Andrew and Katherine

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To Someone Special

Where can we even begin? Firstly we want to thank you, just for even looking at our profile. We realize that you may be considering many options at this time to make sure you are choosing a beautiful, loving future for your baby. We may not know you yet, but we do think of you often. We wonder what you may be going through, where you may be, and if you know how strong you are. We hope that you are healthy and that you know how much we admire your strength and courage. We want you to know that we are here for you and that you are not alone. You will be a huge piece of our lives. How could you not be? You would be providing us with such a beautiful gift and we know that such a selfless act isn’t easy. Your baby will know how much you love them and how this decision came straight from your heart.  Our biggest hope is that you know you will always have a support system here with us. Our wish is that you find exactly what you are looking for, even if that is not us. We hope for your happiness and peace with whatever choice you decide to take. As we sit here trying to write this to you, we realize how no amount of words can express our gratitude. We only hope that our letter can help you find some comfort in knowing how much love, support, and encouragement we would provide to your baby.

To us, being a parent is loving a child unconditionally and also building everlasting memories filled with laughter and love. We want to be able to provide a supportive, encouraging, loving, happy, and memorable home. One where your child will feel free to express themselves and be free to dream about their future and know that they will always have us supporting them no matter what. We have been blessed with a big supportive family who is excited to meet your baby and embrace them as their own. We have weekly family dinners where we have game night and laugh for hours. Family is very important to us and we hope to teach your baby just how important family is, and that includes you being a part of our family as well.  We also have amazing friends who know how much we have prayed to be able to start a family. As they also struggled with starting their family and chose adoption. Watching their journey with adoption made us see how beautiful it is and also showed us how it is not an easy journey either.

Like you, we have taken a lot of time thinking about our lives and future. When we got together in 2013, we always discussed how much we really wanted to start a family. We were younger and thought we had some time to figure it out and work on our careers a bit longer in order to have everything put together for when we started our family. After getting married in 2016, we bought our first house with plenty of rooms for our future children. We knew we wanted to provide a loving supportive home for our children and had hoped it would happen soon. After a few years of trying, we found out that our dream of starting a family wasn’t going to be as easy as some believe it to be. We found out that carrying a baby to full term would not be safe for Katherine. What we have always known was that we wanted to be parents, so we took some time to think about the best decision for us and we realized adoption was the best choice.

Your child will be truly treasured by us and all of our loved ones. They will be embraced wholeheartedly and loved beyond measure. We will provide them with a great education, teach them about where they came from, about their culture, show them that the sky’s the limit when it comes to their dreams and future, stand behind them as their biggest support team, and advocate for them always. Most of all to love them, respect them and encourage them in any way that we can.

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Why We are Choosing to Adopt

From the beginning of our relationship, we knew that we wanted a family. It is something that has always been very important to both of us. We always agreed that we wanted to work a little more on our careers in order to accomplish financial freedom from debt before starting our family. Once we got married, we were able to accomplish that goal, so we decided we would start trying to grow our family. After a few years of trying, we learned that Katherine was struggling with PCOS. After many tests, surgeries, and doctors’ visits we learned that it would not be safe for her to carry a baby full term. At that time we decided to take some time to process and mourn what that meant for the both of us. As a child, Katherine had always been very vocal that she wanted to include adoption as a part of her journey to growing her family. So once we took the time to discuss all of our options like foster care, surrogacy, or IVF, we started speaking about adoption.

Andrew’s cousin is adopted so it is something he is familiar with. One of Katherine’s friends and bridesmaids was also adopted from Korea, so it was something she was familiar with as well. We knew it was the best option for us as we had both seen firsthand how it fulfilled so many of their loved ones. We also got to experience the joy of our two best friends who were able to adopt their beautiful little boy, who we call our nephew. We were lucky enough to witness their journey from start to finish. The decision was very easy for us as we believe that biology is not the only thing that makes a family. Your child will feel the support of not only our family, but also know that our nephew shares in an adoption story and they will always have that support amongst each other.

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How We Met

Our relationship began on a gorgeous evening in July 2013. Andrew had been invited out with some work friends to meet some new people and found himself at the local country club. There was live music in the background and the mid-summer weather to die for when Andrew saw Katherine sitting at the table. He was instantly intrigued. Her bright smile and witty banter made him not want to leave the table. After dinner, we all went to a mutual friend’s house and enjoyed each other’s company by the pool. A month later we were brought together by the same friends who must have seen our spark. Like a fairy tale, she fell into Andrew’s arms, quite literally. After a trip on a step, Andrew was in the right place at the right time and Katherine fell into his arms. It has been an ongoing joke throughout our entire relationship. We started seeing each other regularly after that, taking long drives and exploring parts of the city only some locals knew existed. We talked about everything; our stories, goals, what we wanted our family to look like, and how we wanted our next relationship to be our last. We got engaged on December 24th, 2015, and married 6 months later. It was and continues to be the most fulfilling and amazing relationship we have ever had, marrying our best friend.

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About Katherine, by Andrew

There is no way to describe Katherine in one paragraph. From the moment I met Katherine, all those years ago, I felt there was something there, and would be so much more. Her smile lit up the entire restaurant. I learned fast she was full of wit and love. Every evening we spent together taught me more and more about her. She loves her culture and the history of her family; it means the world to her and she always wants to tell people about it. She has always wanted a family but, like me, wanted the timing to be right. Giving the best opportunities to our kids is her biggest dream. Katherine talked about adoption and wanting to give that selfless love to a child even before we knew it would be the primary way we would build our family.

Katherine’s devotion to her family is a steady force in her life. She will do anything to take care of or help them through anything. Kathy also has a way of thinking of someone’s passions and making sure she uses them to give the best experiences she can. I was always the Sci-Fi geek but she found a way to love it too and together we have some amazing memories at Comic-Cons and even Cape Canaveral, Florida. She always has your back when you need a shoulder to cry on, a cheerleader to spur you on, or just a partner in crime riding shotgun. She loves holiday seasons and making the house match for each one, whether a winter wonderland in December or pastels for Easter, keeping our home full of love and excitement is always her priority. She even does the house in pinks, reds, and maroons for Valentine’s Day. She cannot wait to be a mother and if her maternal instincts with our beloved Shorkie dog, Dax, are any touch stone she will always be your child’s biggest advocate, ally, and champion.

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About Andrew, by Katherine

There are a million things that I can say about Drew, he truly is my best friend. The first thing that attracted me to Andrew was his personality. He can literally light up any room. His sense of humor and his way to have an intellectual conversation was a HUGE thing that attracted me. When we first started dating, we would sit for hours having deep conversations about anything – life, space, culture, music, traditions…

Andrew is hardworking, a provider, and a protector. He is very smart and lived in Fiji and Australia when he studied abroad in college. I believe this is why he is so open to learning about other cultures and people. He is adventurous and believes in trying new things at least once. He has the biggest heart and always puts others first. He is also the first person who will support you and root you on! He is always in your corner making sure you feel supported. Drew is the type of person you will find in the kitchen dancing and singing while he is cooking up some dinner. You can also find him reading books or trying to figure out some at home projects. He is also a HUGE Star Trek fan, lol. I never would have thought I would choose Star Trek over Star Wars but he convinced me.

He is also selfless and caring. The love he has for his family is beautiful to see. Truthfully, I wish I would have met him sooner because the amount of laughter and memories we have created so far mean so much to me. I cannot wait to see Andrew become a father and watch him grow with your child. Andrew has always expressed how he can’t wait to start new traditions and continue many of our traditions we hold dearly. To picture him planning future family vacations, teaching your child how to ride a bike, fish, and so many other activities is so heartwarming.  Seeing Andrew with our friends’ kids and his niece and nephew truly shows me what your child’s future will hold. He is so kind and caring that I can only imagine the love and joy he will share with your baby.

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Our Dog, Dax

Dax is our 3 year old dog. He is a Shih Tzu and Yorkie (Shorkie) mix. He has the most hilarious personality that makes you think he might be part human. He is loving, playful, and always ready to cuddle. He loves to play keep away instead of fetch because it’s funny to see us try to get his toy from him. He loves the snow, so much so that we believe there must be some husky somewhere in his DNA because he could stay out jumping and rolling around in it all day. In the summer he loves to sunbathe, take walks and visit the beach. Though afraid of the waves, he does believe he can catch one in his mouth. His favorite toy is tennis balls, though he does not discriminate against any type of ball. He is truly the definition of a man’s best friend. He enjoys going to work with us, as all the attention is on him. He loves children and all other dogs he comes across. He is very social and kind.

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Lifestyle

We love to travel. We have set a goal of hitting all 50 states before turning 50 years old. Every year we plan a road trip and so far we have hit 20 states including Hawaii. When we aren’t traveling we find ourselves spending time with our families here in New Hampshire and in Maine. During the winter you can find us snowmobiling in Maine, and in the summer we like to make it up to Andrew’s family camp up north. Spending time on the deck, and going on boat rides and jet skis are always fun past times. We love museums, any chance we can find whether while in New England or when we are road tripping, we always find a fun museum to visit as we love learning about history and culture and anything about Space. At home, Katherine is a Business Development Director and Andrew is a Finance Director. After work, we like to come home and cook together or just snuggle up with Dax and unwind with one of our favorite shows.

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We love having four seasons!

We live in New England which is such a beautiful place to live. We get to experience all 4 seasons throughout the year. We are lucky to take advantage of that, with the many activities we like to do together as a couple. During the Spring, we enjoy taking our 3-year-old dog to the park to run around and enjoy the cool breeze.  In the Summer, it’s time to go up north to camp and enjoy some jet skiing and water adventures. Bonfires with marshmallows and some fireworks off the dock are our favorite. Then comes Fall (Katherine’s favorite) when we get to go see the leaves turn beautiful colors. Pictures cannot do it justice, that’s for sure. Apple picking for apple crisps (Andrew’s favorite dessert) and cider donuts are a tradition every Fall. We love to do corn mazes, and of course, sit outside in our driveway passing out candy for Halloween to all of the neighborhood children dressed up in the cutest costumes. Then last, but not least, comes Winter (Andrew’s favorite season of all), where we get to enjoy snowmobiling, making snowmen, and occasionally throwing some snowballs at each other. Our dog absolutely loves the snow as he jumps around like a snow bunny until we force him inside. If it was up to him he would stay out there all day. Winter brings one of our favorite pastimes, which is going through the neighborhoods to check out all of the beautiful Christmas lights and decorations. You see, we are each other’s best friends and though we enjoy doing all of these things together, we can’t help but feel as if something is missing. We dream of being able to share all of these fun traditions with a child.

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Our Plans for the Future

We look forward to starting our next chapter as parents and through our journey, we have so many plans for what our lives will look like. Our goal of 50 states by the time we are 50 years old will be made even more amazing by including things that will expose your child to history, culture, and most of all, the world around them. Every adventure we plan, whether the typical trip up North to camp or a visit to see Katherine’s grandparents in Miami, will be another opportunity for your child to experience. At camp, we will teach your child to water ski or wakeboard, like every youngster in Andrew’s family has experienced. Every child’s milestones are momentous and every parent is overjoyed when their child takes their first steps,  but the real joys lay in all their accomplishments. The joy that a parent has while watching a child be determined in succeeding in a sport or hobby is one of the reasons why your choice to entrust us with your child and our journey to adoption is so important to us. When their first set of Arepas (Spanish corn cakes) comes out perfect, or they win their first spelling bee, we will take pride in knowing we are raising your child with values of self-worth and determination. That is our biggest dream of becoming a family.

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Home & Neighborhood

Our home is located in a beautiful, quiet cul-de-sac in New Hampshire. There are children of all ages always playing in the neighborhood, whether they are rollerblading, riding their bike, playing tag, or basketball, you can always hear them laughing. As a community, we make sure to watch the kids for one another to make sure everyone is safe. We live in a very diverse town that has become very popular to live in because of its growth in business opportunities and diversity.

Our home is a split-level ranch with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. We have a back deck where we like to sit in the summertime to enjoy the sun and grill some amazing BBQ. We also have a great sized yard where we spend our time running around and playing catch with our dog, Dax. During the spring we like to decorate our yard with flowers and plants, and in the fall we love to decorate with scarecrows and Halloween decorations.

Our town has some great local businesses and plenty of fun activities to do within the community. We actually live in the best school district and the elementary school is just down the road from us. We are located in a great area with scenic walking trails, parks, and beautiful lakes just down the road from us.

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Racial & Cultural Diversity

Being an interracial couple ourselves, we are accepting of people of all ethnic backgrounds and cultures. Our family is filled with people of all backgrounds, religions, and sexual orientations. We understand how important it is for your child to learn about the history of their heritage and plan not only to teach them all about it but also experience it as a family. We both understand that the world is not perfect and that there are still adversities that every person must navigate. We ourselves have experienced this because we are two different races. We will teach your child the importance of not judging others by the color of their skin or any other differences that make people who they are. We will always protect your child and also educate your child about diversity.

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Education

If there is one important lesson about education, it is that there is no right or wrong answer or path for every person. Katherine attended local schools in town, building friendships and being involved in community and service groups. She loved her school, participating in pep rallies and cheering on her team at Friday night football games. She took great interest in managing the Special Olympics for all children with special needs, setting up games, and making sure everyone could participate. She also took great pleasure in helping with Kids Cafe, Habitat for Humanity, RedCross blood drives, and other projects around the city.

Andrew attended private school and also participated in community groups and projects such as food drives and Habitat for Humanity projects in Southern Maine. Andrew completed his college education and got a Bachelors in Politics. During his time in college, he was involved with campus clubs and activities organizing trips to Washington, DC, and volunteer activities throughout the state. Education is the cornerstone of a vibrant diverse society. Although individuals vary in race, creed, and orientation we also differ in strengths and calling. There is an educational path for every person and we want to make sure your child has the support and guidance to find whatever path leads them to a successful and fulfilling life.

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Our Families & Friends

We are both very blessed to have amazing families who are very supportive. Katherine’s immediate family lives just 10 minutes away and Andrew’s grandfather lives right down the road from them as well. Every Sunday we host family dinner and have them all come over.

Katherine grew up locally in New Hampshire. She is one of 3 children and is the oldest and only girl. She has two younger brothers and they are all very close. Her parents have been married for over 30 years and we see them almost every day. She also has many aunts, uncles, and cousins who live in Massachusetts. She and her cousins grew up very closely and spent every summer together. They all have children and are excited for Katherine to become a mom in order for the kids to also grow up together. Katherine’s maternal grandparents live in Florida, she also has aunts, uncles, and cousins who live there as well. It’s a great advantage as we get to travel to Florida almost every year. Her paternal grandmother lives in Colombia with many other family members as well.

Andrew grew up in Maine, just 10 minutes down the road from the beach. He is one of 4 kids. He has two younger sisters who are twins and a younger brother. Though they live in Maine, they all are very close. Andrew lived in Maine until he graduated from High School and moved to New Hampshire to attend College. Once he finished college he decided to live in New Hampshire full time. His maternal grandfather lives 10 minutes away from us and his paternal grandmother lives in Maine. We visit Maine very often as Andrew’s dad also lives there with the rest of his extended family. We try to visit everyone as often as we can.

Both of our families are extremely excited for us and support our adoption plan. They can’t wait to have an addition to the family and embrace them as their own.

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Family Traditions

We have a few different traditions that we like to follow every year. Fall is our favorite time of the year, other than Christmas. In the fall we take trips to the orchards for apple picking as we love to bake apple crisps and apple pies. Dax even comes along for this tradition. We also love to find different corn mazes to visit around the state. Leaf peeping is also a huge tradition of ours as we love to watch the leaves turn into beautiful colors. For this, we take a road trip up north into the Presidential Mountain range located in the White Mountains. We like to stop and take pictures and enjoy the breathtaking views.

In the winter we like to go up north for the light show, and a walk through the Ice Castles. We also drive through the neighborhoods to see all the decorations around town. After Thanksgiving, we start decorating for Christmas. We like to turn on the Christmas music and start decorating the tree. We have many different ornaments that have been passed down through the family and like to reminisce about all our childhood memories. We also have a village we put up and decorate with fake snow and lights. Our Christmas Eve tradition is to go see Andrew’s grandmother as she hosts a Christmas Eve dinner for all of the extended family. Our favorite part of the night is Grammie’s famous seafood chowder and homemade fudge. There is tons of laughter as we all exchange gifts for Secret Santa. Christmas morning always starts with crepes for breakfast and of course, real maple syrup is a must. These are all traditions we hope to continue with your child and also begin to create new ones.

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Our Promise to You

Our first and most important promise to you is to love and respect your child with all of our hearts. We promise your child will always know where they came from and how they came to be with us. They will know that they came to us through the most selfless and loving decision a mother can make. We promise to partner with you to create an adoption plan that will honor you and your feelings. We promise to advocate for your child and teach them to stand up for what they believe in. We promise to be honest with your child and answer any questions they may have with care and compassion. We promise to support their dreams and be their biggest cheerleaders while also providing them the tools they need to thrive always. Most importantly, we promise to be forever grateful to you for giving us the most precious gift anyone could.