JM & Brad

ABOUT OUR FAMILIES - Our families may appear quite different at first glance. JM’s family lives in Virginia, and when you walk into their home you’ll smell fresh “lumpia” (a Filipino eggroll) cooking in the kitchen, while a music competition plays on the TV. Brad’s family lives in Texas. Most weekends they are smoking a brisket in the backyard while a Texas Longhorns football plays indoors. We come from different cultures, but in many ways, our families are actually quite similar. Both our parents gave us a strong work ethic, while reminding us that family still comes first. We still like to gossip about our extended family and neighbors with our siblings, just as we did when we were kids. Our nieces and nephews are the center of our hearts- we love to hang out with them, FaceTime them, and see their personalities grow. We are two cultures that have come together as one blended family. ABOUT OUR FRIENDS - We have a diverse group of friends who live both nearby and afar, many of whom have been a part of our lives for over 20 years. These friendships have brought us an abundance of love, laughter, and countless cherished memories. As we move through the adoption process, they’ve been some of our biggest cheerleaders, always eager for updates and offering support at every turn (even when we don’t expect it!). They are just as excited as we are to welcome a little one into our lives and have already claimed their roles as honorary aunts and uncles.

WE LOVE TO BE OUTSIDE! As a couple, we’ve been lucky to explore many parts of the world together. We deeply value the experiences of immersing ourselves in diverse cultures and connecting with people from different backgrounds. Whether hiking the rugged trails of Patagonia, jet skiing along Croatia’s stunning coastline, exploring the breathtaking landscapes of Iceland, skiing down the peaks of Colorado, or getting lost in the winding streets of foreign cities, we believe that travel enriches our lives and brings the world closer together. - OUR FAVORITE PLACE EVER: CROATIA - WEIRDEST FOOD WE'VE HAD: FERMENTED SHARK IN ICELAND - GREATEST EXPERIENCE: OUR HONEYMOON IN PATAGONIA

ABOUT WINNIE - Winnie is our four-year-old Vizsla, who has been with us since she was just 8 weeks old! We named her after “Winnifred Sanderson” from Hocus Pocus, one of Brad’s all-time favorite movies. Vizslas are often called “velcro Vizslas” because of their loyalty and love for being close to their families. Winnie is no exception—she’s incredibly curious and always eager to be around people. Though her breed is known for being pointers, Winnie mostly points out the squirrels in the big trees in our backyard! Winnie is an active dog who loves running in our yard, going on walks with her dads, and she’s recently taken a liking to swimming! She adores children, knows how to give them space, and is excited about the prospect of becoming a big sister!

We live in a peaceful neighborhood in Austin, surrounded by many families. Our home is a single-story ranch-style house with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, spanning about 2,000 square feet. It sits on a third-acre lot, featuring a spacious backyard with large, mature trees that provide plenty of shade on hot summer days. We take great pride in our home and love decorating, especially during major holidays. Brad goes all out for Halloween, while JM’s favorite is Christmas—you can usually spot our house as the first on the street to be decked out for the season!

*Brad lived in the Dominican Republic for 2.5 years and is fluent in Spanish... as long as you don’t speak too quickly! *Brad’s favorite holiday is Halloween and he usually starts making his costume at least a month in advance. *Brad loves dessert - you’ll never find the fridge without ice cream in it.

If I had to describe Brad in three words, they would be generous, nurturing, and adventurous. Brad has a huge heart and is always there for the people around him, whether it’s helping unload a U-Haul for a big move or offering a listening ear. He genuinely cares for our community and shows up in the most thoughtful ways. As an uncle, Brad is affectionately called “Funcle” by his sister Monica’s two young daughters. He’s patient, nurturing, and endlessly creative—whether he’s helping them design outfits from scratch or jumping into the latest TikTok dance with enthusiasm (even if he has two left feet). Brad is the middle child and has two sisters (one older sister and one younger sister). He comes from a long line of teachers. His grandparents, mom, and oldest sister were all teachers, and his young nieces think they’d like to become teachers as well. His entire family lives in Texas, which provides him plenty of opportunities to play pickleball with his parents, visit the beach with his sisters, and cheer on his nieces at their softball games. Brad received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas (Hook ‘Em!) and his M.B.A from the University of Montana. Between his Bachelor’s and M.B.A, Brad worked as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic. He currently works in sales for a healthcare tech company, which strives to improve the healthcare experience for patients. But what I love most about Brad is his adventurous spirit. He’s always pushing me to explore new experiences, keeping life exciting and fresh. I know this sense of adventure, combined with his caring nature, will make him an incredible dad in this next chapter of our lives!

*JM has sung back-up for artists like Demi Lovato, Josh Groban, and Hugh Jackman (to name a few!) *Aside from music, JM’s hobbies include: crocheting, reading, and most recently, photography! *JM’s favorite holiday is Christmas, and you’ll find him stringing lights on the house as early as November!

JM was born with a song in his heart, and he hasn’t stopped singing since! He’s always updating his Spotify playlist with the newest bop, or singing in the shower (loudly!) JM loves music, and you’ll almost never find him without a portable speaker, so I’m sure he’ll instill this same passion for music in your little one, whether through a nighttime lullaby or a Disney sing-along during long car trips. But the one thing JM loves more than music are the people in his life. To his parents, he is the responsible eldest son who checks in on them when they’re traveling to the Philippines and teaches them how to upgrade their cell phones. To his nieces and nephew, he is the playful uncle who provides piggyback rides and trips to the trampoline park and Chuck-E-Cheese. To his friends, he is the master planner who is always coordinating a game night, dinner at a restaurant, or a weekend hike. JM gives his all to those around him. He never forgets a birthday, anniversary, or other special occasion, and he obsesses over finding the right gift, and wrapping paper, to make his loved ones feel special. Jon-Michael, or “JM” as his friends call him, was born on a U.S. naval base in the Philippines. JM is a first-generation American, and he grew up in the suburbs of Washington, DC. He is the oldest of three children and is incredibly close with his siblings, whom he FaceTimes weekly. His extended family is large—his dad is one of six children, and his mom is one of nine. With over 30 first cousins, many of whom were his best friends growing up, family has always been an important part of JM’s life. JM received his Bachelor’s degree in Music and Business from Syracuse University (Go Orange!). After college, JM worked as an Arts Administrator before eventually pivoting careers to work in Human Resources. Currently, JM works as a Human Resources Director for a digital creative agency.

*Travel - we love to travel, experience different cultures, and try different cuisines! *Stay active - we love to exercise, go on bike rides, and play pickleball. *Hike - Our happy place is anywhere outdoors, but especially in the mountains, hiking in nature. *Walks with our dog, Winnie - As a way to unwind, we love taking our dog, Winnie, for walks in our neighborhood and around Austin.