"We Knew By Date Two": How Michael & Andrew Built Their Family Through Foster Care and Adoption

Some couples take years to talk about kids. Michael and Andrew needed exactly two dates. From the moment they knew they had a future together, becoming parents wasn't a question of if — it was a question of how.

Their path to parenthood began with conversations about surrogacy, but life had other plans. After watching a close friend navigate foster care in Missouri, they found themselves drawn into a story that would change everything. That friend was fostering a child who would eventually become one of two biological siblings that Michael and Andrew are now raising as their own — with adoption papers officially signed in December 2025.

In this episode, we sit down with Michael and Andrew to talk openly about what the foster-to-adopt process actually looks like in the state of Missouri — the paperwork, the uncertainty, the emotional weight, and the overwhelming joy on the other side of it. They also give us a glimpse into what family life looks like today as things continue to unfold beautifully.

Follow Michael and Andrew on Instagram to watch their family grow: @mlavanier and @drewster23