Hello! We are Pinar & Hans from Los Angeles, California. We are thrilled to share a bit about who we are with you. We can't express enough how grateful we are for this opportunity and how excited we feel! We've always dreamed of becoming parents and started our journey to build a family soon after we were married. After trying to conceive naturally and going through fertility treatments without success, we realized that adoption is a beautiful way to fulfill our dream. Both of us come from big, close families, and we’re excited to build our own. We’re committed to providing a loving, supportive home and can’t wait to share our lives and create wonderful memories together.

Our love story began in 2010 in San Francisco when mutual friends introduced us. We fell in love at a friend’s wedding and were married within two years. Since then, we’ve experienced life together, supporting each other through every twist and turn. Traveling, eating, and community are the binding components of our relationship; we love visiting other countries, exploring different cultures, savoring new flavors, and sharing these experiences with our loved ones. Family and friends mean the world to us. We visit our families often, treasuring every moment together. We believe in building meaningful, lifelong connections and love growing and evolving together. Life’s challenges have only strengthened our bond and deepened our communication.

I'm a holistic healer with a background in fashion. I grew up in Izmir, Turkey, enjoying Mediterranean food and the sea. Long summers meant endless days of swimming, beach volleyball, and outdoor fun with friends. I attended French schools, making lifelong friends and becoming a volleyball player. I have two brothers and numerous childhood friends, with whom I reunite every summer in our beach town. I moved to the US 19 years ago to pursue my education and career. With a Master’s in Fashion Merchandising, I ran my own business for 10 years. I spent 16 years in San Francisco before moving to Los Angeles, where I’m now building our community. Passionate about health, wellness, and psychology, I believe true healing is physical, mental, and spiritual. I enjoy exercising, reading, meditating, decorating, and hiking. Known as the “salad queen,” I love making healthy snacks. I’m excited to bring my nurturing spirit and cultural heritage into our child’s life, and as a stay at home mom I can bring full focus to this.

Pinar is the warm, caring heart of our home, always ready for a hug and an ear to listen. She’s a powerhouse of strength and determination, her laughter is contagious. She’s a teacher of the world, with knowledge and creativity that always amazes me. She has a knack for drawing people in and making them feel special. From the moment I met her, I knew she was the one from how genuine she is and how she carries herself. She balances my quirks perfectly, making us an unbeatable team. I’m lucky to have her by my side every day, I’m always learning and growing because of her. And yes, she IS the Salad Queen!

I am an executive in the food industry who's passionate about cooking, being outside, and finding new adventures. Growing up in Connecticut with three brothers meant our house was always full of action and laughter. I love a bustling home. As a kid, I spent most of my time outdoors—hiking, skiing, fishing, golfing, or playing any sport we could think of. I’m pretty sure there’s not an outdoor sport I don’t like! After college, I traveled around the world and lived in Japan. For three years, I taught English, cooked at a restaurant, and explored the country. It was the experience of a lifetime. When I moved back to the US, I focused my career on the food industry and worked up to an executive role. While I did get an MBA, I believe the world is the greatest classroom. Now, I work from home, which gives me flexibility to balance work and life. Friends and family are incredibly important to me, and I love being part of a strong community. I can’t wait to share my love for food, outdoor adventures, and the importance of community with our future child.

Hans loves life and knows how to have fun. He entertains his friends and family with delicious cooking and engaging conversations, making everyone feel at home. Kids, cats, dogs, birds, humans—everyone is drawn to him. He is passionate, kind, and caring. When he gets excited about something, he ignites that same excitement and curiosity in others, spreading joy all around. I always imagine him walking around with a magic wand, turning everything into beauty. When I first met Hans at a house party, his unusual name made me curious and I asked him where he was from. I expected Germany, but he said Connecticut, I thought that was funny and we immediately hit it off. As we got to know each other, I found him to be fun and very cultured. He was well-traveled and very curious about other cultures and cuisines. I’ve always loved that about him, and it is how he stole my family’s heart. So much so that we ended up having our big fat Turkish wedding in Istanbul!

We live in a bright, spacious, three-bedroom condo in Los Feliz, Los Angeles. We have a beautiful roof deck with a view of Downtown LA, Griffith Observatory and space for a kiddie pool! Our home is located in a family-friendly neighborhood with Griffith Park, LA Zoo, many playgrounds, and good schools already close.

We have two ice cream shops within walking distance! It’s like being in a small bubble within one of the biggest cities in the US. Our building is a little community with several new families and new kiddos on the way. Our weekends are filled with time with our close friendship groups—artists, doctors, producers, and photographers. This wonderful mix of people makes our lives vibrant and interesting, we can’t wait to share all of this with our future child.

Pinar’s family is large, lively, and full of fun, just like Hans’. She has two brothers, one nephew, and fifteen cousins. Every summer, we travel to Turkey to see them, and Pinar ends up buying more and more gifts each year. She has three cousins she is especially close with; they are the sisters she never had. Pinar speaks with her brothers and parents multiple times each week. We spend our summer vacations in Turkey with the family. Our gatherings are always joyful, and family means everything to us.

Hans’ family is just like Pinar’s, only more of them! With three brothers, three nieces, one nephew, and twenty cousins our gatherings are never dull. We love celebrating holidays together— Thanksgiving, 4th of July, Christmas, you name it. And with all of these people, our full family reunions can swell to over 50 people! Even though we’re spread across the country, whenever we meet up, it’s like no time has passed, and we dive straight into fun mode immediately.

We are aware that this decision is difficult, and we will be there for you as much as we can, respecting your process. Thank you for reading about us!

Pinar and Hans