Occupation 

Tech Sales

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Hobby

Playing Basketball & Golf

Favorite Food

Chicken wings

Favorite TV Show

Seinfeld

Favorite Sport

Boston Celtics basketball

Favorite Places to Travel

Rio de Janeiro

Occupation 

Executive Assistant

Education

Some College

Hobby

Interior Decorating, Cooking & embroidery

Favorite Food

Cochinita Pibil

Favorite TV Show

The Office

Favorite Sport

Spurs by heart, Celtics by marriage

Favorite Places to Travel

Mexico City

Who would have thought that the Luck of the Irish would bring a Mexican girl and a Brazilian boy together?! Lorena and I met during a St. Patrick’s Day block party in March of 2018 through a mutual friend who had invited Lorena to meet up with me and a few of my friends. As we began to get to know each other, I knew there was something special about Lorena, and I needed to find a way to spend more time with her. As would hold true to this day, a late night taco date was the perfect solution!

We started dating shortly after that first encounter. I knew right from the beginning that this relationship was special. Lorena took a little bit of convincing, but by the beginning of 2020, she was the one who was asking if we should move in together, and we did right before the pandemic started.

We first moved into a home that Lorena had purchased on her own, and then in 2022, we purchased our first home as a family. After many discussions over the next few years, we knew we were ready for the final steps of marriage and having a child. On October 14th, 2023, I arranged for a nice dinner at one of our favorite restaurants while I snuck in her brothers and mother to set up the backyard. When we arrived home from dinner, I popped the question with a photographer waiting to capture the moment and some champagne on ice!

Our Home

Our home is located in a well-established neighborhood in Austin, TX, where generations of families have lived, creating a very family-friendly environment. Our location allows us to be active and social, with easy access to parks and trails, as well as the opportunity to attend various events throughout the year.



We truly love living in Austin because there are countless activities to enjoy throughout the year, regardless of the season. Austin is renowned for its outdoor activities, particularly Zilker Park, which offers picnic facilities, bike and canoe rentals, a large playground, a mini train, and the spring-fed Barton Springs Pool. The park also hosts amazing events, including music festivals and a kite festival.

I'm originally from Boston, Massachusetts, and am an adoptee. My parents were married for nearly 40 years before my mom passed away in 2015, and they provided me with a loving, supportive home. As an only child, I was still surrounded by a large, close-knit extended family, and my grandmother, who lived nearby, was my primary babysitter. She was an incredible cook, and I’m sure she’s responsible for my lifelong sweet tooth!

I’m still very close with several cousins, and Lorena and I make it a point to visit them during our trips to the northeast, which we do 2-3 times a year. For us, family isn’t just blood—it’s also about the friends we’ve chosen. We know both our direct family and chosen family will play key roles in the community we create for our child, and everyone is excited to be part of this journey.

Being adopted has given me a unique connection to the adoption process. I was adopted at birth in Boston from a Brazilian mother, and my adoption was closed. It wasn’t until my study abroad in Brazil in 2011 that I reconnected with my birth family, including my mother, two siblings, and many relatives. I was lucky to have my best friend Greg join me on the trip to document the reunion. Since then, I’ve made several visits to Brazil and helped my birth mom visit me in the U.S.



Lorena and my dad were able to meet my birth mom in 2023 at a family BBQ, and she’s thrilled for us as we begin our own adoption journey. I hope my experience will be a meaningful guide as we raise our child.

Lorena's Family

I grew up in a border town in West Texas/Chihuahua to Mexican parents, with two brothers—I'm the middle child. My first language is Spanish, and having been born in Texas but raised in Mexico, I feel lucky to have experienced the best of both worlds. I learned the value of family, tradition, and culture while also benefiting from the American Dream, which gave me the opportunity to study in the U.S. and build a life in Texas.

My mom is my biggest role model. She raised us as a single mom, working two jobs while providing a loving home. Now retired, she’s excited to take on grandma duties and visit us more often, just like my grandmother did for her. I’m also grateful for my two brothers. My older brother lives nearby, and we often get together for family dinners. He's Tacko’s favorite uncle and dog-sitter. My younger brother, who recently moved back to West Texas, is already building a playpen for us and can’t wait to be an uncle.

I’m fortunate to have a supportive extended family back home. We’re always there for each other, and you can count on good food and singing at every gathering. My great-grandmother “Chole” was a professional chef, and we’ve all inherited her talent. Will is always amazed by our ability to whip up a full meal from whatever’s in the pantry. Singing is another family talent, especially among the men, who all share my late father’s gift for Mariachi.

Will & Lorena - A Look Into Our Life

Say Hi to Tacko

Tacko is a 3.5-year-old bundle of joy! He’s a “super mutt” with a mix of at least 7 to 10 different breeds in his DNA. Full of energy, he also enjoys cuddling on the couch. Tacko keeps us active with daily walks—sometimes even twice a day—and weekend hikes, bringing us so much happiness every day. He is definitely a people pleaser and adores the attention he gets when visitors come over, especially when they bring their kids!

Our Chosen Family

Since moving to Austin, Lorena and I have built a strong and loyal group of chosen family members. Most of our closest friends feel like family without any qualifiers. We usually spend holidays, like the 4th of July and Thanksgiving, with our Austin family. Our chosen family also includes many little ones who call us "Tío" and "Tía." We love spending time with our chosen nieces and nephews, whether it’s at the park, enjoying a day at the lake, or participating in the various fun events and activities that Austin offers. Everyone is excited to add another member of the family into the mix!

Adventures

One thing that we share is our love for travel and adventure; between the 2 of us, we have visited over 15 countries, from Brazil to Puerto Rico, Spain, and Hong Kong. We both understand the importance of learning and appreciating new cultures, which we plan to continue doing as parents. I am definitely a beach guy who loves the water and all the seafood my heart can take. Lorena is more of a city girl. Give her a historical walking tour that ends with a gelato or dinner with a view, and she’s happy; either way, we both love to explore!

Family Traditions

Family gatherings are a major part of our life. Sometimes with our biological family and sometimes with our chosen family! Lorena’s family is very close, and we spend every Christmas with them either in El Paso or Juarez. Typically, in the days leading up to Christmas Eve, the cousins, with the help of the matriarchs, get together and make tamales (tamalada). This has been a long-running tradition for her family, a new one for me, but I’m learning!

Lorena is very proud of her Mexican heritage, and every year, she puts up an altar de Dia de Muertos to honor and remember those family members who have gone but not forgotten. This is not a tradition that I ever experienced growing up in Boston, but we’ve made sure that the Irish side of the family gets their ofrendas as well; after all, we all grew up Catholic!



Most of my family lives in the northeast, so to avoid the frigid temperatures of late fall and winter, we spend most of our time together in the summer. During this season, we often go to Cape Cod or explore great restaurants along the Boston Harbor to satisfy our seafood cravings! Of course, our chosen family in Austin is also integral to our community, and with so many kiddos in the crew, finding any and every excuse to gather for birthdays, holidays, or simply to spend time together throughout the year.