Greenwich native and blogger, Morgan Matkovic started her blog Lilies and Lambs after struggling with infertility. Her blog has since taken off as a safe outlet for women trying to conceive. We asked Morgan to give our readers tips on IVF. She also gives us a peek into her life in Old Greenwich, CT.
Tell me about your journey to Old Greenwich, CT
My husband and I both have spent most of our lives in Greenwich, so the move to Old Greenwich was a pretty natural one for both of us. I moved to California for a bit after college, and only spent a very brief amount of time in Los Angeles before realizing city life wasn’t really for me. When I moved back east I didn’t make the typical pit stop in Manhattan- I’ve always felt the suburb of Greenwich to be home and I was always drawn back to it. The closest to city life for my husband and I was an apartment off Greenwich Avenue, which we loved, but knew we would soon outgrow once we got engaged. We fell in love with our home in Old Greenwich at first sight, and we’ve been there ever since.
You have a blog- Lilies and Lambs. Tell me more about it.
I started Lilies and Lambs in 2015, after finally conceiving my daughter Madeline, having struggled with infertility. I had felt so alone when facing infertility, and throughout that journey I wished there had been an outlet or community I could have been a part of to help navigate through this uncharted territory. In the four years since I became pregnant and started Lilies and Lambs, I have seen a lot of growth in the outspokenness and attention on the TTC (Trying to Conceive) community; and I am so grateful to have my blog be one of those safe outlets for both women TTC and moms looking for a glimpse into honest motherhood.
What advice can you give couples thinking of IVF?
I try to shy away from giving advice to couples thinking about IVF because it is such a personal and important experience and decision. I can only speak to my own experience, in which I really felt comfortable with the idea that it was the right option for us at the time. After several tests, procedures, and unsuccessful rounds of IUIs, we were both very prepared to face whatever IVF may bring to us. And, thankfully, it brought us our girl on the first round. However, in the past few years our IVF journey has been less successful, and I still struggle with whether or not to try again. So I guess the best advice I can give to couples thinking about this next step is to trust your gut- our intuition can be a powerful thing. And only you can and your partner can decide if it is the right fit for you.
What advice can you give couples going through IVF?
Oh gosh, where to begin. I learned so much about myself through this experience. It brought my husband and I closer together. It strengthened so many of my relationships, and sadly bruised a few others. My advice is to be kind and patient with yourself and your partner; and to never underestimate how strong you are. I have so much more to say, but I break a lot of it down in this post from a while back.
Any recommendations on how to decide on doctors/clinics for IVF?
I was lucky to fall instantly in love with my fertility clinic and doctors. I highly recommend Greenwich IVF. There are a few more doctors there since I first started my journey, and I’m sure they are all fantastic. But I cannot say enough good things about my two specialists: Dr. Anate Brauer and Dr. Laura Meyer. That being said, I think it is so important to find a doctor you trust and feel comfortable with. We are so fortunate to have so many intelligent doctors in this area. But when dealing with something so personal and intimate, it was important for me to have a natural rapport with my doctors.
How old is your daughter? What do you like to do with her in Greenwich or in the area?
My daughter is nearly 3.5 years old. Crazy how time flies! There are so many amazing things to do with kids around here. We love art class with Miss Jackie at Green Moon; ballet at Dance Adventure; trips to the Stamford Nature Center and snowy, winter afternoons at Chelsea Piers. If you’re local and looking for more of my recommendations you can find them here.
What are the best playgrounds and parks in the area?
We love Binney Park for family walks and picnics. Cos Cob School and Riverside School have two of the best playgrounds around. But our favorite “park” would have to be Tod’s Point in Old Greenwich. Pretty much all year round. It’s perfect for sunset dinners at the new concession stand; and dogs are welcome starting December 1, making it quite possibly one of the most popular times of year.
What are your favorite restaurants in Greenwich or in the area?
There are so many great restaurants around here! Our favorite date night would have to be at Lugano in Riverside- their happy hour is amazing, and they have great live music on Thursday nights. I also love East End and Le Penguin on Greenwich Avenue. If you’re up for a little drive, Inn at Pound Ridge is an absolute must. It’s located in Pound Ridge but well worth the drive. For family pizza night, we love dining in at Pizza Post in Cos Cob or Pomodoro in Riverside. But if you’re going to grab and go, you can’t go wrong with a High School Special at Garden Catering or a Rondele on Black Bread from Alpen Pantry in Old Greenwich.
What are your go-to places in Greenwich or in the area?
Soul Cycle for sweat sessions; Sweet Pea’s for coffee and a granola bowl; Warren Tricomi for hair and Delamar for a good old fashion day at the spa.
Can you describe your social life?
We’re pretty big on family time. My husband’s entire family is still local and some of my siblings are still about twenty minutes away, so we try to see them at least once a week. Being that my husband and I both call Greenwich our hometown, we still have a lot of childhood friends living close by- now with kiddos of their own- so we spend a lot of time socializing with them and their families. Occasionally I’ll sneak out for a girl’s night or a quick trip to the city, but most of our social life happens locally as a family.
What has your experience been so far with schools in Greenwich?
I love our preschool, and it just so happens to be the one I attended some thirty years ago. I love seeing the faces of my former teachers every day when I drop my girl off. I spent some time in the public school system here in Greenwich, but ultimately graduated from Greenwich Country Day School and then boarding school. I’m not quite sure where our daughter will end up, but the public schools are so amazing that we will likely enroll her there and then see if we need to make a switch later down the road.
Do you or your spouse take the train into New York City? What has your experience been with the Metro-North train commute?
My husband takes the train to Manhattan every day, and luckily, we live within walking distance to the train. I have never commuted into the city for work, and I’m not sure it would be for me. But I know so many of my friends that do and love it.
About Morgan Matkovic
Morgan Matkovic lives in her hometown in Greenwich, Connecticut with her husband Phil, their daughter Madeline Mae, and their black lab Georgia. Morgan started Lilies and Lambs as a creative outlet during her pregnancy to showcase the beauty she found on her journey into motherhood. Today, Lilies and Lambs is an ever-changing canvas, displaying the beauty she finds in her every day life as a mama- from bump to baby + beyond.
Follow Morgan
@lilies.and.lambs on instagram
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