Describe your childhood:
Adoptive Mom? I was predominately raised by my Mom and Step-Dad, Tom. My Mom and Dad were married until I was 6 years old, and during that time, I also lived with my three half sisters, Anita, Dana and Dawn. My Mom and Tom got married when I was 8 years old and I soon found out that he was going to be one of the most important people in my life. I grew up in a very loving home. My childhood was full of activities and my parents were there for all of them. Being with our family and extended family was a big part of my life too.
Adoptive Dad? I had a very traditional upbringing. I grew up with my mom, dad, and brother (Mike). We ate dinner at 5:00 every night as a family. We took family vacations. My parents were good parents. They went to all of our concerts, sporting events, and other extra-curricular activities. My brother and I are close in age and were competitive and fought a lot when we were younger, but we grew a lot closer as we got older. We spent a lot of time with my Aunts, Uncles and cousins at my Grandma's and for holidays.
Tell us about your home?
We have a nice two story home with a finished basement and a large backyard. We have three bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. Our home is very comfortable and cozy. It is always clean and orderly. We particularly enjoy it when it is decorated during the Holidays. We're excited for the day when we can decorate a room for our baby.
When you have a 3-day weekend, what do you like to do?
It depends on the time of year. In the summer, we will spend time at LeAnn's father's summer home on a lake a couple hours from our home. Sometimes we will travel to visit friends and their familiar that do not live near us. Other times, we will travel to one of the nice resort areas near us for a fun weekend.
Do you have pets? If so tell us about them?
We don't have any pets, but we love animals. We talk often about getting a dog, and we may do so when we have a child.
What do you hope to teach your children?
We want our children to be good people who respect themselves and respect others. We will instill in them the value of education. We will encourage them to treat others the way that they want to be treated. We will show them the rewards of hard work. We want them to understand the importance of family and friends.
Describe your neighborhood?
We live in a quiet suburban neighborhood. There are many families, children, and pets. We are a short walk from a large park with a pond, baseball diamonds, volleyball courts, a soccer field, basketball courts, tennis courts, and a playground. We are a 15-20 minute drive from a major city, so there is easy access to other entertainment as well.
What will you tell your child about their birthmother?
We will tell our child as much information as their age and questions warrant. We both believe in honesty and live our lives by that as well. We plan to tell our child at a very young age. As our child grows up, I'm sure more questions will arise as they understand more about her birthmother and adoption. We plan to be very positive and thankful as we talk about their birthmother and focus on them.
It's Daddy's day - what activity do you want to share with your child?
I plan to have one-one time with our child to share some of the activities and things I used to love as a child. One of those activities is going to the zoo. I want to share those experiences with our child. We have a wonderful Zoo 15 minutes from our home.
What kind of education are you hoping to provide for your child - Private or Public?
As of right now, we plan on providing our child with public education. We live right by great public schools and they offer an excellent education.
How did you come to the decision of adoption?
We waited until we had been married a few years to try to start a family. We had been trying to start a family for about 6 years. John has had surgery, and we have gone through two rounds of IVF. We were blessed to find out that LeAnn was pregnant with identical twins after our second round of IVF. It was the happiest and most exciting time of our lives. Sadly, we suffered a miscarriage at three months that, absolutely, broke our hearts. We had been talking about adoption for years and became more serious about it after deciding that it didn't make sense for us to try another round of IVF.
What faith will you raise your child?
Catholic
What kind of a relationship do you hope to build with your birthmom through her pregnancy?
We would like to have whatever relationship the birthmom allows us to have with her. If allowed we will be very supportive and there for her. We want to have an open relationship with our birthmom and let her know how unbelievably grateful we are about her decision.
How did you meet?
We met at our first job out of college. We had started within one month of one another. It was a sales job and all of us were the same age, so we all became close through various out-of-work activities. John and I became friends first and then started dated shortly after that.
What was your relationship with your parents like?
Adoptive Mom? I have a very close relationship with my parents - Mom, step-Dad Tom, Dad, and Step-Mom Fran now. Growing up my Mom and Tom were consistent, loving and supportive parents. They were always there for me to support or cheer me on at my various choir concerts and sporting events. I've always been very close to my parents. My Mom is similar to me as a best friend, as she knows everything about me. Whenever anything good or bad happens, she/along with my husband John are the first to know. I have a very close relationship with my Dad and he is one of my favorite people to be around.
Adoptive Dad? My relationship with my parents was always very open and nurturing. I have a great relationship with both my parents and they have always been there for me during my childhood and adult life. As a child I always looked up to my Dad and admired him.
What attracted you to each other?
Both of our personalities attracted us to one another, along with similar interests and goals.
Please describe your personalities:
Adoptive Mom? LeAnn is very outgoing and engetic. I'm detail oriented, personable, hardworking, cautious, honest and compassionate, and nurturing.
Adoptive Dad? ohn is more shy and reserved. I'm also adventurous, hardworking, kind, honest, and down to earth.
What are your hobbies (please share those you enjoy as individuals and those you enjoy as a couple):
Adoptive Mom? LeAnn enjoys spending time with friends and family, photography, yoga, running, and cooking/baking. We enjoy spending time with our friends and family/ entertaining, traveling, hiking, sporting events and going to concerts together.
Adoptive Dad? Johns enjoys biking, running, and golfing.
When you close your eyes and see yourself holding your precious baby in your arms what are your thoughts regarding the birthmother?
Words cannot convey even close to what I will feel. I can say an overwhelming feeling of gratitude, love, and respect. It's one of the most self-less things a birthmother can do and I will forever be grateful to her.
How will a child enrich your life?
A child will enrich our life in more ways than one. We are blessed with a wonderful life and have longed to have a child/children to share our love, nurturing, compassion, and zest for life with. It will be great to experience things with a our child that we did during our childhood and up bringing.
Why did you each choose the career path you decided on?
Adoptive Mom? I worked on a business plan in 2010 to do something that I love and have a passion for. I've always loved fashion, style and organization. In 2011, I officially started my business and have loved every aspect of it. It allows me to set my own hours and gives me a sense of pride and ownership.
Adoptive Dad? I've loved cars my entire life. While I was in college I worked my summer's at a car dealership. After graduating college I started my career in the telecom industry. Two years later I made a leap into the car industry. For the past 12 years I've had a very rewarding career as a sales manager for a luxury care dealership.
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