Just thought we should mention that we recently welcomed a new member of the family.
On Friday the 14th at 5:57pm, Clara Kenley Petersik was born with a paint brush in her hand weighing in at 7 lbs 10 oz and measuring 20.5 inches long. We’re insanely in love with her. And she and Burger are already best buddies. Seriously, he thinks it’s his job to stand guard next to her at all times.
Clara was named after John’s grandmother on his dad’s side. And her middle name, Kenley, is an homage to my dad (Ken) with John’s mom’s maiden name worked in there (Kelley) along with a reference to my great aunt on my mom’s side named Lee. Gotta love rooms and names that multitask.
We’re all home from the hospital and happily settling back into life here at Casa Petersik (there’s nothing like a four day hospital stint to make you miss your house like crazy). Yes, we actually had an extended stay due to a pretty terrifying scare during Clara’s birth (an unexpected placental abruption paired with an umbilical cord prolapse had a slew of wonderful doctors and nurses performing an emergency c-section in under three minutes to ensure that Clara was a-ok). But although her delivery was anything but restful, we’re both over the moon that she’s 100% healthy and 1000% adorable (not that we’re biased or anything).
And now that we’re all back home, Clara really seems to be enjoying her new surroundings. In short: we feel like two of the luckiest people in the world. And we’re so thankful to be able to share this amazing time in our lives with such wonderful readers. Thank you all for the well wishes that you’ve passed along throughout our big journey to parenthood. We can’t wait to detail all the ways that our house grows and changes to accommodate a little person and we promise to share all the organization, storage, and simple living tips that we pick up along the way (while tackling even more DIY adventures and cheap-o room makeovers of course).
But now back to our regularly scheduled blogging. We have an awesome house tour to share, so stay tuned…
Psst- We’ll also be announcing the random winner of the big baby pool (and a $100 West Elm gift card) tomorrow, so stick around.
Lauren says
I’m so happy for you guys! Congratulations!
I especially love the pic of her little toes poking out from under that blanket. All the best!!! :)
Jennifer G says
Congratulations! She is one beautiful little girl!!! Get ready for your heart to swell up and grow a size bigger every day as you fall more and more in love with her!
Karen T. says
Yay!! Clara and I have the same birthday! Congratulations y’all…she is BEAUTIFUL!!!!
Brenna says
Congratulations! Sending love from Iowa.
Kris says
Lovely name, lovely baby. Congratulations! :)
valerie J. says
Yay, welcome Clara! Seriously, soak it all in…they grow up WAY too fast! :) Congrats!
Sarah says
Congratulations you guys, and welcome to the adventure. It will be the most amazing thing in your life. She’s beautiful, and it’s a great name!
Em says
Oh wow! Big congratulations on your gorgeous arrival! How exciting!!! Hope you’re all doing well!
Christa says
Congratulations! She’s gorgeous!
melissa says
yay! congratulations! you guys don’t skip a beat- she is beautiful and I’m very happy for all of you :)
Trena says
Congrats on your beautiful baby girl! She is truly a blessing and I know you guys are so thankful. Wishing you much happiness and continued success. You will be wonderful parents :-)
Kendra says
Congrats! Love her name!
Jess says
just had to join my 1,300 co-blog-readers in saying congratulations! clara is beautiful and will fit right into her lovely room and charming family!
mirka says
Wow!!! She is beautiful. Congratulations!!!!!!!
Debra says
She was definitely ready for her close up, it’s as if she knows she will be a star!!!
Hope you are feeling fine and she’s just a doll!!!
Leakristine says
CONGRATULATIONS!!! She is beautiful!
Melinda says
Congrats you guys.. Glad to know mom and baby both are healthy!!
Sara says
Congratulations! I’m loving the pictures of her! Very creative (of course)!
Lorien says
i recently found your blog, and haven’t commented yet, but i wanted to be the 1300th person to congratulate you. so congratulations, she’s beautiful, and can’t wait to read more. :)
Julia @ Hooked on Houses says
I’m so happy to hear baby Clara has arrived and that she’s home safe and sound. Congratulations!! :-)
Joy says
She is just beautiful, and what a lovely name you picked out, too! Congratulations!
Jamie says
Congrats! All this baby madness made me remember when my daughter was a baby…. 4 very long years ago. Boy time sure flies. Baby Clara is beautiful, and you guys are going to be great parents.
Tania says
Ohhhhhh! Precious….I too had a blessing brought to me just yesterday. I became a grandma at 35. My son and his girlfriend gave birth to a baby girl…Nivayah Charmaine and all I can say is she is just the perfectest little peanut I have seen……
Good luck to you and your family!!!!
Jill says
a) Congratulations all around, of course. Duh. :) She’s totally gorgeous and I’m so happy for you; what a beautiful family!
b) Um, your new camera is working out AWESOMELY for you. Beautiful photos and what quick studies you both are!
BTW, if you ever *EVER* need emergency camera advice (especially now with new baby photos!), please feel free to email! I run an open photography collective in Brooklyn and get questions all the time from new photographers. So exciting!
ErinV says
Congratulations John and Sherry,
I admire your zest for adventure with your home and I can’t wait to see how that translates into parenting!
Erin
tasha roe says
CONGRATS!!!
She is amazing!!!
Welcome to the world, Miss Clara!
jbhat says
Congratulations! Welcome to the world, Clara. She’s just beautiful, Youngsters. Happy healing, Sherry, and best of everything to you both as you adjust to parenthood. Best ‘hood ever!
xoxo
jbhat
Sonja says
Congrats! She is lovely!
Bailey says
Congrats! I hope you three are doing okay after such a crazy delivery…wow! She is absolutely adorable, and that name is so fantastic and creative. I love that it is meaningful to you guys!
JoDi says
Oh Congrats! Congrats!! Congrats!!! She is so beautiful, and Burger is just the cutest little sentry ever! What a perfectly lovely little family. We wish you many, many blessings!
TJ says
Congratulations to you all – so much for being late!
When I woke up this morning and checked my facebook from bed, I got so excited my husband had no idea what I was on about!!!
Welcome baby Clara, beautiful name, beautiful baby and a beautiful addition to Casa Petersik!
Marivel says
Congratulations!! She is so beautiful!
Love the history of the names!
Laura says
Congrats to you both! What a beautiful baby. And I’m so happy that everyone turned out alright, in spite of the health scare.
Rest up, Sherry, and I’m sure you’ll be back to your decorating, DIY-ing self in no time!
dani McFarland says
You will never be the same. Congratulations and enjoy the ride! Take best care of her and each other.
Cheryl P. says
Welcome to the world, Clara. May your life be full of blessings and joy.
Congratulations, John and Sherry! She is absolutely beautiful.
Burger, stay close, this kid is going to drop some amazing crumbs for the next 18 years. SCORE!!
Melissa Anderson says
She’s adorable and I love the name! It’s got a nice ring to it and I’m sure that she’s going to love you two as parents. Congrats!
Jacqueline says
Congrats guys!
I took my time reading the house crash post above and then when I got down to this post I was like WOAH!
You need to print out all these comments and keep them for her (for when she’s older).
BTW, did you have some boy names ready to go just incase she was really a he?
xox
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jacqueline,
That’s a great idea about printing out the comments. She’ll probably love as much as we do – once she can read, of course.
And no, we didn’t have any boy name back-ups. Probably not the best planning on our part, but we had such trouble agreeing on boy names (before we got the “it’s a girl” ultrasound) so we were more than happy to table that discussion until another baby.
-John
Jennifer says
CONGRATULATIONS!!
Welcome to the world Clara!
Jaimie says
CONGRATS! She is super cute, but you know that! I can’t wait to see all the great home stuff you do with a kid. It sure changes things!
Reem says
Congratulations! Such a beautiful baby girl, she is so lucky to have you two as parents!
P.S you guys are my new reality show, except from you guys I learn a thing or two!
Carla says
I was so excited to see this post. and thankful that all ended up well after reading how things went for you.
she is adorable. So pretty.
Get your Rest! Sherry no DIY for awhile you have out done yourself with Clara now sit back and revel in that
liz says
So happy for all of you. Brought a tear to my eye- just reading along about that fabulous house and then bam! By the way here’s our little angel! She’s beautiful and I wish you all the best. I have 2 daughters, ages 12 and 8 and you are in for the ride of your lives.
Silvara says
Congrats darling – welcome to your gorgeous baby girl :D Wish you and John lots of wonderful memories with your little one :)
Janice says
I have been checking younghouselove everyday to see if the little beanette had arrived. And here she is! Congratulations on the wonderful addition to your family.
xo
Eva says
just beautiful! great pics! huge congrats & much love ‘n’ blessings from Aotearoa, NZ :)
Kate Hall says
Our newest Richmond mom! You rock! (ok we’ll give Dad some credit, too.) CONGRATS–she is wonderful. Treasure each moment!–Kate
Jenn says
She’s beautiful! Congrats
Jenn says
CONGRATULATIONS! she is so beautiful :) and Clara is an absolutely lovely name! Good luck with all the new, exciting changes coming your way!! so excited for you :)
cavan says
Many congratulations to you both! She is just beautiful and I love her name, especially b/c our 4 year old’s middle name is Clara. Now the fun begins, so ENJOY these first weeks of peace and put aside everything else and bond because it will never be so quiet in your house again. Congratulations!
Tracy @ Cotton Pickin Cute says
Congratulations you guys. She is so beautiful. Ya’ll must be on top of the world. A wonderful new family for your picture perfect house. Thank you for sharing all the photos. Love the picture of burger and her. I really like the way you chose or created her name!
Hugs…Tracy :)
P.S. I’ve got a giveaway ending tomorrow. Hope you stop by and enter.
http://cottonpickincute.blogspot.com/2010/05/3500-jiffy-lube-give-away.html