Thank you for taking the time to look through these pages that we have carefully curated to show you a glimpse of our life that we want to share with you. Though we don’t know you just yet, hopefully you’ll see something in us that settles your soul and provides comfort in whatever choice you will make.

We can’t possibly know what your journey in life has been thus far; perhaps you have faced some challenges that taught you resilience, but also experienced kindness, which taught you love. Whatever it may be, your life has provided you with these tools to make this decision. One that we respect the gravity of and understand the sacrifice you are making to ensure your baby has the opportunity of a wonderful life.

We hope we have the privilege of meeting you one day, and if not, we wish you well and hope you find happiness with another special couple.
– Javier & Mark

Two days before we got married, we were finishing our vows down by the beach in private. As the big day drew closer, we tried to pry the words from each other, without much success. Finally, the morning of our wedding, we awoke at 4 am so we could drive up to the top of a mountain, in time for sunrise, to exchange vows and be wed. As we started sharing our vows, we both included things we were grateful for, but also included some affirmations for our future. Both of which included becoming fathers for the first time.

Since then, we’ve built a life together full of love and joy that we are ready to share with our first baby. Our commitment to one another is the foundation of our family, and we both want to raise our children with compassion, love, and patience. We want to help them discover who they are and celebrate them for that every day. Teach them about our cultures and help them learn their own. We also want to afford them all the opportunities that we didn’t have growing up and show them a world that is wondrous and theirs to discover.

Javier, who grew up in Mexico and immigrated to the United States when he was 10, was lucky enough to travel the world as part of his career in his early 20s and fell in love with Sydney after spending two weeks there in 2016. Eventually decided to pack up his bags and move there in 2017.

By chance, they had an encounter when they met at Bondi Beach in June of 2018, and it kicked off the start of their biggest adventure as a couple. After 18 months of dating, Javier was starting to feel homesick, and due to a recent health scare his Mom had, he felt it was time to head back to the Midwest. Javier shared this with Mark, and not wanting to break up, they decided a two-week vacation to his hometown was in order to see if a move was on the cards for them.

The trip was a success, and they decided to move to Minnesota at the end of 2019. However, little did they know, COVID would make their first year rather turbulent. Coming out the other side, they went on to buy their first home together in March of 2021 to start preparing for the future and were engaged the next month. After much consideration, and with family and friends across the globe, they eventually decided to elope in the south of Spain in August of 2023.

Since then, they have spent many months renovating their home, spending time with family here and abroad, and taking care of their adorable kitty, Sushi!

By Mark
Javier is the personification of the American dream. Coming to the United States at 10, he spoke no English and was put on a bus for his first day of school to embark on his new life. Fast-forward a few difficult years, and he was not only bilingual but also excelling in school. He went on to get a full-ride scholarship to his university, where he was the first person in his entire family to receive a college degree.

His perseverance is one of the things I admire most about him. Being a Mexican boy in a predominantly White neighborhood in his formative years, he never let his adversities get the best of him. He only used them to fuel his motivation, wanting a better life, the one his father had hoped for them when migrating all those years ago.

To say I’m proud of Javier is an understatement. His perseverance is only matched by his passion for his culture and family. He is proud to be Mexican and loves to share and celebrate his culture with everyone. Not only his own but he is also an advocate for people of all backgrounds and has marched in protests and supported local and global arts that celebrate their own unique perspectives.

His joy is infectious, and you can hear his laugh from a mile away. You always know where you stand with him, as he wears his heart on his sleeve and isn’t afraid to share his opinions. Most importantly, he makes me want to be a better man. He has encouraged me to be curious and challenge my own personal biases, especially on our adoption journey. I love him endlessly and feel so lucky to have met him on that beach all those years ago.

Fun Facts

• • Really good at board games, especially Risk and Scrabble
• • Besides Mexican, his favorite cuisine is Ethiopian
• • Taught himself on YouTube how to cut and frame up our basement walls
• • Studied abroad in Spain for a semester
• • Loves to spend time outside gardening or swinging in his hammock
• • Would rather be lost at sea than lost in space

by Javier
Mark is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. He has a big heart and is always making sure that everyone he knows feels cared for.

He was born and raised in a southern suburb of the city of Sydney, Australia. Having grown up in a sunny city by the beach with a very strong family unit is part of the reason why today he is always in a good mood! All of our friends and family love it when Mark is around. His easy-going, go-lucky attitude is enjoyed by everyone, and you can always find him having a laugh with somebody (especially our nieces and nephews).

One of the things that made me fall in love with Mark was his love for his family and seeing how close they all are. While Mark doesn’t live in the same country as his family anymore, he talks to all of them at least once a week on the phone and daily via text.

His dad was a professional chef who owned and operated restaurants during Mark’s childhood. This was a family affair, with Mark’s mother running the business and his father running the kitchen. Once they were old enough, Mark and his sister also worked in the restaurant, which taught him a very strong work ethic and appreciation for everything his parents had done for the family. I believe this is one of the reasons why he has had such a successful career.

I consider myself extremely lucky to have met Mark and to have him in my life. I cannot wait to watch him become a father. I know he will be one of the best out there. 

Fun Facts

• • Loves watching a romcom snuggled up on the couch with a sweet treat
• • Needs an oat milk latte to start his day
• • Has been studying Spanish for two years and can now have simple conversations with Javier’s aunts from Mexico
• • Is always wearing mismatched socks
• • Would rather be lost in space than lost at sea

Our biggest dream for our lives is to have a family. We both have so much love to give and know in our hearts we are ready to become not only fathers but true partners in raising your very special baby.

Our promise to you is that we will raise them with love, teach them with kindness, and fill their souls with wonder. To never go to bed angry, wake up thankful every day, and always find the time to tell them we love them.

– Javier & Mark