Whatcha Expecting?

Content warning: Abuse This week, an expert parent/comedian/all around fabulous human joins as a guest -- Carolyn Castiglia! Kate, Claire and Carolyn discuss how to not totally mess up your child. Carolyn shares her insights from having achieved the seemingly impossible -- successfully raising a child (on her own!) through the teenage years, who is now a happy, well-adjusted adult. How do you avoi...

When they go low, we go high ... chair. This week, Kate shares how Anthony has gone from restaurant accessory to restaurant consumer; what they pack and don't pack, how he prefers his steak prepared, and whether or not we should all be mopping the floors once our kids have torn through. Claire shares the early-bird strategy she and Cody employ for taking Rodney out to eat. Weekly Plugs: BRAT diet...

It’s the week we’ve been waiting for…Kate’s baby’s nine month appointment! Having learned from Claire’s experience in Season Two (go listen to the whole thing, we’ll wait…), Kate had a bit more of an idea of what to expect. Claire shares recent milestones of Rodney’s, and issues a formal apology to her pediatrician’s office. Tune in for such insightful questions as, why does poking at a Cheerio in...

Content Warning: Suicide, Alcoholism This week, Kate and Claire are joined by an actual mental health expert… Aimee LeCours ! Aimee is a stand-up comedian, improviser, mom, and licensed mental health counselor. She produces and hosts Psych!, A Stand-Up Therapy Comedy show (how cool is that)?! Kate and Claire ask Aimee the hard hitting questions like, should every parent be in therapy? Why did she...

This week, we’re getting a GRASP on things – because Kate’s baby has his pincer grasp! Seemingly overnight, he can now pick things up with his thumb and index finger, a milestone that Claire didn’t realize was a thing until Rodney’s nine month appointment. The two talk about how quickly big changes can happen, and how something seemingly so small can mean the beginning of the end of the baby phase...

Big news! Claire is finally…unemployed! With Claire’s job having ended, Claire has a clear sense of her identity and everything is fine. Kate and Claire discuss the logistics of the workday, and how Claire will be balancing her time now between freelancing and being a MAMA! The two discuss the role that your career plays in your sense of self as a mother, and what the future might look like for th...

This week, Kate spent her first night(s) away from her baby for a humor writing reunion! Claire also spent her [insert large number here]th night away from Rodney for one of the final weeks at her job. What was the trip like for Kate? Has travel away from family gotten easier or harder for Claire? Kate and Claire discuss how spending time away from your family can be occasionally guilt-inducing, b...

This week, Kate and Claire (mostly Claire) are having some big feelings about big feelings. As Rodney has fully entered his tantrum-having toddler era, Claire is struggling to navigate whether to give him what he wants to hold her ground. (She definitely never gives in, obviously.) Kate and Claire marvel at the size and newness of all their kids’ feelings, and reflect on the big stuff making them...

This week, Kate and Claire discuss who is and is not currently the preferred parent in their household. Is it permanent? Is it cyclical? Does breastfeeding have anything to do with it? And, how can Claire sabotage Cody so that she can finally have a turn? Real-Life Example of Rodney Preferring Cody Weekly Plugs: Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies (undercooked) Salted Brown Butter Rice Crispy Tr...

This weekend, it finally happened…Kate’s family hung out with Joe’s family (and Claire’s family wasn’t even invited!) How did Joe’s kids react to having a baby in their space? How did Anthony respond to playing with such bigger kids? How will Claire ever forgive them for not flying her out for this epic hang? Kate, Claire and Joe discuss how hanging with the big kids can push you to stretch out of...

This past weekend, Claire brought Rodney to a play cafe and an indoor playground. It was (mostly) super fun at the time, but reflecting on the experience, obviously, has sent her into an existential crisis. When you experience something as a parent that you enjoyed as a child, it can be really rewarding – and, surprise surprise, also anxiety inducing! What places are Kate and Claire excited to tak...

This week, it’s an episode to sink your two tiny baby teeth into! Anthony’s got his first tooth and Rodney has…molars? Wisdom teeth? No, just two and a half teeth! Kate and Claire discuss soothing your child through this painful moment of growth, and both reflect on the foods their babies can eat even without teeth. With this new phase of development comes new facets of independence and that defin...

We’re back, baby! This week, Kate and Claire chat about morning routines. What do mornings look like these days with a baby? How has that changed with childcare in the mix? What weekend morning rituals have Kate and Claire picked up? Claire recounts childhood memories of “big breakfast”, a cherished tradition she wants to continue on with Rodney — and which Kate may or may not steal. And they retu...

Well, it’s the end of season two, and this time Claire and Kate have actually planned for their season finale instead of just going right up until a baby is born! Kate and Claire take the occasion to revisit this season’s topics and update us on where their babies are now. What milestones have they both reached? Is Rodney saying mama yet? Has Anthony been sleep trained? And what might be next in s...

This is the week that Claire has finally sleep trained her baby…sorry, toddler. What method did she use? Were earplugs required? Claire talks through how being competitive with Kate helped drive her to sleep train (you’re welcome), and the benefits it’s had for her and her family. Meanwhile, Kate shares her own plans for upcoming sleep training, and the considerations she’s weighing in managing ni...

This week we’re talking…about talking! While Kate’s baby is babbling up a storm, Claire’s toddler is starting to use all kinds of words. Just one problem; the one word he won’t say, is mama! The two discuss the different methods Claire’s tried for getting him to say her name, and the two marvel at how babies understand our identities as mothers at the most primal level. Will Rodney say “Claire” be...

Maternity leave is over! As Kate returns to work, she discusses what it’s been like to slowly ease her way into a new routine. Claire recounts what it was like when her maternity leave ended, and how surprised she was to find herself suddenly rusty at skills that used to be second nature. They both consider what it’s like to come back when who you are has so fundamentally changed, and how to manag...

It’s official: Claire’s son Rodney is finally a toddler! As we celebrate the anniversary of Claire’s C-section, also known as Rodney’s birthday, Claire reflects on what it feels like for her baby to be growing up. Will they throw a party? Who is a party really even for? After a year of being a parent (or 5 months in Kate’s case), what skills have they both gained? Joe offers his advice on navigati...

We’re breaking up your regularly scheduled ice storm programming with a little fun in the sun! Back from a recent trip to Florida, Kate shares her travel tips for navigating airports as a breastfeeding MAMA! Claire recalls an early trip she took with Rodney to California, and shares how she’s approaching a family beach vacation a little bit differently. They consider the balance of work and travel...

Drumroll, please; Kate’s baby has been cleared to start solids! But what goes into baby meal prep? What will be on the menu? Kate and Claire discuss what it’s been like for Claire as she and her husband introduced Rodney to solids, how they’ve shared in the responsibilities and joys, and what anxieties still arise as he eats more solids than…uh, liquids. Joe shares more about his family’s journey...

CW: Body image, Self image, Weight loss Fresh from a personal training session, Claire shares a bit about her workout plan and current goals targeting one highly specific part of her body. Kate and Claire reflect on how their body images have shifted during pregnancy and postpartum, how their relationships to their bodies continue to evolve in unexpected ways, and what features they have come to a...

This week, Kate and Claire check in on how feeding their babies has been going. Last season they discussed breast is best vs. fed is best; now that Kate is a MAMA, how has her breastfeeding journey actually gone? Claire reflects on nearly a year of formula feeding, and considers what it will be like as the balance shifts away from formula and towards solid foods and cow’s milk. What would they do...

Happy new year! This week, Kate and Claire are chatting New Year’s resolutions. What practices do they want to adopt in the new year? What are they really proud of accomplishing this past year? They discuss a few anti-resolutions (a concept Kate made up that Joe may or may not have qualms with), and make some controversial predictions for the new year. What will Anthony’s first word be? What bonke...

Happy holidays! This week, Kate and Claire discuss their plans for the winter holidays with their families as new moms, and consider the role religion will play in their sons’ lives. Has Rodney been baptized? What kind of synagogue might Anthony be raised in? How do you negotiate the role of religion for your kids when two partners have different relationships to religion? You know, just some ligh...

The doctor is in! This week, Kate and Claire chat with family medicine doctor, Dr. Rachel Tatz. They learn more about how to make the most of your doctor’s visit, and bring her their list of burning questions. What’s a medically riskier time, pregnancy or postpartum? What should new parents be more (or less) anxious about? What even IS family medicine? We’ll discuss these topics and more, includin...