We're Gabriel and Stephanie, and we're so grateful you're here, getting to know us and the life we are excited to share with a little one.

We can only imagine how tough this part of the decision-making process is, but we hope you can take comfort in knowing that every family you are presented with will love your baby and provide the best possible life and resources.

In our profile, you'll find a life spent on the water and in the garden, dogs on the porch, chickens in the yard, boats, goats, and a big, loving family and community so excited to welcome a little one.

Our hearts are full of excitement to share our life, and we can't wait to meet the child who joins us.

Sincerely, from our family to yours!Gabriel & Stephanie

Our story began on the small island of Treasure Cay in the Abacos. Stephanie was there for work, & Gabe was the liveaboard yacht captain on her boss's boat. When we met on board, we had no idea our lives were about to change forever!

A year later, we had rearranged our lives to be together & we've never looked back.

As we make this profile, it's been wild to see how much has happened in just five years. We've built businesses & careers, created a homestead with a garden and a flock of chickens more incredible than we could have imagined. It's been a lot of hard work, but through it all, adoption has always been our "why" & the dream guiding every step.

At the heart of it, we're best friends who make each other laugh, love working side by side, & can't wait to grow our family with the same joy, love, & purpose that brought us together.

Our Wedding

We were married in 2021 at Gabe's family goat farm in North Carolina, surrounded by our immediate families. It was the most relaxed and beautiful day of our lives, with no stress and just pure joy as we united our families. The animals roamed freely, adding so much character and charm to the day, and by the end of the ceremony, the goats had happily eaten the hay bales we had set up for seating!

A Franciscan Friar officiated our wedding, and Gabriel's younger brother, Zachariah, hand-crafted a wooden cross that served as the perfect backdrop for our vows. One of the most meaningful parts of the weekend was how naturally our families connected. That very first night together, we gathered around the dinner table, laughing and sharing stories, the perfect beginning to our life as one family.

"I'll never forget, early in our relationship, when I first told Gabe I wouldn't be able to give him biological children... nervous it might be a deal breaker. He paused, gently wiped my tear, and said, 'I never understood why, in my dreams, my children never looked like me... until this moment.' It was right then that I knew I had found my soulmate." - Stephanie

We've always dreamed of having a family and having a special way of connecting with children, our nieces, nephews, godchildren, and friends' little ones. If there's a baby in the room, you can bet you'll find them in our arms!

From a young age, Stephanie knew she wanted to be a mom. She even started a babysitter's club at 13 and later worked as a nanny, pouring her heart into caring for children. At 19, she went through menopause and learned she couldn't have biological children, but she wasn't discouraged; she knew her path to motherhood would be through adoption.

At 23, she became a foster mom to many wonderful children. After a few foster-to-adopt opportunities fell through, her boss introduced her to a private adoption agency that cares deeply for birth mothers, babies, and adoptive families. She just knew this was the right place.

For us, adoption isn't just how we'll grow our family; it's part of who we are. Our little one will be born from our hearts and our faith, a beautiful answer to prayer.

Told by Gabriel

"Stephanie is someone who is truly uncharted and incomparable in today's world. She pours her heart and soul into everything she does, whether it's her personal business, her career, her relationships with friends and family, or even caring for our beloved dogs and free-range chickens. Her time and energy may be stretched impossibly thin, but she gives her all with unwavering love and dedication.

She tends to our garden, raises our animals with the same gentleness and reverence as St. Francis, designs and builds our home, and fills it with warmth and laughter for all who enter.

Stephanie and I share the same faith and core principles, a deep trust in God, and a commitment to living a life rooted in love, respect, and gratitude. I am constantly in awe of her beauty, her strength, her faith, and her joy for life.

I feel profoundly honored to stand by her side as we grow our family and walk this journey together."

-Gabriel

Meet Stephanie

Stephanie was born in California and grew up in Texas, surrounded by a blend of American and Filipino traditions from her dad, Papa Steve, and mom, Mama Grace (from the Philippines). She's very close with her sisters, Aymi and Gracie, and loves being the fun aunt that spoils her amazing nieces and nephews.

From a young age, Stephanie knew she wanted to be a mom. At 23, she began fostering children. Though a few foster-to-adopt journeys fell through, she always reminded herself, "It isn't denied, it's just delayed." While she waited, Stephanie turned her nurturing heart toward a career in senior living, eventually becoming the Executive Director of a memory care community, leading and caring for 55 residents with Alzheimer's.

When she met Gabe, she finally understood the "why" behind the delays. Today, she works at the corporate level for the same senior living company, supporting communities across the country, and also owns and runs a fun, bright pink party boat business. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, caring for her dogs and chickens, and spending time with loved ones.

Stephanie plans to step back from her senior living role when they become parents so she can stay at home and raise their family as a present parent. Her journey has been guided by perseverance and love, and she looks forward to pouring that same dedication into her greatest role yet, being a mother.

Stephanie Facts

• Works supporting
• senior living
• communities
• Owner of a pink Bachelorette party boat business too!

• God
• Our Families & Friends
• Our Dogs & Chickens
• Our Homestead

• Dog Park Dates
• Gardening
• Board Games
• Shrimping
• Theme Parks

• Comedies are #1
• Christmas Movies
• Whodunnit Mysteries
• Anything I can dance to!

• Cure for Alzheimer's
• Foster Youth
• AgriculturalPreservation

• Fresh Seafood
• Garden Veggies
• Funfetti Cake
• Watermelon from the garden

Told by Stephanie

"Gabriel is an amazing, one-of-a-kind man. From the moment we met, our connection was instant. We quickly discovered that we shared the same faith and trust in God, as well as the same core values, love and respect for others, and a deep appreciation for both the land and the sea.

What first made me fall in love with Gabriel was his truly unique spirit. Gabe has this rare ability to liveauthentically, guided by the beautiful beat of his own drum. He's never been one to follow societal norms or pressures, instead choosing to pave his own path, a quality I know will make him a wonderful and encouraging father, always inspiring our future children to embrace who they are.

Gabe has an incredible work ethic and is a natural problem solver. He's also incredibly handy; he evenbuilt a two-acre fence around our property completely by hand, every post placed with our future children and fur family in mind.

He's fun, animated, and full of light. Whether he's working on a project, learning something new, or sharing his knowledge with others, his heart always shines through. I feel endlessly blessed to call himmy husband, and I know any child will be just as blessed to call him Dad."

-Stephanie

Meet Gabriel

Gabriel was raised in South Carolina in a close and loving family with his parents and three siblings.

The kind of family that prioritized dinner around the table together every night, and church every Sunday. Growing up, he learned the importance of hard work, kindness, and looking out for one another. After high school, he followed in his father's footsteps, working in historic restoration and gaining a deep appreciation for preserving the past.

In time, Gabriel felt called to the sea. He became a scuba instructor, earned his captain's license, and built a successful career as a yacht captain and mechanic. For the past 10 years, he has proudly run his own company, continuing to challenge himself while also mentoring others who share his passion for the water.

Family has always been at the heart of who Gabriel is. He looks forward to sharing his love of adventure, strong work ethic, and the values he was raised with as he and Stephanie grow their family through adoption.

Gabriel Facts

• 200-Ton Captain
• Yacht Mechanic
• Yacht Manager

• Offshore Fishing
• Fixing cars and boats in his shop
• Inventing new things all the time

• Sail as a family around the Caribbean, island hop with them, and show them where our journey all began.

• Movies: Action
• Music: RANDOM! Anythingthat pops in his head firstthing in the morning - is thegenre of the day!

• Always has an audible book he is listening to while he works. He loves to learn, and the topics vary.

• Fresh-caught seafood
• Vegetables and fruitfrom the garden
• Guilty pleasure: Nachosand Snickers

Hasil Bayden - is the sweetest and smartest hound dog you will ever meet. She loves being in the yard and is on high alert for squirrels and any type of rodent that might hurt a chicken; she's definitely saved the flock a few times by alerting us. She's a rescue from the SPCA - and we are so lucky to have her in our lives. We seriously think she can understand English! She's 100% a cute snuggle bug.

Bella Vita - is our sweet, gentle, and snuggly puppy. She's wonderful with children and has the most joyful spirit. When she sees you, her whole body wiggles with excitement from nose to tail. She's named after the boat we met on! All she knows is love and happiness. She adores her toys and absolutely loves swimming. We even bought her a little kiddie pool so she can splash around and stay cool on warm days. We know she will make the most fun sister!

Mariah Carey - We named her Mariah Carey when she was a baby chick because she was always chirping. But we had no idea just how much she would live up to her name! She is a total diva and rules the roost. Whatever Queen Mariah Carey wants, she gets. But every day she has given us breakfast with a consistently large fresh egg. She can keep being a diva; she deserves it!

Our property has a big yard, an old barn, and a beautiful enclosed raised-bed garden that Gabe built. He also fenced in the entire two acres by hand so our dogs & and future children can play safely and freely. Our neighborhood feels like family. We look after each other's homes, share garden harvests, and are surrounded by young, growing families. Our next-door neighbors share our last name and are also adopted! Everyone is so excited to welcome little ones and be best friends and babysitters! We love our area and plan to stay here, raising our family in this safe, peaceful home beneath the oak trees, eating fresh fruit and vegetables from the garden.

Gabe's favorite part of our home is his barn, where he is always building or inventing something new.

Stephanie's favorite part of our home is the garden Gabe built.

Every year, our holidays look a little different, but one thing is always the same: we cherish them as family. Some years we've celebrated on the farm, other years in Texas with Stephanie's family, and sometimes we've hosted in our own home. When Stephanie was a director for a memory care community, we would often stay in town so she could work and spend the holiday with her residents, while giving her team members time with their families. Gabe would, of course, visit too, always bringing smiles, especially to the ladies who thought he was a cute cowboy!

Holidays

• Easter - Easter egg hunts and bottle-feeding baby goats on the farm are a favorite for all the kids in the family.
• Fourth of July - Fireworks every year in Uncle Tony's backyard, surrounded by family and friends.
• Fall - An annual sisters' trip with Stephanie's sisters and their families. We go somewhere tropical with the husbands and kids, unplugging and reconnecting without the distractions of daily life.
• Christmas - Vigil Mass at the church next door (literally our next-door neighbor!). Christmas morning with cinnamon rolls, Santa, and stockings -- Stephanie's favorite part.
• New Year's Eve - A feast of crab legs and a big bonfire to reflect on the past year and welcome the new one.

Provide a safe, loving, and nurturing home where your little one will always feel accepted, protected, and loved. Our home will be filled with laughter, encouragement, and opportunities for them to grow into exactly who they want to be. Our support system will be there every step of the way to guide and protect them, cheer them on, and give them all the love.

Your little one will always know the story of where they came from and the incredible strength and courage of their mother. We will speak of you with the deepest respect and gratitude, honoring the loving choice you made. They will never doubt how very wanted they were, chosen by all of us together, loved beyond measure, and cherished from the very start.

They will grow up knowing they were born from our hearts and that we would wait another lifetime for them.

With love and gratitude,

Gabriel Stephanie