Pete and Jen

We are both warm, optimistic, affectionate people. We are easy-going and have a relationship filled with open communication and are truly each other’s best friends. We love to laugh! Part of why we were so drawn to one another is a similar spontaneity and zest for life - the desire to always make each day a good day. Despite struggling with infertility for several years and going through several miscarriages, we have been able to maintain our love for one another, and still have our sense of humor. We have been together for 11 years after meeting in Veterinary School at UC Davis in 1999. We were married in a beautiful outdoor ceremony in 2005.

Family, friends, and nature are what matter most to us. Our home is usually a gathering place for our friends and family so we frequently host parties and barbecues. Recently we had a pumpkin carving party, a fourth-of-July barbecue, and a large family birthday party for Pete's grandmother. Most of our friends have babies or young children so we know our baby will have many friends. We cannot wait to have birthday parties for our child and include him/her in these activities with our friends, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Pete was born and raised in San Francisco. Prior to Veterinary School, Pete played minor league baseball for the Dodgers. He was later released from his contract after a shoulder injury. After that, he worked as a Nutritionist in human dialysis and became interested in the art of medicine. This helped him decide to combine his love of animals with his interest in medicine and attend Veterinary School. Pete is now a part-owner of a veterinary practice in the Bay Area. Pete is an avid supporter of many animal rescue foundations nationally and internationally (he has assisted veterinary clinics in India and rescue organizations in Romania). In addition to hiking, rafting and barbecuing he loves to eat Jen’s food and just have fun together with friends and family, particularly his 93-year old grandmother who loves to watch the Super Bowl. Pete is looking forward to helping our child with their homework and teaching him/her the proper way to throw a ball (certainly not the way Jen does!). Pete will be a hands-on father, very encouraging and supportive.

Pete is fun-loving, he is rarely ever upset or stressed. He connects with people and makes friends quickly. He is often seen at the center of a party regaling everyone with his funny stories (like how he saw Diana Ross in Transylvania). Pete’s clients at the veterinary hospital always talk about how truly caring and compassionate he is- he comes home from work each day with handwritten letters and cards of appreciation from his clients. These traits, which make him an incredible veterinarian, combined with his sense of humor, will make him a great father.

Jen was born and raised in the Los Angeles area. Although she cannot throw a ball properly, she used to play soccer, and was on track, lacrosse, swimming and diving teams. She wanted to be a veterinarian since she was a little girl. Jen entered Veterinary School after graduating from Whittier College. She is currently a General Practitioner, but at a separate hospital from Pete so that they have interesting stories to tell each other after work! Jen is very artistic and is commonly said to possess an “eye” for the beautiful. She always notices and appreciates the little things in life like the scent of jasmine on a walk or how the leaves of a tree catch the light. She is an avid photographer and has kept photo albums since she was in 1st grade. She is excited about taking photographs to share with you of our child as they grow. In addition to her Biology major, she minored in Art at Whittier College. Often called “Martha Stewart” by her friends, she is always creating things or making homemade gifts. Her craft room is bursting at the seams with children's craft materials and supplies just waiting to create projects and get messy.

We have two silly rescue dogs. Alex, is a lab/pointer mix who goes to work with Pete every day. He often tries to sneak into the trash for table scraps in the kitchen of the hospital when no one is looking. Little Jo is a Border Collie rescued from a farm after she broke her leg. She is very endearing and likes nothing more than to put her head on your knee and gaze into your eyes.

We live in a very comfortable home nestled in the beautiful Oakland Hills. We have a little forest across the street with owls and deer. In the evenings we walk with our dogs around the sloping hills of the neighborhood, chat with neighbors, and look for deer feeding and hiding within the trees. Our home is two blocks from an excellent elementary school and our neighborhood has many children who meet in a neighborhood children’s playgroup.

We have three large bedrooms upstairs and the one next to ours has been set up as a nursery in a soft, pale green. The view out the window overlooks the forest across the street and we have started a collection of children's stories including Goodnight Moon, and Dr. Seuss books. Jen even has an autographed Dr. Seuss book given to her from her father that she would like to pass on to her child someday.

We thought that reading the wedding vows that we wrote may give you some insight into how we live life and our beliefs. We hold true to them today: Peter, do you take Jennifer to be your wife, and do you pledge to her your loyalty, love, respect, and to always keep your sense of humor? Do you promise to keep her warm on cold nights, amuse her with your bizarre comments, and occasionally take her out for sushi? Do you promise to comfort her and encourage her, and share in her hopes and dreams? Do you promise to cherish her with a love that is faithful, honest, and true as long as you both shall live?

We are committed to raising our child in an affectionate, loving, stable, and fulfilling home. We will provide the structure and framework so that our child will be able to realize their full potential. We will strive to be the best role models. We cannot wait to start new traditions and pass on old ones. We both believe in living life to the fullest- spending quality time with family, friends, and nature. We believe in happiness.

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