Elliott & Kayla

On Adoption:

While we have had struggles trying to start our family, adopting has always been part of our conversation and the big picture for us.

All About Kayla, by Kayla:

I was born in Canada and grew up mostly in Connecticut before moving to California after high school. Some of my favorite memories of my childhood are hiking, playing sports (soccer, tennis, baseball and gymnastics were my favorite), going on vacations, camping and spending time with my grandparents. These are all things that I am excited to share with my future child.
My mom was also a stay-at-home mom when I was younger, which my sister Taryn and I really loved - so I'm happy that Elliottt will be able to be a stay-at home dad so our child can experience that too.
I am a partner in a public accounting firm (where I started about 11 years ago right out of college), which offers me a lot of flexibility in when and where I work. My company also has a generous paid time off policy, so I am excited to use that time to bond and spend lots of time with my future child.

More About Kayla, by Elliott:

Kayla is a driven and compassionate person who finds balance in life by enjoying it to the fullest. Not only is she incredibly intelligent, she also cares about others while being the perfect balance to our family. During our time together, we have had several life changing events where she was able to rise to the occasion to help both families get through the difficult times. She has used the difficulties she experienced in the past to make her a stronger person. She has always been someone that I can go to for advice, and she helps me find appropriate solutions for the issue at hand. I am so excited to watch her become a mother!

Kayla’s Fun Facts:

• Loves singing (although not very good at it) and making up silly songs
• Enjoys cooking, baking and trying new recipes
• Enjoys doing arts and crafts
• Enjoys reading
• Enjoys playing tennis

All About Elliott, by Elliott:

I was born and raised in Southern California with my brother Garrett. Some of my favorite memories of my childhood are playing sports with my dad and going to the beach with my mom - both things that I look forward to sharing with my future child.
I am really excited to be a stay-at-home dad so I can give my child the same experiences I had with my mom and dad when I was younger.
I really enjoy building things and being creative - from furniture to pens to coasters. I also enjoy gardening, which I learned from my dad.

More About Elliott, by Kayla:

One thing I immediately fell in love with is Elliottt's infectious positivity. You can always count on him to brighten your day - he even once got spoken to by HR at his work because someone complained that he was "too happy in the mornings". He can be a total goofball at times, but can also be serious and supportive. He has been my rock through some tough times since we've been together and I am forever grateful for that.
I know that Elliottt’s positivity and kind personality will be a fantastic dad. He plans on being a stay-at-home dad and will be able to bond with our future child and watch all of his/her milestones!

Elliott’s Fun Facts
• Grew up loving Legos (and still does)
• Loves swimming, surfing, and the beach
• Has a green thumb
• Enjoys woodworking and doing projects around the house
• Great at the BBQ (makes a fantastic tri-tip)

List of Favorites!
FAVORITE HOBBY
Kayla: Crafting
Elliott: Woodworking
FAVORITE FOOD
Kayla: Italian
Elliott: BBQ
FAVORITE MOVIE
Kayla: Elf
Elliott: Night Before Christmas

Meet Mocha:

Mocha is a 3 year old mixed breed dog that we rescued from Mexico when she was 8 months old. She is very sweet and loves to snuggle. She is very gentle and patient, perfect for a child!

Home Sweet Home:

We are fortunate to live in Southern California, which is known for its year-round beautiful weather.
We live in a 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath house in a gated community. The community includes a playground and large grassy area where the neighborhood children frequently gather. The homeowners' association puts on neighborhood events such as an Easter egg hunt with bouncy houses throughout the year. There are lots of dogs in the neighborhood and also lots of children that like to play outside together (our street doesn't get much traffic so it's perfect for that).
We are fortunate to live close to the beach, hiking trails, and attractions like San Diego Zoo's Safari Park and Lego Land. Our neighborhood is in an excellent school district. We also live close to the public library that hosts lots of activities for children. We can’t wait to share and enjoy all of this with your child.

Our Family:

We are blessed to come from great families. Both of our families live close to us and we are blessed to see them frequently. We gather up for frequent dinners, birthdays and holiday celebrations. Every Christmas, both sets of families come to our house for a big Christmas dinner.
Kayla's mom and dad were high school sweethearts - her mom is a retired nurse and her dad founded a biotech company. They are both excited to taking their future grandchild on outings. Kayla's sister is an elementary school teacher and can't wait to teach her future niece or nephew and help them learn, grow and develop. Kayla also has extended family who live in Canada, where we hope to take our adopted child to visit.

Elliottt's mom and dad live just down the road from Kayla's parents. They both love to garden and helped us build a vegetable garden this year. Elliottt's mom is Mexican and his dad is half-Japanese and half-European, which brings a lot of diversity to the family. Elliottt's brother also lives within driving distance and is looking forward to playing with our adopted child.

Thoughts on Parenting:

We were raised with similar values, and look forward to passing them along to our child. Our child will be surrounded by the most supportive and loving family a child could hope for. Family is everything to us. Our child will know that no matter what, they will always be loved and supported. We will share the best of each of us and work every day to provide them with the tools, support and confidence to take on the world. We will teach our child by example - to be kind to everyone and to give selflessly. We will make them laugh (even if they’re laughing at us). We will have family dinners at the dinner table, where everyone can share how their day was. And most importantly, every day will end with “I love you”.

In Closing:

Thank you so much for taking the time to get to know us and for considering us as adoptive parents to your child.
We are really excited and grateful for the opportunity to become parents. If you choose to entrust your child to us, we will make it our mission to provide, protect, love, and guide your child through life.
Adoption is a loving choice and we admire your strength, courage and bravery. If chosen, we welcome any relationship that you feel comfortable with. However you move forward, we wish you the best for your adoption journey.