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Our story started at work. Brian was overseeing a bank renovation, and Melissa was the bank manager. There were blueprints, opinions, strong personalities, and a lot of banter. What started as casual conversations quickly became something more, with an undeniable connection that others noticed before we did.
Before the project was finished, Brian left his number “just in case.” There weren’t any issues, but Melissa reached out anyway, and from that moment on, the conversation never really stopped. Our first date was at Jack Astor’s, where we quickly realized how naturally we connected. Since then, our relationship has been filled with laughter, playful differences, and a strong partnership. We balance each other in the best ways and have built a life grounded in love, family, and shared values. Together, we’ve created a home full of connection, tradition, and intention, and we’re excited to continue growing our family.
We’re big Christmas people, the extra kind. Mickey and Minnie Christmas specials, Christmas Vacation on repeat, Home alone and the grinch every year, Hallmark movies, Christmas markets, Bradford Greenhouses… our house gets completely transformed every year, it’s ridiculous and we love it! Giving back is important to us too, and we proudly support the Make-A-Wish Foundation. We love to travel, whether that’s trips down South to the U.S., time at the cottage, lake swims, hikes, or just being outdoors together. Family time is everything to us, especially with our daughter Mia (Brian’s daughter, Melissa’s bonus daughter). Melissa met Mia when she was just two, and they clicked instantly. She’s now eight, obsessed with Disney, loves shopping, crafts, reading to the dog, and considers our pup Phoebe her self-proclaimed sister. We truly count down the days until she’s with us.
Sometimes we all go to work together, Brian works, while Melissa and Mia hang out and make a day of it. It’s one of our favourite little traditions.
Ok now the most important thing about us, we’re Disney fanatics: Stitch movies, Cinderella, Aladdin, Lion King, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Jumanji, if it’s nostalgic or magical, we’re in. We even got engaged at Disney. Brian jokingly insisted that Melissa had to propose first- just to prove she was really ready- and promised that once she did, he’d give her a proper princess-worthy proposal. So Melissa popped the question at Disney (where else?). Brian followed through completely: ring ready, outfit changes and all. He always said he wanted to be the princess!
We believe deeply in growth, as individuals, as partners, and as parents. Therapy, self-reflection, evolving, doing better, it matters to us. We also believe life should be fun, which is why we host family cook-offs where our parents judge who made the better meal. Brian used to hate cooking. Now he’s competitive about it. Our home is full of laughter, love, tradition, and intention. We’re building a life grounded in connection, and we’re so excited about growing our family with care, respect, and a whole lot of heart.
OUR UPBRINGING & FAMILY
We were both raised in close, family-oriented environments where love, support, and connection were deeply valued. Melissa was born in Richmond, British Columbia before transferring across Canada, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon and finally Toronto. She grew up surrounded by family, with strong relationships with cousins and loved ones, and learned early the importance of togetherness, creativity, and making meaningful memories. Brian was raised in Toronto in a very close-knit family, where time together and supporting one another was always a priority. Both of us grew up in homes that embraced fun traditions, especially around the holidays. Christmas was always a big, joyful time filled with excitement, family gatherings and creating lasting memories, and that’s something we still carry into our lives today. We have continued those traditions together, along with our shared love for Disney and creating magical, meaningful experiences as a family.
These experiences shaped the way we live our lives today. Family is at the center of everything we do, and we prioritize creating a home filled with love, laughter, stability, and connection. Our life with Mia has further deepened these values, teaching us the importance of presence, patience, and truly cherishing time together. We are committed to building a warm, supportive, and nurturing environment for our growing family.
OUR JOURNEY TO BUILD OUR FAMILY
Our journey to creating our family has not been the one we expected, but it has brought us here with a deep sense of gratitude and clarity. Due to Melissa’s endometriosis, we began pursuing fertility treatments with the hope of carrying a pregnancy ourselves. During this process, a hormone-sensitive breast tumor was discovered, and fertility treatments were immediately paused so Melissa could focus on surgery and treatment. Thankfully, she is now healthy. However, moving forward with pregnancy or additional fertility hormones carries medical risks that we are not willing to take. Protecting her long-term health is our priority. Through this process, we were able to create embryos and currently have 5 PGT-normal embryos, 2 untested embryos, 1 with no result, and 1 mosaic embryo. Choosing surrogacy comes from a place of hope, trust, and gratitude. It allows us to grow our family in a safe and supported way while prioritizing Melissa’s health. This journey has taught us resilience, patience, and a deep appreciation for the person who may help us bring our child into the world.
OUR HOME & NEIGHBOURHOOD
We live in a close-knit, family-oriented community in Keswick, Ontario, surrounded by nature, forests, and beautiful walking trails, with lakes and beaches just minutes away. It’s a welcoming and safe neighbourhood where families are truly connected, and it still has that small-town feel where kids play street hockey, ride their bikes, and neighbours know one another. Our area offers an incredible balance of both summer and winter activities. In the warmer months, we spend time boating, jet skiing, kayaking, and enjoying the lake and nearby beaches. In the winter, there are local hills for skiing and tobogganing, along with strong community involvement in skating and hockey.
There are also many opportunities for children to grow and explore their interests through extracurricular activities such as gymnastics, dance, hockey, soccer, and other sports, all within the community. We also have a very dog-friendly neighbourhood, which is a big part of our everyday life.
We love taking our dog, Phoebe, for walks along the trails and through the neighbourhood, where we often see other families out with their dogs. It’s a simple but meaningful part of our routine that reflects the warmth and connection within the community. Our home itself is filled with love, laughter, and stability. We prioritize quality time together, whether it’s cooking meals, movie nights, or simply being present with one another. We’ve created a warm and supportive environment where a child can feel safe, encouraged, and deeply loved.
We also spend meaningful time at our cottage, which adds another layer to our lifestyle, offering connection to nature, family traditions, and simple, memorable moments together.
We plan to raise our child with strong values centered around kindness, respect, curiosity, and connection, in a home and community that truly supports a happy, active, and well-rounded childhood.
OUR OCCUPATIONS, HOBBIES & PETS
We both have careers that we genuinely enjoy and take pride in. Melissa is a bank manager and property manager, with a strong passion for finance, real estate, and problem-solving. Together, we manage multiple rental properties and an Airbnb, and are always working on new projects or renovations.
Brian is a general contractor and business owner who runs two companies. He loves building, creating, and bringing ideas to life, and has a very hands-on, entrepreneurial mindset. Outside of work, our lives are very family-centered and active.
We love spending time together doing simple, meaningful things like cooking, baking, trying new recipes, hosting family dinners, and having movie nights. We are big on traditions, especially around holidays, and love creating memorable experiences together. We both enjoy staying active and spending time outdoors. Whether it’s going for walks, being at the cottage, swimming, boating, or just enjoying nature, we try to be outside as much as possible. We also love traveling, especially trips down south and visiting the U.S., along with our shared love of Disney, which holds a special place in our relationship and family traditions.
A big part of our everyday life is our dog, Phoebe, our mini goldendoodle. She truly feels like part of the family and is very loved. We spend a lot of time walking her through the neighbourhood and trails, and she’s always included in our routines. Mia absolutely adores her and even considers her like a little sister. Brian enjoys baseball and bowling, while Melissa enjoys cooking, fitness classes, and creative projects like scrapbooking and home design. Together, we balance structure and fun, and we both value growth, self-reflection, and creating a positive, supportive home environment.
Overall, our lifestyle is a blend of busy and balanced, with a strong focus on family, connection, and making the most of everyday moments.
HOW WE WILL SUPPORT OUR SURROGATE
We would approach this journey as a true partnership built on trust, respect, and open communication. From the very beginning, our surrogate’s well-being, comfort, and voice would be our priority. During pre-pregnancy, we would ensure all medical, legal, and travel-related expenses are fully covered, and that everything is organized in a way that feels smooth and stress-free. We want our surrogate to feel informed, supported, and confident every step of the way.
Throughout the pregnancy, we would remain actively involved while also respecting boundaries. We would be available for appointments, maintain regular communication, and make sure she has everything she needs, whether that is support with expenses, help coordinating appointments, or simply being there emotionally.
We understand how important it is that she feels cared for, appreciated, and never alone in the process. After birth, our support would absolutely continue. We would ensure all post-partum care, recovery needs, and any related expenses are covered. Just as importantly, we would continue to check in, offer support, and express our gratitude in meaningful ways.
Above all, we want our surrogate to feel valued, respected, and supported not just medically and financially, but emotionally as well. This is something we take very seriously and would approach with the utmost care and appreciation.
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR SURROGATE
We hope to build a relationship that feels natural, respectful, and grounded in open communication. For us, this journey is about more than just the pregnancy, it’s about creating a positive and meaningful connection with the person helping us grow our family. We hope the relationship develops organically over time and are open to whatever level of communication and contact feels natural for everyone, always respecting each other’s comfort and boundaries.
During the pregnancy, we would love to stay connected through regular check-ins, messages, and attending appointments when possible and welcomed. At the same time, we fully respect that every surrogate has different preferences, and we are very open to finding a balance that feels comfortable for everyone.
After the pregnancy, we would love to maintain an ongoing relationship in whatever way feels right. Ideally, we would stay in touch through updates, photos, and occasional visits, allowing the connection to continue in a way that is genuine and not forced. We truly value long-term connection and would be grateful to always keep a special place for our surrogate in our lives and in our child’s story.
We are also flexible and respectful of individual boundaries, and would always prioritize what feels comfortable for her and us.
Open, honest communication is very important to us, and we want to create a relationship where our surrogate feels safe to share her thoughts,
needs, and preferences at any time.
FINAL MESSAGE TO OUR POTENTIAL SURROGATE ♡
Thank you so much for taking the time to read our story and consider being part of our journey.
This opportunity would truly mean the absolute world to us. There are not enough words to fully express how grateful we are for someone who would even consider helping us grow our family. It is something that brings so much emotion and hope, and often brings us to tears when we think about it.
What you are offering is not something we would ever take lightly. It is a gift that would change our lives forever, not only for us, but for our entire family. It would allow Melissa’s parents to experience becoming grandparents, something they have long hoped for, and bring so much joy to Brian’s parents as they continue to grow and share in our family’s journey. It would also allow us to grow our family together and give Mia the sibling she so deeply hopes for. Mia (Brian’s daughter and Melissa’s bonus daughter) is such a special part of our lives, and while we have both raised her together, we have not yet had the opportunity to have a child together or for Melissa to experience the joy of motherhood and for the two of us to raise a child together in the traditional sense.
Please know that you would always hold a very special place in our lives and in our child’s story. Your kindness, strength, and generosity would never be forgotten. We would be honoured to walk this journey together with you, with care, respect, and endless gratitude.
With all our appreciation,