Christopher and Shannon

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From Us to You

We think of you often.

We can envision you studying profiles of smiling people longing to love a child. How will you choose parents for the life growing within you from pictures and words? While we do not yet know you, we admire your selflessness for considering such an option.

We are Shannon and Christopher. Several years of trying to conceive only resulted in miscarriages. We didn’t come to the decision of adoption lightly. But, once we made the decision, peace filled our hearts. We adopted our son, Winston, and it was the best decision we could have possibly made. We are ready to continue growing our family. So, here we are, one of the hopeful, smiling, waiting couples.

What can we offer you and the child that grows within you?

We can offer the unconditional love of two parents, a big brother, and an extended family. We can offer a kid-filled community, camping trips, hikes in the woods, kayaking, frogs to catch, dog kisses, hugs, healthy home-cooked meals, bed-time stories, swim lessons, bike rides, music, sports, and vacations to see aunts, uncles, and grandparents. We can offer our love for knowledge and curiosity. And, we will provide your child lessons in respect and love for self, others, and for life and the world as a whole.

Follow us on Instagram @ShannonChristopherAdopt to see our latest family adventures

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Why We Are Choosing to Adopt - again

Winston entered our lives the day after watching the movie, Arrival, in a theater (our last pre-child date!). What “arrived” with Winston is a joy that fills our hearts. He reminds us of the world’s beauty and love. We cannot wait to share our love with your child, and Winston cannot wait to be the best big brother possible!

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About Shannon, by Christopher

One of the first things many people notice about Shannon is her eyes – large, bright, silvery blue eyes that shine when you look into them. Certainly, I could not help but notice and be caught up in her gaze the first time we met. The truth though, is that it is the world that I see through those eyes that amazes me the most. Shannon sees the good in people and the world. She looks to help others see the goodness in themselves and to envision their dreams and all they can be. Her views on life are simple and pure; we are at our best when we are honest and true to ourselves and others. She works hard to instill this in our son. She is a great mother and even though we might approach things in different ways we parent equally and consistently. We frequently discuss parenting and our hopes for the future. She has an ever-expanding expertise in gardening and loves providing homegrown food to our family, but also to friends and neighbors.

What I Love about being “Mama”

The day Winston decides to call me “Mom” instead of “Mama” will cause me some sorrow. But, my role as his mother will grow, just as my love for him has. I love watching him be brave enough to try activities such as BMX (all safety gear, included), but also love catching him as he runs off the school bus into my arms. I love fulfilling his request for “one more hug and kiss” after his daddy tucks him in at night. I love trying to answer his questions (How do you become a legend?) – even the tough ones (Are my ancestors different than yours?). I love watching him sit down and comfort a kid at day camp as she awaits parent pickup. I love that being Mama makes me a better, more patient person. I look forward to the day Winston cuddles your baby knowing that Mama has enough love for both of us.

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About Christopher, by Shannon

After years of dating, finding Christopher was like finding shade in the desert or the water’s surface when your lungs feel like they’ll burst. He makes me feel so loved, and he builds me up. Christopher thinks of our son and me first. If there’s a bigger slice of cake and he’s serving, I get it (our son will just eat the icing usually). He shares in household chores and child-raising responsibilities. He does 90% of the household laundry. He’s a talented baker and makes great bread from scratch, including cinnamon rolls! Christopher usually puts our son to bed, patiently (re)reading favorite stories. He loves our dogs and likes to make them happy. Christopher has a low-key sense of humor and enjoys spending quality time with close friends and family. He’s a deep thinker, and he skillfully shares his thoughts through writing and musical tastes through volunteer DJing on a public radio station. He likes to run and cross-country ski. He’s kind and quick to say he’s sorry. I love being around him and cannot wait until the evening to discuss our day.

What I Love about being “Daddy”

I love experiencing the world through Winston’s eyes. It is a bit like learning how everything works all over again. I look forward to seeing what sort of artwork he brings home from school each day. I treasure the chance to read stories with him at bedtime, no matter how many times we read his favorite books. I love hearing him laugh, especially when we laugh together about something perfectly silly. I love how he cares for others, our dogs, toads and dragonflies. I can’t wait for him to have that chance as a big brother.

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How We Met

We met on a dating website — in Alaska. We exchanged emails for a couple of weeks and then met for Thai food. After four months of dating activities like hikes and meals cooked together, Christopher proposed. We married four months after that.

Our online dating profiles stated up front what we wanted with no fine print. We have overlapping interests but also different hobbies and strengths. Christopher is respectful and loving like no other man I have dated. And, he had my heart the first time he made me cinnamon rolls! Shannon is confident and secure in herself, and being around her I felt no inclination to be anyone but myself. She shares her gift of singing at church. Being in this relationship is like being in your favorite outfit, comfortable and confident boosting.

We still haven’t figured out what we’ll do for our 10-year anniversary in July 2023, but we used the K.I.S.S. Method to plan our wedding – Keep It Simple, Sweetie! A bright sunny day, a couple of shade tents, our pastor, and a potluck courtesy of 40 or so family and friends are all we needed! In many ways that day says all that there is about us. We worked together to plan the event and asked those important to us to participate. How we planned our wedding mirrors how we try to live our lives – we rely on one another’s strengths and surround ourselves with those that lift us up.

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Lifestyle

On weekends, if Winston “sleeps in” until, let’s say 6:30 a.m., we lazily roll out of bed, put cartoons on for him, and plan the day over coffee. Christopher might make pancakes or biscuits and gravy. If we’re in a hurry eggs or frozen waffles suffice. Sometimes, we have adventures like chasing waterfalls (really!), hikes, kayak trips, or bike rides. Other times, we stick close to home and garden, play on the neighborhood lake, or go to a park. Trips usually involve long weekends. Waterparks, camping, and visiting family are high on the to-do list.

Weekdays start as expected during the school year – encouragement to keep everyone moving in the right direction. Evenings vary. Sometimes, Winston has activities like swimming at the YMCA. Currently, Tuesdays are piano, Wednesdays are church, and Fridays might involve popcorn and a movie. Our neighbors frequently have us over for visits, especially when seasonable weather allows for outdoor socializing. We look forward to watching your child pick tomatoes from the garden, swim in the lake, ride in a bike trailer, and observe the world snugly in a hiking backpack.

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Home & Neighborhood

Our two-story home is in a quiet, forested neighborhood on a small lake shared with a few neighbors. We have a garden and a hand-me-down dock gifted from neighbors when they upgraded. Families occasionally meet at the neighborhood beach. We are close with one family and have very good relationships with the others on our cul-de-sac road. We fish, swim, and kayak on the lake throughout the seasons. In winter after it freezes, we fly kites, ski, snowshoe, icefish, and run our two dogs on it. Dogs and humans both enjoy living here!

We spend most of our time upstairs, either in the living room or kitchen. During accommodating weather, we grill and relax on a deck facing the lake. A hallway off the kitchen leads to three bedrooms. Our room is between Winston’s room and the nursery.

We recently updated the nursery flooring, paint, and closet. The room is completely furnished, including clothes and everything else a baby needs. Your child will be able to gaze out the large, south-facing window through the backyard down to the lake. We can’t wait for your child to come home and start growing into it.

Downstairs, spare bedrooms double as offices. The laundry room is also down here. The den is a nice place for Shannon to exercise and Winston to spread out Hot Wheel race tracks. Open the door from the den and you can walk down through our wooded backyard to the lake.

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Our Pets

We have two dogs: Bella, a blue heeler mix, and Dora, “of mixed heritage.” Both are smart, love to swim in our lake, play with each other, and play fetch. But, that’s where the similarity ends. Bella loves to please. She wags her tail enthusiastically while performing tricks for treats. But, she’s sensitive and gets sad sometimes. Fireworks scare her! Dora is less rattled by life’s struggles (like fireworks) and less enthusiastic about doing tricks. She’ll do them because treats are involved, but we think she feels it’s beneath her!

Winston loves the dogs and plays with them daily. From throwing frisbees in the yard to rolling around on the floor with them inside, he treats them like best friends and they love him for it. He gives them pets, makes sure to tell them goodnight, and they love to wake him up in the morning. Both dogs were gentle with Winston as an infant and would welcome another youngling in the house.

Mars is a spunky 2-year-old female cat. She’s calm when Winston carries her and “cries” around mealtime. Mars bounces after her little ball, and bounds up walls after the elusive red laser light. Occasionally, Mars may swat at a dog (usually poor Dora, who has no concept of personal space) – but the animals coexist in near harmony.

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Our Families

Our extended families are quite different from each other. Shannon’s family, originally from Texas, is big and loud. Shannon is the oldest of five kids, now all grown and spread across Texas and Colorado. Winston has three younger cousins in Texas. Her parents live in Tennessee. Her sisters love being aunts! Her cousins, aunts, and uncles are spread out even farther; she even has an aunt in Australia! Shannon’s family gets together usually once or twice a year for holidays or what seems like annual weddings. When assembled, a lovely chaos ensues. “GrandPaull” plays with the kids, while “Amma” brings special treats and makes sure everyone stays fed. Cousins play together. Activities include taking the kids on hikes and to parks, museums and sometimes plays, and just catching up and relaxing. Between visits, Shannon’s family “gets together” most Sundays on a video call.

Christopher’s family is smaller and quieter but no less influential in his life. He’s the baby of the family and grew up in Illinois. His sister runs a family farm in Maine with her husband and two kids. She also teaches yoga. His brother is a long-haul truck driver based in Idaho, although he is rarely home. Christopher’s mom passed away shortly after our wedding. Shannon feels blessed to have met her, and her spirit lives on because we think of her often. Christopher has extended family in the Toronto area of Ontario, Canada, from his Mom’s side. Partly because of the distance, and partly due to lifestyles, Christopher’s family does not get together often, but they communicate when they can despite time zones and crazy schedules.

Regardless of distance and differing ideologies, both our extended families fully support us on our adoption journey. Our son is loved and adored by them and they will receive your child joyously. We visit as often as we can.

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Racial & Cultural Diversity

Winston is biracial (African American), and we want him to feel comfortable in his own skin. We both grew up in culturally diverse areas and attended colleges where we had friends with ethnic and spiritual backgrounds different from our own. We take Winston to culturally diverse areas in larger cities, especially places like swimming pools and children’s museums to interact with children. His personal library includes adoption stories and those featuring children of different ethnicities and genders. We specifically look for movies and shows that celebrate diversity of all sorts. We also attend Pride events to reinforce the idea of acceptance. We will honor the cultural diversity of your child. We teach acceptance of all.

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Family Traditions

Like many other families, we put up a Christmas tree and celebrate family-oriented holidays like Easter and Mother’s and Father’s Day. We attend community events like the Fourth of July parade where Winston rides his bike in the kids’ procession. High on the list are the county fair and downtown trick-or-treating on Halloween. We also usually visit a farm to run around a corn maze in fall, take in a winter light display, and participate in the Christmas program at church. For Easter, Winston looks for eggs sometimes in the snow! As our family grows, we expect to adapt our traditions to make your feel loved.

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Our Relationship with Winston's Birth Parents

We became parents to Winston in 2016 when a loving couple placed him with us. Because Winston was born early, he spent a few days in the hospital, which allowed us to spend time with both his birth parents. Our drive home was surreal – we could hardly believe we were a mama and daddy! We also wondered about his birth parents because we knew they were likely experiencing something other than joy.

We’ve been telling Winston his adoption story in age-appropriate ways since birth. We agreed to an open adoption with frequent pictures and yearly visits. We wanted our son to have a personal connection with his birth family; however, they chose to keep their distance. Our only connection to his birth family is through monthly picture sharing and our hope is one day, when they are ready, we will video chat and visit.

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Our Promise to You

We promise that your child will always know who you are and that you loved them first.

Our family will experience life, and sometimes life is hard. However, we promise to always love your child, to solve problems by leaning on friends and family so that your child receives support.

We will honor our commitment to you to keep you in your child’s life if that is also what you desire.