About Us
We met on a night out on the town with friends. Our attraction was based on many shared experiences and values. We both come from large Irish Midwestern families (we both have five siblings) whom we cherish, we value family, education, hard work, a positive attitude and we both enjoy sports and athletics. We dated for several years and were married at the church where our daughter now attends school and our reception was held at the Milwaukee Brewers baseball stadium - two places we both treasure.

Our daughter, Maisie, is in first grade at a private school. Maisie is my biological daughter from a previous marriage. Andrew is truly an awesome step-father to Maisie and she adores him. We enjoy being parents so much and look forward to sharing our lives with another child. But due to infertility we have been unable to conceive. We have decided not to pursue advanced fertility treatments but rather to build our family through adoption.

We live in a village right next to Milwaukee. We really like the four seasons (though, honestly, some winters go on a bit too long)! We walk to school, church, the library, stores and restaurants. We are blocks from Lake Michigan. Our neighborhood has baseball diamonds, playgrounds, bike trails and a pool. Andrew and I are really just two big kids so we love watching and, even more so, participating in any activity our kids are involved in. Whatever our children decide to pursue whether it be academics, athletics, music, theater, animals, we will encourage and support them.
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We like to spend time outdoors – no matter the season. In the summer and spring, Andrew coaches Maisie’s baseball team. He finds it fun and challenging getting a crew of six year olds to do what he asks! Andrew and I each play on a softball team during the summer and like cheering each other on. We swim at Lake Michigan, the community pool, or at the gym where I teach a few classes a week. Learning to swim is important and good exercise for kids so Maisie has been swimming since she was a baby. We look forward to starting again with a new baby! The summer also involves a couple trips to Northern Wisconsin to stay at our family cottage. We have a great time with our extended family fishing, boating and spending time by the campfire.

In the fall, we really get into Halloween and decorating our house. I like to make costumes - each year vowing to start a bit earlier as I perform a last minute scramble to finish a costume. Fall also brings football and we love the Green Bay Packers and rarely miss watching a game. Maisie has tried to cheer for other teams but never really stood a chance.

Winter is actually one of our favorite times. We go sledding at the hill down the block or build snow forts in the yard. My family has had a small ski-hill for many generations so we spend time skiing and sledding and hanging out with tons of relatives.

About Andrew
Andrew works full time and I work part-time. We are fortunate to both have very flexible schedules so one parent is always at home. We cater our schedules so we can be home after school and for dinner as family meal time is a priority at our house. We both like to cook and grill out. Eating together is a fun time to hear about each other’s days and a great way for everyone to stay connected.

Andrew has a very positive attitude and is a great listener. He makes me feel safe and comfortable. He is a loyal, dedicated husband who works hard to provide for his family. I am blessed that he is part of my life and love him dearly. He is a true partner in taking care of our family and household - he even irons his own clothes and has definitely changed his fair share of diapers.

I already know Andrew is a great father. Any child would be lucky to have him as a father. He willing plays everything from Barbies to baseball to Old Maid. He has a lot of patience with children and makes spending time with them a priority.

Andrew works as real estate agent and enjoys helping home buyers and sellers. His job is interesting and it’s fun to hear about his clients and the houses he helps buy and sell. He sometimes takes Maisie on appointments and she has fun touring houses.

Andrew has many interests, many of which are the same as mine, which is one reason we get along so well. He is athletic and good at just about any sport. While it is hard to find time for yourself when you have a family, Andrew and I agree it’s important to have your own outlets, too. Sports are that outlet for Andrew. He plays softball in the summer and hockey in the winter. He tries to kick box and exercise at the gym when he can.

Andrew was raised with strong Christian values and has a big heart. He volunteers in our community by coaching, helping out at the school and church rummage sales and selling cheeseburgers to raise money as a member of the local men’s club.

I feel I am a better person when I am around Andrew and I know he has the same effect on his children. I know any child raised by Andrew will become a happy, independent, stable adult.

About Mary
Mary comes from a large, close-knit family like myself. She’s not one to wait around for something to happen. This holds true for projects around the house, something we both enjoy doing. While I tend to take a more calculated approach (she calls it procrastination…I call it planning), she dives right in and the next thing I know the master bedroom has been painted. I think that’s one of the reasons we make a great team. She keeps me motivated. We enjoy spending time at home or heading off on weekend trips. She’s fun to be around, whether it’s playing in the backyard, watching a movie or going to a ball game.

I remember when we first met I was a little concerned about dating someone with a young child. These concerns quickly diminished after seeing Mary with Maisie. She took the time to play, read and listen to music with her. It was obvious to me that she loves her daughter very much and wants the best for her. Seeing the two of them interact and grow has been a pleasure, they are so good together. I feel lucky to have met them and to be with them everyday.

Mary is very family oriented. She structures her work and free time so that we can be together as often as possible. A fun way for us to spend the day together is at a Brewer baseball game.

Mary has a strong work ethic and enjoys her job as a paralegal. She handles family law cases and worker’s compensation cases. The aspect she enjoys the most, but can be the most challenging, is helping her clients through very difficult situations (injuries, divorce, and child custody). Her line of work makes us all appreciate each day and each other even more.

She also has a kind heart and compassion for those less fortunate. She spends many volunteer hours working at the annual school rummage, church festivals and the local Daisy Scout chapter. She helps with organizing the projects for the meetings and attends the weekend sleep overs. She’s very involved in all of Maisie’s interests and tries to foster them. She makes a point of giving of her time and ensuring we have family time.

Mary loves sports and exercise. She says she has to exercise to make up for her peanut M&M habit, but really, she just loves to be active. I remember, when we first started dating, being amazed when she told me she was going to do a triathlon one weekend. After seeing her performance I realized she is more than just a finisher as she placed second in her age group! She has since done many triathlons (she even has Maisie doing them now) and qualified for Nationals. She also loves to watch professional sports and encourage friends and family to stay active. She enjoys reading and playing the piano, too.

Mary is also a great supporter of me. I feel comfortable being around her and enjoy spending time with her. She helps keep me focused and makes a good sounding board for all my client stories. She’s a great wife, mother and friend. I truly look forward to coming home at the end of the day to a home she has filled with warmth and love. She would welcome more children into the same home with open arms.

About Maisie
Maisie is six years old and in the first grade. She likes school and her favorite “subjects” are gym, recess and lunch!. She is wonderful to be around. She is very curious and asks a lot of question - forcing us to learn a lot of things we didn’t know! She is also at an age where she is testing her independence which can cause frustration for both parents and child. With any misbehavior, we take away a privilege (such as no bedtime snack) and that usually works. As parents, we have found that we, too, must grow and learn as a child does. Sometimes we need to adjust our behavior and reactions to situations in order to help the child become the best they can be.

Maisie has a lot of energy and is willing to try any activity at least once. She loves swimming and sports, Star Wars, art projects, playing with Moxie (our cat) and playing with her friends and cousins. She loves to help around the house and decorate for all the different holidays. At nighttime, she likes to read her books or play with her stuffed animals.

Maisie has a very big heart and is very empathetic to anyone in need. She is mad when someone says she can’t do something because she’s a girl. On Martin Luther King day she was very upset to learn African Americans weren’t allowed to sit where they wanted on the bus. I think she’ll grow up to be a great advocate for what is good in the world.

Maisie will be a great big sister. She is very good with her younger cousins. She would be proud to show a little sibling the ropes.

Andrew and I both have first hand knowledge that you don’t have to be biologically related to be a family. To me, Andrew and Maisie are the ultimate proof as they have one of the best father daughter relationships I have seen. My background is non-traditional, too. I have a step-father and step-siblings who I adore. A family isn’t all about if you look alike or act alike, it’s about the bond you form with those who raise and care about you. We don’t view adoption any differently. Your child will be part of our family because you chose him or her to be with us and we will love him or her because they are a member of our family.

Thank you for taking the time to look at our story. May it in some way encourage you and give you hope that there are many wonderful families out there that would welcome your child. If you would like to learn more about us or speak to us on the phone, please contact Cindy at A Loving Alternative, 800-556-5635.

With Respect,
Mary and Andrew