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.
Amanda - Small Home Big Start says
Wow! Congratulations! She is gorgeous and the photos are great. Especially of big brother Burger standing guard. This is such an exciting time for you. Enjoy it :)
s leigh says
SHE IS SO CUTE! And she looks so alert in that first pic!! If you guys need a newborn/family photographer, I’m local to you, and Ill be sure to hook you up for all the home improvement help you’ve given me over the past year! ;)
Helen says
WOW! She is beautiful! Congrats congrats!! All the best to you all!
michelle says
Congratulations! She is beautiful and I love the name.
Miranda says
She’s beautiful. Congratulations! Prayers for you as you recover from your c-section. My recovery from the first one was awful, so make sure you rest, rest, rest!
Natalie S says
Congratulations, she is sooo adorable!!
Kate says
Congrats to the both of you! She is beautiful, and I LOVE her name!!! :)
Katie says
Congratulations! Clara is sooo adorable! Btw, I just recently started following your blog. My husband and I are remodeling our house room by room and your blog was just the motivation that we needed to get ready for our first baby arriving in July :) Thank you!
Tashia D says
She is gorgeous! Congratulations!!
Michelle says
Congratulations! She’s beautiful! Now if only I’d picked my daughter’s birthday in the baby pool… :-(
Melissa M. says
She is beautiful! Congrats!
Brandi says
Beautiful girl. Congratulations!! Enjoy every moment, they go by so very quickly. Looking forward to “watching” her grow ;) Have fun.
Kylene says
Congratulations! She’s gorgeous!
layersofmeaning says
Absolutely adorable! Congratulations to both of you!
Jessica says
Congratulations!
Donna says
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Glad to hear that mom and baby are doing fine, especially after that scarey drama. She’s beautiful, and so lucky to have loving wonderful parents.
Enjoy your time as new parents.
Susan @ Simply Suz says
Congratulations! My dad celebrated his birthday on the 14th & he’s a pretty wonderful guy, so I’m sure Clara will be a pretty wonderful little lady (not to mention beautiful).
Jenny says
She’s BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! Congratulations!!! You guys had us totally tricked though! I saw the Twitter post that said that you guys forgot to go to the farmers market over the weekend, and figured that you definitely had not had the baby yet! I hope that all four of you are doing well :-)
Chelsea says
Congrats to all of you! She’s stunning and so alert.
cbb says
Congrats from Ireland!
Amanda says
Congrats!! But I am officially depressed. I was due before you (yesterday) with my 3rd baby for crying out loud and she is still snug inside me. oh, well. :) enjoy her!
Reenie says
CONGRATS SHERRY & JOHN!!!!
She’s beautiful. Love the pic with Burger standing over her.
:)
Tammy says
Congratulations and blessings to your family!
kim says
She is gorgeous! Congratulations!!!
Kristen @ Miss Prissy Paige says
What a doll! She’s adorable, congrats!
Anna Davis says
So happy for you guys! She is precious! Burger looked like a very proud big brother! :) Hope recovery goes by fast Sherry! You and John look so happy!
Jody says
Congrats to all four of you!
She absolutely adorable!
melissa says
~absolutely beautiful~she is a charmer!..looking happy momma! c-section face and all!..i can relate! and proud daddy too..best wishes being sent your way!
Lauren (in PA) says
Congrats! She’s beautiful! I love how dogs instantly know their baby’s are theirs to protect!
Brandy G says
A-DOR-ABLE!!! She’s an absolute doll! congrats to you both :-) Hugs from NoVA
Jeanine says
Congratulations!!! She’s beautiful. So happy to hear she is healthy and everyone is doing well.
sherry mcvicker says
Congratulations! She is beautiful and I love the name!
Carol N. says
Congratulations! This is my favorite project so far hands down! Seriously, she is beautiful and I wish you many, many years of joy.
Hima says
Congrats new parents! Clara looks awesome.
Enjoy the happiness and the sleepless nights that come with it.
Regards,
Hima.
Chennai, India.
Rebecca says
Hooray!! Welcome, sweet Clara!!
Jamie says
Aaahhh, she’s adorable! So glad to hear everyone’s doing okay now. Enjoy yourselves!
Erin T. says
Congratulations! What a surprise she must have been for you, since you were both expecting a longer pregnancy! Have fun with your little girl!!
Lindsey says
Congratulations – she’s beautiful!
Kelly says
Wow! Congratulations!! I am so happy for you. She truly is beautiful!
Kristal says
Congratulation Sherry and John! She is absolutely beautiful and so alert for being so young! I love her name as well – very classy. :)
Sherry – I’m sorry you had such a scary birth experience. I hope you are recovering well. Were you planning on a natural birth? I hope you take some time to process through what happened. Someone once told me that it’s OK to be unhappy with your birth experience, even though you are over the moon with your baby. I needed to hear it at the time, so I just thought I’d pass on the thought. :)
Much love, guys! Cuddle her close!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kristal,
I had prepared for a natural labor because many of my relatives had such speedy deliveries that doctors thought it was best that I be ready in case labor came very quickly. I tried to always keep an open mind though and remind myself that there are certain things about childbirth that cannot be controlled, so I mentally prepared myself that as long as baby P and I were alright, I would be thrilled. You’re so right about labor curveballs throwing you for a loop, but we honestly couldn’t feel more blessed to have a healthy baby here at Casa Petersik.
xo,
s
Hilary says
Congratulations!! Baby love is the best love of all.
Kayt says
Ahh so cute! Congrats on a happy, healthy baby! I just want to squeeze her! I can’t stop using exclamation points!
Kristy says
Oh Sherry, I’m so glad you and Clara are both okay! That must have been scary! Thank goodness for modern medicine and getting to the hospital in the nick of time.
I’m so happy for y’all! She is gorgeous! And I love all the thought that went into her name. Also, y’all are extra sneaky, with all the posts going up and not a hint of “well, we’re going to the hospital” to be seen! I knew you were scheduling posts, but still. Very, very sneaky. =)
Congrats, again!
Jenny says
Congratulations!!!
What a little cutie, and such a beautiful name! Glad you’re all doing well and Burger accepts her!
Enjoy your little lady!
julie K says
Congratulations to the entire family! She is magnificent. Like many others I loooooove the name Clara. My engagement and wedding rings belonged to my husband’s great-grandma Clara. Her daughter and grandchildren (my husband’s grandma and parents) suggested that he use her rings when he proposed because she was a creative woman who was constantly working on her house and being crafty. So I find the link incredibly cute and heartwarming . Many blessings for a quick recovery for Sherry!
Candi says
Congrats on baby Clara!! She’s gorgeous!!
KVB says
Congratulations!! She is beautiful! Thank you for sharing with us!
Amber says
First, she is SO wonderful! Congrats!!!
Second, I can’t believe you are still posting so regularly!! Please be sure to get plenty of rest and plenty of snuggles from your babe!
Having no children yet, I can’t imagine the life changes you’re going through, but if it was me I would want a rest, at least a nice long nap (if you can have those with a new born in the house?)
Vonnie says
Oh my God, Clara’s birth sounds terrifying for you both – I hope you’ve recovered from the fright and are enjoying your time together. Congratulations to the three of you on your new family state, she’s what we like to call in Scotland ‘a wee stoater’!
xx
Katie O says
Congrats you two! So happy for you both on the newest addition to your beautiful family. She is adorable.