Andrea knew from a young age that adoption would be the path she wanted to take to grow her family, especially after navigating some health considerations during childhood that made adoption feel like the right, natural choice. While building a family this way wasn't originally how Jeremy pictured things, he has embraced the journey wholeheartedly and been supportive and excited since day one. We've talked openly about adoption since early in our relationship, and that shared vision has only grown stronger with time. Today, we are overjoyed to be building our family this way, and we feel so fortunate to be on this journey together, with the full support of family and friends who have celebrated every milestone alongside us.

As an interracial couple, we've always known our child might not look like either of us, and we see that as something to celebrate rather than something to navigate carefully. We're grateful to live in a large, diverse city surrounded by a wide network of friends and family from many different backgrounds, with easy access to communities and resources that will help us honor our child's identity. We're committed to seeking out mentors and communities who can help us and our child navigate those nuances together, and we plan to be intentional about surrounding them with people, books, food, traditions, and celebrations that reflect their heritage. Above all, we want our home to be a place where every part of our child's identity is welcomed, celebrated, and given room to grow.

Andrea about Jeremy

I’m constantly in awe of Jeremy's unconditional empathy, not only toward me but in every situation he faces. To feel so fully seen and heard by the person who loves you most in the world is one of the most incredible experiences life has to offer and experiencing that every day has made me a better partner, friend, confidant, and future mother. Jeremy has taught me that empathy isn't just a feeling, it's a daily practice, and watching him has changed how I move through the world. When life gets stressful or uncertain, he's the calm in the storm, the person who helps me slow down and remember what really matters. I know that same steadiness and empathy will make him an extraordinary father, and I can't wait to watch him become a dad.

Jeremy about Andrea:

She consistently amazes me with her passion, intelligence, and kindness. She has taught me that selflessness should never be questioned, and she is always the first to volunteer to serve others without hesitation. Her generosity extends beyond grand gestures; it lives in the quiet, everyday moments where she puts others before herself. Watching her interact with children reminds me of how great she will be at becoming a mother someday. Her nurturing spirit is evident in everything she does, whether she is comforting a friend, mentoring a colleague, or simply brightening someone's day with her smile. She is the epitome of love and kindness, and I am endlessly grateful to have her in my life.

Our free time is precious given the demands of our jobs, and we try to make the most of it by leading active, curious lives together. We love exploring new parts of our city, working on home improvement projects, discovering new coffee shops, scuba diving, and getting outdoors whenever we can. This past summer, we spent our weekends rebuilding our garage entirely by ourselves, and we're looking forward to hosting a dinner party for friends and family to celebrate the finished project. While we cherish our time together, we also value our independent pursuits. In his free time, Jeremy can usually be found at the rock-climbing gym, painting, or experimenting in the kitchen. Jeremy most recently completed a 2-week mountaineering course in Washington state, summiting three different snow-covered mountains. Andrea loves walking around the neighborhood, trying out new exercise classes, or snuggling up with our three cats. We can't wait to share all these passions with our child someday, whether that's teaching them to climb, cook, garden, or simply explore the world with curiosity and joy. We imagine family game nights, weekend adventures, and cheering each other on as they discover their own interests and hobbies.

We live on an idyllic, tree-lined street in an urban part of Illinois, in a single-family workman style cottage nestled in a neighborhood with deep Ukrainian and Polish roots that has grown into a vibrant mix of coffee shops, celebrated restaurants, and easy access to public transportation. Our home has four bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, three distinct floors, and an outdoor patio and backyard where we love to unwind. Weekends usually find us knee deep in a home improvement project, most recently rehabbing our garage from top to bottom. When we're not working with our hands, you'll likely find us curled up in the family room with our three cats, who spend their afternoons sunbathing on the cat trees we've set up by the sliding glass doors.

Our neighborhood is rich with green space, with parks, playgrounds, pools, libraries, and more than fifteen public play areas all within walking distance. We're especially lucky to be surrounded by neighbors who feel more like family than friends. It's completely normal for the neighborhood kids, from toddlers to teens, to let themselves in to play with our cats or join whatever we happen to be doing. Most weeks include at least one shared meal, rotating between houses. Our entire street has followed our adoption journey and is genuinely invested, cheering us on and planning to help care for our home while we travel to meet our baby.

Andrea grew up as an only child, raised primarily by her mother in the suburban Midwest, though she spent many happy summers visiting her father in rural Indiana. Years later, she and Jeremy found themselves living near that same corner of Indiana for four years during grad school in Bloomington, a full circle moment neither of them expected. Andrea remains especially close with her parents, Jack and Shelley, and visit at least once a quarter. Her parents are absolutely overjoyed at the thought of welcoming a grandchild, and they've already promised to drive up the very day we get the exciting news, ready to help prepare the house and be a steady support system the moment we arrive home. Andrea's extended family is largely based in St. Louis, where she has a close, warm relationship with her aunts, uncles, and cousins. Holidays are often spent together there, and every year the family gathers for a beloved reunion, now approaching its 20th year, at the family farm in Indiana.

Jeremy was born in Taiwan, and much of his extended family still lives in Taipei. His parents and younger brother live in Washington, D.C., and Jeremy shares an especially close bond with his brother, talking weekly and visiting at least quarterly. Jeremy's brother is thrilled at the idea of becoming an uncle and already plans to fly out to visit as soon after we bring our baby home, eager to meet the newest member of our family.

We appreciate you taking the time to get to know us as you consider this solemn decision. We recognize that what you are facing takes real courage, and choosing to put your child's future first is something to be admired deeply. No matter what happens in the future, we are grateful for the opportunity and hope nothing but the best for you and your child.

Reading through this profile, our hope is that you will see the love and commitment we share with one another, and the life we hope to build with a child. Adoption has never felt like a backup plan for us; it has been our path since early in the relationship, discussed openly and with real intention long before this journey began. That same commitment, mutual respect, and steady choosing of each other is exactly what we hope to instill in our child.

We are Andrea and Jeremy, two people navigating the wild journey of life together since 2016. Our story began at our first job as auditors, where journal entries, Sporcle quizzes, and forgotten lunch bags somehow turned into a lifelong partnership. Married in August 2019, two days before Jeremy started law school, the ceremony itself was small and intimate: a backyard, ten guests, and a lot of love. A proper celebration with friends and family followed in January 2020, just before the world shut down. We were able to celebrate with Jeremy’s extended Taiwanese family in September 2024. Ten years in, this relationship has crossed three states, two graduate degrees, and countless new passions, all built on partnership, commitment, empathy, and love.

While our lives continue to evolve, blending our cultures has become part of everyday life, from cooking together in the kitchen to trips to Taiwan to visit Jeremy's family. Andrea is slowly learning Chinese, and staying rooted in Jeremy's heritage has become a shared part of our identity as a couple. Sharing both of our cultures with our future child feels important, along with encouraging them to explore their own heritage and learning alongside them every step of the way.

As parents, curiosity and independence would sit at the center of how a child is raised here, alongside a genuine passion for learning about the world and about themselves. Travel, food, education, everyday wonder, every opportunity to experience life fully matter. Room to grow into their own person, inside a safe and loving home, feels important. Just as vital: making sure a child always knows who they are and where they come from, at every age and stage. Their questions would be met with honesty and warmth, following their cues and readiness, in a home where every question is welcome. Above all else, love, from this family and from you, is something they would never have to doubt.

If chosen, staying connected in whatever way feels right to you matters deeply. Regular updates through emails, photos, and calls in the child's early years would be a given, along with visits during pregnancy if that's something you're open to, and in-person time after birth if that feels right too. Supporting you through this experience, in whatever way feels most comfortable for you, comes from genuine care and gratitude for what you're giving us.

These past ten years have brought plenty of twists and turns, and through all of it, the desire to grow this family has only deepened. This path isn't simple, and there will likely be bumps along the way, but every smile, every giggle, every hug ahead will make it worth it. Thank you again for learning more about us. Whatever you decide, know it will be the right decision for your child.

With love and gratitude,

Jeremy & Andrea