Doris & Rob Looking to start a family
Hi! Thanks for taking a few minutes to check out our pics and read about us. Most importantly, thanks for considering us as adoptive parents! As a couple that loves adventure, we can’t wait to begin our adventure as parents!
Rob called Doris his girlfriend for the first time.
Doris “winked” at Rob on Match.com. That’s right, we started out as a cheesy, online match.
Sep 07
Oct 07
Nov 07
Jun 08
We started hanging out every single weekend. As annual passholders, our usual weekend haunts were Epcot (walking around World Showcase) and Magic Kingdom (where we battled for the highest score on Buzz Lighyear’s Space Ranger Spin). When we weren’t at the parks, we were spending time playing with our dogs, Beau (Doris’ dog) and Kira (Rob’s dog).
We decided to meet in person. Turned out, we were neighbors! Neither of us wanting to force a relationship, we decided to be friends. *Doris already had a secret crush on Rob.
Jul 08
We started talking about growing our family and having a child.
Aug 08
We had our first kids conversation. I suppose we were “just checking.”
Something changed. Our friendship had grown and, being that we were neighbors, we soon realized that we were spending every non-working moment together … dinner, dog walks, tv-time. Truth is, we were “exclusive” friends. Somewhat organically, life had duped us into dating. So, we figured we might as well give it a shot.
Oct 10
Dec 11
ROB’S POV – She took way too long to say yes! I was there on my knee for a small eternity trying to read her face and know if she was going to say yes or no!
DORIS’ POV – After a beautiful day of birthday surprises filled with trips to all my favorite spots (which started with my favorite breakfast – banana French toast), Rob ended the day with fireworks … literally. During Epcot’s finale show, I said to Rob, “This day could not possibly be any better.” That’s when he dropped to one knee and offered me a ring and his heart. Of course, I said YES right away!
Jun 13
We can’t wait to welcome our child and celebrate the gift of parenthood – a gift given to us! May 14
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After several months without success, we learned that having biological children is not in our stars. We’d discussed adoption years prior, so it seemed the most logical next step in our future.
With family and friends surrounding us, we tied the knot! We ditched the traditional wedding cake and instead had wedding pie and homemade ice cream (made-to-order in any flavor you design by a liquid nitrogen ice cream maker man). Instead of a unity candle, we completed a painting together during the ceremony (the painting hangs in our home). Instead of the “chicken or fish” options, we served smoked BBQ. And instead of a DJ, we hired the two guys who sing and play guitar at our local wine bar. It was a night that had us stamped all over it.
A little about Doris (by Rob): Passionate, intelligent and diligent. Doris is the epitome of a hard worker and a dedicated person. She always looks at the positive and strives to make it happen. Doris is highly intelligent and carries herself with dignity and class. Her personality and appearance will stop a room.
Doris A little about Doris (by moi!):
From writing code to sewing to crafting and photography to playing music, my soul seeks creative outlets. I’ve made a career out of being creative. As a former event planner, I saw a need for eco-friendly, useful wedding favors and I made a business providing just such favors to brides and grooms. Luckily, I found an equally creative husband who appreciates and challenges me! I’m big on family and have a soft spot in my heart for all of our family traditions that I can’t wait to begin sharing with our new family member.
Top 5 5 things that make me happy: • cake batter ice cream • hearing my dog snore • gerber daisies • watching Rob paint • my iPhone 5 strengths: • organized • passionate • eternal optimist • being an html nerd • crafty 5 weaknesses: • singing • heights • Krispy Kreme • handbags • too organized at times 5 things I’ll teach our child: • to swim • to bake the best pecan pie • to sew • to always ask questions • to be adventurous
THIS allows me to work from home! Most popular as wedding favors, I shape bird seed into a small hearts complete with custom tags – guests hang the heart from a tree limb and let wild birds enjoy!
On New Year’s Eve 2010, my team played Rob’s team in a bowl game. We drove 12 hours to Memphis, got soaked in pouring rain, sat on my team’s side (Rob is so great like that) and I sported a giant bulldog on my head throughout the entire game.
A little about Rob (by Doris): Rob is compassionate, creative and self-disciplined. These three words show in his words, his choices, his heart and even his artwork. Rob has a beautiful soul that is evident even upon a first meeting. He exudes patience, intelligence, a love for animals and a true sense of romance. He will be an amazing father!
A little about Rob (by the artist himself): As an outgoing introvert I’m always pushing myself to that area just outside of my comfort zone where life begins. I’ve been a professional artist for almost 15 years doing animation, video games, and now fine art. I have been so lucky to travel the world painting and call it “work”. I love what I do and wouldn’t change it for the world. I take the most joy when making others happy and can’t wait to share these experiences with a family of my own.
Rob
Top 5 5 things that make me happy: • making Doris happy • dogs • sleeping in • airline cookies • football! 5 strengths: • creativity • ingenuity • drive/motivation • fiscal planning • learning new things 5 weaknesses: • staying up too late • eating too fast • thinking too much • video games • being too early 5 things I’ll teach our child: • how to ride a bike • how to blame the dog for the missing pecan pie • how to be artistic • how to surf • how to throw
We live in a beautiful, timeless town filled with front porches, lakefronts, dogs on leashes, kids on bikes and friendly neighbors. When the weather is nice, we often walk to Starbucks or the local ice cream shop. Our town plays host to a variety of family events including ice skating and nightly “snowfall� during the holidays, a parade and costume contest on 4th of July and town-wide trickor-treating.
We’re in Disney’s backyard! Nightly fireworks and visits with the Mouse are a routine that has not jaded us. We don’t take our Disney proximity for granted – instead we take advantage of it! Cocoa Beach, home to some of Florida’s best surfing, is just a quick 55-minute ride to the east. To the west, dogs get to run free and splash in the waves at a fantastic off-leash dog beach.
Rob’s parents (Joan & Bill) are retired educators who spend a lot of time with their dogs, fishing in their boat off Merritt Island and taking on a multitude of art projects. They are thoughtful, giving, all-around good people who give you the moon if you asked
Our Family We both come from supportive, loving families who are excited to welcome our new family member.
Daniel (doris’ bro) and Shawn (his wife and our sisterin-law) are some of the coolest people you’ll meet. They’re beach-loving, good-time-having, do-anything-for-you kind of folks who are the salt of
Doris’ parents (Olga & Terry) are retired civilians from the Dept. of the Navy. They are golfers (her dad spends 5 days a week on the golf course), travelers (they like to take impromptu trips on their Spyder) and Olga is training for her first 5k. They are kind, generous, dependable people that know how to have a great time.
Steven (rob’s bro) and Annemarie (his wife and our sisterin-law) are a picture-perfect couple – the house, the dog, the kindergarten teacher, the grill master, the beautiful teeth … must we go on?
Grilling with the fam on Christmas day.� Beau (our short brown one) and Kira (our tall yellow one) are a big part of our family. Both are 9 years old with the spirits of puppies. Beau snores, Kira chases squirrels. They love going to the beach, riding in the car, giving us those irresistible dog faces and playing chase in the grassy field near our home ‌ we heart them!
Hanging with the fam in downtown during Octoberfest