Hello, We Are Cody and John!
Welcome To Our Page!
Dear Expectant Parent,
We are Cody + John, and we are so grateful to be able to share a little bit about us with you. We recognize that everyone’s story is unique and often unpredictable, and we hope that our journeys, as different or similar as they may be, become connected. We recognize the gravity of this decision, and we admire your bravery. We have always known that we wanted to be parents. Through adoption, we look forward to the opportunity for our family to grow.
Our Story
For the past 12 years, we have shared our lives with each other. Like a lot of modern-day love stories, we met online. When we met in 2012, we instantly felt a connection. Throughout those many years, we have laughed, and we have cried, we have celebrated milestones, and we have traveled to fun, new places. Everything in between has been a beautiful journey shared with friends and family, leading us here today.
In 2019, Cody *finally* proposed over a picnic along the lake on a perfect summer evening. We married amidst the pandemic in 2020 surrounded by 25 of our closest friends and family – looking back, we wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
Together, we share many hobbies. We love entertaining, and our weekends are often filled with having friends and family over for lunch or dinner. Community is extremely important to us, and fostering strong relationships with those closest to us is something we do intentionally. We also enjoy antiquing, road trips, picnics, and long walks with our dog, Twiggy.
About John
I grew up in a large family, the second eldest of five kids! I work in the tech industry in finance. I have a creative side and grew up engaged in the arts: painting, drawing, playing piano, and photography. These days, I view more art than creating it, but I do use cooking, entertaining, and gardening as creative outlets. I have a large extended family and was fortunate to grow up very close with my cousins, aunts, and uncles. We often gather for holidays to celebrate together.
I also serve on the Executive Board for a local Chicago non-profit that provides artists with disabilities a collective space to expand their practice. I am passionate about contributing to a more equitable community.
About Cody
I am the youngest of two, my sister being just 18 months older than me. By day, I work as a membership professional in the association industry. As a ‘people person’ through and through, this allows me to connect with others while aiding them in their journey as a professional.
Outside of work, some of my biggest hobbies include volleyball and tennis. I play both regularly and follow them professionally. I love musical theatre. Few things put a bigger smile on my face than show tunes and bright lights! I am a proud Eastern Illinois University graduate majoring in Hospitality Management, and I serve on the Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Growing up, my sister and I spent our time between Connecticut and Illinois as my parents divorced when I was younger. It was a non-traditional way of growing up but allowed me the opportunity to experience different parts of the country.
Pet Bio
Meet Twiggy! She is our lab/greyhound mix dog who is full of personality and very sweet. She is great with other dogs and kids and loves meeting new people. Twiggy keeps us active as she loves long walks and fast runs chasing tennis balls. We adopted Twiggy in January of 2023 and we have loved every minute having her in our lives.
About Us
John Favorites:
- Favorite Food: Tacos
- Favorite Color: Black
- Favorite Movie: Parent Trap
- Favorite City: Paris
- Can’t Live Without: Coffee!
- Bucket List: Italy
- Ice Cream Flavor: Vanilla
- Favorite Season: Autumn
- Favorite Animal: Zebra
- Favorite Children’s Book: Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel
Cody Favorites:
- Favorite Food: Pad Thai
- Favorite Color: Green
- Favorite Movie: Moulin Rouge
- Favorite City: Mystic, Connecticut
- Can’t Live Without: Chapstick
- Bucket List: The Great Wall of China
- Ice Cream Flavor: Peanut Butter
- Favorite Season: Summer
- Favorite Animal: Duck
- Favorite Children’s Book: Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
Home and Community
We live in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood in a cozy condo on a tree-lined street. Our neighborhood is very family-oriented—we have great schools and parks. We enjoy walking along the lakefront with Twiggy and supporting local coffee shops and restaurants. What we love most about our neighborhood is the community. We see our neighbors frequently while walking our dogs and have built relationships with them over the years. We are lucky to have some of our closest friends who also live in Lakeview, really making our community strong.
Family Lifestyle
We have many hobbies that we enjoy separately and together such as going to museums, playing sports – including volleyball, tennis, and kayaking – entertaining friends and family, and picnics by the lake. If the weather is nice, you can find us outside enjoying the outdoors. We value volunteering and spending time using our abilities and talents to help others. Over the years, we have developed some family traditions, including getting our Christmas tree Thanksgiving evening and spending the night decorating. We always make a point to celebrate milestones like birthdays and anniversaries, taking time to reflect on the memories we created over the past year.
Support System
Our friends and family are very supportive and have cheered us on in our many milestones: getting married, buying our first home, and now, as we look to grow our family! We have eight nieces and nephews who primarily live within driving distance and who we visit often. Enjoying time with our siblings is important to us, and they are excited for the opportunity of us becoming parents. Because gathering with our community is central to who we are, we have a network that supports our endeavors and has served as a great support system on our journey through adoption.
Parenting Philosophy and Values
As we raise our family, our guiding values are unconditional love, empathy, and inclusion. We will strive to raise children who have integrity and show love to those they meet. We want to inspire our children to always look for ways to improve their community.
While our experiences will inform the way we parent our children, and we will look to pass on the favorite parts of our childhood, we ultimately want to raise independent thinkers who will chase the dreams they create, not ones that are created for them.
We both grew up in homes where religion is important, and both value our faith. Faith remains an important part of our lives but know that it’s an individual’s journey and will support our child in whatever path they take.
Thank You!
We are grateful to you for considering us as the prospective parents. Your strength and courage in making this decision are truly inspiring, and we want you to know that we hold you in the highest regard. As we look forward to the possibility of welcoming a child into our lives, our hearts are filled with hope and love. We dream of the days when we will nurture, guide, and support them as they grow into the incredible person they are meant to be. We promise to provide a home full of warmth, laughter, and unconditional love.
Thank you for considering us as part of your child’s story. We are hopeful for the future and ready to embrace this incredible journey with you.
With gratitude,
Cody and John
FAQs
What is open adoption and how does it work?
Open adoption allows you to select the adoptive family yourself, get to know them, and remain in contact following the placement. Every adoption and every birth mother is unique, so the amount of openness and type of contact can look different. You can make choices about the level of openness depending on what feels comfortable for you.
What support is available for me?
The adoption process can feel complex and confusing. We are working with a licensed adoption agency in our home state. They are also available to provide counseling and support services to you to help navigate the adoption process. Alternatively, if you prefer, they can also connect you with an agency or attorney in your home state. For information on the support they can provide, click Here.