diff --git a/catbird/model.py b/catbird/model.py
index 12c5595..68bf092 100644
--- a/catbird/model.py
+++ b/catbird/model.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ def __init__(self,factory_in):
         self.moose_objects=[]
 
         # Add attributes to this model with default assignments
-        self.load_default_syntax()
+        # self.load_default_syntax()
 
     # Envisage this being overridden downstream.
     def load_default_syntax(self):
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ def load_default_syntax(self):
         self.add_syntax("Materials")
         self.add_syntax("BCs")
         self.add_syntax("Outputs")
+        self.add_syntax("ICs")
 
 
     def add_syntax(self,syntax_name,**kwargs_in):
diff --git a/catbird/param.py b/catbird/param.py
index 11dbdd6..58f0d8f 100644
--- a/catbird/param.py
+++ b/catbird/param.py
@@ -2,13 +2,15 @@ class MooseParam():
     """
     Class to contain all information about a MOOSE parameter
     """
-    def __init__(self,attr_name, attr_type, is_array, default=None, allowed_vals=None, description=None):
+    def __init__(self,attr_name, attr_type, is_array, default=None, allowed_vals=None, required=False, description=None, cpp_type=None):
 
         assert attr_type is not type(None)
 
         self.attr_type=attr_type
         self.allowed_vals=allowed_vals
         self.is_array=is_array
+        self.cpp_type = cpp_type
+        self.required = required
 
         # Set name
         if not isinstance(attr_name, str):
@@ -29,8 +31,9 @@ def __init__(self,attr_name, attr_type, is_array, default=None, allowed_vals=Non
         # Set docstring
         doc_str = '\n'
         doc_str += attr_name+' : '
-        doc_str += f'{attr_type.__name__}\n'
+        doc_str += f'{cpp_type}\n'
         if description is not None and description != "":
+            self.description = description
             doc_str += "  "
             doc_str += description
             doc_str += "\n"
@@ -38,5 +41,5 @@ def __init__(self,attr_name, attr_type, is_array, default=None, allowed_vals=Non
             doc_str += f'  Allowed values: {allowed_vals}\n'
         if default is not None:
             doc_str += f'  Default value: {default}\n'
-
+        doc_str += f'  Required: {required}\n'
         self.doc=doc_str
diff --git a/catbird/syntax.py b/catbird/syntax.py
index 0e1667d..2e0f853 100644
--- a/catbird/syntax.py
+++ b/catbird/syntax.py
@@ -493,13 +493,23 @@ def get_params_list(json_obj,syntax_path):
             else:
                 default = _convert_to_type(attr_type, param_info['default'])
 
+        is_required=False
+        if 'required' in param_info.keys():
+            is_required=param_info['required']
+
+        cpp_type = None
+        if 'cpp_type' in param_info.keys():
+            cpp_type = param_info['cpp_type']
+
         # Create and add a MOOSE parameter
         moose_param=MooseParam(param_name,
                                attr_type,
                                is_array,
                                default=default,
                                allowed_vals=allowed_values,
+                               required=is_required,
                                description=param_info.get('description'),
+                               cpp_type=cpp_type
         )
 
         moose_param_list.append(moose_param)
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index bdac09e..85077c7 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 [metadata]
-description-file = README.md
+description_file = README.md
 license_files = LICENSE
\ No newline at end of file