Choose A Family : Parent Profile

Alexandra and Todd

Often in life something just “feels” right. And this is one of those things that feels right to the two of us. We know that this is not an easy decision for you to make and we’re hopeful that you’ll see we have a lot to offer as future loving parents for your child. We both waited to find the “right” person and we know that going this route will bless us with a wonderful addition to our family.

We will welcome your child into our arms and look forward to teaching him or her to be the best they can be, to have pride in who they are, where they’re from and what they do. We will love them unconditionally and instill a sense of duty, to give back through volunteering, helping others and making a difference.

Thank you for your time, your generosity, and your wanting the best for your child.

This is our destiny. . .

About Us
Alexandra grew up in West Hempstead, New York, a Long Island suburb. Her neighborhood was full of kids and she grew up playing everything from baseball to basketball to hide and seek to Barbie’s to riding her bicycle- -often all in the same day. There were also ballet classes, drum and piano lessons. She spent summers going to the beach, but her true love was always New York City where she and her family would often see a Broadway play or the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. The Museum of Natural History was always a favorite and no holiday was complete without a visit to FAO Schwarz toy store.

Since she was about ten years old she wanted to go into television production. Her Mom even has a report she wrote at that age saying just that. And that’s what Alexandra focused on. After graduating from college with a degree in Broadcasting and Political Science, Alexandra interned at NBC’s “Late Night With Letterman,” worked summer jobs at ABC-TV, and worked at WCBS Newsradio 88 and CBS Late Night Entertainment. From there, kids television came calling and she went to Nickelodeon. For two years she worked for the kids’ network in New York and then moved to Orlando to be one of the original ten who opened up Nickelodeon Studios at, the then new, Universal Studios Florida. Six years later, Disney came calling and she accepted a position as producer on the ABC Christmas, Easter and Summer Jam Specials. After three years, Discovery Networks called and she moved to Washington, DC to become an Executive Producer at Animal Planet. After eight years, Alexandra joined the freelance world and recently worked on programs for National Geographic and HGTV. She’s volunteered with kids for almost twenty years, the last eight at The Children’s Inn, where she’s part of a program called Helping Hands.

Todd grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland and had dreams of becoming a professional football player. If he wasn’t playing football, baseball or basketball, he was fishing with his father and grandfather off the coast of southern Maryland.

Enterprising at an early age, he had a small grass cutting business and ever curious, he was always taking things apart and putting them back together again, setting the stage for an interest in engineering. In high school he played football, volunteered with the Special Olympics and worked to pay for his car. He loved that coupe and could often be found working on the engine. In whatever spare time there was, he played drums in a rock band.

During college, Todd bought his first boat; as his family built a second home on the water in Ocean City, Maryland, where they could fish, water-ski and cruise the back bays to see the wild ponies and marine life. Todd worked there during summers for his father’s business, doing technical drawings, business proposals and working in the field installing heating and air conditioning systems. He received clearance to work in such places as The White House, CIA, The Pentagon, Georgetown University and Maryland University sports arenas.
He learned a lot about business at an early age and loved working with his dad.

At a recent junior high school reunion, a few of Todd’s classmates told Alexandra that Todd was very popular, saying, “He was so good-looking, so athletic and so genuinely nice to everybody.”

His football dream continued into college- -he received a scholarship to Shepherd College and transferred to the University of Maryland, but a knee injury sidelined his football career. Not one to stay down, he graduated with an engineering degree and followed his Father’s footsteps into mechanical contracting.

Alexandra about Todd
What drew me to Todd was his heart. He has the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever known. He cares deeply about his family and friends and will go out of his way to help someone. Just this past winter I was home one afternoon and there was a knock on the door. It was a man who introduced himself as the son of a neighbor up the block. He gave me a bottle of wine and said, “This is for Todd. He helped my dad shovel out of his walk and driveway.” Those types of things endear me even more to my husband.

Our third date was his company Christmas party and one of his colleagues said to me, "Todd is a good man, not just a good guy - - a good man.” I knew exactly what he meant. My father was a man of integrity, a good man. That’s a rare find these days, but a characteristic I very much value.

Another night I got home from being out with friends and Todd greeted me with a glass of wine and photos he found of my parents that he put on the mantle. He had tears in his eyes as he said he was so happy to see my Dad. And he said he always wanted my life to be full of great surprises.

He’s even talked about having my Mom move in with us- -“Moms come first” is one of his mantras. I love him for that.

Something else that drew me to Todd was that when we met he was taking classes to become LEED certified. I asked if he needed the certification and he said no, it was just something he wanted to have. The fact that he tries to better himself and learn more is an important quality in a father and I know Todd will be a great Dad…

He’s a great coach- -a mix of a solid athlete who's knowledgeable and patient. Marrying someone who would be a good Dad was of utmost importance to me- -I’ve seen him with our friends’ kids and it truly brings tears to my eyes.

Todd About Alexandra
Alexandra has been such an inspiration in my life.  She has so much positive energy that it’s contagious. Trust is never an issue with her because everything she says, feels or does is all about being “good.”  Every part of her being is about having integrity, doing the right thing, having respect for herself and others and being sensitive to those around her.

When she says something it happens.

I have never met anyone who’s so good with children.  Even the shyest of my friends’ children are talking, laughing and playing with her in minutes.  She brings out the best of their personalities.

And she always had that special love for them.  Much of her professional career was dedicated to working with kids- -including Nickelodeon and Disney, and in her personal life she’s volunteered with kids for close to twenty years.  For the last eight, she’s volunteered at The Children’s Inn.  Children and their families stay there while the kids receive treatment for severe illnesses at the National Institutes of Health.  I can only imagine how hard that must be, but she says that helping to make their days include a few smiles outweighs everything else.

Truly inspirational.

I’m so lucky to have her in my life.

Our Home
Our lives together began with a blind date and in similar fashion we want to open our home to our child. Our home is in Annapolis, Maryland- -close to the water and not far from Washington, DC. The neighborhood is filled with kids and hardly an hour goes by without seeing someone jogging or walking their dog.

Being so close to DC is a blessing and a great place to raise a child. The Smithsonian Museums and Smithsonian National Zoo are places that will be frequented by our family. As well as going to Nationals, Wizards, Redskins, Ravens and Capitals games.

We also have a place on the water in Ocean City, Maryland, where we spend most weekends once the spring hits. Our child will grow up spending time at the beach and on the bay. Todd is looking forward to having a new fishing partner when he/she is old enough

Our Moms
We are both fortunate to consider our Moms among our best friends. Alexandra’s Mom is just magic with kids. She’s worked for years at a Sunday nursery and parents and kids love their “Miss Jeannie.” When Alexandra’s Godson was little, he would only fall asleep in Jeannie’s arms no matter how hard his parents or his Godmother tried! Jean is a natural grandmother.

Todd’s Mom, Nancy, has been ready to be a grandmother for years and recently traveled to Atlanta to spend time with her nephew’s newborn. They didn’t want her to leave!

At our wedding, Jean and Nancy walked down the aisle just before we did to “pave the way.” Our Moms also held white roses to symbolize the presence of our Dads whom we lost way too early.

Our Dads
We both had incredible Dads and as mentioned, sadly lost them way too early. Alexandra’s Dad (Gene) was the epitome of self-respect and honor. He had that Washingtonian view of integrity: character is doing the right thing even when no one is looking. He always had time to help a friend or stranger and felt everybody had a story that’s worth listening to. He served our country in the Flying Tigers unit of the Army/Air Force and was overseas for close to three years. When he returned, he majored in journalism at the University of Wisconsin. He was a big believer in education and life experiences. He knew that visits to see such monuments as The Statue of Liberty, or the Empire State Building, in addition to museums and sporting events were so important to his children’s childhood. Alexandra, inherited his belief that it is very important to inspire kids and expose them to as much as possible, it’s at the core of moving them to do something positive with their lives.

When her Mom or uncle says, “You remind me of your father,” there is no better compliment.

Todd’s Dad (Bob) was his best friend and put a fishing rod in Todd’s hands as soon as he was old enough to grasp it. They spent many weekends out on the ocean- -a great place for Bob to impart wisdom on young Todd.

Bob served his country in the Navy for four years and served his family in great ways, teaching Todd how do things for himself. Together they did work around the yard, built skate-board ramps, worked on the boat and fixed things around the house- -he taught Todd how to fix almost everything. Bob would do anything for his family, friends and neighbors. Todd was so lucky to have such a great role model and wants to pass that on to his children, as well.

Sibling
Alexandra has a brother who lives in New Haven, Connecticut and works at Yale University. They talk fairly often, but even more so during football season. They can often be found watching a Colts game together- -except John is in Connecticut and Alexandra in Maryland. By the end of the game they rack up at least six “Ohmygosh did you see that” phone calls.

Todd doesn’t have siblings, but welcomed his new brother-in-law by giving John the honor of being part of his wedding party.

Our Animal Companions
Lincoln is about fourteen years old and Alexandra has had him for thirteen of them. A former doctor of hers had rescued the lil’ guy and when Alexandra met him, he crawled right up on her shoulder- -something he had not done with the other people that he came into contact with at her doctor’s home. He’s a blue-crowned conure and quite a talker. Every morning he greets us with “Hellllllo, Hellllllo. How are you?” The funniest thing in his repertoire is when he says, “Wanna dance?” He’ll start bopping his head up and down. If you reply “yes” or “ok” he’ll start to sing, “La Cucaracha, La Cucaracha, lalalalalaaa”

Betsy is eight years old and is Todd’s second rescued beagle. Sometimes late at night you can find Todd and Betsy curled up on the downstair’s couch watching television. Betsy has such a sweet disposition and will poke you with her paw when she wants to be petted.

We learned that the two of them have a close bond after our Thanksgiving vacation. Betsy stayed at home, being taken care of by our dog-walker Marian. Lincoln was at a place that boards parrots. Alexandra and Todd went to visit Todd’s Mom in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. After five days away, we walked in the house and Betsy did her usual cry/howl when she saw Todd. She does this only when she hasn’t seen him for three days or more- -as if to say she missed him. Well, this time she did it for Alexandra, too. It was nice to know she missed us as much as we missed her. The next day, Alexandra picked up Lincoln and when they came into the house, Betsy did her cry/howl and kept jumping at Lincoln’s cage. Alexandra took Lincoln out and Betsy just sniffed him and wagged her tail in helicopter mode (that’s how we know she’s really happy.) Was truly a sight to see. Lincoln, of course, greeted Betsy with “Hellllllo, Hellllllo. How are you?”

Sports
Sports are important to us. . . Todd jokes Alexandra can throw a better spiral than him. That’s probably not true, but she can beat him at Pop-a-Shot (as long as it’s not the regulation version.) Alexandra played basketball, tennis, softball, volleyball and track in her younger days and has even gone bungee-jumping and sky-diving. She now enjoys feet-on-the-ground sports like golf and hiking, but still loves to throw a ball around. Todd played football, baseball and basketball and these days is passionate about golf, boating and fishing.

Travel
We love to travel and together have been to places such as: Italy, Monaco, Spain and Tunisia. Our favorite place in the world is the top of Mount Solaro in Anacapri, Italy. In the States we’ve journeyed to such places as: Nantucket, MA; Scottsdale, AZ and the Florida Keys. We can’t wait ‘til the little one is old enough to travel with us.

Friends
Both Alexandra and Todd have wonderful friends. Alexandra has friends who live all over the world including New Zealand, the island of Nevis and England. And to this day, among Todd’s closest friends are his childhood buddies.

Kids
We’re so close to so many of our friends’ kids that sometimes the adults wonder if we hang out with them to be with them or their kids!

In Closing
Thank you for reading our letter. We can only imagine how hard this choice is for you and we honor your decision. We promise you that we will be loving parents and give all that we have to raising a happy and healthy child. We will be there through the tough times and create a strong foundation and instill values that will make him or her a strong human being.

We were so lucky to have great role models as parents and want the very best for our children, as well.

If you have an questions for us, or would like to talk to us about adopting your child, please contact an AdoptHelp advisor by Calling 1-800-637-7999 or clicking the “Contact Us” button below.

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