Hello, we are Andrew and Ronnie! Thank you for taking the time to look at our profile.

In 2013 we met online and were immediately drawn to one another. "Opposites attract" is a perfect description of our relationship. Ronnie is more serious, logical, analytical, and detail-oriented, while Andrew is more go-with-the-flow, spontaneous, and emotionally open.

Despite the distance from Brooklyn, NY, to Hoboken, NJ, we spent a lot of time getting to know each other and deepening our connection. We had similar values and dreams, which led to our engagement in 2015, followed by our wedding in 2016 with 99 of our closest friends and family in Brooklyn, NY.

We made the big move to the suburbs in 2018 and eventually bought our home in 2020, as well as taking on the responsibility of becoming dog parents to two mini-golden doodles. Our dogs may get all of our attention right now, but from our first date, we both knew we wanted to raise a family. We both have a profound love for our families and can't wait to be parents and share our lives with a child.

Andrew's laughter and smile can fill a room quickly, and it is one of the first things I noticed during our first date, as well as his passion and drive for his career. A graduate of Tufts University, followed by earning two master's degrees---one in teaching and one in education administration---he spent the greater part of the last 20 years dedicated to his career in education.

Andrew grew up in a two-parent household as the youngest of three children in a Long Island suburban community. His mother was a stay-at-home mom until he was eight, and his father commuted to the city full-time for a job in the banking industry. His parents instilled in him a love of travel and discovering different parts of the country and the world. During college, he lived abroad in Ireland. Then, following his college graduation in 2003, he took a job as an English instructor at a university in Bangkok, Thailand, where he fell in love with working with students.

Upon his reentry to the United States, he was accepted to the NYC Teaching Fellowship Program, worked for five years as a high school math teacher in Brooklyn, taught a year abroad in Venezuela, worked as an Assistant Principal at two Brooklyn high schools, and currently works as a Director of Federal/State Programs for the New York City Department of Education.

The relationships he formed with students forever impacted his professional goals and continue to influence his public education work. He also loves to exercise every day and keeps our two adorable dogs on schedule with walks, eating, and naps.

Ronnie is the Ying to my Yang, and he is the best life partner one could ask for. He is my rock and the manager of all vacations, home projects both inside and outside, and our free time activity schedule.

Ronnie comes from very humble beginnings. He is the only child of his biological parents and was raised by his father and stepmother as the oldest of four children---they adopted his stepmother's niece and had two biological children. Being the oldest, he experienced responsibility quickly and took care of his younger siblings while his parents worked, packing their bookbags and lunches, ensuring they completed their homework as well as bath time, and laying clothes out for the morning. Ronnie's childhood represented how a blended family functioned and loved each other.

Growing up, Ronnie loved and excelled at school, as he is smart and driven. He graduated in the top ten of his high school and earned an academic scholarship to Rutgers University. His career is in the finance/accounting/IT arena, consisting of professional roles in the NYC/NJ area as the Chief Audit Executive for an insurance company in New York City.

Our four-bedroom colonial home has a big backyard where our dogs love to run around. They especially love to jump in the in-ground pool on hot summer days. The former owner of our house was a chef, so we have a large, modern eat-in kitchen, which is the heart of our home. This is where we prepare meals when hosting friends and family and eat breakfast in the morning. We look forward to sharing our mornings with a baby as the sun shines through the window overlooking the backyard.

The kitchen opens up to our living room which has an expansive wrap-around couch where we like to relax during our downtime with the dogs. Right now, dog toys can be seen all over the floor in our living room, but we look forward to the room being filled with all of the things our son and daughter will want to play with. On the other side of the first floor is where our dining room is. This is where we hosted our first Thanksgiving with 17 family members, and we can't wait to host more holidays in the future.

We purchased our home in December 2020 in a fabulous suburb outside New York City. Being in an interracial marriage, it was important for us to choose a community that had diversity. Additionally, we wanted to be close to family---Andrew's cousin and her family live in the same neighborhood. We have wonderful neighbors and are within walking distance of the main street village area and public transportation for easy access to the city. The house is a quarter mile from the elementary school and less than one block from the middle school. We can see the middle school from our front door and are able to see the students walk to and from school each day. Our neighbors across the street have two children born in 2019 and 2023, so we are excited to have children join their playtime crew.

The local community is very family-friendly, and Andrew's cousin, a school nurse at the local elementary school, always keeps us updated on everything fun for kids. Her two kids have loved growing up in the town and adore their schools and teachers. Both kids have played in many different local sports and other activities for kids, including animal rescue and theater arts.

There is a state park within walking distance with bike paths, lakes, trails, fields, tennis courts, and plenty of playgrounds for children. A hallmark of the town is on Halloween when a one-mile-long block completely closes off to cars so all the kids can trick or treat together. Another great aspect of our town is that New York City, with all of its culture, museums, theater, and history is only a thirty-five-minute train ride away. We love the city, having lived there for many years, and they can't wait to share that with a child.

Family is very important to both of us.

Ronnie's childhood represented a blended family. While he is the only child born from his biological mother, he is the oldest of four siblings through his dad's second marriage.

Andrew's family emphasized education, and attending a four university was always an end goal. It was not an exceptionally strict household; however, there were rules, chores, curfews, and boundaries that should not be crossed. They ate dinner as a family each weeknight at the kitchen table, watched television together as a family in the evenings, did activities together on the weekends, and took family vacations in the summer and during the school holiday breaks.

Both sets of grandparents lived more than five miles away, and they spent many holidays, play dates, summer beach days, and weekend barbeques with his cousins. These are family values we wish to offer a child we adopt.

We love to spend time with our dogs at the house. As fans of HGTV, we have spent time in the last two years making updates to both the interior of the house and the exterior, creating a beautiful backyard oasis to utilize during the warmer months. The dogs love to play outside, and we love to take advantage of our pool on hot summer days.

It's important to us that we make time for our family and friends, whether we are hosting an event at our house, spending a holiday with them, or going on a weekend trip with them.

Ronnie loves the Marvel Cinematic Universe and goes to the theater to see as many as he can! Andrew loves running outside and recently completed the New York City Marathon for the first time. The debate is still out there if there will be another marathon in his future.

Thank you for taking the time to learn a little about us through this profile. So much of the life we have created has been in preparation for expanding our family.

We understand the importance of this decision and value that you took the time to consider us as potential adoptive parents. Regardless of the level of involvement you wish to have, we will always speak of you with love and respect and never shy away from the hard conversations about the child's birth family and how their mother loved them and chose us as parents.

We promise to raise a child in an open-minded and loving home, encouraging them to become their authentic selves. We promise to enthusiastically support their interests and desires, help them experience the world through travel, and provide the best education.

We look forward to growing our family through adoption and have a large and wonderful support system, eager to surround the child with love. We wish you the best as you follow your heart and make the best decision for you and your baby.


With love,

Andrew & Ronnie