Andrew & Brandon

Our first date was on February 13th, the day before Valentine's Day. Though we didn't talk about it until much later, we both thought it went so well that we lied and pretended to have plans on Valentine's Day, afraid to jinx things by moving too fast. But our second date on the 15th was followed by a third on the 16th, and pretty soon we were seeing each other every day.

A month into dating, an ice storm hit Philly and we got snowed into Brandon's apartment for three days. We survived on Hot Pockets, frozen pizzas, and whatever we could scrounge up—but after those three days, we both knew: If we could survive that much time together (in those conditions!) this early in our relationship, we could make it through anything.

We found love in the quiet moments spent together: grocery shopping, cooking, running errands, or just sitting around watching TV or an old movie. These little moments together were as full of joy as our bigger adventures, and realizing that is part of how we knew we were meant to be.

We live in a beautiful, quiet suburb of Philadelphia. There's a world-class school district, parks, and picture-perfect small towns with family-owned shops and restaurants just a short drive away.

Our house is on a peaceful, tree-lined road. We have a big front yard and a fenced-in backyard with a covered patio that is often filled with family and friends. We have a fenced-in pool, perfect for summertime adventures for a child as they grow. Our house itself is spacious but cozy, with family photos and Andrew's dad's art covering the walls.

We have two EXTREMELY friendly and affectionate golden retrievers who are obsessed with our nieces and love everyone they meet. Your child will have two immediate best friends in Oliver and Toby!

We feel incredibly lucky to be very close with our extended families. Andrew's parents and sister (along with her husband and two kids) live just 25 minutes from our home, and while Brandon's parents and sisters live out of state, we make it a priority to travel to each other often.

We have a number of friends within a short drive, including another couple who have adopted multiple children and who have been a great resource for us as we've gone through this process. We're lucky to still have strong friendships going on twenty years with best friends who are more like family.

Whether it's tailgating at baseball games, meeting up for board game nights or dinner, or having friends over for a barbecue or pool party, we're blessed to have friends who play a big role in our lives and a support system we rely on completely.

We love to travel, so when Brandon’s sister moved to London for work, we jumped at the chance for an adventure. We visited in November, when the city was already sparkling with Christmas lights and decorations. It felt like walking through a holiday movie!

We watched a soccer match at a cozy pub where a dog sat on a bar stool to watch with us, got swept up in an impromptu parade with fans celebrating a big win, and explored hidden gems around the city with Brandon’s sister, visiting places only locals usually know about.

As food lovers, we couldn’t wait to check out the famous Borough Market and the over-the-top food hall at Harrods, where entire rooms were devoted to chocolate and pastries. We still dream about how amazing it all smelled—and tasted!