Penni and Brian

We are Penni and Brian, a young energetic 30 year old couple who adore each other, our families and our 3 year old lab mix Pipsqueak. The three of us love to swim, take walks in the park and forest preserve, and run and play in the neighborhood playgrounds. We think about what it must feel like to be in your situation, and are in awe of your strength and courage as you make such important choices. Please know that you have our total respect and support as you decide what is best for your child. We hope that, after reading this letter, you will want to get to know us better.

After going through in-vitro fertilization we decided that ultimately we wanted to be parents. It was time to take away the question of a pregnancy ever happening to pursue a more hopeful path. We both feel confident that adoption is the right path for us and one that will make our dreams come true.

Dear Expectant Mother,

I’m the type of person who always looks for the best in everyone and every situation. I work for a large non-profit, providing me with a flexible schedule and the opportunity to improve my community. My mom and I volunteer as the co-chair of the local festival carnival, we love seeing the excitement of the kids as they get to enjoy the final weeks of summer. I love playgrounds; for now Pipsqueak is my playground buddy and I look forward to bringing our child to all the great playgrounds in our neighborhood. I also enjoy painting, mostly pictures of buildings by my favorite architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, and reading everything from care free novels to biographies.I am so excited about being a mom; I look forward to encouraging our children to pursue their passions and to pass on meaningful family traditions, like our “Bubbie Blankets,” the handmade blankets grandma made for every child in the family. In recent years I have taken over the responsibility of making these soft blankets for every new addition to the family.

Meet Penni

I am an adventurous person who likes the outdoors; I especially enjoy roasting marshmallows over a camp fire and sleeping under the stars. I grew up in Maryland and was a Boy Scout which I believe fostered my love for the outdoors. I enjoy cooking and grilling, working out, playing sports (mostly soccer) and taking Pipsqueak on long walks. I am also a certified scuba diver, my favorite place to dive is The Great Barrier Reef, however, most of my dives have been in St. Thomas. I work for a multi-national corporation as an inventory analyst. My company offers lots of great benefits and opportunities for advancement. I cannot wait to be a dad; I am excited to teach our child the secrets to cooking a great meal, coaching soccer or cheering our child on in whatever activities he or she pursues (like dance, baseball, music, etc.)

Meet Brian

We met on an online dating site in 2008. After sending e-mails and talking on the phone we decided to meet for dinner. We had an instant connection and were both excited to see where our relationship would go. During the year we were dating, we went to Maryland to spend time with Brian’s family, and took a vacation together. We knew that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together and Brian planned a beautiful proposal, written in chocolate. We spent the next year planning our wedding, and the rest of our lives. Brian’s mom made the canopy we were married under, and Penni painted the Ketubah, our marriage contract. Our wedding was truly a special time for us and our families. We’ve been married for 3 years; we purchased our home about a year ago, around the same time that Pipsqueak joined our family.

Our Story

Left: Pipsqueak making friends while on vacationTop: Pipsqueak and our Nephews in our backyardBottom: Pipsqueak loves her pool!

Pipsqueak is a sweet dog and great with our young cousins and the neighborhood kids who like to play fetch with her.

Meet Pipsqueak

Penni is the oldest of 3 siblings. Her younger brother, Raymond, and his wife, Anna, live in Chicago and we get to spend a lot of time with them. Her younger sister, Gail, lives in Iowa. Penni’s parents live close to us and are very excited to be first time grandparents.Brian is a middle child. His older sister, Yvonne, her husband, Jon, and their twin boys live in Maryland. Brian’s younger brother, Steven, and his fiancée, Rebecca, live in Boston. We see Brian’s siblings at least once a year, but thanks to Skype we are able to be an active part of our Nephews’ lives. Brian’s parents live in Maryland and they are looking forward to having even more reasons to visit Chicago!Most of our Aunts, Uncles and cousins live in the Chicagoland area. We often get together for BBQs and holidays. We are both part of supportive families and know if we ever need something a family member is just a phone call away.

Left: With Brian’s Family in St. ThomasAbove: With Penni’s Family during a family BBQ.

Our Families

Brian taking his Nephew swimming

in St. Thomas

Brian and Pipsqueak hiking in Southern Illinois

Us at the Guggenheim Museum in New York, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

Penni in Turkey

Our Vacations

We live in a single family home in a Northwest Suburb of Chicago. We have a lot of playgrounds in our neighborhood and are walking distance to our elementary school. The park district has won awards for its wide selection of programming and the schools are some of the top in the state. We live close to our Temple and enjoy the opportunity to volunteer and attend events there.

Above Left: Our HouseAbove Right: Neighborhood PlaygroundLeft: Park District Water Playground

Our Community

We understand that you have an enormous decision to make, and we thank you for giving us the opportunity to introduce ourselves to you. We realize that you can’t fully get to know us from this letter, we only hope that you’ll want to learn more about us. We are a stable and caring couple and we know that we can offer your baby a safe, happy home and a wonderful childhood. We understand how much love it takes to place your baby for adoption, and –if you choose us as the adoptive parents—we’ll make sure that your child knows it, too.

Us in Greece during our Honeymoon.

If you would like to get to know us better, please contact us at Penni.Brian@gmail.com or (800)494-7579.

You can also contact Tobi Ehrenpreis, our adoption counselor at (800)869-1005 or text her at 847-366-6351.

We wish you peace of mind and all the happiness you deserve.