Todd & Lisa

Our journey together began when we met while living in the same dormitory as undergraduate college students. We started off as good friends for 2 1/2 years, then began dating, and got married four years later. After nearly 15 years of marriage we are still best friends and remain inseparable. Together, we've enjoyed travel to places such as Italy, Toronto, the Grand Canyon, and Las Vegas. We also have fun attending ice hockey and baseball games, going to concerts, watching movies, and dining out. But most of all, we've truly enjoyed becoming parents together.

What Todd says about Lisa

Lisa is very thoughtful, caring, and intelligent. Above all else she wants to be a good Mom for Theo. She is always there for him, whether it's responding to middle-of-the night wake-ups, soothing minor bumps and bruises, or baking cookies together. As a part-time researcher in the early childhood education field, her knowledge and skills in child development have come in handy on many occasions. From her, I have learned how to help create a home environment that gives Theo guidance and support so he can do his best. I appreciate her honesty, willingness to challenge conventional norms, desire to give back to the community through volunteering, and ability to continually put family first.

Lisa's favorite things

MUSICAL ARTISTS: Norah Jones, Jack Johnson, Jewel, Billy Joel
TV SHOW: Top Chef
JUNK FOOD: Mozzarella cheese sticks
MOVIES: The Sound of Music, Mama Mia, romantic comedies
BOOKS: Anything by Janet Evanovich or Diane Mott Davidson, Harry Potter series
ACTIVITIES:Walking, quilting (with a quilt group), reading, yoga, cooking, volunteering for the Parent Teacher Student Association
TRIP: Sorrento, Italy
FAMILY ACTIVITY: Going for a hike in the woods, snuggling on the couch to watch a movie

What Lisa says about Todd

Todd tends to give whatever he is doing 100% effort. Whether it's teaching his students (he's a college professor), coaching Theo's t-ball team, or organizing an ice hockey league, he puts his heart and soul into doing a great job. He has a playful side that keeps Theo and me constantly laughing and makes other young children (babies especially!) gravitate toward him. Time with family is very important to him so he often plans activities for us to do such as bike riding, ice skating, or attending baseball or ice hockey sporting events. On my most recent birthday, he even planned a surprise trip to Toronto to see a play! I love him for his creativity, openness to new ideas, sense of fairness, and support of the family.

Todd's favorite things

COLOR: Blue
SNACK: Ice cream cookie dough and most others
MUSICAL ARTISTS: Billy Joel, Bare Naked Ladies, Trans Siberian Orchestra
FOOD: Grandma's potato balls and pot roast
MOVIES: The Matrix, Star Wars, action-adventures
ACTIVITIES: Playing hockey, composing digital music, playing piano
BOOK: Harry Potter series (yes, I know they are kids books)
TRIP: Sorrento, Italy
FAMILY ACTIVITY: Wrestling with Theo

What Lisa and Todd say about Theo

After eight years of marriage, we were thrilled to become parents for the first time. Theodore (Theo) is an articulate and loving boy with interests that include cars, ice hockey, baseball, and "Star Wars". He loves ice cream, rough and tumble play with Daddy, and snuggle time with Mommy. When Theo was born, we never expected him to be an only child. He is at an ideal age for a baby brother or sister. He likes being around younger children whether it is friends who visit, or his younger cousins. He especially enjoys his baby cousin: feeding her, pushing her in the swing, and playing peek-a-boo to make her smile. Sometimes he spontaneously talks about what it will be like when we have a baby in our family. At the grocery store he recently commented: "When we have our baby, we'll need to go down that aisle [pointing to the aisle with diapers and baby food]." We know he will make a wonderful big brother.

Home & Community

We live in a recently built, four-bedroom colonial home in one of the top school districts in the country. We love playing baseball in our yard in summer, and sledding down our hill in winter. On summer evenings and weekends, we also enjoy walking our neighborhood trails and playing soccer at a nearby field. The neighborhood has many children of all different ages and a very active neighborhood community (with events such as a chili cook-off each winter and a softball tournament in the summer). Playgrounds and parks are a short bike ride away. We regularly visit nearby places such as the local library, indoor playgrounds/bounce houses, the local zoo, the children's museum (one of the largest in the country!), local farms (strawberry picking in spring and fall festivals in October), and the science center. We feel very fortunate to live in a community that has a tremendous amount to offer families and look forward to raising Theo and a new sibling here.

Friends & Family

Family and friends are very important to us. As our extended family does not live locally, we travel regularly to spend time with them. With Lisa's parents in Florida and Todd's parents near New York City, trips to see family also means that we have a lot of opportunities to visit exciting places such as Disney World and the Museum of Natural History. At home, we host visiting family members, including Theo's aunts and uncles, on a regular basis. We also love to get together with friends for casual dinners at each other's houses, to play cards, have picnics, or to see shows or sporting events.

We can only imagine...

...what it might be like facing the choices before you. Considering adoption takes strength, courage, faith, and a lot of love. Adoption has been described as a "very sacred exchange [that is] not done lightly on either side" (Jamie Lee Curtis). For our side, we promise to offer a loving and supportive home that values family and celebrates life's gifts. We would love to hear from you and learn more about your dreams and hopes for your child, as well as the kind of relationship you might like to have with your child's adoptive parents. Thanks so much for taking the time to get to know us a little bit.

Warmly, Lisa, Theo & Todd