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.
Erin @ Domestic Adventure says
Congratulations, Sherry and John! I am so glad that your scary story had a happy ending. Clara is one gorgeous little girl.
Kelley says
Congrats!! She is beautiful! I just wanted to say that I love the name!! I was named after my mom’s maiden name (Kelley). How funny? Take care!
Emily says
CONGRATS!!! She’s beautiful! I had a placental abruption with our first daughter (but at 28 weeks) and had to have her right away via emergency C-section as well, and today she’s a perfectly healthy 14-month-old! It’s amazing to see how far medicine has come! Praising God for your beautiful blessing!
Elizabeth says
Congratulations! This is possibly the biggest (and best) D.I.Y. project you’ve started….except this one you’ll be constantly working on!
Em says
I squealed from my cube when I saw this. Congrats!
sarah says
congratulations! she is beautiful! i’m glad everything turned out ok. :) enjoy
Lark says
Congrats!!! She’s absolutely beautiful. Glad to hear you got through all the trials of birthing and are now on to the fun stuff!
Melissa says
How awesome for you both! She is beautiful! I’m glad to hear everyone is doing well. :)
Paula D says
What a great name for a lovely little girl. Can’t wait to read about your ideas for dealing with “kid clutter”. Congratulations!
Edna says
Congratulations!! Glad she is doing so well! She is beautiful!
Lacey (Laptops to Lullabies) says
Congratulations!!! Clara is a beautiful name, and she’s a beautiful little girl — probably the most eagerly-anticipated baby to ever be born into the blog world, too! I’m due in two and a half weeks, so I can’t wait to read about your adventures in parenthood.
malibou says
Congratulations! She is beautiful and I love her name. I believe there is an old wife’s tale about babies who come into the world in a big way are more mellow.
LCAinRIC says
what a beauty! congrats, petersiks :)
Sou says
Congratulations! She is beautiful!
Christie Tidd says
Congrats to you both! Her name is darling! I can’t wait to hear more about your story and your days and weeks ahead. It’s an amazing ride, parenthood is, so welcome!
Hannah says
Sooo cute- Congratulations! You’ll have to add YHL onesies to your shop now!
Anna See says
What a beautiful baby. Blessings to you and your wonderful family!
shalini says
Congratulations on the precious little one!
Bridget says
Oh my goodness!!! She’s beautiful!!!! Congratulations!!!!
Melissa M says
How exciting! So happy for the two of you (& big brother, Burger, of course)!
Mary Kath says
I’m so happy for you three… I mean four! HAVE FUN!
Nicole says
Congratulations! She’s gorgeous. Just had my first baby almost 4 months ago and all I can say is enjoy the journey! It goes by so fast.
Ingrid says
Congratulations!!! She is beautiful and so glad to hear that everyone is healthy and well. Take a little break to sit back and enjoy this precious time with her!
sarah says
Congrats! She is sooooo pretty!
Kara says
Holy cow! I was all, “It’s Tuesday! They said they’d post about their office project on Tuesday!” And then I saw the picture of Clara and my mouth fell open, for real. Congratulations! Placental abruption is like the No. 1 most scary thing to me at this point (28 weeks tomorrow). So glad everyone came through OK! She’s beautiful. Love the name.
Roeshel says
Aw! Congratulations Mom and Dad! She is precious! I’m go happy to hear that despite the complications, everyone is healthy! Welcome baby girl!
crystal says
She is beautiful! Congratulations!
Amanda @ Serenity Now says
Congratulations! She is a beautiful baby!!! I had an unexpected C-section with my first, and while it took me a few weeks to really feel 100%, it all turned out okay. Just be sure to ask for help when you need it. Enjoy your sweet new baby. :)
emily gamble says
SHE IS BEAUTIFUL! I’m glad all is well :)
Mónica says
Congratulations! You make an adorable family!!! Enjoy your new sweet baby! :)
Johnna says
Congrats Sherry & John!!! And welcome to your beautiful home sweet Clara! Your parents worked VERY hard to make it gorgeous for you!!!
I read through ALL 20 pages of posts to see if you’d already told us how your water broke and if all of your couches, beds, and car seats had survived! I am glad to know you were at the hospital when all this happened.
Your birthday story gave me chills and made me cry here at work! You guys are so blessed to have eachother and now your sweet girl!
Many blessings! I feel like I just gained a niece!
You guys are fantastic! Good luck and God Bless!
karina arellano says
Congratulations!I’m so happy that everything turned out ok. She’s Beautiful! Sending Baby Clara all my love.
Camilla {Hygge Nook} says
HUGE congratulations! Love her name.
Julie says
Ha, I knew it!
Welcome to the world, Clara….we are all so happy for you and your parents and your doggie.
sarah says
Yay! Gorgeous, fabulous, wonderful! So glad the family is doing well. And she totally looks like John in the pics:)
Courtney says
Congratulations!!!! She is an adorable little girl, and what a beautiful name you picked. Parenthood is such an adventure, and having such a tiny person placed into your care is such an awe producing feeling. You guys will do great, and I look forward to seeing all 3 of you grow! :)
cassie says
she is adorable! enjoy every moment…. before you know if you’ll be sending her on the bus to kindergarten! that’s what i am doing with my son next fall, and i just about cried when i saw your beautiful baby as all the memories of my 2 as babies came to me. it really does go by in the blink of an eye. and there is nothing in the world more challenging or more rewarding than being a parent. and no one will ever love you more than that little girl!
Megan says
Congratulations John, Sherry and Burger! What a sweet little lady with a beautiful name!
Jenski says
Glad that everyone is doing well and recovering after a scary experience! I don’t think bias has anything to do with it, that baby is BEAUTIFUL.
Tiffany S. says
Congratulations! She is soooo beautiful! I’m sorry you had such a scare but hopefully that will all be a distant memory soon. Her name is fabulous. Thank you so much for sharing her with us! Now get some sleep!
Jen R. says
Congrats! She’s beautiful! Love her name, too. I have a Claire.
Christa says
I find it astounding how much I care considering I am just one of a gazillion readers… but I am as pleased as can be that Clara is here and healthy, and that you all came through ok. She is beautiful and I wish you all kinds of wonderful as you get to know each other and as 3 (Burger counts!) becomes 4. <3 Welcome Clara!!
Dani says
She is gorgeous…I had tears in my eyes reading your post. I am so happy for both of you and can’t wait to see more of her!
Laura says
Congratulations! She’s gorgeous.
Caitlin says
Wonderful! Congratulations!!
Barbara Denowh says
Oh, congratulations! She is beautiful!
Clattie says
Congratulations Sherry, John and Burger!! She is beautiful!!
Krista says
Congratulations!! so happy for your family…life is forever changed and you will LOVE every minute of it.
Kelly says
OMG!! :o) I couldn’t believe what I saw when I opened YHL on my computer! I love Clara – she is beautiful! I am happy Sherry and Clara are okay and doing well. CONGRATS!
LG says
Congrats on Clara! I love her name! I very much look forward to all the new baby meets house tips and style because I will be entering this same phase this summer!