Ep 29 Part 1: A Summer Party, A Handful of Chin Chub and Dad Disappears When The Shots Start

Frank and Carlo are back with a new episode of the podcast, "Gray Hair & Daycare: Gen X Dad, Gen Beta Baby". After a busy summer, the hosts catch up in their newly arranged studio, which they've dubbed their "speakeasy". Frank, 55, announces that his daughter, Josie, is now almost six months old, an incredible milestone that has arrived "in a blink of an eye". Carlo, amazed by Josie's recent growth, notes that she is getting so "long and skinny".

The Baby Expense Report: "Check, Please"

The hosts dive into a segment they haven't done in a while called "Check, Please," where Frank updates listeners on the cost of baby expenses. On June 10, baby Josie's expense account was at $6,310.71. Since then, the bill has increased to $7,537. This jump in expenses is due to Kelly's return to work, the finishing touches on the nursery, and a steady supply of diapers, wipes, and other essentials.

Frank confesses to tackling the nursery painting himself, a project he "hated" and one that involved a lot of swearing and paint on the hardwood floors. He admits that the only reason he saw the project through was that it was for his daughter. He's happy to announce that the project is now complete, and the episode will feature pictures of the finished nursery.

"I Was Wrong": The Three Indicators of Compatibility

In the segment "I Was Wrong," Frank revisits a previous discussion about a study on couple compatibility. He initially mentioned that a shared preference for horror movies was a key indicator. He clarifies that there are actually three factors for compatibility:

• A shared stance on horror movies (either both love them or both hate them).

• A mutual feeling about traveling alone in a foreign country. Frank and Kelly, much like Carlo and his wife Trina, agree that they wouldn't want to do this.

• Whether you would want to live on a boat or a sailboat. Frank and Carlo agree they would be open to this kind of adventure, whereas they believe their wives would not.

"What Just Happened": Baby Check-ups, Developmental Leaps & Family Bonds

Frank shares an update on Josie's four-month check-up. He notes that the nurse who administered Josie’s vaccines took extra time to play with her, which made the experience "way, way less" traumatic than her first set of shots. Frank humorously admits that he tried to "fade into the distance" during the vaccination to ensure Josie wouldn't associate him with the negative experience.

He also reveals that the pediatrician suggested starting Josie on soft foods at four months, but he and Kelly will likely wait until she is six months old. At her check-up, Josie was in the 23rd percentile for both height and weight, indicating she is very long and "pretty skinny".

Frank discusses the challenges of balancing work and life, especially as Kelly has ramped up her work schedule. He acknowledges the difficulty of hearing Josie cry while her caregiver is trying to get her used to being without her parents.

In a personal segment, Frank talks about his brother Mike's recent visit. Mike, who is 19 years older than Frank, was the last of his siblings to meet Josie. Frank had looked up to his brother like a father and was surprised he didn't offer more advice. It wasn't until his sister, Paula, told him that Mike had said how happy Frank seemed with the baby that he realized his brother was showing his support in a different way. Carlo relates to this, sharing that his older brother was a parental figure to him due to their parents not speaking English.

The hosts also recap a family party they recently hosted. Frank notes that juggling hosting duties while also caring for Josie made it more challenging than usual, as he and Kelly couldn't work together as a "team" like they normally would. During the party, some of their friends from the marina gave Josie a Fisher-Price hedgehog toy that plays songs and vibrates, which has been a big hit with the baby. Frank observes Josie’s new developmental leaps, noting that her facial expressions are more complex and that she’s more engaged with the world. He jokes that Josie’s newfound grasping ability has made her a master of grabbing his "double chin".

The episode concludes with the hosts thanking their listeners and encouraging them to email the show with their own parenting stories.