Brian and Zsofia

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From Us to You

Dear Expectant Mother,

We want to start by acknowledging the incredible courage and love that’s guiding your decision right now. We understand this is a deeply personal and selfless choice, and we are truly honored that you’re taking the time to learn more about us.

As you explore profiles, our hope is that you get a sense of who we are as a family and how much love we already feel for the child who will join our lives. We’ve always dreamed of having a family of four, as both of us grew up with siblings and know the special bond they bring. Our daughter Nina has been excitedly talking about having a little brother or sister for quite some time, and she’s already placed some of her old baby toys in the nursery. She loves helping out when we babysit our neighbor’s son—feeding him applesauce and giving him his bottle. We know she’s going to be an amazing big sister.

We can’t wait for the day we get to meet your little one, to welcome them into our home with open arms, and to share in all the little and big moments that make life beautiful—family traditions, celebrations, and everyday joys. Like we have with Nina’s birth parents, we want to stay connected with you and share your child’s important milestones, so they always know how deeply loved they are by you.

Thank you again for considering us. We would be honored to provide a loving home for your child and support them as they grow into the incredible person they’re meant to be.

With love and gratitude,

Zsofia, Brian and Nina

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Why We're Choosing to Adopt

From the moment we fell in love, we knew we wanted to build a big family together. After Zsofia’s childhood cancer, we understood that carrying a child wouldn’t be possible for us, but there was never any doubt that adoption was how we would grow our family. It wasn’t a backup plan—it was always part of our story.

After two long years of waiting, just before the world shut down with COVID, we got the call that changed our lives. We had been matched! The twist? The birth parents were in Alabama, the very place we met back in 2009. It felt like destiny.

Our daughter’s birth mom was about 28 weeks pregnant at the time, and as she shared her pregnancy journey with us, we felt an instant connection. She kept us updated on her doctor visits and how big the baby was getting, and with every conversation, we grew closer. A week before her due date, she let us know the time had come. We jumped in the car and drove overnight to Alabama. The next day, our beautiful daughter was born, and our world turned upside down—in the best way possible.

We’ll never stop being grateful for the brave choice her birth parents made. Not a day goes by that we don’t tell our daughter how much we love her, and in return, she’s taught us to slow down, laugh more, and embrace every moment of life’s craziness. She’s our constant reminder to live fully and with so much joy.

Now, we’re ready to open our hearts again. Since 2021, we’ve been dreaming of expanding our family, and by fall of 2022, we decided to start the adoption process once more. Our friends and family are just as excited as we are to welcome your baby into our lives. We cherish every stage of parenthood—from the sweet snuggles to the loud “No!” phase—and we can’t wait to experience it all over again.

If you trust us with this gift, we promise to love your child unconditionally, just as we do our daughter, and to share with them the joy and wonder of life.

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About Brian, by Zsofia

Brian is not just my husband and the father of our child, but he is truly my best friend. The kind of person I call whenever something good , exciting or bad happens to me. The person who can calm me down when I am upset, or give me the pep talk when I need the confidence.

We met when we were in our early 20s and we grew up together. From graduating to seeing each other building a career, becoming a husband and 2 years ago a father it’s been an amazing journey and there is no other person I would rather do this.
At home he cooks amazingly and since we purchased our home, he has become so handy fixing and building stuff. He is always down for any program I come up with – pumpkin patch or farmers market, he will be there. He is a great dad and I love watching him having tea parties with our daughter.

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About Zsofia, by Brian

Zsofia and I met about 14 years ago and she never stops amazing me in what a wonderful/great woman she is. During my 5 years in Hungary I have seen how she affects other people’s lives and how she is always willing to put other needs in front of her own and never stops helping her family and friends. After adopting our first child she has shown me once again how amazing she is but more importantly, what a great mother she is. Nothing is too much for her and her patience is endless. Watching her interact with our daughter is one of my favorite things and exactly what I thought being/having a family would be like growing up. I love how similar we are in so many ways. Just to name a few, we love to travel and have traveled to many places, we love being outdoors, biking, taking the dogs for walks.

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About Us

We’re Zsofia, Brian and Nina, and we’re so excited to share a bit about ourselves with you.

Zsofia grew up in Hungary and got her degree in Business and Hospitality Management. She never expected that an internship in the U.S. would lead her to the love of her life!

Brian’s story started in the Netherlands, where he was raised bilingual (Dutch and English) by his Dutch dad and American mom. He came to the U.S. for college, and by pure coincidence, we ended up doing our internships in the same region—Zsofia in Alabama and Brian in Louisiana. As cheesy as it sounds, it was love at first sight, and we’ve been inseparable ever since.

After graduation, we both returned to Europe—Zsofia moved to the Netherlands first, then we spent a few years in Hungary. We loved our time traveling and enjoying life as newlyweds, but in 2017, we decided it was time to follow our dream and start a family in the U.S.

Fast forward to 2020, after two years of waiting, we were matched with our incredible daughter, Nina, through adoption. Every day, we’re filled with gratitude for the brave woman who made us parents. Nina is such a kind, joyful soul, and we just know she’s going to be the best big sister to your baby.

As a family, we’re always on the go—whether it’s daily walks with our dogs, biking, or heading out to the lake on sunny days. We love exploring new places and can’t wait to share our love of travel and different cultures with our children

We complement each other so well as a couple—Zsofia is the creative one, always painting, sewing, or taking up new projects around the house. Photography is her passion, and she hopes to turn it into a full-time gig one day. Brian is the handyman, always down for Zsofia’s DIY ideas, and he’s also big into soccer and staying active with our dog, Rocky. Most importantly, we share the same values when it comes to parenting—creating a stable, loving, and supportive home for our children to grow and thrive. We’re so excited to see our family grow, and we can’t wait to welcome your baby into our lives.

Nina is 4 years old and full of life! She’s our little princess with a big personality, always keeping us on our toes with her sass and charm. Whether she’s twirling around in her favorite dress or making up games with her friends, there’s never a dull moment with her around. Nina loves taking care of her pets, getting crafty with us, and creating fun, colorful art projects. She’s a natural when it comes to dance and gymnastics, always showing off her cool moves!

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Home & Neighborhood

In the spring of 2022, we moved from the city to a small, scenic town away from Chicago, and it’s been the best decision ever! We traded our quiet city street for one filled with kids of all ages, where every day feels like a playdate waiting to happen.

We now live in a cozy two-story home with four bedrooms and a big, beautiful yard. Your baby will have their own room, sharing a bathroom with Nina, and our yard is packed with fun—a cute little playhouse, sandbox, and a slide. Just a short walk from our house, there’s a playground and a beautiful 11-mile scenic trail where we love to go biking and walking. Fresh air is a big deal for us, and we’re excited to take your little one on peaceful walks—just like we did with Nina, who always napped so well during our strolls.

Our neighborhood is full of life! There’s a brand-new community pool and a splash pad nearby that we bike to on hot summer days. We spend a lot of time in the yard—BBQing, stargazing, and playing. Zsofia’s gotten really into gardening over the last few years, and it’s been so special teaching Nina how to grow and pick vegetables straight from our garden.

Our community is surrounded by farms, which we visit for berry and apple picking and all kinds of fun fall activities. Nina loves animals, so we’re regulars at a nearby farm where we can feed and care for the animals together. On weekends, we often head to our cute downtown, which has great restaurants, a lively farmers market, and concerts from June through September.

One of our favorite spots is a lake just six minutes away. It has a little sandy beach that’s perfect for kids, and we love to cool off there during the summer.

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Our Family

Zsofia’s family still lives in Budapest, Hungary! Her parents have been happily married for over 50 years and are the best grandparents to our daughter, Nina, who absolutely adores them. They love visiting us and always spoil her with affection and treats!

Zsofia is especially close to her older sister and her two adorable kids, Nina’s beloved cousins. Family gatherings at her aunt and uncle’s countryside home are highlights for us—imagine delicious food and lots of fun as the entire family comes together! Zsofia’s brother is a talented pastry chef living in Scotland with his wife, bringing sweetness to the family from afar.

On Brian’s side, his dad lives near Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Though Brian’s mom passed away when he was young, his dad makes frequent visits, adding to our family’s joy. Brian has a large and vibrant family in the Netherlands, with cousins, aunts, and uncles who love to gather for unforgettable times. His sister resides in Australia with her husband and three energetic boys (ages newborn, 6, and 8). Even though we don’t see each other often, we make it a point to FaceTime every week to stay close. Most of our family lives in Europe, but we cherish the opportunity to visit them at least once a year, and they love to come see us as well. Our family is a wonderful blend of cultures, love, and shared experiences, and we can’t wait to include your child in our beautiful journey!

Our daughter Nina was born in mid-2020, and she’s now a lively, sassy 4-year-old who fills our home with love and laughter. Nina has such a big heart—she’s always smiling, giving cuddles, and full of energy. Whether she’s playing with her dolls, asking us to read her favorite book, or heading out on a bike ride, she’s always ready for fun. We love being outdoors, and so does Nina—whether it’s hiking, playing in the park, or walking our dogs, she’s always up for adventure.

We encourage Nina to explore different activities, and right now she’s loving gymnastics and ballet, which help her motor skills and bring her so much joy. She’s getting really good at both! Nina also enjoys playing with her toy kitchen, where she whips up all kinds of pretend meals. Thanks to our focus on homemade food from fresh ingredients, she’s become an amazing eater who enjoys a wide variety of foods.

Nina attends a nature-oriented Montessori daycare 4 days a week, where she’s made close friends. We often plan playdates with the other moms so the kids can play together outside of school too.

Our family also includes two fur-babies—a sweet dog named Rocky, who we adopted from a shelter as a puppy, and a kitten named Chase, who Nina lovingly picked out this summer. Rocky, a mix of German Shepherd and Husky, is incredibly gentle with Nina and follows her everywhere. Nina adores helping with their care, feeding them and giving them lots of cuddles. She even pretends Rocky is her horse when she plays! And she’s taken on the role of “kitten mom” with Chase, showering him with love and attention.

We can’t wait to welcome your child into this loving, playful, and adventurous environment, where they’ll grow and thrive just like Nina.

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Our Lifestyle

Zsofia is a senior business analyst at a big tech company, while Brian works in logistics. We both enjoy the flexibility of working from home full-time, which makes it easy for us to manage daycare drop-offs and pickups, as well as Nina’s extracurricular activities. Zsofia also has a fantastic maternity leave, allowing her to take almost five months off to bond with our new baby.

After work, we love going for family walks with our dog, enjoying the fresh air and each other’s company. Depending on the weather, we often play outside until dinner. Cooking together is one of our favorite activities, but we also enjoy the occasional takeout when we need a break!

Our bedtime routine for Nina has been the same since she was born: bubble baths, storytime, and plenty of cuddles. This is a cherished tradition we can’t wait to continue with your little one.

On rainy days, we stay cozy at home, getting crafty or visiting a nearby indoor playhouse. If we’re feeling a bit lazy, we might settle in for a family movie night. We like to balance busy Saturdays with relaxing Sundays, which often includes grocery shopping to prepare for the week ahead.

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Family Traditions

As a multicultural family with Zsofia hailing from Hungary and Brian from the Netherlands, we embrace our diverse backgrounds in everything we do! We love incorporating Hungarian and Dutch languages, delicious foods, and vibrant traditions into our daily lives here in the U.S. Nina is already picking up on all three languages, and we’re excited to raise your baby to be trilingual too!

Cooking together is a cherished tradition in our home. Picture this: our kitchen filled with laughter and music as we whip up tasty meals. We have a special kitchen stand for Nina, so she can join in on the fun, eager to mix and help with whatever we’re making. Just like we did with Nina, Zsofia looks forward to preparing nutritious, homemade meals for your little one, all made with love.

Board games are a family favorite, and we can’t wait to share that joy with our children as they grow older. We always end our evenings with story time, reflecting on the best moments of the day and sharing our thoughts.

Celebrating holidays is a big deal for us! We blend traditional Hungarian and Dutch customs into our festivities. At Easter, we love hunting for and decorating eggs. For the 4th of July, we gather with friends for a backyard BBQ. Halloween is a highlight for Zsofia; she starts decorating on October 1st! We enjoy dressing up in themed costumes and trick-or-treating with friends.

A unique tradition we both cherish is St. Nicholas Day, celebrated in Europe. Children put their cleaned boots in the window on the night of December 5th, hoping to find them filled with sweets and goodies if they’ve been good!

Christmas is a magical time for us, too. Zsofia keeps the tradition of decorating the tree at night as a surprise for the kids. We love to fill our home with festive decorations and partake in holiday activities like crafting ornaments, visiting light displays, and enjoying Christmas parades.

In our home, your child will be embraced by a rich tapestry of culture, love, and cherished traditions. We can’t wait to create lasting memories together as a family!

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Our Vacations

Since the day we met, traveling has been a huge part of our lives! We’ve explored beautiful places together, from visiting Brian’s sister in Australia to discovering the wonders of Asia and enjoying weekend getaways across Europe while living abroad.

Every year, we make a special trip to Europe to spend a month with our families, splitting our time between the two countries we are from. We can’t wait for the day when we can take this journey as a family of four and introduce your little one to our vibrant, loving families!

We also love to escape for quick weekend trips to nearby Wisconsin or Michigan. In the summer, you’ll find us at the lake, making the most of our staycations. Thanksgiving is a cherished time when we visit Brian’s uncle and his family in New York, where Nina gets to play with her little cousins and create unforgettable memories.

With our big family, there’s always a wedding to celebrate, so we often plan our vacations around those joyful occasions. Each adventure brings us closer together, and we’re excited to create even more memories with your child by our side!

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Our Relationship with You

We believe that the bond we build with you is just as important as the one we’ll have with your child. You’ll always have a place in their life, and in ours, as part of our extended family. We promise to keep you connected through milestones, photos, and videos, so you can see your child growing and thriving.

With our daughter’s birth parents, we quickly formed a special connection, and Zsofia still chats with her birth mom regularly, sometimes weekly. We shared everything—from nursery updates to name choices—and even created a photo album with pictures we received from her birth family, which has become a treasure for our daughter, Nina. Meeting in person after Nina was born allowed us to express our deep gratitude face-to-face, and that openness made the whole process feel natural and right.

If you’re looking for a similar relationship, we’re here for that. We want you to feel at peace knowing that you’re always a part of your child’s story, and we’re ready to create an open and caring connection—whatever that looks like for you.

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Our Promise to You

Above all, we promise to celebrate and cherish your invaluable role in your child’s life. We understand that you are entrusting us with your most precious gift, and we are committed to creating a loving, supportive, and nurturing environment. Your child will know their unique story from the very beginning, embracing the beautiful tapestry of their heritage and the incredible woman who brought them into this world.

Every decision we make will be rooted in your child’s best interests. We promise to provide a stable home where they can thrive emotionally, intellectually, and creatively. We will encourage them to explore their passions, appreciate diversity, and develop a strong sense of self.

Your child will be surrounded by love—not just from Brian, Nina, and me, but also from our extended family of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. We’ll be there to guide them through life’s journey, supporting them through all of life’s ups and downs while leading by example.

Our promise extends to you, too. We will honor your unique place in our family, treating you with the respect, empathy, and kindness you deserve. Your journey will always be a part of ours, and we’re here to support you, listen to you, and learn from you.

In closing, thank you for considering us as potential parents for your child. We know this decision is profound, and we are ready to embrace it with unwavering commitment and love. Together, let’s create a future filled with endless opportunities and immeasurable love for your child.