Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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How About A Baby Announcement?

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 And Burger2

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).

Clara Emergency Room

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).

Clara Little Feet

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.

Comments

  4. Courtney says

    Well, she’s just as beautiful as I knew she’d be! I’ll bet it was exciting to put her into her beautiful crib, in her equally beautiful room. Enjoy every minute…it goes by way too fast!

    Reply

  5. Susann says

    My heartfelt congratulations to you and Burger! She’s lovely. I kept reading your blog first thing to see if she had arrived yet!

    Reply

  6. Amanda T says

    Aww,

    I’m so happy for you guys. John, I’m sure it was hard to have such a scary thing happen to the girls! I’m so happy everything worked out well!

    Reply

  9. Janet says

    Yippee…So happy for the 4 of you! I simply love the name you chose for your beautiful new baby girl and I’m especially proud of Burger for being such an attentive big brother.

    Reply

  10. Alexis says

    Congratulations!!! I’m so glad your little girl was born healthy. My best friend had a son 4 weeks ago also born my emergency c-section but he too is 100% happy and healthy. I love love love your daughter’s name. Besides all the history behind it, Clara is my top pick for when my husband and I hopefully conceive. Not to mention it’s also in honor of a grandmother. You guys have an absolutely beautiful bundle of joy. Again, congratulations!

    Reply

  13. Anne says

    Awww. Look at that little cutie! Congrats!

    Soooo sorry that you had such a scary delivery. I can’t imagine how terrified you all must have been and how relieved you all are now that she is here and healthy.

    Beautiful name for a beautiful girl! Congrats again!

    Reply

  17. Celia says

    What a doll! I hadn’t checked the site for a couple days, so I was thrilled to check it out this afternoon and see your news! I love the name you picked too; Clara Kenley rolls off the tongue nicely. May 14 is my dad’s birthday, too, so it’s a good day, even though I was holding out for May 23 (my birthday) ;-)

    I hope you’re recovering well, Sherry, and I know both of you are enjoying your sweet little girl. Congrats!!

    Reply

  19. Laura says

    Congrats! Beautiful girl and love the name! I had to admit I was guessing you’d have a c-section since you are petite!

    Reply

  20. tammylee says

    …and then there was 3, life will never be the same…..and that’s a GREAT thing!
    best wishes to you all

    Reply

  21. Trina says

    CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I was just thinking of you two and wondering if you had your baby yet. Your sweet baby daughter is just beautiful! Happy new parents to you both!
    xoTrina

    Reply

  22. Jen says

    Congratulations!!! Clara is beautiful. Wishing you all the best. I am new to this whole blogging thing, but not to parenthood. We have 5 kids of our own. If you ever have any questions or need advice, do not hesitate to ask :)

    I posted about a project you guys did recently. Hope you will stop by and check it out. That is of course, whenever you guys get a “free” chance. No rush!

    http://thedecordiva.blogspot.com/

    I am wishing Sherry a speedy recovery. Enjoy that beautiful new baby of yours.

    Take Care.
    Jen

    Reply

  24. virginia says

    She’s gorgeous!!! Congrats and sending best wishes for a speedy recovery and much strength for these early days. Thinking of you all!

    Reply

  26. Jessica White says

    Congrats!!! You two will continue to be so blessed! :) Clara is SO beautiful. :) OH Happy Days!

    Reply

  27. Megan says

    Congratulations! She’s so cute! I had a similarly scary urgent c-section with my first…so glad everything went ok for you! Enjoy your new little bundle and don’t worry too much about us here in blog land…we’ll be patient!

    Reply

  28. Jessica F. says

    Welcome to the world, little one!

    “Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” – Elizabeth Stone

    If one feels the need of something grand, something infinite, something that makes one feel aware of God, one need not go far to find it. I think that I see something deeper, more infinite, more eternal than the ocean in the expression of the eyes of a little baby when it wakes in the morning and coos or laughs because it sees the sun shining on its cradle.
    — Vincent van Gogh

    Reply

  29. Kimberly says

    WOW! I am so happy everything turned out okay and that both Sherry and Clara are doing well. I too had an emergency C section with my last pregnancy and I know how scary that can be. I am due for my third baby in July and a bit nervous about undergoing a C-section again. Healthy baby is all we want! Clara is adorable!! Take care! :)

    Reply

  31. Shannon F. says

    Thank you for sharing such a beautiful, personal moment in your life with us. Best wishes and HUGE Congratulations!

    Reply

  32. Jen says

    Congratulations on the safe arrival of darling Clara. A beautiful and meaningful name, and a gorgeous little cherub. You’re about to have the most wonderful adventure of your lives. I have 8 month old twin boys – emergency C-section for me too because the poor little darlings stopped growing at 28 weeks – and my life has never been so blessed. Congratulations and all the very best for a beautiful love-filled life together as a new family.

    Reply

  33. Kristen says

    Congratulations! I’m happy that everything turned out okay and Sherry and Clara are both safely home! Enjoy all excitement that comes with this new time in your life!

    Reply

  36. Fia says

    Congrats!! Such a beautiful name.

    You should definitely check out kellymom.com for any breastfeeding questions. It was a godsend during the early weeks/months for me. The forums are great for any personalized questions. Wishing you a wonderful breastfeeding relationship!

    Reply

  37. Becca says

    Congrats on the arrival of beautiful baby Clara! I’m sorry to hear about her difficult delivery (our 7mos old baby girl entered the world in a very similar fashion), but isn’t it incredible how quickly all of that fades away when you get to hold your beautiful, healthy, baby girl in your arms? Makes it all worth it! In fact, I’m almost ready to start trying to do it again (almost ;)

    Reply

  38. Clara says

    Wow! Clara? Cool, I am in good company.

    Congratulations John and Sherry, life has changed for you, and trust me it will be for the better. No DIY you’ve ever made is as impressive as this one.

    Welcome to the world little Clara, may you have a long, happy, healthy life.

    Reply

  40. Christina says

    She’s beautiful! Congratulations.

    I’ve always wanted to use the name Clara if I ever had a daughter. My husband however is set on the name Erin and if he agrees to go for another baby then I’m going to let him name it whatever he wants! It makes me happy to see the name Clara bestowed on your little angel. :)

    Reply

  41. Ami says

    Congrats :) She is adorable and I love the name Clara! PS where did the cute little blanket with the stars come from (second pic down)??

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hey Ami,

      The swaddling blanket with the stars in the second pic is from Aden + Anais, but we were lucky enough to receive them as a gift. We have a set of a few of them and they are our favorite blankets.

      -JOhn

  43. sue says

    Big congrates to you all
    shame it was a difficult birth, enjoy your baby, they grow way to fast.
    lots of luv from Australia.

    Reply

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