Susan and Andy

Dear Expectant
Mother,

Just by reading this, you are demonstrating your love for your child. Love is wanting and doing the absolute best for your child, no matter how difficult the path might be for you. Please know that we will love and cherish your child every day and with our whole hearts. We promise you that your child will know you, your love for them, and you will always have a place in our family.

We will welcome your child whole-heartedly into our lives. We will laugh with them and delight in their joy. We will hold them when they cry and when they need our strength. We will squeeze them tight when they need nothing but our love, and we will step back when they need their independence. We will cheer when they succeed, and we will comfort them when they fall. We will treasure every moment with them, the good and the not-so-good, because those are all the real moments of parenthood.

Our Story

We met in Washington, DC, where we both had moved for work. We found we shared an interest in music, travel, and international politics. We also found we envisioned a similar future that included settling down and having children. Andy was attracted to Susan’s strong independent streak and intelligence. Susan fell in love with Andy’s kindness and generosity. Now married for 15 years, we recognize and blend our different personalities, we utilize our various strengths and, most importantly, we lean on each other every day.

Our greatest delight is our daughter Tessie. Unfortunately, Susan experienced complications post-delivery and can no longer have children. In our hearts, we know that our family is not complete. We wish to welcome another child into our family and experience again the sheer joy of watching a child grow. We are excited to watch Tessie be the great big sister we know she will be.

Meet Susan

I grew up in Wisconsin with my parents and three older siblings. We lived minutes from extended family and created lasting family traditions. My siblings and their families still live in the Midwest and my mother is delighted when my childhood home is filled with the now eight of us and our nine children.

I absolutely love reading and learning so I have really enjoyed volunteering at Tessie’s school running a literacy and academic enrichment program. It has been so rewarding to help students discover impactful books and find ways to enhance their education. Prior to Tessie, I had a wonderful experience practicing law. I enjoyed the research and writing, being an advocate, and finding solutions. Now that I am a stay-at-home mom, I am still advocating and solving problems but now it is for my child and family instead of clients!

I can be serious and practical, but I love to joke and laugh. Friends say my sense of humor is witty and dry; my daughter just finds me silly. We give each other big hugs and bunny kisses. Most important to me is that no matter how the day has gone, I tell my child every day how much I love her. I long to give out hugs, kisses, and loving whispers to another sleepy child every night.

Meet Andy

I grew up in Massachusetts. I come from a family of educators and activists which shaped my worldview. I have one sister and three stepsisters and an amazingly supportive extended family. I learned from an early age that it is not the labels that matter but a family’s love and inclusiveness.

I was a camp counselor as a teenager and that describes who I aim to be today—a caretaker, an organizer, a positive energy in all situations. I love being a father. I revel in everything from having tea parties to splashing in the lake to playing soccer with Tessie.

My career at a large Chicago bank provides for my family and allows flexibility for family time. I strive to be home every night for dinner and bedtime. On days I work from home, I like walking Tessie to school and taking time out to play with her. In my spare time, I volunteer at our church and at Tessie’s school.
and at Tessie’s school.

Meet Tessie

Tessie is kind and soft-hearted. Her favorite colors are pink and purple. She takes ballet and figure skating classes. Tessie spends hours lost in books, reading about fairies, unicorns, and fantastical worlds. She loves all animals and is an explorer of natural habitats. Tessie will be a great big sister, wanting to share all her knowledge and wisdom!

Meet Tootsie

Tootsie, a black lab-mix puppy, is the newest addition to our family. Our beloved family dog Butterscotch passed away recently, as did Tessie’s beautiful Betta fish named Roseberry. After many months, we decided our house was just too empty. Tootsie is a soft, smushy sweetheart of a puppy who loves everything and everyone she has met.

Our Home and Our Family Adventures

We live north of Chicago, in a city along Lake Michigan. Our neighborhood is a community; it is heartwarming how many neighbors call out “Good morning!” and ask Tessie about her day after school. While our quiet, diverse neighborhood feels “tucked away”, we are within walking distance to the downtown area, the library and public transportation. Several great neighborhood parks are also nearby.

Our home is filled with laughter and music. We have dance parties, sing our favorite songs, and play instruments together. The large kitchen and family room is where we play board games, create art projects, bake our favorite muffins, construct robots, and have tea parties. We also love playing and relaxing in our backyard. Tessie’s favorite spot is probably the swing under a tree. Tessie and friends enjoy the sandbox and playhouse. We watch birds at the feeders and catch fireflies in summer. In winter, we make snow animals, dig snow caves, and drag sleds to the neighborhood sledding hill.

We love to go on adventures and explore together. When we can, we like to travel, especially camping in the warmer months. We enjoy the lakefront throughout the year. We often go on nature walks, either at the lakefront or a nearby forest preserve. We take advantage of all that our area has to offer, visiting zoos, museums, and farms.

Thank You

Thank you for getting to know us and learning about the life we can offer your child. We believe that loving and raising a child is an adventure – sometimes surprising, sometimes heartbreaking, but always amazing. We hope you will trust us to go on this adventure together.

If you would like to contact us, you can email us at [email protected]  or reach out to our adoption counselor, Linda Fiore, via email at, [email protected] or text/
call 773-919-5702.

Gratefully,
Kaitlin, Clint, and Lincoln