Hello, Friend!
Thank you for reading our profile. We cannot imagine what you are feeling right now, or the concerns you may have about making this choice.
What we can do is let you know that we promise to provide a home that is loving and warm, stable and supportive. We promise to do everything in our power to provide opportunities for a little one to grow into a strong, well-loved, fully developed human being. Hopefully, that can give you some peace of mind.
We have been trying to grow our family for years and found our way to The Cradle at the recommendation of a friend. Adoption has always been part of both our families’ stories, so it felt natural that it would be part of our journey as well. We look forward to the opportunity to meet and share more.
A Bit About Us
We met in our early twenties at a neighborhood diner where Erika waited tables while working toward a degree in English literature. We connected over a love for books, movies and all things nerdy. It didn’t take long for these passing chats to become all-night conversations, many taking place at our beloved Denny’s. Soon, we decided it would be easier to keep these discussions going if we just moved in together. That was more than 20 years ago!
We got married in New Orleans in 2015, surrounded by close friends and family. We spent our honeymoon doing a literary scavenger hunt of famous places from NOLA-themed novels, getting matching tattoos, eating lots of good food and checking out the amazing live music scene.
We love to travel and take winding road trips across the country, especially when we can mix some outdoorsy places for hiking and exploring nature with visits to cities where we’ve never been. Whether we’re home in Chicago or traveling elsewhere, we love trying new restaurants, going to concerts, watching movies, and exploring new places that are off the beaten path. We both feel blessed to have found a partner who is supportive, encouraging and loving. We balance each other well.
Why Erika Loves Josh
Josh is the kindest, sweetest, most caring man I’ve ever known. His love and support for me are truly unconditional. He has always been there for me whenever I needed him. He is my rock, my shoulder to cry on and my favorite person of all time.
Josh is incredibly fun! One of my favorite memories with him is from when we were first dating. We were just walking through a grocery store parking lot and he decided that the rogue shopping carts were actually chasing us and needed to be avoided at all costs. More than 20 years later, he still knows how to turn a mundane event into an adventure. Josh LOVES kids and is a big kid himself. He is without a doubt the BEST thing that has ever happened to me in my life. I know he will make a great dad.
Why Josh Loves Erika
Erika is one of the most wonderful, compassionate human beings I have ever met. She feels deeply, cares deeply and connects deeply with those around her, and is always looking to help them. She recently paid for a friend’s vet bill so she could get her cat back! I am sure she will be an awesome mom! She is fun-loving and has a great sense of humor.
She has a passionate sense of justice and a deep conviction to make the world a better place. She has a well-hidden, child-like quality. Don’t tell her I told you! She loves to collect stickers, pins and little knick-knacks that fill our home. She also makes cute, crafty, one-of-a-kind, little cards for family, friends and co-workers.
What Openness Means to Us — Adoption Is Already a Part of Our Story
We believe that it is incredibly important to have an open adoption. We would like to encourage you to stay connected in whatever way you are comfortable. Our child will know where they came from and that you are an important part of their life story. Because adoption is already a big part of our family stories, we can help them understand that being adopted really just means they have even more people who love and support them.
Thank You!
We are grateful to you for taking the time to read our profile. We would love to get to know you too.
With Love,
