Holy cow — you all had even more questions than the last time we did this after we announced that Clara was on the way! It was so much fun to dive in and answer as many as we could before we hit our self-imposed word limit. After our little bun announcement you made us beam all day, and we’re so grateful for the love and curiosity. Here’s a roundup of answers to many of the things you asked.
Will you find out the sex of the baby? Are you taking an early blood test? Do you or John have a preference? After Clara’s difficult birth, our top priority is a healthy baby. Of course a little sister for Clara would be adorable, and it’s fun to imagine a boy too since we’ve never had one. I have a hunch it’s a girl, but I could be wrong. My doctor relies on the 20-week ultrasound for the official reveal, so we’ll likely know in November. We loved that “half-time” excitement with Clara, and we’ll share the news when we know. Meanwhile it’s been fun to guess names, nursery ideas, and a million scenarios in bed at night.
Is this the secret side project you mentioned previously? No — while the baby was technically a secret project, it’s not the same side gig we referenced in our blogiversary pie chart. That other project has been a year in the making and is due to launch this spring. We can’t wait to share it once we get the go-ahead, hopefully in a few months.
How different has this pregnancy been compared to the first? Has morning sickness subsided? What has helped? This pregnancy feels more tiring — probably because I have a toddler to chase. With Clara my nausea was mostly morning-only until around 16–17 weeks, but this time it’s been all-day sickness for a while. I’ve tried ginger candies, ginger gum, acupressure bands, and vitamins like B6 and magnesium. Mostly I’ve found strategies to navigate the 24/7 nausea and remind myself it’s all for a good cause. Fingers crossed it eases up before 17 weeks this time.
Will this be your last baby? We’re taking family planning one kid at a time. Right now we’re excited and content with the idea of a family of four (plus the Burgs), but we’re not making a firm decision about a third child yet.
What prompted you to take a test? With Clara my earliest symptom was feeling dizzy even while sitting, and when I felt that again I wondered if it might be happening. Taking the test and seeing the positive was an exciting, surreal moment — I stared at it for a few minutes before it sunk in.
How did you tell John? We’d been trying but I didn’t want to hype him up if it weren’t true. When the test was positive I hid it on the keyboard and asked John to look at something on my screen. He finally noticed the test, we both laughed, and it was a sweet, simple surprise.
How did you tell your family? Did you really wait until the end of the first trimester? Yes, like with Clara we waited until our doctor gave the “safe to share” signal. We coordinated a reveal during John’s dad’s birthday gathering so we could tell many of our parents in person. John made paper crowns — one said “Birthday Boy” for his dad and the other said “Pregnant Lady” for me — and handing those out created a joyful, memorable moment surrounded by family.
How did you tell Clara? Does she understand? We told Clara the same day we told family. She was playing with cousins during the crown reveal, and right afterwards we took her aside and explained there’s a baby in my belly. She absolutely loved the news — she rubbed my belly, kissed it, put her ear to it, and asked the sweetest questions. She’s already talking about sharing toys and being gentle. It was adorable and made me cry.
Does Clara have a guess on the sex or any name suggestions? She insists it’s a girl and wants to name her “Pom-pom Petersik.” We’re amused but not convinced.
How are you preparing Clara for a sibling? We’re keeping conversations simple: pointing out which room will be the baby’s and explaining that newborns sleep a lot. I also reassure her that she’ll always be my first baby and that I love her just as much. I don’t want her to feel displaced, so I try to emphasize how much room there is in my heart for both kids.
Does this baby have a nickname? This one has become “the bun,” which feels right since Clara is still “the bean” and we have “the Burgs.” The trio rounds out nicely.
How far along are you and when are you due? Dates have shifted slightly at different checkups. Right now we think I’m about 13 weeks and the due date is around mid-April, though that could change as the pregnancy progresses. Due to complications with my previous birth, I’ll be closely monitored and will likely have a planned c-section a bit before full term if necessary — those details will be finalized later.
Any name ideas yet? We favor names with family or personal meaning. Clara was named for John’s grandma with a middle name honoring my dad and great-aunt, so we’ll probably follow the same thought process this time. We won’t lock anything in until we know the sex and, even then, we usually keep our finalists private until we meet the baby.
Will you do a weekly photo project like you did with Clara? Yes — we’d love to do something similar. We’re not sure whether it’ll be the same bright fabric + white onesie setup or a new idea showing the baby in different props to highlight growth. We’ll definitely do a weekly project, just not sure which exact format yet.
Are you due near Katie Bower? Did you plan it? Katie is due in March and I’m due in mid-April, so we’re close but didn’t plan for our dates to line up. It’s a happy coincidence and nice to have a friend to commiserate and compare notes with.
After Clara’s traumatic birth, how did you know it was the right time to try again? How do you manage anxiety? Will a scheduled c-section reduce risk? My placental abruption was triggered by labor, so having another labor would be unsafe. I’ll be monitored closely and a planned c-section will be scheduled if labor seems imminent. That approach reduces risk but still requires careful timing and monitoring. Emotionally, we gave ourselves time to heal physically and mentally; being a few years apart felt right. I still get anxious, but I try to focus on gratitude for what’s going well and trust the medical team that helped us through Clara’s birth.
Did you plan this pregnancy around other big events like the book tour or move? The book tour and move were done before I became pregnant, which was good timing. We do have busy months ahead with a second book, a showhouse, and the secret project — two of which have deadlines close to my due date — so we’re planning and getting ahead where possible. We also remember advice we received when having Clara: if you wait for the perfect spare time to start a family, it might never happen. Sometimes you make the time for what matters most.
Will the second book and baby arrive in the same year? Will you tour with a newborn? Our second book likely won’t be out until 2015 or 2016, so the baby will arrive well before the book. Touring with a newborn for weeks would probably be miserable, so that’s not on the agenda.
Did it take longer to conceive #2 than Clara? Yes, it did take longer for us this time as well.
Was the back injury during the Oprah shoot a euphemism for morning sickness? No — that back issue happened before I was pregnant. Thankfully I’ve made it through moving and early pregnancy without that happening again.
Tips for pregnant DIYers: what projects do you keep doing and which do you avoid? Any extra precautions? I stick with no-VOC paints and colorants, and I work in well-ventilated areas. Safe paint options include low- or zero-VOC lines and I use safer sealers when possible. For oil-based products or spray paint I either wear a high-quality VOC-blocking respirator or let John handle the project. I avoid heavy lifting and very strenuous jobs while pregnant, and I check product safety if I’m unsure (some adhesives and chemicals are best avoided). Also, lead paint exposure is especially dangerous during pregnancy, so take precautions if you’re working on older homes.
Plans for blogging, maternity leave, or childcare? We don’t have concrete plans for childcare or hiring help right now. We’ll likely prepare content in advance like we did with Clara and try to switch off responsibilities at home and work as needed. Two kids may require more adjustments, and we’ll adapt as we go. For now we’re preparing and staying open to possibilities.
Will the blog shift toward mommy/lifestyle content? Our site has mixed family content alongside DIY for years, and DIY remains our core focus. Having another child will naturally work its way into the blog since it’s part of our home life, but we don’t plan to turn this into a strictly parenting blog.
Will pregnancy posts be on Young House Life? We’ll follow the same approach as with Clara: in-depth DIY or home-related kid content will stay here, and short updates, photos, and quick family posts will likely appear on Young House Life. Think of that site as our family photo and video album for brief updates.
Can you share nursery plans or a mood board? We’re excited about the nursery, but we’ll likely wait to begin design until we know the baby’s sex. That helps us avoid jumping the gun and gives us time to plan thoughtfully.
Any cravings? Baked potatoes, salt-and-vinegar chips, and pickles — classic combo for me.
Where did you get that fabric in the photos? We found it at a local fabric outlet called U-Fab on a great sale. It’s by Braemore and called Pomegranate. We’re considering using it in our house or the showhouse since it was too good to pass up.
Are you driving again? Yes — I’ve been driving. John does most of it because he enjoys it, but I run errands and handle occasional longer stretches to give him a break. I always kept my license current, so it just took a bit of practice to feel comfortable again.
Any tips for keeping a barky dog quiet during naps? We use a sound machine and blackout curtains in Clara’s room, and we don’t tiptoe around sleeping babies — quiet activity and consistent sleep routines helped Clara become a solid sleeper despite DIY noise or Burger’s barking. It may not work for every child, but it’s helped us.
Will you cloth diaper again? Yes — we still have our Bum Genius diapers and diaper sprayers and plan to use them again once the baby grows into the one-size diapers. We’ll check the supplies that have been packed away and replace items if needed.
Are you nesting? Not yet. I have lots of lists and things I’d like to do, but the intense cleaning-and-scrubbing phase hasn’t hit (that came late last time).
Does the pregnancy change your project list at home? It bumped the nursery to the top of the list. We won’t gut kitchens or bathrooms right away since we just moved in, but we’ll focus on nursery setup, built-ins for the bedroom and office, and updates to the living room, guest room, dining room, and some interim kitchen and bath updates until bigger renovations make sense.
Can we be honorary aunts and uncles? Yes — we’re so grateful for all the good vibes, prayers, and excitement you’ve sent our way. We’ll take every last one of them and we love you all. Be prepared for a lot of happy tears.