Hello and welcome! We are Mark and Kate!

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about us!

This profile is a small window into our family; who we are, our values and the kind of life we would provide for your baby. We hope you take away that we are a joyful, warm and secure home that values family, education and human connection above all. We are deeply committed to our community, we travel, we volunteer, we see theater, we spend time outside, we play games, we love music and we want nothing more than to welcome a child into our hearts and our home. 

We can’t imagine what you are feeling as you read this  but we are deeply grateful that you are here. You can expect our love and understanding on this journey, whatever decision you ultimately make.

About Us

After exchanging a few messages online, we met at a subway station for our first date at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Over the next 6 months, we took turns sharing our favorite places - visiting many of Chicago’s great cultural institutions: the Planetarium, Lincoln Park Zoo, Botanic Gardens, and Steppenwolf Theater. We connected over our love of learning and exploration, which continues to fuel lives full of discovery and adventure.  

Meeting in our thirties, we each came to the relationship with a clear vision for our futures and we were delighted to discover the alignment of those visions and our values. We each wanted to build a warm and welcoming home, have children and a dog, be fulfilled in our work, spend time with our families, and explore the world. Over these past 8+ years, we purchased and rehabbed our home, we welcomed in our goldendoodle Penny, we have jobs that we love, and we have traveled extensively. Most importantly, we see our extended family several times a week for sporting events, tasty meals, or just to hangout! 

Home sweet home!

We live in a charming and safe neighborhood in Chicago, surrounded by single-family homes and multi-unit buildings within a top-rated school district.

Our block is filled with kids, and every Monday during the warmer months, neighbors host community dinners. We enjoy simple pleasures like walking to local restaurants, visiting parks with our puppy Penny, and spending time with our extensive family who live nearby. Our home, built in 1905, blends old-world charm with modern design and is filled with artwork from our travels, making it the perfect place for creating memories.

Our lake house in Wisconsin has been in the family for 40 years and is a special retreat where we spend summers with loved ones. Days are filled with water skiing, outdoor games, arts & crafts, and home-cooked meals. Evenings are spent on the porch overlooking the lake, sharing meals with family and cousins. This home has become a cornerstone for family bonding and traditions.

Meet Kate!

• Loves to travel and has been to 45 countries and lived in Argentina, France, and DR Congo where she worked for UNICEF. 

• Speaks fluent Spanish and French and would love to have a bilingual household.

• Loves going to live music, theater and stand-up comedy with friends.

Meet Mark!

• Comes from a musical family and can play the guitar, piano, and trumpet.  He has a band that records original Christmas songs.

• Was a three-sport athlete in high school and ran track in college. He enjoys watching sports. 

• Loves to cook for others and chooses a new food  to master each year; this year is Mexican food!

In Closing

We know there are many wonderful families to choose from and we thank you for considering ours!  In closing, we commit to…

• Love your child with all our hearts.

• Keep you connected in your child’s life, sharing updates as they grow.

• Always honor you as an integral part of your child’s story.

• Surround your child with the love and support of a close-knit community of friends and family.

• Provide a home that is safe, secure, and filled with joy.

• Offer every opportunity for your child to grow, thrive, and reach their full potential.