Occupation 

Healthcare Supply Chain

Education

Some College (5 years)

Hobby

Cooking & home projects

Favorite Family Activity

Hanging out in the backyard

Favorite Food

Texas style BBQ

Favorite Holiday

Thanksgiving

Favorite Place to Travel

Kauai, HI

Occupation 

Technology Project Manager

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Hobby

Traveling, swimming & hiking

Favorite Family Activity

Vacationing

Favorite Food

Sushi, tacos & dark chocolate

Favorite Holiday

Christmas

Favorite Place to Travel

A Beach, National Parks & somewhere new!

Our Story

We met on a dating app right when we were both about to call it quits with online dating. Michael told his friends he was going to give it “one more try” and decided to meet me for dinner. During our date I listened to him talk about his family, previous relationships, and what he was looking for in life. He was very genuine, honest, and looking for a serious relationship - something I hadn’t come across from other guys I met online. I appreciated his openness and vulnerability and by the end of the date we both felt there was something special happening between us.

We introduced each other to our fur babies that had each been with us for most of our adult lives. It felt like we were introducing each other to our children who would need to give us their approval. As we dated, we bonded over the love we shared for our families and the desire to have children of our own one day.

We got engaged in the Summer of 2020 and as we planned our fall wedding, things started moving quickly with the pandemic, forcing us to scale back our guest list to keep everyone safe.

We took great measures to make sure we could have our immediate family and closest friends there to celebrate with us. It was a beautiful fall day with great weather and plenty of Texas sun. We were married in our church and hosted the reception at my parents’ ranch before they sold it to downsize. It was a truly memorable event that like all great times flew by too fast. We are forever grateful we were even able to celebrate with friends and family and appreciate the uniqueness of the situation.

Izzy is the light of our lives and brings endless joy to everyone she meets. She’s an incredibly happy child who loves to greet people wherever we go with a big smile, wave, or cheerful 'Hello.' Whether it's friends or complete strangers, Izzy always waves and says 'Hi!' or 'Bye-bye!' with her infectious enthusiasm.

As she grows, Izzy’s personality shines through with her boundless curiosity, strong will, and emerging sense of humor. She absolutely loves being outdoors—whether searching for snails and airplanes, splashing in water, or collecting new rocks. She also loves attending her weekly swimming lessons and trying her new skills out at the local pool.

At home, music is always playing, and Izzy can’t resist dancing and showing off her latest moves—right now, hopping is her favorite! If she hears music while we're out, she’ll often stop in her tracks to start dancing. Izzy has a sweet, caring nature and adores being around other children, whether older or younger. She especially loves following the “big kids” around. Her love for people and her joyful spirit make her an absolute treasure.

We communicate with Izzy’s birth mom via text and photo sharing and meet up with her and Izzy’s half-siblings a few times a year. We value their presence in our lives and strive to ensure Izzy is familiar with her adoption story and has a relationship with her birth family.

Our Home

Our home is a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom house with an open concept living space. The backyard features a large deck with two dining areas and a fire pit, making it perfect for hosting family and friends. The spacious lawn is great for running and playing, and it's shaded by big trees to block the Texas sun. Izzy loves playing in the sprinkler, water table, and baby pool.

We live very close to a state park with fantastic hiking trails, swimming spots, splash pad, and plenty of picnic areas. Additionally, we're just a block away from an elementary school with a playscape and near a large shaded park that offers a playground, walking trail, and a pool.

Michael's Family

My family is all from Indiana and still lives in my hometown. My parents met in high school and have been married for 45 years. I have two siblings. My older sister has two daughters, aged 23 and 22, and my younger brother has an 8-year-old daughter.

Even though we don't live near my family, we see them often and talk on the phone and FaceTime regularly. I am very close to my nieces and believe my role in their lives has created a bond that we all cherish. My relationship with them has directly impacted the kind of father I am, teaching Izzy to be independent and experience unconditional love and support from our family. I love hearing about their lives and their plans for the future. I am thankful for the bond I share with my family and look forward to all the moments we share and the memories we make together.



We have visited my family multiple times since Izzy was born, and they love her so much! My nieces enjoy holding her and spending time with her. My brother, his wife, and my sister also love having another little one around. My parents, who visit frequently, love to spoil their granddaughter. They are all beyond supportive and cannot wait for another child to join our bunch.

I have a close-knit family that includes my parents, who have been married for 49 years, and my younger sister and brother, both married with children. We live near my parents and my sister’s family, and we see them weekly. My dad, "Pop," shares a special bond with Izzy. He cared for her when I returned to work and still helps out whenever needed.



My brother, his wife, and their four children live in Dallas, and we enjoy visiting them each fall and taking a spring break trip with both siblings and their families. The cousins love playing together, and Izzy, the baby of the bunch, tries to keep up with all the “big kids.”

Each summer, we host “aunt camp” for our nieces and nephews, where they stay with us for a week or weekend. We take them to do all the fun activities our city has to offer—swimming, boating on the lake, eating frozen bananas with their favorite toppings, and grabbing pizza!

I also have a large extended family with many aunts, uncles, cousins, and my grandmother nearby. Every two years, my dad’s family hosts a reunion, alternating between Texas and Kentucky. It’s always a fun chance to reconnect with family we don’t see often and meet new in-laws or babies. This year, Izzy will attend her first reunion, and everyone is excited to finally meet her.

Michael & Christi - A Look Into Our Life

Our Boy Wilbur

After losing both of our beloved pets, we decided it was time to get a dog to bring life back into our home. That's when we met Wilbur, who needed a new home, and we happily welcomed him into our lives. He is a very energetic, loving, and cuddly pup who adores kids, especially because they are at his level for giving kisses.

Wilbur is especially fond of Izzy as she willingly feeds him snacks when we aren’t looking and often leaves a hefty crumb trail for him to clean up. Wilbur has welcomed Izzy as part of the pack and loves to greet her in the mornings when she wakes up and is the last one to leave her room at bedtime.



 Izzy refers to Wilbur as “Ba-Ba” (which she uses for all dogs) and often says “Ba-Ba” the whole way home from school each day. She loves to greet Wilbur as soon as she walks in the door and is eager to give him his treat before we leave in the mornings. She welcomes Wilbur’s kisses and loves to tell him to “sit” or to give a “high five” so she can feed him treats.

Family Fun

We love exploring new places and introducing Izzy to the unique everyday activities in our city. One of our favorite spots is the Wildflower Center, where Izzy enjoys the water feature and the seasonal exhibits. We also like to visit the local zoo and outdoor restaurants, often meeting up with friends and family.

Christi and Izzy particularly enjoy walking around the lake trail, watching the dogs, and feeding the turtles and fish. When the weather is cooler, we take Izzy to local trails in a hiking carrier, and she loves taking in the sights and exploring on her own. We also enjoy going to UT sporting events.

Oh, The Places We'll Go

We love to travel and see new places as it gives us a broader perspective of the world and other cultures. We enjoy visiting places where we have friends and family who can show us their favorite local spots. We've taken Izzy on several trips within the US and look forward to traveling internationally when she is a bit older.

Most of our trips revolve around outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, or going to the beach, and we have a list of cities and national parks we plan to visit in the future. We also have a state park pass and like to visit the state parks in our area when the weather cools off. We can't wait to share our love of travel with our children and witness them learn from the experiences they will have.

Our family has a few favorite holiday traditions. One of the highlights is "BYOP" (Bring Your Own Pumpkin) at Halloween, where we gather with Christi's cousins to eat chili and carve pumpkins. Over the years, it’s become a family event with all the kids in costumes, and we also enjoy visiting our local pumpkin patch.

For Thanksgiving, we usually travel to Indiana the weekend before to enjoy the fall weather and spend time with Michael’s family. We also visit friends and family with young children in Chicago. Christi’s dad is the Thanksgiving chef, coordinating a big family dinner where everyone contributes a recipe. Afterward, we have a gathering with Christi’s extended family, including her cousins and their kids.

At Christmas, we started the tradition of wearing matching PJs (including Wilbur) for our PJ breakfast, often with family or guests. We used to attend Midnight Mass as a family, but now we go to the children's service and plan to return to Midnight Mass once the kids are older. Christi’s dad prepares a big Christmas dinner, followed by gift opening in age order (youngest to oldest). Between watching Christmas movies, we always work on a family puzzle together. As our family grows, we're excited to see how our traditions continue to evolve.