Hello, we are Shawn & Shannon from Los Angeles, California! In writing this message, we can’t help but be in awe of you and the very generous choice you are making. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about us, and we hope to get the chance to learn about you.

We met when a mutual friend invited Shannon to Shawn's birthday party. As soon as we started chatting, we both felt an immediate connection and ease with each other. We were together soon after that. When you know, you know. We've been together for ten years and happily married for over seven!

After being married for a couple of years, we were excited to expand our love by bringing another member into our family. We tried to get pregnant for a few years, working through some fertility treatments. But throughout the process, adoption was always in the back of our minds as a great alternative. After researching and speaking with a close friend who recently adopted, we knew this was the best path for us. We and our extended family are so grateful for the opportunity to bring an adopted child into our lives.

I grew up in Los Angeles with my older sister and parents. My Dad, who is a film editor, introduced me to a wide array of movies and fostered my love for film and comedy. My Mom, who was born and raised in Mexico, taught us how to cook Mexican food and supported my interest in music by taking my friends and me to concerts. My sister and I are close in age, so we grew up spending a lot of time together – playing sports, making up dances, and riding bikes. We attended Catholic school, which instilled in me a desire to help those less fortunate. My parents divorced when I was in high school, and my Dad eventually married my step-mom, Meg, who has been a wonderful source of support. My Dad and Meg live in a mountain community a couple of hours away, and my Mom lives in a suburb just outside of the city. We get together with each of them every month or two. I love Los Angeles and have never lived anywhere else. I earned my undergraduate degree in sociology and political science at Cal State LA and my master's in public administration at USC.

I've worked for the City of LA for many years. I am passionate about public service and love being able to make the City a better place for all Angelenos. I currently serve as a director for the Mayor, overseeing programs that send unarmed responders to assist individuals in need.

Generous, thoughtful, and funny, Shannon makes my life immeasurably better. Whether it’s by helping me laugh off a tough day or game- planning a weekend together, she’s always lifting me up. She’s dedicated to her work for the City of LA, and to improving our community, which inspires me to give back more. A fantastic listener, she’s always willing to help me talk something out and think through a problem. She makes me a better person, and I don’t know what I’d do without her.

I grew up in a suburb of Boston with two loving parents and an older sister. My parents were both professionals; Mom’s a psychologist, and Dad worked in sales. It was a fun and supportive home that prized education and physical activity. I cheered from the sidelines as my parents ran the Boston Marathon multiple times. After college, I lived in New York for a few years, pursuing acting and writing, performing in a bunch of commercials and off-broadway theater productions. Eventually, I made my way out west to focus on my writing career. Landing in LA, I was lucky to meet a great group of friends who are diverse, creative, and supportive. Group trips and activities happen often, and I’ve always got someone to call.

I’m a screenwriter and director, mainly in the comedy genre, but I also work in copywriting and private tutoring. Television and movies were always something I aspired to create. It’s a thrill to be able to take an idea from just a glimmer to a full-fledged script, to a produced piece of film or TV. I’ve never taken myself too seriously, and that’s why comedy is my home. Finding humor in the darkest situations has always been my go-to. People fascinate me, so I’m always mining my life for characters and ideas. The private tutoring work I’ve done on and off throughout the years has been rewarding in a different way. I work primarily with high schoolers, prepping them for the SAT or ACT. I find that I really enjoy helping students push past their obstacles and limiting beliefs.

Shawn is smart, hilarious, and compassionate. Marrying him was the best decision I’ve made. He is a great listener and communicator, which makes it easy to talk through any challenges we encounter. His quick wit and sense of humor keep me laughing every day. I love that we can be very silly together. And he's constantly impressing me with all the trivia he knows, whether it’s an old saying I’ve never heard or a random scientific fact.

Our family and friends are very important to us and are excited about our decision to adopt. We are so lucky to have loving families and friends. Shawn’s sister and Shannon’s cousin each live about 10 minutes away and can’t wait to be an aunties. We get together with each of them often for dinner, walks, and other outings. His parents, who live in Boston, visit throughout the year to spend quality time with us and take advantage of the southern California sunshine. Shannon’s mom, who lives just outside the city, visits us frequently for lunch or an outing to a museum. Her dad and step-mom live a couple of hours away in a mountain community. We love visiting them and being in the fresh mountain air. Shannon’s sister visits us from Switzerland a couple of times a year with her husband.

During the Christmas holiday, the whole family gathers at Shannon’s parents’ house to cook a big Christmas dinner and partake in our annual white elephant gift exchange. Additionally, Shannon has a large extended family on her mom’s side that live in Texas, Mexico, Germany, and Canada. However, one of her cousins lives 10 minutes away and is thrilled to be an auntie. Many of our friends have kids and are eager to share the knowledge (and hand-me-downs!) they’ve accumulated. We’ve got a really strong community here, excited to welcome our expanded family.

We love cuddling and playing with our furry family - Junebug and Sadie. They are constantly amusing us with their antics and cuteness. Sadie loves belly rubs and chasing treats, while Junebug enjoys being brushed and making biscuits on Shannon every night.

We are lucky to live in a diverse and walkable neighborhood in LA where we have easy access to a variety of foods, cultural events, parks, and hiking. We love our neighbors and live near most of our friends. We are also close to our offices, and within a short distances, we’ve got lots of great schools, grocery stores, and playgrounds.

We are so excited to share the world with our future child and follow and support whatever interests they might have. We look forward to taking them to Griffith Park, LA’s largest park, where we can be in nature and visit the Observatory to explore stars and planets. We want to play on the beach and build sandcastles, introduce them to Mickey Mouse at Disneyland, visit the LA Arboretum where peacocks roam free, roller skate at the Venice Boardwalk, and turn up some music at home and dance around like no one is watching.

We want to create a loving and supportive environment where our child feels safe and unconditionally loved. We want our child to know that we are always here to support them without judgment. We’ll aim to create an environment with enough structure for them to feel safe, but also the right amount of freedom so that they can express themselves. We promise to teach them, by example, our values of honesty, kindness, and resilience.