About Stephanie

Hi! I’m Stephanie:  lover of Disney movies, romantasy books, and anything involving quality time with people I love.

I was born in Montreal and raised in Mississauga with my older sister. I was the shy kid who hid behind my mom at the playground, so my parents still can’t believe I work in a client-facing tech role. But here I am, leading training sessions and onboarding clients as a Senior Implementation Manager for a company that uses AI to personalize email marketing. I actually started in non-profit, but made the leap to tech during COVID. It’s been a wild ride, and I love that my double major in English and History from U of T now helps me write really great emails!

Becoming a mom has always been a dream of mine. I melt when our niece and nephew (and our friends’ kids) call me “Auntie Steph.” Mark and I are the first to volunteer for babysitting duty just to soak up more time with them. I’m really close with my family, which means our Sunday dinners are non-negotiable, and I still visit my Nanny and extended family in Montreal a couple times a year.

A few fun facts? I’m still a proud Disney kid at heart! Beauty and the Beast is my forever favorite, and I actually wore out the VHS tape as a kid from watching it too much. I’ve got five tattoos (and counting), including one inspired by my favorite book series Throne of Glass that says “I will not be afraid.” That quote got me through cancer treatment, alongside rereading comforting books and belting Taylor Swift songs—seeing her in concert this past year was a total core memory. And yes, I absolutely cried during “All Too Well (10 Minute Version).”

I love a cozy night in with movies, takeout, and board games (Codenames is a fave!). I cry easily when I’m feeling big feelings, happy ones, sad ones, everything in between, so if I get misty during our journey, just know it’s all part of the package. I’m warm-hearted, curious, and always ready to connect. Can’t wait to meet the person who will become a part of our next chapter!

MARK THROUGH STEPHANIE'S EYES...

It might be faster to list what I don’t love about Mark: he leaves the toilet seat up, he snores, and his sneezes are truly next-level loud. But honestly? I’d take all of that a hundred times over, because Mark is my rock. He’s been by my side through so much, and I know without a doubt our future child will be the luckiest to have him as their dad.

One of the first things I loved about him was seeing how he lit up around his niece and nephew, and how much they adore him back. I can already picture him teaching our child how to shoot a puck, swing a bat, use tools, and most importantly, how to be kind, curious, and a good friend. I hope they inherit his hilarious sense of humour and his love for the outdoors.

Mark is the calm to my chaos: always logical, grounded, and endlessly supportive. He’s my biggest cheerleader and the best teammate I could ask for. He loves BBQing in the summer, and I can’t wait for the day we’re sitting in the backyard, watching him grill dinner while our little one plays nearby.

Loving Mark is easy. He’s truly one of a kind, and somehow, my life just fits perfectly with his.

About Mark

Hi, I’m Mark, born and raised in Pickering, ON, lover of backcountry camping, hockey diehard, and financial planner with a soft spot for helping people feel more secure about their future.

By day, I work at a local credit union, where I find real meaning in using what I’ve learned to guide people through some of life’s biggest financial decisions. By night (and many weekends), I’m watching hockey, even though i’m in a long, complicated, emotionally exhausting relationship with the Toronto Maple Leafs. I even married a HABS fan, which is true love if you ask me.

My first job was teaching little kids how to skate, and I can already picture what it’ll be like lacing up skates for our own child one day. I live for the summer months, but Christmas holds a special place in my heart,  thanks to the World Juniors, which basically became a holiday religion in our house. I’ve been camping since I was three, thanks to my dad. Algonquin Park feels like home to me,  the kind of peaceful, unplugged space I can’t wait to share with our future child. I was so relieved when Steph agreed to try it early in our relationship… and even happier when she actually liked it.

I’m lucky to still be close with my high school friends, and even luckier that Steph fit right in from the start. Family, friends, and those little traditions — like cheering on my niece and nephew at their games — mean the world to me.

STEPHANIE THROUGH MARK'S EYES...

I’ve never really believed in fate, but sometimes I think about how lucky I am that I met Steph, especially since we were both at the tail end of ever being on Match.com. I was about to delete my account, and she had just signed up. We were living on opposite ends of the GTA, and somehow, we still found each other. It’s times like these that show me timing really is everything.

If you’ve ever seen How I Met Your Mother, you’ll know about the olive theory, she eats my olives, and I eat her peppers. It’s silly, but it’s just one of those little things that makes us perfect for each other. Steph is not only the love of my life, she’s also my best friend.I’ve always known she’d be an incredible mom. She’s such a natural. She’s kind, patient, and full of heart. When we’re at a friend’s place, she’s the one you’ll find on the floor building LEGO castles with the kids or organizing a game. She’s also the one our friends instinctively trust to look after their little ones. Watching her be “Auntie Steph” to our niece and nephew, singing along to Taylor Swift, quoting Harry Potter, or watching Disney movies for the hundredth time - it all just proves how deeply she connects with them.

She’s had more than her fair share of tough breaks, but the grace, strength, and quiet courage she shows through it all is something I admire about her every single day. She’s stronger than she gives herself credit for, and I love her more than she’ll ever know.

Our Journey

Our path to parenthood hasn’t been an easy one, but it’s shaped who we are and deepened our love and resilience in ways we never imagined.

In 2014, Steph was diagnosed with borderline ovarian cancer and had to have both ovaries removed. The tumors grew too quickly for egg preservation, but we never stopped dreaming of becoming parents.

In 2023, we found a generous egg donor and began creating embryos. Our first transfer was unsuccessful, and just as we prepared for another, Steph was diagnosed with low-grade serous ovarian cancer. It was devastating—but after surgery and healing, Steph is now in remission.

Though it’s not medically safe for her to carry, our hope is stronger than ever. We’re ready to grow our family with the help of an amazing surrogate and build something beautiful out of everything we’ve been through.

To Our Future Surrogate

Although we haven’t met yet, we already know how deeply grateful we are for you. Thank you for considering this incredible gift , the chance to help us grow our family. We know there are no guarantees in this process, but your willingness to walk this path with us means more than words can express.

We hope you’re not too far away, as we’d love to be present and involved, to attend appointments together when possible, share moments along the way, and support you however we can. Our hope is that this connection doesn’t end with the birth of our child, but that it grows into a lasting bond. We’ll make sure our future little one knows just how important you and your family were in their story,  how they came into the world surrounded by generosity and love.

We’re committed to being a team throughout this journey. Your comfort and well-being are just as important as ours, and we hope you’ll always feel safe coming to us with questions, concerns, or anything on your mind.

And when the time feels right, Steph will absolutely start sending you all the Instagram reels and memes she thinks you’ll laugh at, it’s basically her love language.

With love and so much appreciation,

Steph & Mark

When We Imagine Ourselves As Parents

We picture a home filled with love, laughter, and the kind of traditions that make childhood magical. One day, when the time is right, we’d love to welcome a family dog, a loyal little buddy for our child to grow up with.

Christmas is our favourite time of year, and we can’t wait to share the joy and wonder of the holidays with our child. Every Christmas Eve, we’ll listen to “The Littlest Angel”, a cherished tradition from Steph’s childhood. We’ll snuggle up together to watch the classic VHS specials like Rudolph, Frosty, and Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.

And decorating the tree while playing holiday music? That’s Steph’s happy place — and we can’t wait for our little one to be part of it all.

Mark dreams of coaching their hockey or baseball team someday, while Steph will be the loudest, proudest cheerleader in the stands. We imagine summer camping trips as a family, roasting marshmallows under the stars and exploring nature together. When they’re older, Mark will teach them how to build a fire and paddle through the quiet beauty of Algonquin Park, just like his dad taught him.

Steph plans to read bedtime stories every night, and can’t wait to introduce them to Harry Potter when they’re ready. Reading was a huge part of her childhood, and passing on that love is something she’s really excited for.

More than anything, we want our child to feel safe, supported, and endlessly loved. Whatever their passions may be, we’ll be right there beside them cheering them on, guiding them, and giving them the happiest life we possibly can.