Hi :) We are Dan, Katrina, Kenna, Cosie, Strawberry Shortcake, and Samantha Pretzel ♥ We’re ready to grow our family, and grateful to you for reading our story and taking the time to peek at who we are.

In 2018, Katrina and Dan met through a dating app, and we fell fast and hard over the coming weeks. 7 years later we continue to fall for each other daily as every new chapter of our lives together challenges us to grow and support each other. We are so lucky to have found our person.

And then we started to find our wee people! After marrying in early 2020, we welcomed home Kenna, who was born towards the end of 2020. Cosie followed at the beginning of 2024, just before we moved into our forever home. We then adopted our Beagle, Sammi, later that year. Then we adopted Shortcake, our bully/Dachshund mix, and that is where our family stands today.

We talked about growing a family very early on. Katrina had wanted to be a mom so badly for many years, and Dan had always envisioned being a dad. After having this talk many times, they felt that 3 children felt right in their hearts. Today, Dan works as a pediatrician at a close by hospital clinic in Janesville, and Katrina is a mental health counselor who specializes in parenting & attachment. She is also a part-time fitness instructor. We are less than 5 minutes from our children’s wonderful school, 5-10 minutes from the center of our charming small town, and an easy drive to nearby larger cities Janesville & Madison.

Dan prioritizes time with his family and does not let his job interfere with time spent supporting and showing up for them. He takes the girls to school every morning and is the preferred parent for bedtime silly tumble games. He maximizes his time home for family dinners and relaxing time and loves to take any combination of family members out of the home for local adventures. He is adventurous, loyal, supportive, extroverted, and centers integrity.

Katrina is lucky enough to make her own schedule, which has allowed her ample time to be with our daughters when they were babies, and to be available as needed for them when schedules change. She picks them up from school each day and brings them home for snacks and restorative activities before family dinner. One of her favorite parts of being a mom is supporting self-expression, moving through big feelings, and close bonds. Katrina is caring, determined, thoughtful, and growth-minded.

Both of our girls love and advocate fiercely. Kenna’s love language is definitely acts of service; she loves being cared for and caring for others, especially her little sister. Cosie is such a toddler with lots of opinions and an adventurous spirit. She loves anything to do with water, animals, and babies. Their sibling relationship is adorable and strong.

Baby will be so welcome in our love-filled home. We’re confident in our ability to transition another sibling into the home; we have a wonderful support system of close extended family members, awareness of everyone’s emotional needs, and strong communication. Kenna has repeatedly voiced excitement about baby coming home and Cosie will likely begin to grasp the concept soon—she already adores babies. Our extended family and friends are excited and ask us frequently about where we are in our journey to connect with baby. And us? We think about baby every day ♥

Katrina & Dan

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