Our story began 10 years ago with a coffee date in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Since then, we got married, graduated from law school and a master’s program, and bought our home in Brooklyn. Michael was born to a family of Chinese-Filipino doctors in Philadelphia and grew up near Boston. He was raised in a tradition that shares culture and love through food. He continues that tradition through daily home-cooked meals and consistent gatherings for family and friends. Moussa was born in Brooklyn and grew up in Massachusetts and Lebanon. He volunteers at the local community board, serves on our building’s condominium board, and dedicates time to a local nonprofit advocating for better public transportation.
Over five years ago, we agreed on a plan to adopt a child. Since then, we have built careers, a home, and a shared life that will grow a family with strong community roots and traditions. We will support our child in every way – from providing a solid educational foundation and guiding their personal growth to teaching them real-life skills like cooking and financial literacy. We are eager to welcome our child to our home and to our supportive friends and family.
About Michael
Job: Senior Manager (Consultant)
Hobbies: Tennis, reading fantasy novels, cooking (not baking)
Fun Fact: I used to sing in my college a cappella group and can play the piano and violin!
About Moussa
Job: Attorney
Hobbies: Hiking, volunteering in the community, international travel
Fun Fact: In 2024, I published a chapter in a book!
Our Lives
Our home is the center of our community. We host gatherings ranging from movie nights to holidays like Chinese/Lunar New Year, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. We’re also hands-on and enjoy tackling DIY renovations. It’s especially meaningful to us to put effort into our space. We plan to pass along these handy skills and appreciation of the physical environment to our child. We also relish the sunshine via our terrace, where our child will enjoy being outside.
Michael loves to create daily home-cooked meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Our love for cooking shines through our anniversary tradition of cooking apple crisp and Lebanese pudding together. We’re excited to raise our child in a home that gathers around special home-cooked meals.
When not in Brooklyn, we enjoy travel, both near and far. Annual trips with friends and family to the Hudson Valley and Mexico City are cherished memories we can’t wait to share with our child.
Our Family
We spend significant time with immediate family members, close friends, and their children because they are important parts of our lives. Michael’s sister and her lovely children live in the Upper East Side, a short train ride away. We love going to Central Park to visit our favorite musicians and playgrounds. Moussa’s family lives in Michigan, California, and Texas. We both have brothers living in Southern California, whom we see a few times a year. Moussa’s brother will be having a baby soon, so we hope to introduce a child to their California cousin someday.
We make time every week with our closest friends and their kids for traditions like Friday family pizza nights. Grandparents, cousins, and close friends (and their children) live throughout NJ, NY, and MA and will be a regular part of our child’s life. We live with our adorable little Shih Tzu, Oscar; he loves kids, has a calming presence, and enjoys cuddling.
Final Thoughts
We’re committed to creating an environment that ensures our child grows up in a safe and loving home and care deeply that we provide the best opportunities life has to offer. We appreciate you taking the time to read our profile as you navigate this difficult choice. Regardless, we wish you the best of luck.
-Michael & Moussa
