Adoption was a topic we discussed very early on when dating. Being a gay couple, our options are somewhat limited as to how we could expand our family, but we knew we wanted to be parents. We chose adoption as we know we can provide a loving and stable home and want to have a positive impact on a child's life.

We look forward to giving the child experiences and opportunities that we did not have while growing up. Something as simple as picking out a toy when it wasn't a birthday/special occasion, to going on actual vacations to a place outside of our home state. We want to show the child the world in ways we didn't get to see as children.

When discussing the adoption process with the child it will be discussed early and often. It's important to us that we are very honest and open about adoption as the child will see differences in our family compared to some of their peers. We will communicate any specific items the birth family would like us to share with the child in addition to being open to ongoing communication with the birth family. We plan to have a variety of age-appropriate books and videos to assist in these discussions and teach them that families come in all different shapes and sizes. We also plan to stay active in the local adoption community so the child can create friendships with those who have similar backgrounds and experiences.

Our home includes two wonderful dogs!

Josh adopted Juneau in 2015 from a local rescue. She was born in a puppy mill and was found severely neglected. She is an Alaskan Husky mix and loves wide-open fields to run in and play. She is shy to new people but absolutely loves playing with other dogs. She's usually quite the social butterfly at doggie daycare. Through years of love and affection, she's grown into a very calm older dog.

Andy adopted Zoey in 2017 from the local humane society. She was born in Alabama but was brought here by a rescue agency. Zoey has always been a warm, social, and cuddly dog. She loves people especially if they happen to have a plate of food. Any food found under the highchair is likely to be fair game in Zoey's eyes and will be right there for cleanup! The child and Zoey are likely to become fast friends.

Andy: I am Hmong and Laos however I only speak English. This definitely impacted who I am as it was hard to connect to my culture as there is this language barrier however there are certain aspects to the culture that I thoroughly enjoy. There are only a few areas in the US where our people are located. Mainly in the Midwest and parts of California and North Carolina. Because we are such a small group there is a very tight-knit community as we strive to keep the culture alive.

Josh: I am primarily Polish and Czech. I grew up in central Wisconsin in a very rural community where I wasn't exposed to many other cultures. Moving to Madison, WI when I turned 18 it exposed me to a very wide variety of people, opinions, music, etc. I'm very open-minded and have the willingness to learn about new things and customs that differ from my own.

Being gay we know that our family will never look like a conventional family however we are strong advocates for equality and know that diversity is what makes us strong. These are important values in our household. We are committed to providing a loving and inclusive home that honors and celebrates unique cultural backgrounds. We are excited and look forward to learning more about any culture and incorporating aspects of it into our lives.

What we love most about our house is that it provides us with a cozy and comfortable space to entertain friends and family. We have had so much fun preparing our home for a little one and can’t wait to see them run around the house and in our big backyard with our pups. We envision fun family game nights together, making yummy meals each night, and sharing walks to the park down the street from our house. We feel so lucky to have excellent schools nearby and friendly neighbors for a little one to play with. We also can’t wait to celebrate the holidays together in our home and share in traditions like decorating Christmas cookies and searching for eggs during our epic Easter Egg Hunts. We are so excited for our home to be filled with the love of a child!

Josh's favorite area of the house would be the stairway on the way upstairs where his variety of indoor (and some outdoor for the winter) plants are currently growing.

Andy's favorite room in the house would be our living room which is his favorite place to relax and watch a movie.

Josh’s dad, Jim, stepmom, Denise, brother Dustin, and his girlfriend Aleah can’t wait for us to be parents. His parents are thrilled to become grandparents and teach them everything they know. Dustin can’t wait to become an uncle! We look forward to family trips together, spending time outside playing, and learning sports as a family!

Josh’s nephews, Thallious, Arias, Ciaran, and Luca are thrilled to have a new cousin join the family. They are so excited to teach the kiddo how to ride a bike and can’t wait to make crafts together or jump around on the backyard trampoline. They are going to be the best big cousins!

Andy’s sister Melissa and her husband, Bounlan, and their daughters Olivia and Isla are excited to welcome a new family member. Olivia and Isla can’t wait to have a little cousin! We know there will be many special days playing at the park, and when our little one is older, they can’t wait to do escape rooms together. They look forward to sharing their favorite meal pho and egg roll dinner!

Uncle Paul (Andy's brother) is excited to have another child in the family to do arts and crafts like slime making, candles, rock polishing, using resin molds, and STEM activities.

Hello,

We are Josh and Andy.

We want to start by expressing our deepest respect and admiration for you. We cannot begin to imagine the courage and strength it takes to make an adoption plan. We want you to know that we are grateful for this opportunity to share our story and express our hopes and dreams for the future. We understand that you are looking for a loving and stable home, and we want to assure you that we are committed to providing just that. Our home is filled with warmth, love, and laughter, and we have dreamed of growing our family through adoption for many years.

We cannot promise that our home will be perfect, but we can promise a commitment to nurturing the child's physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. We believe in providing a safe and stable environment for the child to thrive, and we will work hard to ensure that the child has the best possible start in life.

We have been together for six years and married for three years. We have two dogs named Zoey and Juneau. Josh is a planner and likes to be organized while Andy is very fun-loving and goes with the flow.

We love to spend time in the kitchen cooking and baking together. We also love to try new restaurants and different cuisines our city has to offer. We enjoy playing board games, video games, going to festivals in the summer, sledding and skating in the winter, attending comic/anime conventions in the spring, traveling throughout the US, as well as taking part in local 5Ks (Andy) and half marathons (Josh).

We live in a suburb in Southeast Wisconsin. Only a block away from an elementary school that has a very large playground. There are several large parks with open fields and a small water park nearby. We have a nursery ready and our theme is pandas! We both come from large families who are just as excited as we are. They are ready to help babysit, care for, and love this child as we will.

Our adoption plan is flexible and will be as open or closed as you prefer. We are happy to send letters, photos, and video updates at a pace that’s comfortable for you. Regardless of the openness that you choose, baby will grow up knowing that your adoption plan was made from a place of love.

We understand that this will be a new beginning for all of us, and it may take time for us to adjust to our new roles and routines. However, we are ready to put in the effort and work hard to create a positive and fulfilling family life that enriches the child.

We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for considering us as potential parents for the child. We know that this decision is not an easy one, and we want you to know that we will always hold you in the highest regard. If you choose us, we promise to honor your legacy and raise the child with the utmost love and care.

Josh & Andy