The End of the World as We Know It: A First-Time Parenting Podcast

We did it. We had a second baby. Hear about Erik's male postpartum depression, Maya's split nipples (you're welcome), why we love taking babies to the mall, and how much more pleasant a scheduled C-section is than an emergency C-section.

Watch this episode as a video on Spotify and you can see our very cute 6 week old baby, plus our producer AJ finally makes a special guest appearance!

Kids: Who needs 'em? (We do...?)™

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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.

This episode is sponsored by peelable gummies. Are you on team Peel Yums or Peelers?? Fill out our poll on Spotify!

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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:

Remember that if you are watching/listening to this episode on Spotify, you can now comment. Leave us a comment! We love hearing from you! ❤️

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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 does, and our only regret is not doing that sooner), horror stories about public accidents, and we finally answer the question that's on everyone's mind: will Erik get another motorcycle if we have a second child???

(Oh Crap! is the book we used / apparently the one everyone with a toddler has read and used. Highly recommended.)

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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 Woodshop. Need a cutting board or some custom furniture? Give us a call. Need it any time soon? Try Raymour & Flanigan. pricewoodshop.com

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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 couples' therapy. The best advice we can give you, if you're new parents: go to therapy now. And certainly go before you decide to have a second kid 😬

As always, you can thank our incredible editor AJ for turning our ramblings into a coherent and enjoyable podcast episode: twitter.com/ajfillari

If you have any thoughts, questions, or feedback for us, you can reply to our question ("What did you think of this episode?") on Spotify! And don't forget to participate in our poll (also on Spotify): we want to know if you'd watch a video version of this podcast!

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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:

*We found out after recording this episode that our son had an ear infection. Once we got him on antibiotics he went back to sleeping like an angel. Your mileage may vary, but if your kid is suddenly having trouble sleeping, maybe get their ears checked out before you sink into a deep depression and accept that none of you will ever sleep again.

**This episode is sponsored by the Boulet Brothers' Dragula. (Not really, please don't sue us Boulet Brothers.)

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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.

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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 you convince a relative to watch your baby full or part time? Should one of you just quit your job?!

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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: how did you end up with such good kids? And what advice do you have for brand new parents like us?

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