We are so grateful for the opportunity to give you some background about ourselves and our longing to become parents. We have no way of knowing what you are going through. We can only hope that telling you about ourselves, our family, and our dreams will answer some of the questions you may have.

Our names are John and Mary. Both of us were raised in the Midwest, and we now live in a suburb of Chicago. We have been married for six years. John is an engineer with an international company, and Mary works part-time as a counselor. She will be staying at home full time when our baby arrives. The most difficult time in our marriage has been our struggle to conceive a child. However, sharing this unpredictable and difficult process has brought us closer, and made us even more of a family.

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Mary: I grew up in a large, close family, with a brother and four sisters. We lived in a big city, but our neighborhood was its own little community. I walked to school and church. After school, my siblings and I played outside, playing kick-the-can or other kid-initiated games. I'm still close to many of my grade school friends.

My father and his two brothers owned a printing company. I worked there all through high school and during the summers while I was in college. The family business was a symbol of our family values: care of family, self-reliance, and financial security. My parents emphasized education, and I always knew I would go to college. They supported me through my undergraduate and graduate education. My dad always insisted that we think for ourselves. He wanted each of us to learn to solve our own problems. At the same time, he would listen, ask questions, and encourage us to return to talk to him about what we'd decided to do. From this I learned to be an independent thinker. It also helped me to feel self-assured. I want to encourage these characteristics in my child, too.

My mom was a nurse. She was a wonderful listener, generous, and warm. She taught all of us to be open-minded and patient, with others and with ourselves. She had dinner on the table every night. This was the time to talk about our day. The television was off and the telephone wasn't answered. It got a little noisy at that table sometimes - after all, there were eight of us, often talking at once. But it was a joyful noise. Now that there are nieces and nephews added to the clan, the family dinners are even livelier. I love being with my extended family, and I love it that John enjoys it so much, too.

My family loved to travel. We had a running joke about these trips: it seemed there was always a problem with the travel arrangements. One time we missed our cruise because our plane was delayed. Another year we got to Mexico, only to discover that the condo we had rented had been sold, and no one was expecting us.

On another one of our wild and crazy vacations with our friends and their children.

We went on several motor home vacations, and there was always a mechanical problem. (I remember my dad hitchhiking to the nearest town for help, as we all waited in the RV on the side of the highway.) But we all took it in stride. We knew that the excitement of travel was coupled with the unexpected. That made vacations more interesting, and often more fun. As an adult, I appreciate even more my parents' generosity and sense of adventure. It took a lot of planning and a lot of courage to travel cross-country (and internationally) with six kids.

As a child, I played basketball and softball. I took lessons in ballet, tap, piano, skiing, and tennis. I was involved in the church youth group. I was never a star athlete, but I have always liked sports. Now, I like to work out daily, cross-country ski, sail, and hike. My parents raised me to live life to its fullest, and I do. I want our child to explore his or her world, filled with excitement about new adventures. I want him or her to appreciate the satisfaction of working hard, and the pleasure of playing when the work is complete.

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John: I, too, had a wonderful childhood. My sister, two brothers, and I grew up in a rural setting, in a new subdivision with lots of open fields, trees to climb, and forts to build. Every summer, my buddies and I would organize a neighborhood carnival for the other kids in the area. We spent hours in the woods, building forts. We rode our bicycles everywhere. (As we got older, we traded our bikes for motorcycles.) During the winter, we enjoyed the snow. One winter, a friend's older brother built a ramp from the top of his house to the beginning of the big hill in their backyard. We spent weeks racing down the track and hill on our sleds.

We used some of our free time during the colder months to make model sail boats. A lot of thought went into the selection of the perfect piece of wood, and many hours of whittling produced sailboats, complete with mast, sail, keel and a rudder, to set sail in our pond in the spring. I'm proud of my ability to imagine something in my head, and then create it with my hands.

I spent a lot of time with my father, working at his side on repairs to our family cars and our house. I learned so much from him. Not just about home and car repair, but about life - the importance of hard work, honesty, consideration, and creativity. I want to pass these values to my child. And, whether our child is a boy or a girl, I want to teach him or her basic repair skills.

Together in Prague. We can't wait to show our child the world.

It's no surprise that my hobbies include building and maintaining classic cars and woodworking. I also enjoy photography, landscaping, skiing, sailing, and going for long walks with Mary.

We both love to travel. Some of our best times have been on trips together. When we go to new places, we like to walk whenever possible. Walking allows us to be spontaneous; we can explore, and not miss something wonderful, but unplanned. One of my favorite evenings, ever, was on New Year's Eve in Paris. We had spent the evening on a dinner cruise on the River Seine, and when we got off the boat, all public transportation was shut down. It was cold and raining, and we weren't even sure how to find our way back to the hotel. We followed the elevated train tracks, stopping for hot chocolate when we got cold, and found our way back to our hotel several hours later. It was so much fun - so adventuresome - that even the rain and cold couldn't dampen our spirits.

With our nephew and niece. They are eager to welcome a new cousin.

I know how lucky I am to have found a partner who loves so many of the same things that I enjoy. From the time we first met, it's been easy. Mary and I met at a party. I was immediately attracted to her smile and her laugh. As I got to know her, I was impressed with her positive outlook on life. Her enthusiasm is contagious. We had such similar values and similar goals in life. We enjoyed each other's family and friends.

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Mary: John and I talk to each other. It's such a simple thing, but it's so important. We don't disagree on much, but when we do, we talk it through. We never go to bed angry.

Sledding with our nephew

When I first met John, I was impressed with what a gentleman he was. He is considerate and kind. He's a good person. To me, that's the highest of compliments. He loves children. When he first met my niece and nephew in Colorado, he won their hearts. He knew they loved pirates, so he dressed up as "Long John Double Nickel" and created a treasure hunt for them. Our friends' children can't wait to hear John's stories about when John and their father were growing up. John is a great storyteller. Perhaps what I am most touched by is his willingness and ability to teach children as well. He is patient, kind, and encouraging.

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John: Mary is wonderful with her nieces and nephews. Her training as a counselor makes her very sensitive to the needs of the children in our lives. She loves to spend time with the children in her family, whether it's going to the park, going shopping, having them over to spend the night, or going swimming at our community pool. Mary is genuine. She is responsible, nurturing, and honest. Children know that she can be trusted. She makes them feel safe and loved.

Our home is just down the street from the church where we were married.

We have a new four-bedroom home on a nice quiet tree-lined street, with a back yard perfect for children to run around and play. There is a park nearby with a sledding hill and ice skating rink for winter time fun, and another park with a pool for summer time fun. Our block has an annual block party in the summer time with many fun things for kids to do. This area has a reputation for excellent schools. We are very fortunate people. We have a strong marriage. We have a loving, extended family, good friends, good jobs, and financial security. We love, respect, and trust each other. We long to bring a child into our home, to share our love and our lives. We will provide our child with the opportunity to attend the best schools possible. We will encourage our child to be successful at whatever fills his or her heart, and to share his or her gifts with the world.

We admire your love and courage in making the decision to place your child with a loving, committed family. If you choose us as parents for your precious baby, we would be happy to send you letters and photographs letting you know how your baby is getting along, if you wish.

In closing, if you have any questions about us, would like to talk with us by telephone, or meet us in person, please contact our attorneys, Steve and Joel Kirsh, at 800-333-5736.

All the best,

John & Mary