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.
Darby says
Oh my heavens… what an ordeal! But what a blessing that she is here and healthy! Congrats to you both… she is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rachel E. says
Congrats! That photo of just her feet in the blankets is wonderful! You’ve gotta frame that one!
Amanda says
Oh my gosh you guys! She’s adorable! You are so good at revealing surprises!
Enjoy spending time with your new little blessing! Congratulations!
Smitha says
Congrats Petesiks! Clara is beautiful and so glad to hear that everyone is 100% ok.
Amanda says
Oh my goodness!!! She is adorable!!!! I am so happy for you guys! Enjoy every single second of her!
Heather says
Clara is so darn cute! And I LOVE her name. And those pictures are to die for. And she’s just perfect! Congratulations y’all!!
Heather says
Congratulations! She is so cute :)
Joanne says
Congratulations! Glad everything worked out well. She really is beautiful – it’s not just beaming parents!
Never knew you were gone!
Anne says
Congrats you guys! She is absolutely precious.
Kylee says
Congrats! She’s precious and her name is so sweet! I love it when people use family names!
Shannon says
Congrats to you, John, & Burger! Clara is beautiful (and I love her name)! Enjoy every minute with her!
Amanda says
Oh, and I love the name!!!
Alicia says
Congratulations!
She’s beautiful, and those last two photos are simply stunning!!
candace says
*claps excitedly* I’m sooo happy to hear the wonderful news! I’m sending lots of well wishes from MN for healing (c-section, OUCH), cuddles and kisses. Once you get some time (ha!), fill us in on the how the cloth diapers are working for you – I am soooo interested in doing that when I try to start a little family of my own.
Cheers!
Tracey says
Congratulations! She is beautiful! I absolutely love her name :)
Laura says
CONGRATS! She is beautiful and I”m SO happy the Burger and the bean are getting along!!
Now, go take a nap :)
Julia says
Congratulations & good luck on your new chapter! As the mother of a 13 week old, I can tell you that the next few weeks and months will be VERY hard, harder that you could probably imagine, but it does get better (people aren’t lying about that “just get through the first 3 months/100 days” thing…)and even the darkest moments are totally worth it when you look at that perfect little face. Enjoy the ride!
Sheri says
Congratulations! What a cutie-pie!
Diana says
Congrats on the new addition!! I actually visited your website to see if there were any baby announcements! Was so happy to see that beautiful baby face.
Julia says
She is beautiful! Congrats! So glad Mom and baby are healthy!
Michelle says
She’s a keeper! Congratulations on the YHL baby! She is adorable. Enjoy this time…it goes by way to fast!
Lisa @ lists in my pocket says
Aaah so excited for you guys! Congratulations, Clara is beautiful!
Megan S. says
congratulations, john and sherry! love the name!
Kat says
Congratulations on your baby girl!! She is the nuts :) Have so much fun being parents! xo
Tara says
Congrats! Congrats! Congrats!
She is absolutely beautiful!
Diane Taylor says
OMG OMG how cute is she?????? Congrats to you both – and so glad everything turned out ok :)
2horseygirls says
Congratulations! She is just beautiful! And Burger looks like a very happy big brother.
By the time they offered me a c-section, I told them I would just pull myself down to the OR using the handrails on the wall – after 36 hours of labor, I was DONE! Glad to hear everything was handled quickly, and everyone came out of it happy and healthy!
Katie says
Congratulations! She’s adorable – and her name is too precious :) Enjoy!
Peggy says
Congratulations! She is absolutely gorgeous! Enjoy your precious daughter!
Becky says
What a beautiful girl! Congratulations!
Amanda@Reno366 says
Congrats to the three of you (burger included of course). She’s perfect! Love the name!
Rachel says
Mazel tov!
Bethany says
Yay! Congrats! When my daughter was born we went through some scary stuff too… which also led to a emergency c-section… but when you see their little face and their tiny little body it makes it all worth it, doesn’t it? I’d even volunteer for all the terror again if it meant I’d get to see my little one alive and healthy in the end.
Kristin Nicole says
Congratulations!
Rebecca says
So THAT’S the reason you folks missed the farmer’s market! Clara rocks and so do you two. Best wishes.
Corrie M. says
Congratulations! She’s beautiful:)
Nikki says
It’s SO funny that you posted this today, because I had the weirdest feeling all weekend that you had had your beanette ;) She is beyond gorgeous, congratulations to the both of you!
Christa M says
YEAHY!!!! Congrats to your family! I LOVE the first picture, she looks so alert and ready to begin her new life!
I’m glad to hear that despite the complications, things turned out great!
Enjoy your new lil one!
Mrs L says
I may have squealed a tiny bit at work when I saw that Baby P made her debut! Congratulations, she is beautiful! So glad she made it safe and sound. Enjoy this special time!
Kristin says
Congratulations!
Karen says
Congratulations, Clara is SO beautiful, healthy and big!! I started reading your blog a few months ago while at the hospital with my sister. She suffered a placental abruption with devastating consequences. To hear the same thing happened to you and that Clara was saved is truly a miracle. I know you will love that child with every breath you have,especially considering how lucky she is to be here with you!
Congrats!!!!
daisy says
She is beautiful! Congratulations to you both!
Laura says
Congratulations, she’s absolutely beautiful!
Marilyn says
Congrats you sneaky people. Hear I was thinking any day and the baby will come and what a surprise to read it was last Friday that she arrived. Enjoy every precious moment, when you turn around she will be grown. I should have gone with that date because I asked my mom when the moon changed and it was last week. Mother knows best.
Meg says
A huuuuge congratulations! She’s beautiful, and I love the name combo!! :-) And it’s such a relief that Burger is such a fan already. I must’ve had a hunch about it, I dreamt I had a C-section last night (and it was a girl) — and I’m not even pregnant!
Sarah says
I may have just had a fit of excitement with hand flapping involved here at work, thankfully no one was around. So happy for you!
Megan says
Congratulations! She’s beautiful! Can’t wait to see how your house continues to adapt to this new member of the family!
Meredith says
YAY!!! Best. Post. Ever. She’s adorable, congratulations.
mribaro says
I am so happy for you both, and that you’re all safe and sound! Two weeks ago I have delivered my second baby (a boy) and I feel so fulfilled and happy. Take maximum rest and enjoy your beautiful girl Clara!
Karla says
Congratulations! I love her name and the story behind it. Enjoy these precious first few weeks and months and don’t sweat the small stuff. I too ended up with an emergency c-section. Sherry – make sure you rest and give yourself time to heal!