Kayla & Bill

Our favorite traditions revolve around Christmas. We always bake a whole array of Christmas cookies like gingerbread, thumbprints, and snickerdoodles. We also love decorating gingerbread houses, and we even did this on Zoom with our families during COVID. Kayla’s side of the family is quite large and gathers all together from around the country. We always do a secret santa and a white elephant trade with this side of the family. On the Fourth of July, Bill’s dad makes ribs using a special family recipe. It’s been passed down through generations, starting with Bill’s great-grandfather, who was a butcher. This method has become a family tradition, and Bill plans to keep it going. One funny tradition we both share is saying “rabbit rabbit” to each other on the first day of the month. Nobody knows where it started or why, but the first one to say it gets a month of good luck. It’s a fun little competition between us!

My family is very close, and I talk to my parents or brother almost every day. We're also lucky to live near two sets of cousins, one of whom recently adopted a child! My dad is calm, hardworking, and values education and family. When he learned we were planning to adopt, he confidently said, “I’ll be a wonderful grandfather!” We tease him for that, but he’s ready for the role. My mom is incredibly giving and organized. She taught me to fully invest in everything I do and to be thoughtful and caring. She used to pack the best school lunches, always including a cheery note for me. I will definitely continue this tradition with our children! My brother can only be described as absolutely awesome. He is the best big brother I could have asked for. When I was little, I used to do everything with him, following him around like a little duckling. Two decades later, he got credentials so he could officiate our wedding, which was really special.

My parents, my sister, and my brother-in-law all live in Georgia. My parents are eager to be grandparents, and we know a grandchild would be exceptionally loved. My mom is my biggest supporter. She left her accounting career to raise me and my sister. She’s very talkative and introduced us to people from every background. Her close friend group to this day is quite diverse. My dad is more reserved but has a quick wit. He recently retired and is looking forward to new hobbies, especially playing with grandkids. My sister is five years younger than me. Her husband, from Louisiana, is an amazing cook, and they host dinners with homemade Cajun food whenever we visit. I was very close to all my grandparents, and we try to visit my remaining grandmother a few times a year. She is 93 and still such a joy! I am also close to my mom’s sister and her kids, both of whom are adopted. Because adoption has already been part of my extended family, they are nothing but thrilled to welcome another child this way.

We are a very active pair and our hobbies center around staying fit and enjoying the outdoors. We’ve met our closest friends through sports and fitness. In addition to staying fit, Bill loves reading and listening to podcasts. His favorite subjects are history and economics. Bill also plays Civilization strategy games (Kayla calls it video game farming). Kayla loves learning more about neurology and sports psychology and takes classes on those topics. We don’t watch much TV, but we are huge fans of the Tour de France, F1 racing, and Seinfeld. In terms of travel, we usually take a long weekend trip together somewhere in California once or twice a year. Sometimes we seek out specific locations to visit, like the original Gold’s Gym in Venice Beach. We also like to hike in nearby national parks like Yosemite, Pinnacles, and the Grand Canyon. Since our families and friends are spread across the country, we often travel to visit them, particularly around the holidays. We also travel to celebrate weddings, graduations, and other life achievements. Our most recent trip with Kayla’s family was to the Olympics in Paris. As former athletes, this was a dream vacation that bundled together our favorite sports, quality time with family, and lots of croissants.

Intelligent, Thoughtful, and Persistent Kayla is one of the smartest people I’ve ever met. I realized that the first time we went running together 10 years ago. She’s so easy to talk to, with a wide range of interests. She’ll never tell you, but she’s received numerous awards for her research and academic achievements. We’re both athletic, nerdy, and silly, and it’s rare to find someone with so much in common. Kayla is also incredibly thoughtful. She loves giving the perfect gifts for Christmas and birthdays. For my graduation, she coordinated a surprise with my favorite fast-food chain, Zaxby’s. She even surprised me by inviting my two best friends to my graduation! Kayla always pushes me to be better. She’s encouraged me to take risks and challenge myself in many ways. She’s not afraid of tough decisions, and I’m lucky to have her as a partner for that. I wouldn’t be as successful without her. She recently left her corporate job to start her own business focused on helping others achieve their goals. I know she’ll do amazing. Most importantly, I know she’ll bring these qualities to motherhood. She’ll provide a loving and caring home and will always take an interest in what our child loves. I can’t wait to see her strengths shine as a parent.

Intelligent, Charismatic, and Level-Headed Bill is intelligent, charismatic, and level-headed. You can immediately tell how intelligent Bill is from his sense of humor. He is so quick with witty responses that it’s hard for anyone not to laugh within minutes of meeting him. He also holds a PhD, so I’m not the only one who thinks he is smart! Bill’s personality and intelligence have led him to excel across multiple different jobs. What impresses me most is his ability to balance hard work and ambition with an easy-going nature. He never seems to get stressed or overwhelmed and always finds time for fun. He is down for adventures (like skydiving!), but also loves to relax at home and watch TV or read. Bill is also exceptionally level headed. Whenever we have a difficult decision to make, Bill is always there to provide a wise perspective. He is definitely going to be the “cool dad” that gets along with all the kids in the carpool. A few more fun facts about Bill ● When he’s tired, you can’t trust him with a grocery list. You’ll end up with a random two pound bag of raw carrots. ● He goes down ridiculous wikipedia rabbit holes and has a near-photographic memory. ● Even though he has a graduate degree, he can’t spell for his life. If there are any typos in this book, it was him…

For the past decade, we've been fortunate to call a sunny metro area in California our home. We absolutely love it here! One of the things we enjoy most about our day-to-day life is how walkable everything is. We’re just steps away from parks, playgrounds, libraries, and the local elementary school. The area is growing rapidly, with lots of new homes being built. We're excited about the chance to move into a new home as our family grows. The community values education and innovation, making it a great place for families. The schools are top-notch, and kids here are always on the go, whether it’s through sports, arts, or other activities.