Hi! We are Staci, Keith, and Grandma Bebe! We are an intergenerational family living life on our own terms. We choose to spend as much time together as we can, hold each other up, and truly live the values of “our village”. Individually, we have lived through hard things. We love really deeply because we have lost people we loved when we were young. We make all of life’s mundane moments feel special because we know you only get one go. We play music around the house, dance while we cook, and go to movies during the week because we believe that it’s up to us to make each day count. We know that adoption begins with trauma and that trauma changes you. We also know that we can love fiercely, protect endlessly, and remind a child whose birth family chooses us that it’s okay to hold loss and love in two hands.
When we are parents, we promise to rub their head before bedtime, kiss boo boos when they fall, and teach them how to bet on themself. We will build their confidence, teach them essential skills, and cheer them on every step of the way. Keith can’t wait to teach them to draw, I can’t wait to help with homework, and Bebe can’t wait to spoil them silly.
About Staci
Job: Leadership Development Trainer/Coach
Hobbies: DIY-ing and home decor projects, brunch adventures with friends, escaping for a pedicure/massage, playing with Dahli (niece), and working on small business goals
Fun Fact: Staci lived in three different cities while the home team won the Super Bowl (Giants, Green Bay Packers, and the Ravens!)
About Keith
Job: Personal Trainer & Sales Rep
Hobbies: Making music, exploring the city, writing a fantasy novel, drawing, and cooking together with Staci
Fun Fact: Keith’s dad was a famous reggae star who went to grade school with Bob Marley
About Grandma Bebe
Job: Box Office Treasurer
Hobbies: Reading, Bingo, movies, socializing, and loving on her family
Fun Fact: Barbara (Bebe) is quick on her feet! She answers questions in song and sometimes responds to conversation in show tunes
Our Lives
Here in Clifton, NJ, at the intersection of suburbia and the whole wide world, we get the chance to enjoy quiet BBQs in the backyard and play fetch with the dogs (Wander Pickles and Ridley Roo can’t wait to add a new friend to the mix) AND we take every opportunity to head into NYC to enjoy great food, see shows, visit museums, and walk around Central Park. Bebe loves making breakfast for everyone on mornings when she goes to work late, and we watch our favorite shows on the couch together in the evenings. Tea time is a nightly ritual we never miss—and sometimes we swap it for hot chocolate or make smores on the stove. Staci works from home most days while Keith and Bebe work in Manhattan. No two days are alike while we finagle schedules, and we all cherish the surprises in life.
Our Family
Cousin Dahlia ( turns 1 in November!) lives 15 minutes away and loves to come over to play! Our house is her home away from home, and we hang out at Melissa and John’s (her parents’) house at least once a week! Nana is the glue of the family and can be counted on for a long stay at the holidays …though she will be a great grandma, age is just a state of mind (she danced the whole night at our wedding in Vegas and can’t wait to be there for all of the big milestones ahead) We love when the West Coast crew (cousin Dream Dream and her mom Tareka) comes to town and we cherish the chance to share local experiences with them too! Staci and Keith love their goddaughter to pieces, and there are lots of littles to play with in the friend circle. Ranging in age from newborn to 6 years old, there’s never a shortage of birthday parties, play dates, and outings. Games are a must- cards, Scrabble, Taboo, and family bingo with prizes are a holiday tradition—along with one day a school year when we skip class to have an adventure! Grandpa Spence plays prize master, and GiGi and Aunt Raelin always make sure we are cracking up. Keith wakes up early, and Staci sleeps in. Bebe teaches the dogs how to “ give hugs” and “shake hands,” and there is pretty much always some kind of action in our house.
Final Thoughts
Dear birth family, we would be honored to be chosen by you, hope to know you, and feel destined to walk beside you in love to ensure a happy, healthy, and fun upbringing ahead!
-Staci & Keith
