The Second Time Around: What to Expect

Expanding Our Nest: Answering Your Burning Questions About Baby Bun #2!

Oh my goodness, you wonderful folks! Your curiosity knows no bounds, and we’re absolutely thrilled by the outpouring of questions since our little bun announcement. It felt like even more questions than when we shared the news about Clara being on the way! Diving into your heartfelt inquiries and sharing our journey has been an absolute joy, leaving us beaming all day. We couldn’t fit everything into one post without hitting novel-length, but here are many of the answers you’ve been waiting for. We have so much to be thankful for, and your incredible support is always at the top of that list.

Joyful parents-to-be, Sherry and John, smiling with excitement for their second baby.

Discovering the Gender: Will You Find Out and Do You Have a Preference for Baby #2?

After Clara’s incredibly challenging birth, our primary hope and prayer is for a healthy baby. It might sound like a cliché, but it rings profoundly true for us. The thought of a little sister for Clara is undeniably adorable, filling our minds with images of shared giggles and matching outfits. Conversely, imagining a baby boy is equally exciting, opening up a whole new realm of experiences we’ve yet to encounter. Personally, I have a strong feeling it’s a girl, but my intuition has been wrong before, so I’m holding that thought loosely! Our doctor relies on the detailed 20-week ultrasound for the big gender reveal, meaning we won’t know what’s cooking until November. We’re eagerly anticipating what we affectionately call “the half-time show.” With Clara, learning her gender was such a beautiful, exciting milestone amidst all the preparations, and we cherish that memory. Rest assured, the moment we know, you’ll know! In the meantime, it’s incredibly fun to indulge in the guessing game, pondering ten million possible scenarios, brainstorming names, and dreaming up nursery ideas in those quiet moments before sleep.

Is This New Arrival Your Long-Awaited Secret Project?

That’s a fantastic question, and while this precious baby was certainly a secret project in our lives for a while, it’s not the secret project we teased in our blogiversary pie chart. That particular endeavor is a separate side gig we’ve been passionately working on for over a year – and no, we didn’t account for “kid-time” in those graphs, so Clara’s care wasn’t factored in there either. Hilariously enough, our *other* secret project is also scheduled to come out this spring! The universe has a funny way of timing things, doesn’t it? We are absolutely bursting to spill those beans, but we’re waiting for the official green light. Perhaps in just a few more months, you’ll hear all about it!

A pregnant belly with a baby bump, symbolizing new life and anticipation.

Pregnancy Journey Comparison: How Has This Experience Differed from Your First?

This pregnancy has been quite different compared to my experience with Clara. With Clara, I never truly felt that overwhelming fatigue, but this time around, exhaustion has become a constant companion. Of course, I hear this is incredibly common, especially when you have a spirited toddler to keep up with! During my first pregnancy, morning sickness was predictable, typically striking between 8 and 10 AM and subsiding around 16 or 17 weeks. After a few rounds of “bowing to the bowl,” as I affectionately called it, I could usually eat something substantial – my favorites were baked potatoes or a bagel with cream cheese – and feel good for the rest of the day. This time, however, it’s been an all-day sickness marathon, which really threw me for a loop during the first couple of months. Now, I feel like I’ve become somewhat of a seasoned pro at navigating these perpetually nauseous waters. It’s a constant battle, but every moment of discomfort is a reminder that it’s all for the most wonderful cause. I’ve tried virtually everything: ginger candies, ginger gum, acupressure bands, and a combination of B6, B12, and magnesium. While some things offer fleeting relief, it seems this pervasive nausea is just part and parcel of growing this amazing little bun. Despite the challenges, it’s entirely worth it, though I wouldn’t be sad if it decided to wrap up before 17 weeks this time. Fingers crossed!

Future Family Planning: Is This Your Last Baby?

John and I have always approached family planning one child at a time, preferring to truly adjust to each new family member before making decisions about the next. So, while we can’t give a firm “yes” or “no” to a third child before we’ve fully adapted to being a family of four, we are both incredibly excited and deeply satisfied by the idea of our growing family. Our vision of a complete family currently involves two children, along with our beloved dog, Burger, making us a bustling family of five. It feels just right for now, and we’re cherishing every moment of this expansion.

Sherry, What Prompted You to Take a Pregnancy Test?

My earliest and most distinct symptom with Clara was an inexplicable dizziness, even when simply sitting on the sofa. So, when that familiar sensation returned this time, a little whisper in my mind wondered, “Could it be?” It was an incredibly exciting and surreal moment when the positive result appeared. I remember staring at the test for a full five minutes, allowing the reality of it to slowly sink in, a wave of joy and anticipation washing over me.

The Big Reveal: How Did You Tell John About the Pregnancy?

We had been trying for a little while, but I made a conscious effort not to drop any hints or create false hope, knowing how emotionally taxing that can be. Even when I started feeling dizzy, I resisted the urge to jinx it by saying “Dude, I’m totally preggy!” only to potentially face disappointment. So, I patiently waited until the morning to take the test. When it came up positive, I could hardly contain my excitement! I decided to create a little surprise for John. Around 9:00 AM, as I was working on a blog post, I called out, “Hey John, can you come look at this with me?” As he walked over, I subtly placed the positive pregnancy test on the keyboard, pointing to my computer screen. John leaned in, looking at the screen for what felt like an eternity, before slowly saying, “It looks good – waiiit a minute!” His eyes finally registered the test sitting there. He burst out laughing, I laughed too, and we shared a sweet, celebratory kiss. It was a truly memorable moment, filled with genuine surprise and overwhelming joy.

Sharing the News: How Did You Tell Your Parents and Family?

Just like with Clara, we decided to wait until after the first trimester to share the news with our parents and family. We prefer to receive that reassuring “safe to share” salute from our doctor. Plus, we absolutely love delivering such joyous news in person whenever possible. The perfect opportunity presented itself when everyone gathered at our house to celebrate John’s dad’s birthday. We had even managed to convince my mom (Nonna) to schedule her fall visit to coincide with the festivities, allowing us to tell almost all of our parents at once. For the actual reveal, we cleverly played off John’s family’s cherished “birthday crown” tradition. His mom always crafted paper crowns for them as children, a tradition that continues even into adulthood. So, in addition to making a crown for his dad, John thought it would be hilariously fitting to make one for me. His dad’s crown proudly proclaimed “Birthday Boy,” while mine announced “Pregnant Lady.” Initially, I worried if it felt like we were awkwardly “thunder-stealing” or hijacking his birthday. But then we realized that for our parents, there’s likely nothing more exciting than hearing they’re going to be grandparents again. So, we went for it, and it was absolutely awesome! John placed the crown on his dad’s head, and as we all clapped and cheered, he walked over to me and placed mine on my head too. The room erupted! Everyone went crazy with excitement and hugs. Nothing quite beats being surrounded by family, enveloped in so much love, and wearing a wonderfully wicked homemade paper crown.

John placing a 'Pregnant Lady' crown on Sherry's head, surrounded by cheering family.

Clara’s Reaction: How Did She Take the Big News?

We decided to tell Clara on the very same day we announced to our entire family. She’s such a wonderfully chatty little girl, and we worried she might accidentally spill the beans prematurely. It also felt unfair to get her incredibly excited about the news and then ask her to keep it a secret from everyone else. During the crown reveal celebration, she was happily playing with her cousins. So, moments after that joyous event, John and I took her aside and gently told her there was a tiny baby swimming around in my belly. I wasn’t entirely sure how she would react or how much she would grasp, but to our absolute delight, she was IN LOVE with the news! It was utterly adorable, and I, of course, cried like a baby. She immediately started rubbing my belly, putting her ear up to it, giving it sweet kisses, and asking the most endearing questions: “Is the baby getting her face wet? She might not like that! Is she being a good listener in there?” I was genuinely amazed by how much she “got it” and how deeply interested she became. Every single day since, she has talked incessantly about the baby, meticulously planning how she’s going to share her toys, be gentle, and hold the baby just like this (*she mimes gently cradling and rocking a doll*). She is going to be the most incredible big sister ever, and I’m already tearing up just thinking about it. Excuse me while I sob for an hour or two!

Clara, a sweet toddler, gently caressing her mother's pregnant belly with love and curiosity.

Clara’s Predictions: Does She Have a Guess on the Baby’s Sex or Name Suggestions?

Clara is quite convinced it’s going to be a girl, and her chosen name for her future sister is “Pom-pom Petersik.” We are highly amused by her creativity and the sheer cuteness of it, but we’re not entirely convinced that will be the official name on the birth certificate just yet! Her imaginative spirit always brings a smile to our faces.

Preparing for a Sibling: What Are You Doing to Get Clara Ready?

We’re gently introducing the idea of a new baby into Clara’s world through simple, natural conversations. We’ll mention things like, “This empty room will soon be the baby’s room,” or “When a baby is really tiny, it sleeps a lot.” We only bring it up when she asks or shows interest, ensuring it feels organic and not forced. Most importantly, I’ve been constantly reassuring her that she will always be my first baby, and my love for her is immense and unwavering. I emphasize that even when I need to feed the baby or hold the baby when it cries, I will always be loving her at the exact same time. My heart, I explain, is so big and full of love that it can easily encompass both of them. My deepest desire is for her never to feel displaced or like a “second fiddle.” I’ve heard from many friends who felt the same way during their pregnancies, which is comforting – it’s nice to know I’m not the only sniffly, hormonal one navigating these feelings!

Clara, a loving big sister-to-be, happily playing with her parents.

Baby Nicknames: Will the New Baby Also Be Called “The Bean”?

This little one seems to have affectionately earned the nickname “The Bun.” It feels perfectly fitting, especially since Clara still holds the beloved title of “The Bean,” and, of course, we have “The Burgs” (our dogs). So, “The Bun” delightfully rounds out our little family trio of nicknames. It’s sweet how these monikers naturally evolve and become part of our family’s unique language.

Due Date Details: How Far Along Are You and When Is Your Due Date?

With every checkup, the measurements they take seem to nudge the estimated due date a little one way or another. Additionally, due to complications I experienced during Clara’s birth, I won’t be able to carry this baby to full term. It’s highly probable I’ll be delivered about a week early, though the exact timing will be a final decision made much closer to the end of the pregnancy. As it stands, the best current guess is that I’m in my 13th week, and we anticipate welcoming the baby sometime around the middle of April. However, this could certainly continue to change as the baby grows and my health is closely monitored throughout the pregnancy. We’re staying flexible and trusting our medical team.

Naming the New Arrival: Do You Have Any Names in Mind Yet?

We tend to be drawn to names that carry personal or family significance. For instance, Clara was named after John’s grandmother, while her middle name honors my dad and my Great Aunt. So, a name belonging to a cherished family member or one that references something special to us is usually what catches our attention. We enjoy tossing out ideas casually in the early stages, just for fun, but we never truly pin anything down until we know the baby’s sex. Even then, our plan is not to lock in a final choice (or share our finalists) until we actually meet the baby. This approach allows us to feel out their personality. So, we’ll likely head into delivery day with two strong name contenders, and then, upon meeting our little one, we’ll confidently say, “Yup, totally a [chosen name]!”

Documenting Growth: Will You Continue the Weekly Photo Project?

Yes, absolutely! We would love to continue a weekly photo project with this baby, just like the one we did with Clara. It was such a treasured way to document her growth and create lasting memories. We’re still brainstorming whether we’ll replicate the exact same format – bright fabric backgrounds, a white onesie, a photoshopped week number, and a cute baby – or if we’ll come up with something fresh and new. We’ve toyed with ideas like placing the baby in, on, or around different everyday objects each week to naturally illustrate scale and growth, varying the background (e.g., in a cozy basket, on a little wagon, or nestled on a decorative pillow). Our only hesitation is whether we might run out of unique objects or if it would become too complicated to consistently execute. Regardless, we are definitely committed to doing something; we just haven’t quite nailed down the specifics yet. We’re excited to see what creative approach we land on!

A sweet baby in a highchair, part of a weekly photo project showcasing growth.

Due Date Synchronicity: Are You and Katie Bower Expecting at the Same Time?

That’s an interesting observation! Katie is due sometime in March, and I’m due around mid-April, so we’re actually about the same distance apart as we were last time (Will was April, Clara was May). It’s always incredibly comforting and helpful to have a friend navigating pregnancy symptoms and experiences at a similar time – we certainly sound like a fun bunch discussing swollen ankles and cravings, don’t we? I especially appreciate that she’s paving the way as she’s on her third child. I keep reminding her that she absolutely has to warn me about all the things I’ve likely forgotten since my last pregnancy! As for whether we planned it this way, I honestly don’t think we could have timed it if we tried! Both of us simply wanted to expand our families and had been trying, so ending up with such closely spaced due dates again was a complete and delightful coincidence. We each have other friends who are also expecting around that time, so it truly feels like there’s a little spring baby boom happening among our circles, which is just lovely!

Overcoming Trauma: How Did You Decide It Was Time After Clara’s Birth, and How Do You Manage Anxiety?

This is a deeply personal and significant question. Yes, my previous placental abruption was triggered by labor, making it safest for both me and this baby to avoid going into labor again. Therefore, I will be closely monitored throughout this pregnancy and will have a planned C-section when we determine labor might be impending. The delicate balance is crucial: we never want to deliver too early, necessitating extensive monitoring, but waiting too long and experiencing another abruption before delivery could be extremely dangerous for both of us. So, yes, it’s a somewhat complicated path, but I’m striving to have faith, appreciate this profound blessing, and constantly remind myself of the extraordinary medical team who saved Clara. Recognizing that I cannot control everything, and that stressing and worrying won’t solve anything, is also a crucial coping mechanism for managing anxiety. As for how I knew it was the right time to try again, I think we simply needed more time to heal, both physically and mentally. This baby will be four years younger than Clara, and putting that much space between her birth and getting pregnant again felt profoundly right for us. I was able to fully recover, process the trauma, and now, thankfully, the excitement genuinely outweighs the fear – something that definitely wasn’t true even a year ago. I’m still a bundle of nerves, as any expectant parent might be, but I also feel overwhelmingly thrilled and humbled to be pregnant again, and incredibly thankful for everything that’s going well so far. That’s truly all we can ask for.

Life’s Milestones: How Did This Pregnancy Align with Your Other Big Events?

The timing of this pregnancy relative to some of our other major life events, such as the book tour and our move, actually worked out quite nicely. Both the book tour and our move were successfully completed before I became pregnant. It was a wonderful bit of timing to already be settling into our new house when we received the fantastic news. While we certainly didn’t want to add pregnancy to the chaotic mix of our book tour, we still have incredibly busy months ahead of us. We’re currently writing our second book, working on the showhouse, and pushing forward with our “secret project” – with the latter two having deadlines within weeks of my due date! It’s certainly a juggle, but we’re doing our absolute best to plan diligently, get ahead wherever we can, and constantly remind ourselves of a piece of wisdom we received before Clara arrived: if everyone waited until they had an abundance of spare time to have children, it might be postponed indefinitely. Sometimes, you simply have to take the leap and carve out time for something as profoundly important as family. We believe in making time for what truly matters.

A Busy Year Ahead: Baby #2 and Book Baby #2 in 2014?

While that scenario sounds incredibly sweet and wonderfully chaotic, our second book likely won’t be released until 2015 or even 2016. Books take a surprisingly long time to write, edit, and publish! So, this new baby will definitely lap the book by a mile. We’re actually quite grateful for that timing. Touring with a newborn would most likely be a miserable experience for all parties involved – a little baby-travel can be fun and manageable, but embarking on 30 flights over just a few weeks might be a bit too much for a tiny human (and their tired parents!). We’re happy to keep those events separate for everyone’s sanity.

Conception Journey: Did It Take Longer to Conceive Your Second Child?

That’s a very common and personal question, and yes, it took us longer to conceive our second child as well! It seems to be a widespread experience among many of our friends and acquaintances, myself included. It’s comforting to know we’re not alone in that journey, and it often highlights the unique path each family takes to grow.

“Throwing Your Back Out” During the Oprah Shoot: A Euphemism for Morning Sickness?

No, that was definitely not a euphemism for morning sickness! I actually wasn’t pregnant then; it happened back in May when they were filming the Oprah segment. I genuinely threw my back out during some vigorous activity. I’m incredibly thankful that I’ve managed to navigate both a big move and the early stages of this pregnancy without experiencing that painful mishap again! It certainly taught me a lesson in careful movement.

Pregnant Sherry, smiling and relaxed, enjoying a quiet moment.

DIY During Pregnancy: Tips for Fellow Expectant DIY Lovers

For my fellow pregnant DIY enthusiasts, I completely understand the desire to keep creating while prioritizing safety. I was extremely careful during my pregnancy with Clara, and I’m following the same rigorous guidelines this time around. When it comes to painting, always opt for no-VOC paint with no-VOC colorants. Excellent choices include Olympic’s Premium line, Mythic, or Benjamin Moore’s Natura line – all are fantastic for minimizing harmful fumes. Always ensure you’re working in a very well-ventilated area. Beyond paint, I also seek out safer sealers; for example, Safecoat Acrylacq can be ordered online and is a wonderful baby-safe, non-toxic alternative to harsher, fumier products. These small changes make a big difference in ensuring a healthy environment.

If a project involves oil-based products, like spray paint, I take extra precautions. I either wear a high-quality respirator – and I mean a *real* VOC-blocking one, not just a flimsy paper mask – or I ask John to take over if it’s a more involved task. For some reason, wearing a respirator for extended periods makes breathing difficult for me while pregnant. It’s crucial to always check product labels or do a quick online search to confirm if something you plan to use (like Crazy Glue, for instance – hint, it’s generally not recommended during pregnancy!) is safe. I also completely skip any heavy lifting or super vigorous work. While I might typically enjoy climbing a ladder to prune a tree or spending five hours arching my back to paint ceiling beams when not pregnant, these types of jobs are immediately wait-listed until after the baby arrives. An important update: being exposed to lead paint is especially dangerous if you’re pregnant. You can find more comprehensive information on this topic here. Prioritizing your health and the baby’s health is paramount.

Blogging and Maternity Leave: Future Plans for Our Creative Endeavor

Predicting the exact future of the blog is tough because this journey has always surprised us – who knew we’d be here six years ago? However, at this point, we don’t have plans for external childcare or hiring additional blog employees. We’d be naive not to acknowledge that raising another child will absolutely require a significant re-balancing of our lives and responsibilities. Our hope is to continue to flexibly switch off with childcare, manage our DIY projects, handle post-writing, and juggle the rest of our work-at-home-parent tasks to the best of our ability. When Clara arrived, I didn’t take any traditional maternity leave; even with an emergency C-section, we didn’t miss a single post. We achieved this by writing many posts in advance and “stockpiling” content in anticipation of having a newborn. We plan to employ this strategy again this time around, preparing as much as possible. The truth is, two kids could be a total game-changer, and we might indeed need to make more drastic adjustments. But we’re committed to crossing those bridges when we get there. For now, we’re simply readying ourselves for the adventure, remaining open to all possibilities. It’s comforting to remember that we’ve successfully juggled a newborn before while both being full-time bloggers, so we know we can adapt and thrive.

Sherry and John, busy working on their blog, balancing work and family life.

Blog Content Evolution: Will Young House Love Shift Towards Lifestyle/Mommy Content?

Our site has always beautifully blended family moments with our core home chatter. From the very beginning, we’ve shared posts about birthday celebrations, exciting road trips, cherished anniversary traditions, fun trips to the fair, and various other random thoughts that make up our life. However, DIY and home improvement have always been our first love and the heart of our content. Therefore, we have no plans for Young House Love to transform into a dedicated “mommy/daddy blog,” especially since it didn’t take that turn when we welcomed Clara. We’ve found a comfortable balance over the past six years: a substantial slice of home-related content complemented by a smaller, more personal slice of family and random life updates. This general ratio reflects how we genuinely love to blog. While having another child is undoubtedly a huge, life-altering event in our small world, and it will naturally be woven into our home life narrative, we never foresee it overshadowing our core DIY focus. Our passion for transforming spaces and sharing creative projects remains as strong as ever.

Pregnancy Content: Where Will You Share Updates?

We’re planning to stick to the same successful formula we used for our pregnancy and birth journey with Clara. This means that DIY-related updates, such as putting the nursery together, or home-related kid content – like this post about what we bought to prepare for Clara’s arrival or this one about living with kid stuff everywhere – will continue to be shared here on our main blog. We’ll also feature other “meaty” life and family posts, such as Clara’s birth story, our adventures in cloth diapering, and my experience with 14 months of breastfeeding. Meanwhile, quick little updates, short videos, and snapshots about the pregnancy and having a newborn will most likely live over on Young House Life. We envision that site as a sort of family photo and video album, a perfect place for those brief clips and quick, sweet stories.

Nursery Excitement: Any Hints or Mood Boards for the New Room?

Oh, we are incredibly excited about planning the new nursery! However, I think we’ll follow the same approach we took when I was pregnant with Clara: we’ll wait until we know the baby’s sex before we really dive into designing and preparing the room. This strategy also brings me a lot of peace of mind, as I don’t want to feel like I’m “jumping the gun” on anything, especially since this pregnancy isn’t guaranteed to be entirely smooth. By waiting a little while longer, we can casually kick around ideas, gather inspiration, and give ourselves ample time to gear up and fully immerse ourselves in the nursery project closer to my due date. The anticipation is part of the fun!

Pregnancy Cravings: Any Unusual Desires This Time Around?

Funnily enough, many of my cravings are exactly like last time! Baked potatoes are still high on the list, offering that comforting, starchy satisfaction. And then there are the classic pregnancy stereotypes: salt and vinegar chips and, of course, pickles. I simply cannot help it; I’m a total stereotype with the pickles. The tang and crunch are irresistible!

That Beautiful Fabric: Where Did You Find It?

Ah, the fabric from the background of our photos on Wednesday! We absolutely adore it. We discovered that gem at a local fabric outlet called U-Fab. It was an incredible deal, marked down from $27 a yard to just $7.99 a yard – we were so excited we even shared it on Instagram here. It’s a beautiful print by Braemore, and it’s called “Pomegranite.” You can likely find its listing on U-Fab’s site. We’re currently contemplating where to use it, either somewhere here in our new house or possibly in the showhouse. It was simply too good of a deal to pass up, and we can’t wait to incorporate its vibrant pattern into a space.

Sherry’s Driving Update: Are You Back Behind the Wheel?

Oh yes, I definitely owe you all an update on that! I have indeed been driving! John is still our primary driver, mostly because he genuinely enjoys it and knows all the best shortcuts. However, I now occasionally run errands on my own, and I’ll gladly switch off with John on longer road trips to give him a well-deserved break if he’s feeling tired. I’ve always maintained my driver’s license, continuously renewing it even during my six years in NYC when I relied exclusively on the subway. So, it really just took a little bit of practice to get back in the saddle, so to speak. It feels good to have that independence and flexibility again, especially with a growing family.

Keeping the House Quiet: Tips for Naps with a Barky Dog?

Right before Clara was born, my sister-in-law gave me a piece of invaluable advice: never tiptoe around a sleeping baby. She confidently shared how she would vacuum directly under all three of her kids’ cribs while they slept blissfully. And honestly, there really does seem to be something to that approach. We’ve been actively DIYing while Clara sleeps – and yes, Burger has had his random barking fits – pretty much since we brought Clara home. While I’m sure some of it is simply nature and some is nurture (meaning it might not work for every child), Clara has grown up to be an incredibly solid sleeper through all the household chaos. To help, we do use a sound machine in her room, which effectively blocks out some of the hammering or barking noises. We also have light-blocking curtains in there, as she does seem to prefer total darkness, even if there’s a bit of banging in the background. It’s all about creating a consistent, albeit not perfectly silent, sleep environment.

Cloth Diapering for Baby #2: Will You Reuse Your Supplies?

Yes, absolutely! We have all of our cloth diapering supplies – our beloved Bum Genius diapers and our sprayers – and we fully plan to reuse them once the new baby is big enough, just like we did with Clara. I believe it took Clara about 2-3 months to grow into the one-size-fits-all diapers, but then they lasted her for years until she was fully potty trained. We believe all of them are still in good enough condition to be reused, though we’ll need to double-check them thoroughly since they’ve been packed away for several months. We certainly don’t mind picking up a few more if we find we need them. These cloth diapers truly pay for themselves a hundred times over in savings, making them an excellent choice for our family.

Nesting Instincts: Are You Feeling the Urge to Nest Yet?

I don’t think I’ve hit the full-blown nesting stage just yet. I’m certainly making lots of lists, and I definitely have a million things I’d love to accomplish before the baby arrives. However, I’m not quite in that “emptying every cabinet and scrubbing it like a maniac” phase yet – that typically kicked in around 35 weeks with Clara. I anticipate that surge of intense organizational energy will arrive closer to the due date, and I’m ready for it when it does!

To-Do List Adjustments: How Does Pregnancy Impact Your Home Projects?

Well, the pregnancy has certainly bumped the nursery project right to the top of our to-do list! Generally, we’re still very focused on settling into this house and understanding how it works for our now-growing family. Consequently, we’re not planning any major kitchen or bathroom gut renovations before the baby comes, especially since we’ll only have been in this house for a few months. We typically prefer to live in a space for over a year before tackling those extensive projects. However, we’ll keep ourselves nicely busy with non-gut renovation jobs like setting up the nursery, adding built-ins to the bedroom and the office, and continuing to work on the living room, guest room, and dining room. Alongside these, we’ll also tackle some interim updates in the kitchen and bathrooms before those bigger, down-the-road renovations. It’s all about creating a comfortable and functional home for our expanding family, one project at a time.

A Growing Family: Can We All Be Honorary Aunts and Uncles?

Absolutely, yes! We are so incredibly grateful for all the healthy baby prayers, positive vibes, and even joyful dances that you guys have sent our way. Honestly, we’ll wholeheartedly accept every last one of them. Your unwavering support means the world to us, and we truly love you guys. Please don’t make me get all hormonal and goobery! *sob* Too late. Thank you for being such an integral part of our journey as our family expands.