Hi, we are Blake and Lauren. Blake is 32, his birthday is in July, and he works as a talent acquisition manager for a global services company. Lauren is 33, her birthday is in March, and she is a bank teller. We have lived in South Carolina the majority of our lives, building careers and a life filled with shared interests and hobbies. We are both avid readers, big Harry Potter fans who love visiting Harry Potter World at Universal Orlando, and enjoy playing video games and board/card games together. Blake enjoys golfing and Lauren enjoys arts and crafts like painting, woodburning, and puzzles. We met in May 2015 when Lauren began working at the same restaurant as Blake; we started dating in July, and married in November 2017. Blake is hardworking, funny, and an amazing cook. Lauren is very creative, has a caring nature, and great sense of humor.

Family means everything to us, and we're lucky to have such a close and supportive extended family. We love getting together, keeping up traditions, and making great memories. Any child who joins our family will be surrounded by love, laughter, and people who will always be there for them.

We live just 10 minutes from Blake's younger brother, his wife, and their two kids, so we see them often—whether it's a quick visit, a weekend hangout, or just sharing a meal. Holidays and birthdays are always big family events at Blake's grandparents' house, where relatives gather to celebrate. Blake's aunt and uncle live nearby, making family time even more frequent. Blake's younger sister, who's in college, visits whenever she can and loves being part of all the fun.

On Lauren's side, her sister and our two nephews live a few hours away, along with our three goddaughters. Even though they're farther away, we make sure to see them as often as possible.

One of our favorite traditions is our annual apple orchard trip, a tradition that's been going strong for over 40 years. Whether picking apples, playing board games, or just sharing laughs, our family is built on love, traditions, and always showing up for each other.

We live in the upstate of South Carolina, and we reside in a cozy suburb surrounded by farmland. We are about 20 minutes away from two of the larger cities in the area. There are several museums, playgrounds, and amusement parks nearby. We picked one of the better school districts in the area. The neighborhood is relatively close-knit, with lots of families and a play area for the kids in the neighborhood. Our home is one-story with an open-concept floor plan. Blake has an office in the home, we have a room we are turning into a nursery, and a room for our three cats. The cats' names are Penguin, Tigerlilly, and Tangerine. Penguin is a Maine Coon, Tigerlilly (TL) and Tangerine are domestic short-hairs.

Lauren grew up in the foster care system, so adoption has always been a desire of ours. Our plan was to start a family and adopt along the way. We started trying to have kids in 2021. Since then, Lauren has been pregnant twice, though neither pregnancy was successful. Through the pain and grief, God has helped us grow, and we know that adoption is the right choice for us. We are in a stable place emotionally, financially, and physically, and we're looking forward to having a little one join our lives.