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Meet Mari Kate & Andy
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FAMILY TYPE: Traditional Couple
CHILDREN: Yes
LOCATION: Central States
RELIGION: Christian - Catholic/Christian - Protestant
Dear Birthmom
Dear Birthmom
Our Commitment to You: We commit to honor you, speak highly of you, and listen to your child. We commit to care for their whole heart, soul and all things that make them unique.
Our Values: We value sharing quality time together, being both silly and thoughtful. We value our relationship with God, and know through Him all things are possible.
As parents, we will value your child's unique story. We'll value their feelings, interests and enthusiasm for the world. We will strive to nurture your child's mind, body and soul, helping them grow into a happy, independent adult.
In addition to two people who love being parents already, they will automatically have a doting big sister and a gentle and happy red-haired Labrador-retriever.
The future big sister has been talking about wanting a younger sibling for a while. She is kind, funny, patient, and always ready to play! “It would be a dream come true. A dream from my heart that would come true.”
Your child would have their own room plus play sports or dance or a musical instrument. They would go to the highly-rated neighborhood school plus get to see extended family often.
We are praying that whatever decision you make, your heart is at peace.
Know that if you choose us, your child will very simply and joyfully be loved, secure, comfortable, educated, happy and able to be their wonderful selves.
Our Values: We value sharing quality time together, being both silly and thoughtful. We value our relationship with God, and know through Him all things are possible.
As parents, we will value your child's unique story. We'll value their feelings, interests and enthusiasm for the world. We will strive to nurture your child's mind, body and soul, helping them grow into a happy, independent adult.
In addition to two people who love being parents already, they will automatically have a doting big sister and a gentle and happy red-haired Labrador-retriever.
The future big sister has been talking about wanting a younger sibling for a while. She is kind, funny, patient, and always ready to play! “It would be a dream come true. A dream from my heart that would come true.”
Your child would have their own room plus play sports or dance or a musical instrument. They would go to the highly-rated neighborhood school plus get to see extended family often.
We are praying that whatever decision you make, your heart is at peace.
Know that if you choose us, your child will very simply and joyfully be loved, secure, comfortable, educated, happy and able to be their wonderful selves.
Our Story
The first thing you should know about us is that we laugh at our own jokes (and they are not always that funny)! We absolutely love being parents and we admit our daughter also does a lot of giggling.
We met on a blind date 16 years ago and have been together ever since, including 14 years of marriage. When we were dating, Andy learned Mari Kate had never cut down her own Christmas tree, so he took her to a tree farm for an adventure. With a saw in hand we cut down our first tree together but it took a ton of time because of Mari Kate’s gingerly sawing "skills".
Our parents are still together and each brought up three children in the Midwest and Northeast with strong Christian values. We draw from their examples of marriage because they are awesome!
We love doing things together like going to sporting events, broadway shows and playing pickleball. It really doesn't matter what we're doing, we always have a nice time even when we got caught in a snowstorm in South Dakota and had to eat sandwiches in the hotel room for 2 nights cuddled together safe and warm and watching movies.
We met on a blind date 16 years ago and have been together ever since, including 14 years of marriage. When we were dating, Andy learned Mari Kate had never cut down her own Christmas tree, so he took her to a tree farm for an adventure. With a saw in hand we cut down our first tree together but it took a ton of time because of Mari Kate’s gingerly sawing "skills".
Our parents are still together and each brought up three children in the Midwest and Northeast with strong Christian values. We draw from their examples of marriage because they are awesome!
We love doing things together like going to sporting events, broadway shows and playing pickleball. It really doesn't matter what we're doing, we always have a nice time even when we got caught in a snowstorm in South Dakota and had to eat sandwiches in the hotel room for 2 nights cuddled together safe and warm and watching movies.
Our Extended Family
We have a lot of annual traditions we make a big deal out of including all of the holidays and birthdays. We always do a family costume for Halloween, attend church on Christmas Eve and have matching PJs Christmas morning. One of our favorite traditions is setting up a trap on St. Patrick's Day to catch a leprechaun!
We look forward to starting new traditions with your child. Do you have any favorite traditions that you'd like us to start?
Andy's parents live just 25 minutes away. They come to see all of Maeve's dances, softball and soccer games and will be equally involved in your child's life. Grandparents quote: "Bringing another child into our family would be a dream come true, not only for Andy and Mari Kate, but also for us. We will cherish and love your child with all of our hearts."
Andy's sister lives 10 minutes away and is a big part of our lives. She loves baking cookies with Mâeve every year and would love to start a fun tradition with your child.
Do you have a favorite dessert that she could teach your child?
We look forward to starting new traditions with your child. Do you have any favorite traditions that you'd like us to start?
Andy's parents live just 25 minutes away. They come to see all of Maeve's dances, softball and soccer games and will be equally involved in your child's life. Grandparents quote: "Bringing another child into our family would be a dream come true, not only for Andy and Mari Kate, but also for us. We will cherish and love your child with all of our hearts."
Andy's sister lives 10 minutes away and is a big part of our lives. She loves baking cookies with Mâeve every year and would love to start a fun tradition with your child.
Do you have a favorite dessert that she could teach your child?
Our Home
The Chicago suburbs is our hometown. Most of our neighbors have young children. Our village has cute little shops and is very quaint and safe. The public schools in our area are very good but if you choose us, your child will attend the same private school as Mâeve, which is the "best of the best" in education. The school is one mile from our home and has small class sizes so each child gets a lot of individual attention.
Our village hosts many family-type events like Easter Egg Hunts, St. Patrick's Day parties, Hot Chocolate with Santa and more! These activities bring everyone together. We are lucky to be surrounded by so many loving families.
Your child will have so much fun enjoying these activities with friends!
Our village hosts many family-type events like Easter Egg Hunts, St. Patrick's Day parties, Hot Chocolate with Santa and more! These activities bring everyone together. We are lucky to be surrounded by so many loving families.
Your child will have so much fun enjoying these activities with friends!
Our Journey to Adoption
Mari Kate’s brother is adopted so adoption has always been very close to our hearts. When Mari Kate met her brother’s birth mother. What an honor it was to thank her in person.
We have talked about adopting since we were dating. We learned about the adoption journey through our cousins-in-law who were in the final stages of adopting their daughter, Elizabeth, at our wedding. (We had a lot of questions for them.)
Before having our daughter, we looked into both traditional and embryo adoption. We cannot imagine adoption not being part of our lives. And to us, there is no woman in the world more beautiful than the one that will allow us to complete our family.
We have talked about adopting since we were dating. We learned about the adoption journey through our cousins-in-law who were in the final stages of adopting their daughter, Elizabeth, at our wedding. (We had a lot of questions for them.)
Before having our daughter, we looked into both traditional and embryo adoption. We cannot imagine adoption not being part of our lives. And to us, there is no woman in the world more beautiful than the one that will allow us to complete our family.
Fun Facts
About Mari Kate
Education
College degree
Favorite Hobby
Volunteering, watching our daughter’s activities
Favorite Sport
Irish dancing
Favorite Music Group
Hillsong, Andy Grammar
Favorite TV Show
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Bluey, Sweet Magnolias
Favorite Subject in School
Religion, English
Favorite Tradition
Apple Picking in October
About Andy
Education
College degree
Favorite Hobby
Sports, coaching my daughter’s softball team
Favorite Sport
Softball, hockey
Favorite Music Group
Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones
Favorite TV Show
The Office
Favorite Subject in School
History
Favorite Tradition
Cutting down the Christmas tree
