Hi there! We are Jennifer and Marty!

We want to express our appreciation for you in opening our profile. We are so excited to share more about ourselves! We are a fun-filled family who has so much love to give, and we hope that shines through within this profile.

Most importantly though, we want you to feel empowered to make the decision that is right for you and your child at this moment. Be assured that we are 100% supportive of you and trust you to make the best choice for you and your family, whatever that may be.

You are brave, capable, and selfless, and we are very much wishing you peace and guidance in your journey.

Our Story

Cupid's arrow struck when we met on a dating app in 2015.

Our initial conversation often surrounded who could "brie" the best at making cheesy puns that day, and as we got to know each other more, it became clear we were two "curds" of a feather and a wonderful and loving relationship emerged. We were married in Sedona, Arizona surrounded by 40 of our closest friends and family in 2021.

Fun continues to be a foundation of our relationship, and we often spend our time pulling silly pranks on each other around the house, laughing until our bellies hurt, and playing lots of board games. We are both very warm and caring people, and love big hugs, supporting our family and friends, and doing whatever we can to sprinkle kindness into this world wherever we go.

We love going on daily neighborhood walks together and enjoying some fresh air on our back porch while caring for our plants. Travel is also something very important to us - we've been to 20+ countries and want to continue to expand our horizons with a little one in tow. Our dog, Allie, is our best buddy and is going to be such an amazing big sister!

Jennifer loves baking desserts and bread, having her nose in a captivating book, and distance running (she has run 2 half marathons and is looking forward to training for a marathon).

Marty enjoys photography, gardening, cooking, and is usually consuming some sort of interesting book or show about geography of the world.

Home Sweet Home

We live in North Carolina in a city that is continually ranked as one of the top 20 safest large cities nationally, and is very diverse with 19% of citizens being born in another country. Our 4 bedroom townhouse is urban, giving us the ability to walk to many restaurants, schools, and start-of-the-art parks. We have over 50 houseplants, so our home is very green and full of life. Our dog, Allie, adds some additional life to the house and takes her full-time job as ball fetcher very seriously. Jokes aside, she is energetic and fun, but also has a gentle, snuggly side - especially with little ones.

Jennifer's mom is her best friend and they talk many times a week - she is kind, warm, funny, and always there to listen. Her aunt (mom's sister) is basically like her second mother and played a huge role in raising her. They both live in Jennifer's hometown in the Appalachian Mountains, and we love to visit that beautiful area and spend time with them. We are also very close to Jennifer's uncle (her mom's twin brother!) and his wife, who live 10 minutes from us. We usually see them multiple times a month, and they will be core support for us in raising a little one.

Marty's parents live together in his Texas hometown and we get together several times a year. Their eccentric, fun-loving, day-to-day outlook on life inspires us. They're enjoying retirement on their land with their new pug puppies, whom they jokingly call his siblings. We often visit his 93-year-old Oma (grandma) in California any chance we get. She is an inspirational woman who lives life to the fullest. She is known around her retirement community for taking her cat out on daily walks on a leash. We are confident our future little one will make many trips to San Diego to visit her.

We consider our friends to be extensions of our family, and are extremely excited for all of our loved ones to shower a little one with snuggles.

Fun Facts About Us

We are a wanderlust duo:

We've explored volcanic landscapes in the Azores, soaked up the sun in Italy, and haggled for spices in Turkey. Next on the map? The world is our oyster! We know for sure our future little one will be in tow.

Jennifer's Passions:

• March Madness Fiend: Don't mess with her during NCAA season – go Heels! Her bracket-busting skills are legendary.

• Road Warrior: From marathons to leisurely jogs, she conquers miles with a smile.

• Jeopardy Whiz: Trivia nights tremble at her name. Don't even think about challenging her on capital cities or historical facts.

Marty's Passions:

• Botanical Mastermind: He's not just watering plants, he's cultivating an Eden! Our home is a thriving paradise bursting with green plants and fragrant flowers.

• The Cookie Concoctor: Forget store-bought treats – Marty's homemade chocolate chip cookies are the definition of pure indulgence. Warm, gooey, and guaranteed to vanish in seconds.

• World Traveler, Picture Taker: His adventures aren't complete without capturing the essence of a place through his lens. Sprinkle in a few photos of Jennifer and our pup, Allie.

Things We Will Teach Your Child

• Muddy boots & firefly chases: Exploring forests, beaches & skies, fostering a connection to the earth.

• "Why?" as our anthem: Encouraging endless questions, learning from mistakes.

• From books to galaxies: Igniting imaginations through stories, art & science exploration.

• Hands-on learning: Playful experiments, building & creating, making the world their laboratory.

• Kindness as our compass: Showing empathy, helping hands, and open hearts.

• Celebrating differences: Embracing cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds, building bridges.

• Standing for what's right: Listening with open ears, speaking with kindness, building inclusion.

• "I can" as their mantra: Encouraging big dreams and reaching for the stars.

• Celebrating their spark: Nurturing talents, passions, and individuality.

Thank You!

Thank you again for taking the time to learn more about us, and we hope this profile gave you a better understanding of who we are as people and who we aspire to be as adoptive parents.

We can commit to our child having so much fun with us, and our goal is to fill their belly with laughter every single day. We also commit to ensuring the child has the opportunity to grow, explore, and learn. We will provide countless opportunities to learn, set up the best educational opportunities for a child, and give them the tools to grow into the person they want to be, not any preconceived vision we have for them. Ultimately, our wish for them is to be self-sufficient, fulfilled, happy, and aware of the many people who love them very dearly.

We promise to stay up-to-date on best practices of raising an adopted child. We know so much has changed in the last 10 years with adoption, and we will be prepared for the next 10+ years.

Lastly, we believe that family comes in many different shapes and sizes, and if you decide to move forward with adoption, and an adoption with us, we are committed to being your advocate and partner in this journey. We want to have thoughtful discussions on what this looks like post-adoption and foster a comfortble environment in which we can communicate. We will honor your wishes here, but if you are willing and able to be involved in our family, we welcome you with open arms and warmth.