Kenny and Laura

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From Us to You

We cannot begin to understand the journey that has led you to consider making an adoption plan for your child, but we deeply respect the love and care behind your decision. Your choice has given us the opportunity to grow the family we have hoped and prayed for. We can assure you that your child will be deeply loved and well cared for, and we will always speak of you with respect, compassion, and gratitude.

During the first few years, we would love to understand what level of involvement feels right for you. We are happy to provide updates, photos, and glimpses into your child’s everyday life on their birthdays. If you would prefer not to receive updates, we will respect your wishes as well.

As soon as they are old enough to understand the concept of adoption, we will share their adoption story with them. We never want there to be any secrets surrounding adoption, and we will always encourage open, honest conversations. We will work tirelessly to remind them that they are a cherished part of our family forever, no matter how our family came to be. Family does not need to be biologically related to be deeply connected. Our goal is for them to always know they are deeply loved and that your decision came from a place of love.

If our child ever experiences emotional questions or challenges related to their adoption or any other part of life, we will ensure they have the support they need. Whether that means individual counseling, family counseling, or other appropriate resources, we will always prioritize their emotional well-being. Laura worked as a mental health provider for over three years and understands the importance and benefits of counseling. As a family, we want to normalize and de-stigmatize mental health and create a home where feelings can be shared openly and support is always available.

Once our child reaches 18, we will encourage and support them in deciding what level of contact or relationship feels right to them.

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Why We Are Choosing to Adopt

We have always envisioned having children. It is something we talked about even after we first started dating. Dealing with infertility over the last three and a half years has been difficult, and it has led us to the beautiful path of adoption. While this journey hasn’t looked the way we originally expected, we are so grateful for the opportunity to grow our family through adoption.

We mostly dream about how exciting the everyday moments will be with our child, such as taking them to soccer practice, decorating the Christmas tree together, and going on family vacations. We long to hear little feet and laughter filling our home. The way we raise our child will help keep the memories of our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents alive. Becoming part of the adoption journey is something we never imagined for ourselves, and we feel incredibly grateful and excited for the opportunity to grow our family this way!

Although adoption is new to our family, we have an incredible support system that will be there every step of the way as we learn, grow, and navigate this journey together. We truly couldn’t do this without their love and support.

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How We Met

We met in biology class at Washington State University in 2013, and started dating in 2015. The Cougars (WSU mascot) are very close to both of us and our families. We love to go to at least a couple of football games each year, especially the Apple Cup. Your child will be raised as a proud Coug fan for life!

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Lifestyle

A typical day for us includes going to work, then coming home to play with our dogs and relax together, or heading over to a family member’s house to cook dinner and hang out. Kenny is a civil engineer for the Department of Transportation, and Laura is a pharmacist at the hospital. We feel very fortunate to have careers that allow us to provide a loving and stable home for our future child. During the day, they will be cared for by Laura’s parents, who live nearby. They also spend their days with our two-year-old niece, and we may occasionally use daycare as needed. We believe our child will naturally become part of these everyday routines while bringing new joy and traditions as they grow and begin to pursue their own unique interests.

Our hobbies include visiting family and friends, playing with our dogs, going on vacations (our favorite is Disneyland!), going to Seahawks football and Mariners baseball games, going to concerts, and watching all the Harry Potter and Marvel movies. One day we would love to go see Laura’s family in Germany.

Fun fact: You might be surprised to learn that the theme of our wedding was actually “LEGO shabby chic.” LEGO for Kenny and shabby chic/vintage for Laura. It turned out amazing!

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About Laura by Kenny

I love Laura’s passion, attention to detail, her smarts, and how much she cares for our dogs. Her drive to complete her doctorate of pharmacy degree showed me that she could do anything with a little time and effort. Laura also loves giving gifts to everyone in both our families, no matter how big or small the event is. She is the best at thinking of things people truly want, and this plays a role in who she is as a person. With all the cousins and nieces, no kid is missing out on big pile of presents. My love for her only grows when I get to see these interactions, and know how these gifts truly touch everyone.

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About Kenny by Laura

What I love most about Kenny is his dedication to his work, his passion for his LEGO business, his patience, his sense of humor, and the wonderful way he takes care of me when my chronic pain flares up. He always asks, “What do you need?” and “How can I help?” I know he will always do whatever it takes to care for me and provide for our family. Kenny has been helping raise his nieces and nephews since 2013, and I love to watch him interact with them. He is gentle yet knows when to set boundaries. Kenny is a true kid at heart, and I know he can’t wait to play games with your child, help them with their homework, or even just throw a baseball together after dinner.

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Our Home

We currently own a home in a large, safe neighborhood. There are always families walking their dogs, riding bikes, or playing basketball outside. Our child will have their own bedroom and plenty of space to play both inside and out in our yard. The best part of our house is the upstairs bonus room, which is filled with LEGO. Kenny can’t wait to spend hours building and creating there with our child.

Washington is a beautiful state, and we can be at the ocean, in the mountains, surrounded by forests, or exploring the desert within a short drive. We love taking our nieces to the Central Washington State Fair and the local circus every year. As our child gets older, we look forward to floating the river and going on hikes together. We enjoy all four seasons, with warm summers, snowy winters, and beautiful sunsets. There is also a play café for children, a trampoline park, and a large aquatic center nearby that we’re excited to enjoy as a family.

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Our Family

Family is the most important thing to us, and we are so lucky that both of our families love spending time together! We have truly blended into one big family. Kenny’s nieces even call Laura’s mom “Grandma,” even though they aren’t biologically related. Our child will have 20 cousins, including three who live right down the road. There will always be someone to play with, make memories with, and grow up alongside.

Laura still has the same group of girl friends from college, and most of them have children as well. We try to all go on a trip together at least once a year. It used to be called “Chick’s Weekend,” but now husbands and kids are invited!

We are incredibly fortunate to have a close-knit family and friends who are excited to welcome a child into our lives. We know our child will be surrounded by love, encouragement, and support every step of the way.

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Racial & Cultural Diversity

If our child is of a different race or ethnicity than us, we are committed to learning about and celebrating their culture while making it a meaningful part of our family’s life. We look forward to exploring traditions, food, music, books, holidays, and community events together, while continuing to educate ourselves so we can best support their identity. We are fortunate to live in a diverse community where there are many opportunities to experience and celebrate different cultures.

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The Life We Hope to Share

We look forward to sharing life’s everyday moments with our child and watching them grow. Taking part in everyday activities together and seeing them experience the simple joys of childhood will enrich our lives in ways we can only dream about right now. We hope to create a childhood filled with love, encouragement, and wonderful memories that they will carry with them throughout their life. And maybe one day, we will be blessed to watch them grow into a parent as well.

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Traditions

One of our favorite family traditions since we started dating has been wearing matching pajamas for our Christmas card photo. Yes, even the dogs! Every Halloween, we also dress them up in matching costumes. We can’t wait to include a child in these special traditions. Laura also loves decorating the whole house for every season.

Growing up, Laura’s entire family went on a large camping trip every year. These are some of her favorite childhood memories, and it’s a tradition that will be very important for us to continue with our own family.

Kenny remembers big family trips to the beach and camping, as well as everyone gathering together for the holidays each year. He cherished spending time with his grandparents and learning about their childhoods and family history.

Our extended families always get together for the Fourth of July, enjoying a weekend of camping, barbecuing, games, and fireworks. We also spend a few days together around Christmas or Thanksgiving each year.

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Our Promise

We have an enormous amount of unconditional love to give to your child, along with a safe and stable home, opportunities for a quality education, nutritious meals, and a large, close-knit family. We promise to love them throughout their entire life, no matter where that path may take them. As parents, we will encourage academics, sports, extracurricular activities like music, art, and Girl Scouts, as well as faith. Our goal is to raise a child who grows into a kind, respectful, and compassionate person. We look forward to sharing our knowledge, values, and family traditions with them while supporting them as they discover their own unique interests and passions. We are excited for the future and for the opportunity to watch your child learn, grow, and become the person they are meant to be.

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Final Thoughts

Thank you so much for taking the time to read our profile and get to know us a little better. We hope to have the opportunity to learn about your story soon. The last few years have strengthened our certainty that we are meant to become parents, and we are so grateful for the opportunity to grow our family through adoption. We look forward to sharing a lifetime of love, guidance, and support with your child. We hope to connect with an expectant parent who feels we are the right family to love and nurture their child.