David Siebenaler & Merrick McMahon

Our relationship is built on fun, love and open communication. Very early on we discussed having a family and have always imagined ourselves as fathers. Brought together by chance though a mutual friend, there was an instant connection and feel we have been together a lifetime. Both of us work very near our home: David is a successful hair-stylist at a high-end salon and Merrick works for an interior design firm and as a church music director. We both love what we do and since our schedules are flexible, it will allow us to spend our days enjoying and taking care of our child!

We live in the heart of Los Angeles in a diverse neighborhood where we can walk to everything. The Farmer’s Market at The Grove is an outdoor shopping area where our family can ride a trolley, get our faces painted, watch concerts, magicians and many other family activities. Also nearby is a park where there are soccer games every Saturday, a recreation centre with indoor and outdoor ball courts, a mall, lots of specialty stores and even a cupcake bakery! The La Brea Tarpits are part of a large museum complex where after exploring dinosaurs, our family can enjoy a picnic lunch on the lawn.

Music is a part of everything we do. Everyone in both of our families could break into a song at any moment—and often do! We always try to make each other laugh. We have many friends in the performing arts as well, and together we will support them by attending plays, concerts and any other performance events. Cooking and eating meals together is very important to us. It is also fun to be creative with recipes and we can’t wait for our child to be part of that. The Southern California weather allows us to grill outside year-round and we often enjoy our meals under the stars. We love being outdoors and look forward to showing our child the beauty that nature offers. Whether hiking in the local canyons or a day-trip to the beach—which is only a few miles away—we’re out and about almost every day! We are excited for our child to discover his or her favorite instrument, bake cookies, or build his or her first sandcastle, and of course whatever new adventures our child will spark in us as a family.

Both of us grew up in large and very social families. The youngest of seven, David grew up on a farm in Wisconsin. Merrick is a native to Southern California with a large blended family and a diverse background of cultures and experiences. We both very much value togetherness and spending time with family. Our child will have two grandpas, one grandma, nine aunts, eight uncles, dozens of cousins and even a great-grandmother. He or she will love summer trips to the family farm and playing ball with our huge extended family and riding horses through the cornfields. Being spread across the nation from Florida, Georgia, Wisconsin, Arizona, Nevada, Texas and California—we always know we have a place to stay wherever we travel. Everyone in both our families is really excited to meet the new addition and constantly asking for updates.

We are committed to instilling a strong sense of self-confidence and self-worth to our child. You will always be part of his or her life and our child will know how much you love him or her. We promise to provide unconditional love and support for our child. He or she will always have an opportunity to explore and ask questions. Most importantly, our family will be filled with joy, love and creativity!