If it were me, I would go with the one raised bed - I've had 3 kids and I tried to do the whole big huge long bed that husband tilled up for me . . . I tried really hard, I did, but it ended up in weeds and the grass took it over despite my best efforts and intentions and we let it all return to lawn. Big disappointment. I had tried pumpkins and peas and several other things but the bugs ate every single pumpkin vine and the peas were pitiful, the only thing that struggled through.
Now, for me, new house, older kids, some established beds - second chance!!! I'm doing really well now. We've been here a full year. The weeding is the biggest chore after establishing the beds. I have found weed fabric does not work and I hate it - it was here for who knows how many years and I'm pulling it out of the beds.
I do not have problems with digging varmints - neighbors had a ground hog under their shed, but nothing here, keeping my fingers crossed as there is a wild area behind our houses.
I wish you the best of luck!!!!!!!
What I did (that worked) was establish a compost pile and work on beds around the house, expanding them and keeping them weed-free and shrubbery trimmed, helping out with lawn/yard work, tending houseplants, and I kept tomatoes in very large pots - that was all I could handle the first few years. Like I said, the huge bed failed. And I discovered you need something that is only wide enough for you to reach into, like the SFG model.
I wanted an alpaca farm :-) Still do, just going to have to be "one day."
Again, best of luck!

I have permanent beds but they are not raised. Raised beds do have some positives but there are also some negatives. My permanent beds are lined with rocks around the edge (which are free to me, other than the labor to get them) and they are double dug with wire underneath. Even with that, we trap the gophers (Victor black box). I wanted a large garden and when we started pricing how much it would cost to build in raised beds, that idea was quickly scrapped.

I would still start small though. Pulling weeds can be relaxing with small children but there will be days when getting a shower will be big accomplishment.

A good hunting cat can deal with gophers. Not moles, though.

"I would still start small though. Pulling weeds can be relaxing with small children but there will be days when getting a shower will be big accomplishment."

Dear God, yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Haha, bath time is sacrosanct here...DH is well aware he's more likely to not get dinner than I am to not get my bath. >:-) I do get where you're coming from regarding time, though...I fully anticipate that regardless of which way I go, I'll be directing the stepsons in weeding over spring break (right after the baby is due)!

Itilton: I've read that, but, unfortunately, my cats are wusses. Like, serious wusses. The biggest thing I've seen them hunt is a grasshopper. And the mouse that they killed, put in their food dish, and left there. The neighbors' kitten is more ferocious.

Also, do not forget about pots. Doing things in pots initially will help with the gardening itch while you also spend more time getting to know your site. I will say kids can be a tremendous asset in gardening but that is only after they are well trained. It was nice having my 16 year old deal with the gopher trap today but it has taken many years to get him to the point of him being an asset. For my younger kids, they have designated things they can work on (like harvesting potatoes, when granted permission) but other than that, mom's garden is off limits without an escort.

"but other than that, mom's garden is off limits without an escort."

:-D I love this thread!!! LOL My kids are so destructive in the garden!!! They pull up my plant markers just to make me mad - they think it's funny! And that's just the harmless things they do . . . they just love to "explore" . . . ha! It's fun - gardening with kids, and it can be heartbreaking . . . luckily, I've traded for replacements of the things they "explored." Rosary vine, with it's tiny heart-shaped leaves, are just too tempting for toddlers who find height is no obstacle for anything they want . . . every single leaf was plucked off and the vine quickly died. But it is SO cute when they ask "Is this a daisy or an iris?" and when they chase butterflies and roll over rocks for bugs, not so cute when they dig for worms, because that usually involves tearing up my beds and plants.
Chickens are good weeders and excellent bug eaters, but you have to be careful. Ever heard of a chunnel? It's a chicken tunnel - google it. I knew someone who fed their goats their kitchen and garden scraps - not sure if you're supposed to do that, I know nothing about goats.
Check out the "No Work Garden" book - it was interesting, but I can't garden like that, maybe you can. I forget the author.
Trading for plants and seeds helps keep the costs down. I've even seen ads on Craigslist for cheap plants and seedlings and offers to trade, but there's more trading on this site. I didn't have too much luck on CL, and I always met the people at a Walmart or someplace public. I remember at least two different people posting on my local CL trying to sell or trade off their extra watermelon and veggie seedlings; lots of tomato plants on there, as well. Of course, sometimes the time and driving involved in messing with the deals on CL aren't worth it.

You will have a wonderful garden!

We use the gopher "chatterer" and they work!
I just spent 5 min typing in why and how and it all disappeared! Let me know if you want to know more! LOL Nancy

What's a gopher chatterer?

It's a thing you stick in the ground. Either battery or solar operated. It "chatters or squeeks" every 30 seconds or so. You can get the battery operated ones at the BB stores for $20 or so, or the solar ones at Harbor Freight for about $10.
We used to have tons of gophers in our raised bed (w,hardware cloth)area, but have very few since we've been using these!
We planted squash/ghords on our septic mound (have learned since that it's not a good idea for the mound!). The gophers came like gangbusters! We put a couple of things out on the mound and didn't see another the rest of the season!
Some people scoff at my "chatterers", but I find them to work vry well! Nancy

Whether or not you opt for lined raised beds or not you still have to deal with the gophers. They will destroy roses, fruit trees and just about anything else you care about.

Learn how to trap them. I like and use the Victor black box trap. You need a body count. Guessing with poison or scare tactics isn't the best way to go.

Gophers relocate on the surface. Poultry fence around the garden is helpful to keep out the surface relocating gophers and essential for rabbits. If you see mounds approaching the garden you will have time to get the gopher before it finds its way under the fence.

Zeuspaul

From the perspective of the DH, I would build 2 separate 3X8 beds 10 inches deep. 10" boards are cheaper than 12" and should be deep enough. I would not line them, just assemble with 3" screws.

3' wide beds would make it easier to reach the middle if you have the baby in a sling. The additional dirt would not be that much more than one 4X8. If you need the lining you could always tear it down and rebuild it. The boards should be strong enough not to need post to keep them from bowing.

Trust me, you do not want to have goats and a new baby at the same time.

I use to live near Abilene that had both moles and gophers. They were a problem that you fought but did not wipe out the garden. I just planted flat after tilling up the ground. I would save up to buy a tiller rather than rent one.