Since the day that we announced there was a bun in my oven, we’ve been getting comments and emails to request details about how our house is changing thanks to our growing family. And now that Clara is two months old (time flies!) we decided that it was high time we took some candid photos to show exactly how our home has changed thanks to all of the baby gear that we’ve accumulated thus far (and yes, we know it’ll only grow from here, so stay tuned to see how we deal with everything else as we go).
The following photos weren’t edited or cleaned up in any way- they’re actual snapshots. And you know what? We really like our house this way. It’s lived-in and casual and convenient and functional- all the things that we strive for when it comes to home decor. And the best thing about every single item is that we have a place for it when it’s not in use. And we’re thinking this is the key. So although all of these photos show you how things look when they’re out and about, they could all be tucked away if we felt the need to de-babify the house for company (although all of our visitors these days are here to see Clara, so they love observing her in her natural habitat).
So without further ado… the baby-tastic-keeping-it-real-a-day-in-the-life reveal.
This is what the bedroom looks like on the regular. We don’t make the bed anymore, ever. Well, except maybe if we’re having company (even then we sometimes skip it since we somehow have this “get out of jail free” card thanks to the whole you-have-a-newborn concept). And yes, Burger sleeps in until about noon so he can usually be found in bed next to some books that we’ve read to Clara earlier that morning. The cutest thing is that when Burger does finally drag his lazy butt out of bed he immediately seeks out his little sister…
… as demonstrated by this photo of Burger hunting down Clara, only to find her in her swing in the den (it actually gets moved back and forth between the den and the office, depending where we are).
See, Clara loves her Boppy Travel swing. It’s definitely her favorite “baby item” and it’s worth its weight in gold to us. We opted for a smaller and less expensive “travel swing” (which we use all the time, not just when we’re traveling). Thankfully, it has a smaller footprint. And amazingly, it comes in a very neutral color scheme that actually goes with a ton of the items in our house. That’s definitely not a necessity, but it’s always a welcome bonus. We actually hoped this swing could multitask as a bouncy seat of sorts, since you know we’d rather buy one item that can serve a few purposes. So while it doesn’t have a vibrating setting like most bouncers, it’s low to the ground and when the swing isn’t on it serves as a convenient non-vibrating bouncy seat-ish device (which is handy to set Clara in when we eat for example). Of course every baby is different – Clara’s cousin hates his swing and loves his bouncie seat – but we’re so happy that we didn’t bring in two items when we found one that does the job of two.
Oh and see that pink blanket folded over the back of the chair in the photo above? That’s for playtime/tummy time in the den. We’ve learned that it’s easier to keep two plush floor blankets around (one in the den and one in the office) so they’re always on hand wherever we are for some floor playing, neck exercising, rolling over, and ceiling staring. It’s amazing what babies like to do in their spare time.
Next we have the laundry…
The arrival of Clara has definitely meant that there’s more to wash and dry, but thankfully her clothes are all so small that we can cram about a million onesies into one energy efficient load. Of course we can’t wait to break out our cloth diapers (Clara is still a smidge too small for them) which will add even more to our laundry pile, but will make buying the Seventh Generation disposable dipes that we’ve been using a thing of the past. Wahoo!
The bathroom doesn’t always look like this, but every other day it does thanks to bath time. Clara LOVES bath time, and thanks to a tip from John’s sister (an expert mother of three) we don’t have to struggle to store a big hulking plastic baby tub since she recommended this yellow foam version from Target (which is so easy to squeeze out and store in one of the baskets in our open linen closet). It’s super cushy and comfy, amazingly inexpensive, and it’ll work for at least a year or so (when babies get bigger they can sit on them, which is how John’s sister washes her nine month old). Gotta love a $10 solution like that.
Here’s the other blanket that we always have on hand. This one lives in the office, but instead of being folded over the back of a chair when it’s not in use (like the one in the den) this one is pretty much always on the floor with some toys on it. It’s a great little station for Clara to play, put in some tummy time, and even sleep on occasion (sometimes with Burger curled up next to her).
And since one of us is always on Clara-duty while the other one is on blog-duty it’s also nice to have so much rug space for one of us to get down there with her and hold up a few toys while she smiles adoringly and tracks them with her big blue eyes.
The other thing to note in here is the Boppy on the sofa (we think it’s cute that it kind of looks like a C shaped pillow for Clara). Since I nurse anywhere and everywhere (the bedroom, the office, the den, the living room, the nursery, the sunroom, even the car…) I like to have it on hand, so it usually travels from room to room. But thanks to the soft blue color it pretty much fits into most of our spaces without looking too crazy. It’s certainly not a designer pillow but it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb (like some of that primary-colored kid gear would in our more subdued casa).
Next we have our much-loved Joovy Kooper stroller (we opted for one stroller that does it all from newborn to big kid age instead of having to purchase and store a number of different varieties). Thanks to daily walks around the neighborhood with Burger and Clara this thing gets a ton of action. And as we mentioned, all the items that you see in this post usually look just like this, but they do have a designated “stash spot” just in case we want to clean things up. And the stroller’s stash spot is actually the trunk of the car (we love that it’s pretty much always with us that way, but when we’re feeling lazy we don’t bother folding it up and just pop it in the sunroom instead). It definitely doesn’t blend in with the beachy white daybed, but it’s convenient and we have a two month old- so again, we’re happy to give ourselves a pass. Update: We later invested in a jogging stroller since our do-it-all-stroller couldn’t fill that function, but never bought/needed a snap n’ go stroller or an umbrella stroller, so it’s helpful to really consider what you’ll use before buying them all.
In the nursery it’s usually not too messy thanks to the big bin o’ toys under the bench (it’s so easy to pull things out and pop them right back in) but Clara has been LOVING her Bumbo so that has been making regular appearances in there. It was actually a hand-me-down from a friend, so we’re shocked/thrilled that it works so well with the colors in the room. And although it might look staged, that book in front of it was right there when we walked by to snap a pic. No funny business. If my memory serves me correctly, we were just in the middle of reading it when there was a spit-up incident that had to be tended to. Hence the half-read book…
We actually feared that the kitchen would explode once Clara joined the pack, but so far (since she’s not yet on solid food) we’ve just added three fun glass bottles by Weego and a small bottle drying rack from Target (she’s on an 100% momma’s milk diet, but on rare occasions I do pump just to be sure she’ll take a bottle). Many friends and family members warned us not to go crazy buying tons of bottles so we heeded their advice, and these three bottles have been all we’ve needed (actually we’ve probably only needed one so far). Oh and the reason we picked orange, blue, and yellow for the bottle colors were because we plan to use as much of our baby gear as possible for future bambinos, so gender neutral color choices seem to be more practical for the long haul.
So that’s how Casa Petersik has evolved thus far. And in case anyone’s wondering about our “stash spot” method, it was probably an extension of our “if everything has a place it’s easier to clean up and maintain the house on autopilot” theory. Therefore we devoted the small skinny cabinet right above the drying rack to bottles (and future spoons, sippy cups, and snack holders) while the Bumbo has a spot on the top shelf of Clara’s closet in the nursery. And just as the stroller can be folded up and tossed in the trunk of the car, the Boppy and the blanket on the floor of the office can easily be tossed into the closet in there on a moment’s notice. The foam bath mat gets wrung out and slipped into one of the baskets in the open linen closet while laundry can get folded and put away if we’re trying to tidy up. And since the swing is actually a travel swing it can be folded up and stashed in a closet (we’ve also been known to tuck it up on the shelves above the laundry behind the bamboo blinds so no one’s the wiser).
And of course we could make the bed if we felt the pressure. But lately we must admit that we’ve been loving the distinct lack of pressure around here. We’ve always been cool with imperfection (which is why we paint paneling instead of removing it and make our own DIY art instead of springing for the good stuff by the pros) but having a baby has been pretty great for hammering home the fact that a happy home is a lived-in and loved home… especially when it’s so functional that it buys you more time to hang out as a family.
Note: None of the makers of the baby gear that we’ve mentioned above have paid or perk’d us in any way- they’re just items that Clara has grown to love, so we’re happy to share the goods.
Cheryl says
As a mother of three grown children and grandmother of 4, I like the unmade bed and your philosophy behind it! Being moderately practical and organized saves energy but addiction to perfection consumes it. I’m just leaving to babysit my youngest grandson, 4 yr old,and we “plan” to be messy and comfortable but we’ll clean up a bit right before Mom comes homes! enjoy….
joan says
best baby bathtub ever = your kitchen sink. it works until about 18 months and you don’t have to strain your back or bend over. also works to wash small dogs ;)
soft baby skin gets slippery and it’s hard to be on your knees leaning over and holding a baby and soaping them up. right now she’s not too wiggly but it’s harder as they get wigglier.
i have the cutest pics of my now 13 year old in the sink blowing bubbles.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Joan,
Alas, we have a double sink, so it’s not big enough for baby bath time. But we’ve heard it’s an awesome place to wash bambinos if you have the extra room!
xo,
s
Kelley says
Funny about the boppy – when I saw it on your couch my first thought was “awww, what a cute ‘C’ pillow.” :)
Amy Wolff says
LOVE the baby gear ideas… Pregnant with my second. Wish I found your blog before I got married and bought our house. My husband wants to KILL me because he comes home everyday and I have a new idea. He says I am YHL addicted!!!
Sooooooooooo… just wondering??? When are you going to post about the updated sunroom??????
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Amy,
We can only handle one room makeover at a time so we’ll tackle and share the sunroom transformation soon (after the big office reveal). Stay tuned!
xo,
s
Kristen G. says
Thank you for posting this! I was really wondering what your house looked like when not in “show” pics! Still very cute ofcourse!
Robin says
So I was just wondering what you guys did with the space where Sherry’s West Elm desk was. When I saw the picture of Clara’s swing it made me wonder. Thanks. Love your site!!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Robin,
My desk is actually still in that corner (it’s handy for letter writing and weekend laptop surfing) and eventually we think it’ll make a great art and homework for Clara! Hope it helps.
xo,
s
Caroline @ The Feminist Housewife says
I love seeing all the cute girly things!! I think it makes your house look even more happy & beautiful!
Emily says
Some friends of ours have an 8 month old and they swear by the same foam bath mat that you have. We also plan to get one when our little guy makes his appearance in December. I like that the button in the center of it tells you if the water is too hot which also eliminates the need for any other bath thermometer gadgets.
Stephanie D says
It’s nice to see how great you’re doing! You all look happy and its nice to see the cute baby things in your house. :)
Cindy @ The Flipping Couple says
Love the photo tour! Thanks for sharing candid photos. And I never make the bed either…when I leave the room in the morning I typically won’t see it again until I’m crawling in, so what’s the point??
sammyw says
love the tips, it’s refreshing to see a family only get ‘the basics’ instead of cluddering the home with unnecessary baby items! way to go!
Alicia says
We opted not to buy one of those bulky bath tubs too. We have a small house and no room for something like that! We roll up one of our towels and lay it in the bottom of the tub. Our son is almost 2 and he still lays down for a bath on the towel and when I’m done, he sits up and plays on it. My mom can’t believe he is still willing to lay down for baths. I guess as long as you keep doing the same things, they don’t know any different! Thanks for sharing this post. Y’all are awesome!
Loren says
I was just thinking last night ‘I wonder if YHL will do a ‘baby update’ soon?’.
Claire is adorable.
Your house is too.
I love your ‘stash place’ motto, I try to live by one myself. But, I don’t think I’m as good at it as you guys. Also the Boyfriend and I disagree about ‘stashing places’ sometimes. He thinks dirty clothes can be stashed on the floor. I disagree.
Jessica @ How Sweet says
She is so tiny and adorable! Your house looks better than many I see with baby gear everywhere. :)
Jennifer says
Thanks for showing off some of Clara’s gear!
Kate says
Robin – I’ve seen them mention before in other comments that they actually left the desk there so that they could use it for recreational laptop time, writing letters, and eventually when Clara gets older.
Kate says
I don’t even have a baby and I wish I could keep our apartment this clean! Our’s always looks like a tornado just rolled through because my husband tends to mess it up while I’m at work and then I’m too tired (and lazy) to clean once I get home.
Rachel says
We don’t have any kids yet, but all of this is great practical info. Not to mention I have been curious about your adjustment to parenthood! As usual for your blog, you guys have such smart solutions for everything, and you have such a great attitude. I love the relaxed look for your house too!
Sarah says
I’m not having a baby anytime soon, nor am I married but I really enjoyed this blog post and feel prepared for a baby does come into the picture!
I have to ask then, did you have a baby shower? I too want to go the minimalist route but I’m afraid I’d get overloaded with presents that I’d just be giving away later, that is if someone were to throw a surprise shower… it’s nice that you took the time to buy each essential item and put some thought into how it would look/feel in your house and how little C would enjoy it and/or benefit from it.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Sarah,
My lovely family and friends actually threw me two showers! But everyone seems to know that we love keeping things simple and that we also love being green so anyone who opted to forgo the items on our registry (which just had a few of these items like the swing, the bottles, an organic changing pad for the dresser in our nursery, the stroller, etc) offered us something fun and organic (like clothes, blankets, etc) which always come in handy – and are a lot easier to store than a ton of giant plastic toys or unrequested bouncy seats!
xo,
s
Yolanda says
My daughter just turned three and seeing this post brought back so many memories. After you have a child, it’s amazing how quickly your need for certain things emerge and then vanish. The bumbo was *such* a valuable tool for us, but within four months it was useless, as she learned to sit on her own. Such is the growth of a child in their first year. I’m anxious to see how things change for you when clara becomes mobile. For me, that was the big game changer. I had to make big changes to the way I decorate for practical reasons.
Leigh Anne says
This is such a wonderful post! Everyone loves to get decorating ideas from picture-perfect rooms, but it can sometimes be frustrating when you feel your house isn’t up-to-par. Thank you for showing your “real” house – lived-in and lovely!
cait says
love how real you guys are! and love how you threw tips in there on how to raise a baby on much less! The glass bottles are genius and what a great tip to think-ahead on gender neutral colors! little Clara is such a cutie!
Caryn says
Yay for reading to Clara right away! She’ll love books more with these habits started early. If you ever need some ideas on great books, check out http://www.vintagechildrensbooksmykidloves.com/ She’s a great resource for awesome books.
Jamie says
Robin, I think the desk is still there! If you look closely in that picture you can just see the bottom of one leg of it.
sumaya says
i wanted to ask you about the stroller- i too am looking for one that lasts all the way through rather than getting a huge bulky travel system and then have to buy another ”umbrella” style one. my question about this particular stroller is – is it ok for new borns straightaway or does the car seat click on to the stroller for use in the first 3-6 months or so?
Abbey says
LOVED this post. My husband and I will be registering in the next few months (Baby numero uno will be here in Feb). I’ve been looking for baby gadgets that last longer than one “stage” and/or will multitask to cut down on expenses and space issues. In addition to the ones listed here, are there any other multitasking/longlasting baby items that you’re glad you registered for?
YoungHouseLove says
Abbey- We also registered for and received a Fisher Price booster seat instead of a highchair after many moms (including one in this post’s comment section) recommended them for saving space. They still offer the same support and the tray and everything, plus it can be securely clipped to a chair that you already have (so you don’t have to cram it around the dining table in addition to all of your existing chairs). Hope it helps!
Sumaya- Yup, with the addition of a baby insert (called a Snuzzler) we’ve been able to use the stroller since Clara was a newborn because it reclines (we were out walking around the neighborhood by week two!). Clara loves it!
xo,
s
Sunny's Life in Rehab says
YAY, you’re going with cloth diapers! We did nothing but with all three, and you’ll find they’re an absolute breeze.
I love that you showed us the real Casa Petersik after baby, but honestly guys, even with boppies and blankies, it still looks just marvelous.
Ashley says
I must say it is nice to see pictures of your house looking “lived” in. I always wonder when I see all of your great pics if your house is always in such order. :)
Karla says
I’ve been wondering how things looked in your home. I’m super interested to see how this evolves as Clara gets older. I have a 16 month old daughter and a small home. We have found that an entire section of our living room has become her play area. I can stash some toys in bins but the larger ones pretty much need to stay out as there isn’t a place for them (musical table, riding toys, etc.). I keep trying to figure out how to stash them and then I remember that this is such an important developmental time for her and she deserves to have her own space even if it is splashed with large brightly colored toys!
Love the bed – same thing in our house. I always made it everyday and then became a mom and now I just pull up and straighten the covers.
Yuliya from www.shesuggests.com says
Okay so here is what I’m thinking…you two need to start putting together retreats or teaching weekends where the rest of us schlobs can learn to be just like you, there can be different workshops “how to decorate” “how to be thrifty” “how to fit baby gear into your life” “how to start awesome family traditions”…basically everything you do on your blog but LIVE…or a tv show..what do you think? I love everything, keep up the hard work!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha Yuliya. That would be crazy. We’re thinking we’ll stick to what we know best: blogging. Besides, we’re shy and awkward in person!
xo,
s
Grace Hester Designs says
I totally agree on the “lived in” look without sacrificing good design. It’s alright to have toys strewn around – but maybe invest in well-designed toys and house them in a nice modern toybox. Then they become part of the “lifestyle” vs a staged room.
Thanks for sharing this post – as a mom of two young ones, I think we need to be realistic with how our home can get a little messy but on the same note, there’s no reason that you cannot inject a little style into the space. :o)
Also, I see the family keepsake print on the wall! Woo Hoo!
Erin says
Looks great and I totally agree with not buying all the primary color baby stuff. Most of our baby items fit right tin with out decor.
Now what I am looking forward to seeing is how you deal with all the items around the house when Miss. Clara is on the move. Things like the vases and items on the coffee table. As soon as my son started to belly crawl at 7 months we had to put a chest (very cute woven one from target that we use to store toys) in front of the fireplace because he was obsessed with trying to get in there and no amount of “No” was working. He loves to explore every nook and cranny. Now that he is walking…it is an adventure.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Erin,
We’re looking forward to sharing how we adjust to the mobile-Clara stage too! We plan to learn as we go and spill everything on the blog as she grows. Stay tuned…
xo,
s
Mrs Soup says
I have loved seeing this and can’t wait to watch as it molds your life! Babies are so wonderful and it’s great to see that your “every thing has it’s place” has adjusted to the new life but still been wonderful. And really, that is awesome. Slowly, very slowly, I’m trying to get our house to that point as well.
KKM says
One thing I wish I had known when I had my first is to not bother with a highchair. She wound up sitting in a Fisher-Price booster seat (attaches to chair, has a tray) in our kitchen most of the time. My son used it too! Wish I hadn’t spent all this money on a fancy high chair that took up a lot of space!
YoungHouseLove says
KKM – That’s actually advice we got from John’s sister so we got a Fisher Price booster seat too. So small and easy to store!
Blair – Sweet! We’ve been lening it up to dry that way since the first use when we realized it dries a lot faster that way. Yay! Thanks for the tip!
xo,
s
Holly says
As a fellow nitnick/organizer/minimizer and future parent, it’s great to see that baby stuff doesn’t have to take over the house.
Christy says
Definitely my favorite post from you guys ever! Your home is beautiful in all of your previously posted home photos, but these are just emanating life, love, happiness, and fun! I would feel so much more comfortable in your home while in this state versus any other. LOVE IT! Thanks for posting!
Christy says
& YAY for breastfeeding!!!
Emily @ The Happy Home says
i love that photo of burger staring at clara– you can totally tell he’s both confused by her and really determined to be with her as long as he can!
that being said, we don’t have a 2 month old, and we never make the bed, either…
Blair says
Here’s a goofy tip with the foam bath liners (that I learned when I gave it to my sister for a shower gift): Once you wring it out, store it upright (as if the little foam cut-out baby was standing up) to reduce the growth of mold, mildew, and other yucky stuff. The water will naturally go down to the bottom as it dries rather than sit stagnant if you were to lay it down flat. You may already know this, but I figured a healthy Clara is a happy Clara! :)
Megan says
Our first baby is coming in early 2011 – i plan to cloth diaper as well and am trying to gather all the research i can on the different types/brands. What did you guys end up going with?
Also, i’ve heard fantastic reviews on the new bathtub made to fit ANY sink – the puj tub – which takes away the bent over on your knees factor. plus it hangs to dry! check it out!!
how does clara take to the lifefactory bottles?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Megan,
Here’s a post with info about the cloth diapers we’re going with. We’re so excited about them. And as for the Lifefactory bottles, Clara took to them right away. We introduced about one a week starting at four weeks and she downed four whole ounces on her first attempt. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Laura@JourneyChic says
The timing of this article couldn’t be more appropriate! We brought our son home from the hospital on Tuesday and our living room’s focal point is no longer the fireplace – it’s the pack n play in front of it! I never thought we’d have a stainless steel trash can and hamper in the living room. The space is definitely no longer my own, but it’s for a good cause. :-)
Heather @ Side of Sneakers says
I’m ashamed to say that your house is 1,000 times cleaner & more organized than mine, I do not have a newborn to use as an excuse. ;)
Maggie says
Great baby ideas! Can you show the link to the video of your new york studio apartment? I couldnt find it on the site..Im about to move into a studio apartment and would love some ideas. Thank you!
TG says
Clara is so adorable and getting so big. Enjoy her every moment you can. Your casual comfort style will serve your family well. We’ve been doing casual comfort for 19 years. Even as a teen, my son is still lounging with his gear around the house. There is always going to be gear. it’s the type of gear that changes.
jes says
Thank you!! Being the mother of a 2 year old and a 11 month old you don’t know how much I appreciate the “real” look at your house. Honestly, I make the bed about twice a week, there is always a toy underfoot, despite the fact that I JUST put that away… It makes me feel better that even those with the “perfect-looking” home, can’t keep it magazine perfect all the time. Oh, and the foam bathtub thingy worked perfect with my two as well!
Dana @ House*Tweaking says
What an honest post! I absolutely love it. Maybe because I have a young family too. Aren’t lived-in, comfy homes just the best? And I totally agree with your philosophy. I don’t mind toys, messes and baby gear…as long as they have a place out-of-sight to stay when I want them to.
And going out on a tangent here…I noticed you have a shower curtain liner in your bathroom. May I ask what kind? I just detest those fumey, carcinogenic ones. I assume you have a greener version and would appreciate any advice. As of now, we don’t use one in our boys’ bathroom (they still take baths so it doesn’t matter) but it would be nice to have a liner in there for guests’ showers.
Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Dana- It’s an extra long fabric liner curtain from Target. No fumes! Plus it’s washable so it lasts forever without the mold and mildew issue. Hope it helps!
Maggie- Here’s that link for ya: https://www.younghouselove.com/blast-from-the-past-part-1/
xo,
s
CarMaj says
I have to stop reading your blog – I keep putting things on our baby registry! Thanks for all the great info – it’s really helpful to hear all the things you really need in the first few months…. and I can only hope that our house will look as great as yours!
Susie says
Your house looks even more lovely with Clara’s baby items in it! And of course you still make everything look stylish and tackful. I really don’t like it when people have every baby item/toy ever made lined up in each room and taking over everything!
I agree with you that the bath sponge is the best! I acutally have one for the tub and one in the kitchen that I lay baby on when I am cooking, doing the dishes, etc. He likes to be right in the action and since it has the edges on it, I don’t worry about him rolling off.
alice says
be careful! i heard the bumbo was recalled…not that i want to be the baby party pooper :(
YoungHouseLove says
Alice- Our Bumbo is a-ok, not to worry! They just warn parents not to place it on anything other than the floor (like the kitchen counter for example) so we’re sure to keep Clara and her Bumbo on the rug in her bedroom. Hope it helps!
LM- Oh no! Never while it’s moving! Ahhh! I just mean that if we’re meeting family at a restaurant I’ll “top Clara off” in the air conditioned car before we go inside.
xo,
s
LM says
Ok, now you’ve got me curious about the whole “nursing in the car” thing. You certainly don’t seem like the type of parents to nurse a baby in a moving vehicle, and with temps in the high 90s lately, I can’t imagine nursing a baby in a stationary one either….