Because we love you, we recorded this episode (with video!) TWO DAYS before our scheduled C-section – mostly so you can see how massive Maya was at 9+ months pregnant. We also get into sleep issues with our 3.5 year old, how we prepared for our second C-section and second newborn, some interesting theories about how IVF pregnancies are different than others, and we reveal the much-anticipated name of our new baby. Also we talk a lot about the mall. Have you been to the mall lately? It's nice. Th...
Mar 05, 2025•1 hr 13 min
Surprise, we have a baby girl coming in November! This episode was recorded at 19 weeks pregnant (at time of posting we are 28 weeks), and recounts our second IVF adventure, as well as some recent tales from parenting a 3 year old, plus the details you definitely didn’t want to know about Erik’s latest mid-life crisis. A couple other treats for you: We finally included our much-requested backyard chicken special! Learn all the reasons why we love them but also why you probably should not get you...
Aug 19, 2024•1 hr 12 min
Oh, dear lord. Ok: if you are embarking on potty training with your toddler, the first thing we need you to know is that it is going to be ok. The second thing we need you to know is to BUCKLE UP. This was one of the toughest phases/transitions of parenthood for us so far, and if you're a long time listener of this podcast, you know we don't say that lightly. In this episode, we share details about the techniques we used (yes, we did resort in the end to bribery with fruit snacks, as everyone do...
Feb 02, 2024•51 min
We recorded this episode so long ago that it includes a Scandoval reference. Hey man, we're busy parents! Otherwise, enjoy this evergreen tale of weaning our two year old son off the pacifier he's used for sleeping since he was born. This episode also includes: our first ever parent-teacher conference, our son's first self-aware birthday party, our first vacation since having a baby, and – as you will surely pick up on – several cocktails while recording.This episode is sponsored by Price Woodsh...
Oct 20, 2023•51 min
Oops, it's been a year! But believe it or not people are still listening, so we're still recording. In this episode, Maya and Erik talk about life with a 20-month-old: childcare woes, starting to talk (or not...), and whether or not it's reeeeally a problem to spoil your firstborn rotten. (I mean can YOU go to Target without buying your kid 30 toys?!) We also discuss the very real toll having a young child can take on your marriage, and the sorts of dumb fights we get into and talk about at coup...
Apr 08, 2023•48 min
Our baby's 9 months old now, so he's doing lots of exciting things, like eating solids (!), opening his own Christmas presents, and refusing to sleep*. We're also doing exciting things, like watching a lot of TV** and learning that our experience is not actually universal. We know, this was a shocking realization for us too. Suggested resources: Our favorite book about baby sleep, Precious Little Sleep Our favorite sleep coach, recommended by many of our friends: A Little Support (UK based, but ...
Jan 21, 2022•48 min
What really happens to your body after you give birth? How long does it take to bounce back? Why is it impossible to find jeans when your waist and hips are the same size? And for the love of god, why is it assumed that preventing unwanted pregnancies right after giving birth – because yes, actually, this is something you need to worry about – falls on the woman who just gave birth? We don't really know, but here's our feelings about all of it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.f...
Nov 21, 2021•42 min
There’s a lot about going back to work after maternity leave that is hard. Childcare in particular - especially in the midst of a pandemic! - is a baffling paradox where none of the choices seem even remotely appealing. Do you put your kid in daycare, miss them desperately all day, and hope they somehow don’t get sick? Do you hire a nanny or an au pair who then suddenly becomes a permanent fixture in your household, whether you like it or not? If you’re lucky enough to have family nearby, can yo...
Oct 10, 2021•1 hr 5 min
For the first time ever, we invited some other parents on the show: our friends Jen and Tom, who have two sons, ages 15 and 11. They share their unique story about getting married young, having and raising babies while Tom was in the army (and often deployed), and learning how to prioritize their relationship with each other. We’ve watched them raise their kids from birth, and have always admired their parenting style and how fun their whole family is to be around. In this episode, we ask them: ...
Jun 05, 2021•1 hr 14 min
Yeah, not sleeping and having to breastfeed and change diapers all the time is hard, but it turns out the most challenging part of having a baby is... the many complicated feelings you will have about your new life. In this episode, we dive deep into the 5 stages of New Parent Grief™ (just invented that), including the good – we kinda like this baby! – and the bad (Erik really has been crying in the bathroom). Generally though, we have accepted that this is really happening and things are gettin...
May 06, 2021•53 min
We knew bringing a baby home from the hospital would be hard, we just didn’t know it would be THIS hard. And we certainly didn’t anticipate the complicated emotions that come along with becoming parents and facing the reality of being responsible for another human, forever. This is a little bit of a dark episode, but we’re publishing this a couple weeks after this was recorded and we promise we’re feeling better now! Suggested resources: • Breastfeeding: La Leche League, Kelly Mom, and doing wha...
Apr 15, 2021•48 min
Our first post-baby episode! Get ready to listen to some very, very tired and shellshocked people. Childbirth, like getting pregnant, is different for everyone. In our case, it required an induction (which didn’t work), an epidural (inductions hurt even if they don’t get the baby out!), and a C-section we were not at all prepared for. As you can probably imagine, this episode is pretty graphic and we’d only recommend listening to it if you really want to know what giving birth is like – or at le...
Apr 08, 2021•59 min
Recorded a day after our "due date" with no baby yet in sight, this episode finds us reminiscing about the highlights and low lights of each trimester of pregnancy, including miscarriage fears and extreme fatigue in the first, blood tests and telling people in the second, and shockingly debilitating pelvic pain in the third. There's a lot people don't really talk about! PS: This episode was published 41 weeks and 2 days into our pregnancy. Still no baby. Due dates are a scam. Suggested reading: ...
Mar 20, 2021•53 min
Getting pregnant looks different for everyone. For us, it took 3+ years of trying, and multiple rounds of both IUI (intrauterine insemination) and IVF. In this episode, we talk about the logistics of all that, and also our feelings. So many feelings. Suggested resources: Taking Charge of Your Fertility Maya also kept a detailed blog of our fertility journey. We don’t share the link publicly (it’s, uh, extremely graphic and personal), but if you’re going through or about to embark on something si...
Mar 17, 2021•50 min
