up surrounded by over forty first cousins and a whole lot of chaos and food during family gatherings. Being involved in sports, especially football, was a big part of my formative years. I spent my summers caddying at a country club, and this experience, along with good grades, allowed me to go to college on a full scholarship.
Tell us about your home?
We enjoy our four-bedroom home on a tree-lined street in a neighborhood filled with many families, parks, playgrounds and an excellent school system. Jen loves to decorate and has really helped to make our house a home. Our great room is the heart of our home and our basement has endless space for kids to play, run and enjoy. We have a cozy backyard and deck that allows for large family cookouts and gatherings.
When you have a 3-day weekend, what do you like to do?
We love to explore and be outdoors on our days off. We take advantage of all our neighboring city has to offer with museums, major league sporting events, and bike riding down the lakefront or we enjoy traveling to a new city. We love to take full advantage of our time off. We are fortunate to have siblings living in New York City and Florida, which allow for some fun family trips to visit with our nieces and nephews.
Do you have pets? If so tell us about them?
No, we don’t have pets but have been known to visit the puppy store once in awhile.
What is your favorite food?
Jen’s food of choice would have a Mexican flair including chips, salsa, guacamole, and tacos which would be all washed down with a Pepsi fountain drink (regular, not diet). Pete enjoys some good old fashioned home cooking with his love of meatloaf and pasta. Although Pete can be very adventurous trying new foods, comfort foods are his favorites.
What do you hope to teach your children?
We hope to teach our children what our parents have taught us…honesty, integrity, laughter, faith, hope and love. We believe these core values are what give us a sense of self, a sense of confidence and a sense of responsibility to yourself and others. Our children will know that life is to be enjoyed and family is to be treasured.
Do you play any musical instruments?
No, but we both enjoy live music of all types.
Describe your neighborhood?
Our home is in a tree lined neighborhood filled with many families, parks, playgrounds and an excellent school system. Our neighbors feel a strong sense of community and we immediately felt welcome upon moving in. We can walk to our “main street” and experience a small town feel, while being only 20 minutes away from a major metropolitan city. Children are everywhere, walking to school, playing at the park or visiting the village library. We are very active in our community and enjoy hosting and attending the neighborhood barbeques and events. We really feel at home here.
Share something about your spouse that only you know:
Husband? Only Jen knows that Pete claims that he is six feet tall when he is really 5’11".
Wife? Only Pete knows that Jen needs three to four pillows to get to sleep soundly.
Describe the last romantic thing you did together?
Pete surprised me and took me ice skating. We went ice skating before Pete proposed to me on Christmas Eve in 2003 and had not been skating since. Even though I spent more time finding my balance or brushing off my backside, I loved every minute of our time together laughing and rehashing our courtship and that special day.
What will you tell your child about their birthmother?
Our children will always know where he or she came from, the love that surrounded them both then and now, and that he or she is in the heart of their birthmother always.
It's Daddy's day - what activity do you want to share with your child?
We would start the day early by having breakfast at an old neighborhood diner, sitting on barstools around the restaurant counter. We would then enjoy an action packed day outside at the park, bike riding, or playing ball. The day would end with all of us cuddled up on the couch reading our favorite book.
Do you plan on sharing with your child what their birth parents were like?
Yes, we would very much like to share as much as we are able to learn about their birth parents. We have maintained a very open relationship with Sophia’s birthmom and feel she is very much a part of our lives. Adoption and their birth parents would always be an issue that we would openly discuss.
What kind of education are you hoping to provide for your child - Private or Public?
Our neighborhood provides excellent public schools, as well as a strong, solid Catholic school. We hope to provide a Catholic grammar school education and a public high school education so our child is exposed to the best educators, curriculum and role models.
How did you come to the decision of adoption?
We have several close friends and family members who have formed their families through adoption, so we have seen firsthand what an amazing gift of love adoption really is. After we tried unsuccessfully for years to conceive a child, this decision came very easily for us. We have had such a wonderful experience with Sophia’s adoption, that it just seemed natural to adopt again to complete our family.
What faith will you raise your child?
Our child will be raised Catholic. We were raised in the Catholic faith and attend services weekly.
How will you help your child accomplish their dreams?
We promise to nurture our child from infancy to adulthood surrounded by love, happiness, security and support. Our child will realize that anything is possible. We want our child to have a sense of self and confidence to follow whatever path they choose. Just as we were supported by our parents, we will support our child both financially and emotionally.
What kind of a relationship do you hope to build with your birthmom through her pregnancy?
We hope to create a unique, family bond with our birthmom. We want her to really know who we are and for us to really know her. Not only do we want to share our hopes and dreams for her child, but want to learn her hopes and dreams for her child as well. I want her to think of us as her friends and family.
How did you meet?
We first met back in college, dated for a year and then went on our own ways. Fifteen years later we were reacquainted, and we both knew it was love at “second” sight. We were meant to be soulmates.
What was your relationship with your parents like?
We are both lucky to have very loving, supportive parents. Jen has a very close relationship with her parents. Jen cannot express enough the fantastic role models they have been in her life. Pete’s hardworking father passed away a few years ago and since then Pete’s mom has moved closer to us. Pete checks in with his mom often and we enjoy many dinners and nights out with her. She is a true inspiration that life goes on and new opportunities are around every corner.
What attracted you to each other?
Primarily our dry sense of humor attracted us to each other. We both love a good laugh, and try to keep each other laughing every day. When we first met in college many years ago, Jen saw through Pete’s tough football guy demeanor to see the big teddy bear inside. Pete saw a young girl becoming an independent woman who loved to laugh and learn. The same qualities we saw in each other back in college are the same qualities we found in each other many years later.
Please describe your personalities:
Husband?
Pete is very funny and has a great dry sense of humor. Pete is a happy guy who is very generous and outgoing. As a former college athlete, Pete loves to be active and possesses a healthy competitive trait. He is always pushing himself to be the best he can be.
Wife?
Jen has an easygoing way about her. She is very patient, understanding, outgoing, friendly and sensitive to others’ feelings. Friends would say Jen is the first to help and very generous with her time. She has an innate drive to do what’s right and loves to volunteer and be a part of something bigger than herself.
What are your hobbies (please share those you enjoy as individuals and those you enjoy as a couple):
Pete loves to golf, play basketball, work around the yard, and follow his college football and basketball teams.
Jen loves to read, entertain, decorate around the house, and visit with girlfriends.
As a couple we both love to swim, bike ride and travel together.
When you close your eyes and see yourself holding your precious baby in your arms what are your thoughts regarding the birthmother?
I would sit in amazement of her strength and courage to make such a selfless and brave decision. Her maturity and love for this child is so immense and overpowering, I would feel blessed to have such an angel and role model in my life.
How will a child enrich your life?
Another child will complete us…complete the powerful love we have for each other, complete our family and complete our desire to be nurturers, mentors and role models. Our child will be part of something bigger than just the three of us. We look forward to making things better for future generations, just like our parents did for each of us.
Why did you each choose the career path you decided on?
Pete- Out of college, I knew I wanted to travel, liked a challenge and wanted to use my strong people skills-therefore sales was a logical path. My career allows me to work autonomously and be a part of a team. I love meeting new people and being the conduit between my customer and their needs.
Jen- I love working with numbers, puzzles and challenges. My career has offered me a variety of work experiences, extensive travel and has opened my eyes to the world. I have been lucky to have met and worked with people from all walks of life. I especially enjoyed working for over ten years in the restaurant industry. I was exposed to all aspects of small businesses, and to see my impact quickly.
What makes a birthmom special?
The three Ss make a birthmom special: strength, sacrifice and selflessness. We cannot imagine, only admire, the difficult and emotional decision you have made for your child. You are truly our angel and we could never let you down.
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