We met each other through both of our older sisters playing matchmaker. Cindy's older sister and Ike's older sister both worked in the same hospital. One day, Ike's older sister asked Cindy's older sister if she was single? If so, she had the perfect guy for her. Cindy's sister was in a relationship, but she told Ike's sister that she had the perfect match (Cindy) for this potential suitor. They exchanged our information without even telling us what was going on and then told us to talk to each other. The rest was history.

We started dating in 2015, got married in 2019, and welcomed our son, Royal to the world in 2023, Through the years there have been some ups and downs, but our love and ability to extend grace to one another have only deepened our relationship and commitment.

One thing we've noticed through the years is that when we are going through a difficult time, our first instinct is to pour even more focus and attention into our relationship. We tend to be at our strongest when life presents us with the most difficult challenges.

We love each other's company. We are each other's best friends, and we do everything together. We travel together, go to the gym together, and go dancing together. But we can have just as much fun at home watching reality TV, listening to music, or painting. Whatever we are doing, we always do it together. We are inseparable, and we love it this way.

Whenever our friends and family ask us "why adoption?" we always share with them how our decision has grown throughout the years.

We will start with Cindy's "why". From when Cindy was young, she had always planned on adopting. Regardless of whether she had to have her own biological children or not, adoption was something she longed for. She has always seen adoption as a beautiful opportunity to be on the other side of such a brave and selfless decision by a loving birth mother. This is something that is core to her beliefs and her Christian faith. She has always believed that adopting is God's plan for her and that God will help her be the best mother possible.

Ike's "why" started off a little differently. When Ike and Cindy became a couple, adoption was one of the first serious conversations they had together. Ike had never even considered adoption but was immediately receptive to the idea. In Nigerian culture, adoption is common because most children are raised by the community/family members. It is truly a it takes a village mentality. It just took someone with a fervor and desire for adoption to open Ike's eyes to the possibility. Once he considered it, he was sure it was the right path for them.

When we got married, we knew that we wanted to spend a few years as a married couple before becoming parents. We wanted to ensure that we truly knew each other's strengths, weaknesses, and how to best support each other as a team. 3 and a half years into our marriage, we decided to start the adoption process and start trying to conceive. As God would have it, Cyd became pregnant around the same time we were accepted by Gladney. Although this meant that we would have to delay our adoption plans until Royal was 9 months old, this only heightened our anticipation for the blessing that God would eventually bring into our lives. We hope and pray that you choose us to share your blessing with, and we look forward to building a lifelong relationship with you as well!

We love living in the heart of the city. We live in a three-bedroom high-rise that is in the middle of downtown. It's nice to be just a short walk away from restaurants, parks, and beaches. There are always families walking with their children, dogs, and friends throughout.

We also have a home in the suburbs, where we want to raise our children. It's a cozy home in a beautiful neighborhood surrounded by wooded areas. The home is a remodeled rustic one-story with a spacious

front and back yard. In the front, we have four large trees that provide shade and character to the home. In the backyard, we have a fire pit, covered seats, and lights for hosting.

When we first purchased our home, we felt that it would be the perfect area. Although it is in the suburbs, it is surrounded by landmarks and areas of interest. We have 4 different professional sports team stadiums that can reach within a 15-minute drive from our home.

Cindy (or Cyd as I call her) is the most special woman I have ever met in my entire life. She is a very strong and caring person who puts those she cherishes first in all situations. She is an amazing listener and a resourceful problem solver. I am always amazed at how she can figure out unconventional ways to deal with issues.

You will likely find Cyd either at the gym working out, on vacation sitting by the beach, at Bible Study, or rocking our son Royal to sleep. She has a zest for life and is the reason why we celebrate every big and small accomplishment and milestone. She loves the Lord and loves missionary work. As I stated earlier, she is the most special women I have ever met in my life.

Fun Facts about Cyd

• Cyd loves organizing parties and planning trips.
• Cyd enjoys watching reality TV dating shows
• Cyd hates comedy based TV shows
• Cyd is apart of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. a historically African American sisterhood.
• Cyd planned a date for Ike that involved them making a marriage podcast together. This lead to them making 30 episodes of the podcast together over the next year(not to be shared online)

Ike is an amazing husband and father. He is the most genuine and generous person I have ever met. He is a deep thinker who carefully prioritizes his life to ensure he has enough time for Royal and I. He is also very smart. He literally has built several computers and enjoys hacking. At home, Ike is a ball of energy. He dances all over our home and sings 90's tunes to Royal. He brings joy and light to any room he enters in. I love him so much, and know our baby will too.

Fun Facts about Ike

• Loves 90's music and dancing
• Enjoys hacking, drawing digital art, and gaming
• Favorite Movie: Gladiator
• Favorite place to be: Home with Cindy and Royal
• Favorite Food: Yogurt and halos/oranges

Our son Royal is inquisitive and energetic. Although he has no siblings yet, he is extremely social and loves being around people. Whenever we visit his cousins, you would think that they are reminiscing about old times (even though none of them can speak yet).

He is a large bundle of joy, always smiling, laughing, and hugging. Royal attends preschool where he cultivates his love of music, art, and literature. Royal loves listening to music, going on walks, and trying new foods. We know that he is excited to share the things he loves with his soon-to-be sibling.

It feels like every year we spend together, we discover more joint hobbies. One of our main hobbies is throwing parties and celebrating life events. We celebrate the anniversaries of when we started dating, half-birthdays, home ownership, and anything else we can think of. Sometimes we celebrate with a large gathering, other times we celebrate by traveling abroad for a few days. We believe that life should be celebrated.

We also love to try new things like fencing but also appreciate our smaller hobbies like playing board games, going on walks, watching shows together, and studying the Word of God together.

Thank you for taking to look at our profile. We hope you got to know us better and had your questions answered. While we don't know you yet, we are praying for you. And if you decide we are the right family for your sweet baby, we look forward to connecting with you soon!

We can't image how difficult it is to choose your child's future, but we know God will give you guidance. Your selfless love for your baby is incredible. Praying for peace, comfort, and direction from Him.

If you decide to open your heart to our family, we promise to love, protect, and care for your little one, treasuring him or her as our own, while always honoring your role in their story. What an incredible gift of life you are giving your baby, and we are so grateful that you would consider us to join you on your journey.

You will always be your baby's birth mom, and we will always tell our baby how brave, caring, loving, strong, compassionate, and wise you are. We would also love to connect with you throughout this child's life. We can work together to figure out a plan that works well for us all.

Whether you choose us or not. know that you are not alone! We are praying for you to find the right family and know you will make the best choice for your baby.