We don't know you yet, but we already have so much respect for you. We can only imagine how big and complicated this decision must feel, and we want you to know that, no matter what, you are not alone. The love you have for your baby is so clear in the fact that you are here, considering every possibility for their future. We hope you can feel our hearts in these words, because we are truly grateful for you.
Becoming parents has been a dream of ours for as long as we can remember. We've built a life together filled with love, laughter, and deep family connections, and we can't wait to share that with a child. From bedtime stories to holiday traditions, dance parties to Taylor Swift songs, and dinners with family, we want your baby to grow up surrounded by joy, support, and endless love. More than anything, we want them to always know where they come from—the strength, courage, and love that brought them into this world.
If you choose us, please know that we will always honor you in our home. You will always have a place in our hearts, and your child will grow up knowing the incredible woman who made our family whole. No matter what you decide, we are sending you love and strength as you walk this path.
With love and gratitude,
Mark & Derek
We hope you can feel our hearts in these words, because we are truly grateful for you.
-Derek & Mark
Hi, we are Mark and Derek! We met in a most traditional millennial way, on a dating app. It all started on Bumble and things really took off from there. After talking for a couple of weeks on the app, we decided to meet for a first date and immediately felt very comfortable with each other. We were official soon after that and the rest is history. Mark is a Civil Engineer working on water projects for various public clients. He loves to play volleyball and has a wicked spike. Mark brought Derek into the world of volleyball and now we both enjoy playing together in an adult sports league. Derek is a Software Engineering Manager, leading a team to build innovative solutions for his company. When he's not working, you can find Derek enjoying a good movie or spending quality time with friends and family. We both love Broadway musicals and try to see as many as we can!
We live in a quiet, family-oriented neighborhood in Northern Virginia not too far from Washington, D.C. We enjoy going to the local farmers' market on the weekends, taking leisurely walks through the National Mall with our dogs, and finding fun new DIY projects we can attempt. We live in a 4-bedroom single-family home with a great backyard and plenty of room for our family to grow into. Our home is located in one of the best counties in the state for schools, with many of them receiving national recognition. We have 2 incredibly sweet Siberian Husky dogs, Maya and Bailey. They are half-sisters and definitely have a good sibling rivalry going and have been known to serenade us with their husky songs from time to time.
We both grew up surrounded by loving families with many special traditions. Mark is the youngest of three, with two older sisters. We are fortunate to live about 30 minutes away from them and see them about once a week, often gathering for dinners and holiday celebrations filled with great Filipino food. We cherish the time we spend with Mark's niece and nephew and are excited for another that's on the way!
Derek is also the youngest of three, with an older brother and sister. His family lives in Texas, and we make it a priority to visit them as often as possible. Whether it's celebrating Christmas with his family's tradition of homemade Italian food or enjoying summer barbecues, these moments are incredibly meaningful. We love spending time with Derek's niece and nephew (also another on the way!) when we visit, whether it's playing games or embarking on an adventure into their imaginations. We both feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to see our nieces and nephews grow up.
Both of our families have instilled in us the importance of love, togetherness, and creating lasting memories. We look forward to sharing these traditions—and creating new ones—as we build our own family.
Both of us have always dreamed of becoming fathers and having a family of our own. We have a deep love for children and are eager to start and grow our family in a home filled with love, support, and stability. We considered going down the path of surrogacy but ultimately decided adoption felt like the right fit for us. Families can be built in many different ways and we are excited to share all our love with a child one day.
