diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index e45fec3..4cf75cc 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [tool.poetry]
 name = "tap-rest-api-msdk"
-version = "1.1.2"
+version = "1.2.0"
 description = "`tap-rest-api-msdk` is a Singer tap for REST APIs, built with the Meltano SDK for Singer Taps."
 authors = ["Josh Lloyd", "Fred Reimer"]
 keywords = [
diff --git a/tap_rest_api_msdk/streams.py b/tap_rest_api_msdk/streams.py
index a6e0895..32f9517 100644
--- a/tap_rest_api_msdk/streams.py
+++ b/tap_rest_api_msdk/streams.py
@@ -17,16 +17,16 @@ def __init__(
         name: str,
         records_path: str,
         path: str,
-        params: dict = None,
-        headers: dict = None,
-        primary_keys: list = None,
-        replication_key: str = None,
-        except_keys: list = None,
-        next_page_token_path: str = None,
-        schema: dict = None,
+        params: Optional[dict] = None,
+        headers: Optional[dict] = None,
+        primary_keys: Optional[list] = None,
+        replication_key: Optional[str] = None,
+        except_keys: Optional[list] = None,
+        next_page_token_path: Optional[str] = None,
+        schema: Optional[dict] = None,
         pagination_request_style: str = "default",
         pagination_response_style: str = "default",
-        pagination_page_size: int = None,
+        pagination_page_size: Optional[int] = None,
     ) -> None:
         """Class initialization.
 
diff --git a/tap_rest_api_msdk/utils.py b/tap_rest_api_msdk/utils.py
index 23a8e13..6bae646 100644
--- a/tap_rest_api_msdk/utils.py
+++ b/tap_rest_api_msdk/utils.py
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 """Basic utility functions."""
 
 import json
-from typing import Any
+from typing import Any, Optional
 
 
-def flatten_json(obj: dict, except_keys: list = None) -> dict:
+def flatten_json(obj: dict, except_keys: Optional[list] = None) -> dict:
     """Flattens a json object by appending the patch as a key in the returned object.
 
     Automatically converts arrays and any provided keys into json strings to prevent