Before we left our second house for the last time, we snapped this photo of Clara in the room where she woke up on each of her first three birthdays.
It’s definitely a huge difference from this one that we took on the day that we moved in back in 2010.
They grow up so fast. Sniffle.
jeannette says
she’s a youth now. and was so teeny then.
Amy says
Oh my gosh! You guys moved into that house the same month I moved into my current place. It seriously feels like yesterday, and I can’t believe she was just a little baby in footie pajamas then! So cute.
Lesley says
Everyone’s focused on the light and curtains in Clara’s room, but I wondered about the shelves that John made. I know you have said that everything that was attached (the fixtures) stays, and I follow that for the curtain rods, curtains and lights, but I noticed that you left the shelf that was above the TV and panicked that you didn’t take the shelves above Clara’s dresser too… Please say you did!
Young House Life says
Oh heck yes! Those are decorative shelves so they moved with us. By open shelving we meant the kind in the kitchen that’s expected to stay (so technically the one in the living room could have come with us, but we left it for them since it was built for that space). John could never leave those behind :)
xo
s
Bran says
Wow, this was just a cruel cruel thing to show a pregnant woman. Seriously, you should have put a warning in the title: “PREG: 40 weeks+. Content may not be suitable for the hormonal.”
Young House Life says
Haha! So sorry Bran!
xo
s
christina @ homemade ocean says
Ohhhhh pass the tissues! Holy smokes…I can’t even believe that transformation.
She is just too cute!
Maria @ Inspiration Affirmation says
Oh my gosh — so incredibly sweet. You need to put these side-by-side in a scrapbook or something!
Megan says
Oh my goodness, what a great before-and-after! I will have to remember to do this with my daughter.
LARY@Inspiration Nook says
What a great picture! Love this :)
Meredith J says
This is SOCUTE!! what a fun idea to take a pic of her in her room when you first moved there… I’ll have to remember this!
Kara says
Clara has some great parents. I was really thinking that when I read your post on how you went out of your way to get her room set up so she could be comfy/happy. Way to be!
Avone says
The moving didn’t get me at all…I’ve moved my kids to six houses, an extended-stay hotel (when we sold right out from under ourselves) and an apartment in the last ten years…but man, that pic of Clara as a big girl. Eeek. *Tears*
Cathi S. says
So sweet. Thanks for sharing your life with us. Someone asked me (we moved/downsized last summer) if I was leaving my ‘dream house’. I realized every home is my dream home. One home was where we raised our 2 children (now 27 and 29) and this new home is a new adventure. After 31 years of marriage, we feel like newlyweds in our first home all over again.
Young House Life says
That’s so sweet!
xo
s
Ashley says
Awe! This is sooo adorable
Tina says
What a great idea, now I have to go through my pics to find one of my little when we moved in(she was one and now she is 7 ) totally stealing this idea!
Whitney Dupuis says
Not gonna lie. I just got a little teary. Maybe because my son is just a few months older than Clara and we are looking to sell our house that he was born and has grown up in. So bittersweet.
Jen says
gah! They do grow up too fast!
Lisa says
What great foresight you guys had in taking that pic of her in her room as a baby! My first thought when I saw the picture of her standing in her room in the empty house post was AAAhhhh…how great would it have been if they had taken a pic of her as a baby in that empty room and BAM, Monday rolls around and there it is! You guys never cease to amaze me :) Very smart of you to get her new room set up so she feels right at home! Glad she is loving it! xoxo
Dana says
Thank you for sharing. All teared up and nose running. :) Getting my camera to re-take some of my own babies’ photos right now… such a beautiful way to see how they’ve grown. Been a while since I’ve visited and I can’t believe how much Clara has grown! She and my son were born just days apart. It goes way too fast! I don’t know how you do it all with a little one (and a chihuahua). Mad props. :)
Brenda says
There’s just something so empty feeling about bare wood floors and white walls. Even though the room is still empty, the soft pink walls seem so cozy. Clara’s growing so fast!
Laurie says
You just made me tear up at work!
Melanie says
So sweet. On the plus side, I love your new floors so much more than the 2nd house’s. Her new room is going to be even better!
Marie-Pier | Four Seasons at Home says
You guys have such great pic ideas!
Rayna Baker says
I remember my mother-in-law would tell me all the time to enjoy every moment because before you know it, they’re all grown. I never realized how absolutely true that statement is. My Caitlyn is now 9 years old and 5 foot tall and wears a 7 1/2 in woman’s shoes! I am 5ft 3in on a good day. Every moment is even more precious since she will be my only child. While I do miss her cute “baby” stages, I can’t tell you how much it thrills me to see the kind, loving, empathetic, joyful and smart little girl that has taken that place. She’s my little creative buddy, our favorite thing to do is scour vintage stores looking for the perfect home finds! Enjoy this time with Clara…it does go too quickly.
Sara says
What is the color of the pink paint in her room? I love it!!
Young House Life says
It’s called Proposal by Benjamin Moore.
xo
s
Susan says
Love the first and last day of Clara in her room! You have a wonderful little family and it is so obvious that you are fantastic parents. My daughter who is 29 and about to make me a first time grandmother, introduced me to your blog back when you were in your first home. Clara reminds me so much of her. Every morning I can’t wait to see what is happening over at YHL!
Young House Life says
Aw thanks Susan!
xo
s
Mary | lemongroveblog says
Time flies, that is for certain.
Joy G says
Aww, this made me want to cry a little! Doesn’t help that I’m 8 months pregnant and everything makes me want to cry a little these days, ;)
TJ says
I wonder what these photos will look like when she moves out of her new room! They certainly grow up fast – makes you sad & proud all at the same time :)
Felie Hempfling says
Adorable.. If only we had thought of doing something like this when our little one was born. I guess it’s never to late! Clara is one lucky little girl, she’s going to have amazing photos to look back and share when she’s older!
Patty says
How sweet! Time has gone by so fast! When I started reading your blog, you had just had Clara. And when she was a yr and half old, my husband and I discovered we were expecting! I have loved hearing your reviews and recommendations on everything from the house to baby items. Would you be so kind to do a post on ‘top 10’ or ‘top 5’ of must-haves understanding it’s a ‘top 5’ of Clara-favorites for the 1st yr, 2nd yr, etc. Including things like her favorite youtube video or book “Dragons Love Tacos” to favorite toy. I feel like there’s SO much baby/kid stuff that it is really helpful to hear a kid’s approval and a mom’s critique. Anyway, just a thought…
Best wishes on your new home!
Young House Life says
That would be so much fun!
xo
s
Melissa Ricci says
I second this!!! Would LOVE that post!!
Evelina says
Hi! I was reading through some of your archives from when Clara was just a couple months old (aww!) and I came across a few posts about products you love for her. I was wondering if it’s possible for you guys do write about other stuff you use with her now that she’s a young lady. Again, you guys are great!
Evelina says
Holy crapoly!!! I just read Patty’s post right above mine. What a funny coincidence! Great minds think alike? Clearly there’s a demand for this! Hahaha
Young House Life says
So funny!!
xo
s
Rory says
Lovely idea, I’m just about to have my first child and I think this will be great idea to try :)
Misty says
Oh my goodness, this picture gave me chills! Isn’t it crazy how fast time goes once you have kids? Tell Clara to slow down! Although if she is anything like mine she won’t listen. :/