Why I got my tubes tied before I turned 30
When I first broached the subject of permanent, non-hormonal birth control with my gynecologist, I wasn’t even considering a tubal ligation. I had originally been trying to decide between the copper IUD and Essure. IUDs (intrauterine devices) are not permanent, but they do last a while. Essure (spring devices that are implanted in your fallopian tubes) is a fairly new procedure that can be performed in your gyno’s office but is permanent. I was leaning toward Essure because it was permanent and would only cost an office co-pay until this happened: “If I were you, I would just get my tubes tied.”
I’m ready to start trying to have a baby and my husband isn’t: how can I move the conversation forward?
My husband and I have been married for seven years. We’re both gainfully employed and in our mid-thirties… and I think that 2014 should be the year we make the decision to start trying for our first child. But here’s the thing: while I’m ready to start trying to bake a kid, my husband isn’t, and I’m at a loss as to how I should tell him that I feel like it’s time for us do this thing.
Sandbox in the city: how I used an old fire hose to build a sandbox in my small backyard
Five years ago my wife and I bought a great house with a small yard in downtown Madison, Wisconsin. Our firstborn, Sam, was about six-months-old when I started designing his sandbox. He was born in July so this gave me the winter to get it down on paper.
Throw this birthday party: Superheroes and Monsters
For my daughter Em’s second birthday we decided to go with a monsters and superhero theme. Em loves monsters and I really love the idea and concept of celebrating the primal animal creature that is generally outcast by society and misunderstood for its difference. Our family celebrates difference, so why not celebrate monsters? I also was super excited to celebrate and make room for the toddlers exploration of the “hero” archetype. We all have our own particular super strengths and I’m all for advocating the idea that we are all our own hero.
Catching up with Alix and Nick as they adapt to parenthood and budgeting
Three months after we were married, we welcomed our baby boy, Wilder Townsend Craft, with the help of Geraldine at Fremont Midwifery. His birth was transformative for me and us; I became a new, different, stronger person.
A non-parent’s holiday guide to picking out offbeat children’s gifts
I love everything to do with gifting: giving them, receiving them, scheming them, you name it. Since I have a kid a lot of my non-parent friends and family members will often ask me what kind of fun, kind of weird, somewhat non-traditional gifts they should give their nephews, nieces, family friends (and so on..) and I’ve decided I should just compile a list to make it easy on everyone.
6 ways I found time for my favorite hobby again after having a kid
I knew before my kid was born that I would get less sleep and have less free time after having a baby. I didn’t realize how hard it would be to lose my creativity for a while. It felt like losing a piece of my soul. During what we’ve since dubbed the Era of No Sleep, I was exhausted. What energy I had went almost entirely towards caring for my family. I connected with friends and took breaks, but I did not drum, dance, or engage in any of the myriad of crafts I’ve always loved dabbling in.
Stacey and Joel: six years, three international moves and a baby
We took a month off for a honeymoon trip across Europe and sailed back on an ocean liner. A week after arriving home we moved from Vancouver, BC to Marin County just north of San Francisco, CA. We had two and a half years in that area just soaking up the organic good life. Joel got into competitive cycling and I went to art school in San Francisco and just immersed myself in art.