Recently, if a friend or family member is dealing with a fussy or tired baby, we have been asked a lot more if we are ready or excited for this. The answer has always been yes!

We look forward to all aspects of parenthood - from the fussy times to the fun times, we are excited for it all! We look forward to watching a child discover things for the first time, reading to them, holding them close when they are sad and sharing their joy when they are happy. We look forward to watching them grow in each step of life and passing on our knowledge and traditions.

We know not every moment will be perfect, but we are ready for all the ups and downs that comes with parenting. We are excited to share our lives with a child and we so happy to be on this adoption journey!

We enjoy traveling to see new sites and cultures. We have both have been to multiple countries and states.

While we do enjoy visiting cities, we really enjoy going out to see what nature has to offer. Lately we have been doing more local traveling, but would like to go to more of the national parks. We are excited to share our adventures with a child ­— including our joy of traveling for the new experiences, the beauty of nature, and learning about the history of that area.

Some of our favorite spots have been hiking through the mountains in the Great Smoky Mountains, hiking through Acadia National Park and the beauty of the coast, and the wonders of the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park with the beautiful rock structures.

Close to us, Mike's family has an old log cabin in the woods right on Lake Michigan that we enjoy visiting and Jenny's family has land that is great for outdoor recreation and fishing.

Our dog is a great companion for the family. She gets us out of the house multiple times a day to enjoy the yard, neighborhood, and even go to parks. She gets along well with many of the neighborhood dogs and people. She is quick to greet, but also to move on to not overstay our welcome. She mirrors the personality of who she is with well. Some dogs are lively, and she will play with them, others just want to lay about, and she can do that too. She is normally quiet and rarely jumps up, except when it is play time, she will give out a few playful barks to get us moving. She enjoys meeting small children and other people. Our dog knows good boundaries on what is hers to play with, vs what isn't hers. She brings a nice cheery calm mood to the house, and those that get to meet her.

We live in a smaller Wisconsin city. Our city is growing and has a lot of new developments geared towards families. Every year there is a county fair with a lot of rides and food, a farmers' market multiple times a week, a balloon glow where they bring hot air balloons downtown on the river, the Sputnik Fest (which was labeled by Reader's Digest and one of the top five funkiest festivals) and many more.

We have a small water park that is good for both small and older children with a mini golf course right next to it and an amazing large wooden playground that was built by volunteers in the community. There is also a walking/biking trail right on the lakeshore, a state park with nice hiking trails, spots for camping, beaches and a small zoo.

We live in a two-story, three-bedroom house with our dog, Ellie. Our favorite room is the dining room, where we eat dinner together almost every night and entertain our friends and family for game nights and holidays.

Our quiet neighborhood is full of families with kids of all ages. We have a small park just down the street, where we often see neighborhood kids playing. It has a great sledding hill for the winter and lots of room to run and play in summer!

When we get together with friends and family, you will typically find us having a meal together, playing board games, watching a movie, or sitting by a campfire just enjoying each other's company.

Most of Jenny's family members live a short drive away and Mike's family is just over an hour away from us. Jenny's mom will be taking care of this child while we are at work and will have the company of a cousin close to their age.

We enjoy seeing our families a lot and are with them at least a few times a week. Mike's family has a log cabin right on Lake Michigan that is enjoyed in summer with beautiful views of the lake and beach. Jenny's family has land in northern Wisconsin that is enjoyed year-round for campfires, four wheeling, and boating.

Both of our families and our friends are very excited about welcoming a new member to our family. Many of them are already asking us how they will be able to help.

We recognize that the decision you are making is one of the hardest decisions you will ever make in your life, but the gift that you are considering giving us would be cared for and loved like no other by us and our families. We would love to keep in contact by sending letters and pictures. We are also open to exchanging emails, phone calls, or social media. If you decide you want minimal contact after the adoption takes place, we will respect your wishes.

We have been married for 8 years, and we have known each other for 14 years. We met through mutual friends, and have our family in the area, so we have a great network around us. We have known we wanted a family from early in our relationship, and adoption is the route that life has taken us. We look forward to lovingly raising children and being there for them whenever they need it, good or bad. We have many family and friends that will be a part of their lives in helping them grow and have new experiences.

We know the importance of getting involved in groups and organizations, and will encourage our child to try as many things as they are interested in. These groups and activities can grow friendships and skills that can last long after their involvement is over. We will support them in whatever educational endeavors that they want to pursue, while exposing them to as many options as we can.

Our families are very close to us, and that will offer your child many close relationships as they grow. This will also give them many great memories growing up with cousins their age, and learn from aunts, uncles, and grandparents all the things that they know. We have many family gatherings throughout the year, for holidays, birthdays, and many times just for the companionship. Family activities would include playing card games and board games, watch movies, travel to our cabins for outdoor activities, cooking and sharing wonderful food, (especially cheese in Wisconsin!) help each other with projects, and much more. Many family members are already excited to be a part of your child's life, including connecting with them, teaching them, and helping care for them.

We both share activities in day-to-day life, and we look forward to teaching many life skills. We will be sure to instill many great talents in them. We both love to cook and bake, and each have our own flair and flavor. We also both enjoy hands on projects in the house. Jenny likes to create with projects like sewing and photography. Mike likes to work with tools and wood to create and repair.

Our family travel will include many trips in state each year, and we always try at least one trip out of state, sometimes even internationally. Common trips will include visits to Milwaukee Brewer's games, and we enjoy bringing other friends and family. We always get a state park pass each year so we can visit any of them as often as we like, including the one a few miles north of us. We always enjoy traveling to the very popular Door County for their many family friendly offerings, especially the living museum called The Farm with lots of baby animals that you can feed and cuddle with.

We want to thank you for considering us to care for your child. We know we will be wonderful parents and are excited to begin the journey. We can promise you that should you choose us to be the parents to your child, your child will be very loved and cherished for the blessing that they are.

Mike & Jenny