We met in November 2013 through a language exchange app - Akiko was going to teach Kevin Japanese, and Kevin was going to teach Akiko English. Instead of just becoming language partners, we fell in love and got married a year later!

Our relationship has grown stronger through many adventures, including living in Tokyo for six years before moving to the United States in 2019 to start building our family. We balance each other perfectly - Akiko brings warmth, creativity and cultural richness, while Kevin contributes thoughtfulness, patience and a love of learning. Together, we've created a home filled with love, respect, and an appreciation for different cultures and traditions.

🌸 ABOUT AKIKO (by Kevin)

After just a few dates with Akiko, I knew she was the one. What I love most about her is her incredible empathy and willingness to help others. I see this when she plays with our niece and nephews in Japan, patiently teaching them English and making learning fun with little quizzes and games.

Akiko has a natural ability to connect with children, making them feel special and valued. She's also wonderfully adaptable and always finds a way to compromise. I'm excited to see her share her love of different cultures and languages with our child - I can already picture her teaching our little one to make origami cranes or preparing traditional Japanese meals together in our kitchen.

📚 ABOUT KEVIN (by Akiko)

Kevin may seem shy when you first meet him, but once he opens his heart, he becomes a sincere and loyal friend and husband. He has a special way with children that transcends language barriers - when we visit my family in Japan, he communicates beautifully with our niece and nephews despite the language difference.

I love watching him get down on the floor to play with them or patiently help them build something new. Kevin's excitement about becoming a father shines through when he talks about reading bedtime stories, teaching coding, or exploring museums together. He's looking forward to creating the same kind of loving, supportive relationship with our child that his father created with him.

💼 CAREER & WORK-LIFE BALANCE

We're fortunate to both work from home, which will allow us tremendous flexibility in caring for our child. Akiko works as a Customer Experience Agent for a tech company, using her talent for languages (she speaks Japanese, English, Italian, and Spanish!) to help people from around the world. Kevin works as a software engineer, solving complex problems and creating new technology solutions.

We plan to adjust our schedules so one of us is always available for our child, especially during those important early years. We're excited about sharing both work-from-home days where our little one might "help" us with our tasks, and dedicated family days filled with trips to the beach, museums, and parks.

🏡 HOME & COMMUNITY

We live in a welcoming gated community in Chula Vista, California, with beautiful parks, swimming pools, and a highly-rated elementary school just steps away. Our home is cozy and filled with books, music, and two friendly cats named Link and Zelda (yes, from the Legend of Zelda games!).

Our neighborhood offers the perfect balance of safety and adventure, with the famous San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, and numerous museums just a short drive away. The mild Southern California weather means plenty of outdoor time year-round - we're looking forward to teaching our child to swim in our community pool and taking family hikes on nearby nature trails.

🎵 INTERESTS & HOBBIES

Our home is filled with the things we love - books, music, technology, and the aromas of Akiko's Japanese cooking. We can't wait to share these passions with our child! We imagine mornings where Akiko teaches our little one to prepare traditional matcha tea, afternoons spent exploring Kevin's favorite bookstores and libraries, and evenings filled with piano music and family meals.

On weekends, we love discovering new restaurants and coffee shops, taking long walks downtown or along the beach, and occasionally dropping in for Jiu Jitsu lessons. We're excited to adapt these activities to include our child - from baby-friendly beach days to future family cooking sessions where our child can learn recipes from both American and Japanese cultures.

🌟 PERSONAL VALUES

Our family will be built on a foundation of respect, humility, education, and openness to new experiences. As an international couple, we treasure the richness that comes from blending cultures and traditions. We'll celebrate both American and Japanese holidays, creating our own unique family traditions along the way.

We believe strongly in the power of education and will encourage our child's natural curiosity and love of learning, whether that's through music, languages, technology, or whatever passions they develop. We'll teach our child to respect others, appreciate diversity, and approach the world with kindness and an open mind. Most importantly, we'll ensure our child always knows how deeply they are loved and valued for exactly who they are.

🤝 OPENNESS & CONNECTION

We believe that honesty and openness are essential in adoption. We want our child to grow up understanding and celebrating their complete story, including their birth family and cultural heritage. We welcome the opportunity to maintain whatever level of connection you would be comfortable with - from sharing photos and updates to possible visits if desired.

We believe that a child can never have too many people who love them, and we're committed to honoring your place in our child's life story.

👶 OUR PARENTING PHILOSOPHY

We believe in parenting with patience, consistency, and lots of love. We'll celebrate the joyful moments and support our child through challenges, always encouraging independence while providing a secure foundation. Akiko looks forward to sharing music and languages, while Kevin is excited to inspire a love of reading and exploration. Together, we'll nurture creativity, curiosity, and compassion every day.

💝 IN CLOSING

Thank you for learning about us. We hope this profile shows the loving home we can offer your child. We're excited to grow our family through adoption and would be honored to be chosen. We promise to cherish your child and celebrate their unique story with love and joy.

We're open to any level of connection and welcome the chance to talk. Whatever you decide, we wish you peace and strength on your journey.

With love and hope,

Akiko & Kevin

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