This document introduces Patrick and Tracey who are hoping to adopt a baby. It provides details about their backgrounds, careers, interests, families, home, and reasons they believe they would make great parents. They have been married for over 8 years, have a daughter Bailey through adoption, and live in a family-friendly neighborhood with space for children.

1. Patrick and TraceyHello!Thank you for taking the time to get to know us! We hope that the pictures and information will provide an idea of who we are and introduce you to our family. We believe that you must be a very caring and unselfish person with your baby’s best interest at heart. We are honored that you may be considering us as adoptive parents for your baby.Sincerely,Patrick and Tracey(and Bailey)About UsWe have been happily married for over 8 years. We have one daughter, Bailey, who joined our family through adoption. We also have two dogs, Wally and Elliott. We live in a residential neighborhood with excellent neighbors. We have a good sized fenced yard with a swing set and room to play. We enjoy going to ballgames, races, the Munyand Fox Theaters, and spending time with our family and friends. We try to take vacations every summer and long weekends whenever we can.

2. Bailey’s 5th Birthday PartyBaileyTrip to a ball gamePatrick’s Graduation

3. PatrickJob: Special Education TeacherEducation: Associates Degree in Architectural Design, Drafting, and Structural Technology; Associates Degree in Science, Bachelor of Science Degree in Special Education.Patrick is in his first year as a Middle School Special Education Teacher. He says it has been a very new learning experience for him.Interests: NASCAR, music, working in the yard, playing with Bailey, spending time as a family.Personality: Patrick is caring and hardworking. He is always doing things to help his family and friends.Patrick and Bailey coloringPatrick‘s GraduationPatrick at a baseball game.

4. PatrickPatrick was born and raised in Southern Illinois. He spent most of his time with friends playing baseball, football, and bicycle riding.Patrick is close to his family. They live about 10 minutes away and is in contact with them daily.Patrick has coached Little League baseball at the local Boys and Girls Club. He has also captained a Relay for Life Team for many years. He is a Middle School Special Education Teacher. He enjoys the idea that each day brings new and different challenges and rewards. Patrick at a family birthday party.Celebrating the local Relay’s 10th BirthdayPatrick and Bailey

5. TraceyJob: High School Special Education TeacherEducation: Bachelor of Science in Education; Master of Science in Special EducationInterests: reading, crocheting, spending time with Bailey, playing with the dogs, going to the local YMCA, attending Book Club meetingsPersonality: Tracey is caring and fun-loving. She gives to others and takes care of them before her self.Tracey over-looking Bagnell Dam in the Ozarks.Tracey and Bailey at Holiday World

6. Tracey at a Fancy Nancy partySinging in the RainTracey at State Special OlympicsTracey grew up in a small town in Central Illinois; there were only 43 in her high school class! She spent a lot of her time with her family and friends. During school, she was involved in softball, volleyball, 4-H, and many clubs and organizations.Tracey is close to her family and has contact with them weekly. She enjoys visiting her family and friends as much as possible.Tracey is in her 17th year as a Special Education Teacher. She also tutors a few hours each week after school. She believes the best part of her job is watching the self confidence and self-esteem grow in her students.Tracey

7. Job: Attending Pre-School, helping care for the dogs, playing and being a kid.Education: Currently enrolled in Pre-School, preparing for KindergartenInterests: Playing with Barbie dolls and baby dolls, playing with her kitchen set and dress up. Playing with her friends, going to dance class, and watching movies.Personality: Bailey is a very happy child who is full of energy and is too smart for her own good. She is also very loving and cares a great deal about others.BaileySchool Christmas ProgramModeling new sweaterBailey at her dance re-formance.Bailey loves dolls and stuffed animals.

8. BaileyBailey was born in Illinois and adopted by Patrick and Tracey at birth.She is very close to all of her grandparents, great-grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles. She participates in soccer, t-ball, dance, and gymnastics. She likes going to the Fox Theater and also watching movies. She can’t hardly wait to become a big sister. She talks constantly about being the best big sister. Class trip to the Apple FarmPlaying in the snowSoccer Time!Horseback riding in the OzarksAt Nanny and Gramps’

9. 2nd Annual Camping TripPatrick and Bailey at the zooBailey with the 13 inches of hair she sent to Locks of Love.Trying for a soccer goal

10. ElliottWallyOur PetsWe have 2 dogs.Wally is a 9 year old Beagle-Lab mix. We adopted Wally from some friends when he was just 6 weeks old. Wally loves to lay around and watch the world go by. He also loves to go for rides in the car.Elliott is an 8 year old Lab-Collie-Sheppard-Everything mix. We adopted Elliott from a local shelter when he was 2 months old. Elliott loves to chase birds and squirrels and run up and down the fence with his friend Buffer.Wally and Elliott love people and get excited when we have visitors. However, they are beginning to mellow. Both dogs have gone through several months of obedience training. Wally and Elliott also have a bunch of tricks they perform for family and friends.We also have a large fish family that peacefully spend their days swimming from one end of their tank to the other.

11. PoppiePatrick and his parents at his graduation.Bailey and Grandma at a Fancy Nancy party.Our FamilyNeighbor Joyce and Grandma at the Relay for LifePatrick’s mom and dad have been married for over 39 years. They both work for a local law firm. Patrick’s dad does maintenance and helps the attorneys prepare for trials. His mom does bookkeeping for the office. She is preparing for retirement. Patrick’s parents live about 10 minutes away and we see or talk to them on a daily basis.Patrick has a younger brother, Dan. He also lives less than 10 minutes away and we talk to him almost daily.Patrick’s family is excited about the addition to our family. Grandma, Patrick, and Bailey at the Muny

12. Dan, Grandma, Poppie, and PatrickGrandma and PoppieAt the local Relay for LifeDan and PatrickIn the Pits at GatewayBailey and her Great-Grandpa

13. Our FamilyTracey’s parents have been married for over 42 years. Her parents have both retired in the last 6 months. Her dad was a Supervisor of Grain Elevators and her mom was a bookkeeper for a furniture manufacturing center. Her parents live about 2 hours away and we try to see them every other month. Tracey’s parents love being Nanny and Gramps!Tracey has one younger sister, Nicki. Nicki is an accountant. She has been married to Jason, a chiropractor, for over 12 years. They have 2 children, Mackenzie who is 7 and Keaton who is 4. They all live in South Carolina and we see them 1-2 times a year.Tracey also has one younger brother, Cory. Cory is in sales. He has been married to Mindy for 4 years. They also have 2 children: Tessa is 2 and Owen is 8 months. They live in a western suburb of Chicago.Tracey has weekly contact with her family via telephone and internet.Tracey, Cory, and NickiNanny and GrampsEveryone at Gram’s 80th Birthday CelebrationBailey and Nanny

14. Bailey, her Great-Gram, and cousinsNicki, Jason, Mackenzie, and KeatonGramps and NannyCory, Mindy, Tessa, and OwenMost of Gramps’ side of the family.Most of Nanny’s side of the family.

15. Our HomeWe live in a residential neighborhood. Our home has 3 bedrooms, a bathroom, dining room, and living room. Outside, we have a fenced in yard with a swing set and play house, plus tons of room to play. One of the best parts of our neighborhood is the wonderful, caring neighbors. There are also several young children that play together all around us.Front yardBack yard – this was taken before the swing set was added.