Our relationship has grown stronger since we became a couple 12 years ago.  We love each other deeply, and consider each other our best and most supportive friend. We have traveled far and wide, but are now settled very happily with our son in the small town of Napa, California, in a comfortable home where we grow more vegetables than we can eat, and cook with fresh eggs from our very own chickens!  

We want to share our love of the wonder and diversity of the world with our children, but also want to have a safe and secure home for them—and so our house is in a friendly neighborhood a few blocks from a top-rated elementary school, an animal farm, and four parks. We spend a lot of time outside in our yard, gardening, playing with our dogs, barbecuing with friends and neighbors, and reading (or napping!) in our hammock. We can't wait for a new baby to join us!

JEFF TALKS ABOUT KAREN:

Karen is sensitive, outgoing, and loving. She believes strongly in helping others; she spent two years in the Peace Corps in Africa, and later cooked for a soup kitchen in New York City. Karen has been a teacher much of her life; now she teaches just a few hours a week, and is loving spending her time at home with Derek, teaching, nurturing, and playing with him. She is a wonderful, devoted mother with tremendous love to share, and she is very excited about adding to our family. She and Derek are looking forward to having a baby with whom to cuddle, read, sing songs, dance around to music, and play in the garden. 

KAREN TALKS ABOUT JEFF:

Jeff is sweet, compassionate, generous, and full of integrity. He is the best husband I could ever ask for, and he is a fantastic father.  Even before I married him I knew he would be a great father: patient, funny, gentle and loving.  He has always loved to be with children, and kids love him because he gets right down to play with them at their own level.  He is a scientific professional who works for a pharmaceutical company and he has a wide variety of interests—playing softball, working on house projects, music, and reading. Most important to him, though, is the time he spends at home with his family. Jeff can't wait to have a new baby to hold and rock as he reads.