By Maria Neuman

A new baby might be the best reason to ditch your at-home workspace. "The nursery was my office, but I gave it up for Everleigh because we wanted to create something warm and cozy," says Kelly Kruger, who plays Mackenzie Hellstrom on The Young and the Restless. "We combined offices, even though Everleigh doesn't sleep in her nursery ... yet," adds Darin Brooks, husband, dad, and Wyatt Spencer on The Bold and the Beautiful. "For now we're just in here to change her and her outfits," adds Kruger with a laugh.

This past September, the couple (and dogs Charlie and Chance) welcomed Everleigh Jolie Brooks. Her name was inspired by family and the couple's love of Paris; Jolie is from Kruger's Hungarian grandmother (named Jolan) and also means "beautiful" in their favorite Romance language.

So what's the French connection? "It was the first trip we took as a couple, back in 2010, right after we moved in together," says Kruger, who grew up in Montreal and is fluent in French.

A few years later, The Bold and the Beautiful was shooting in Monte Carlo, so Brooks decided to hop over to Paris and propose in their favorite city—he smuggled the engagement ring through TSA inside his shoe so Kruger wouldn't find out.

"We asked my mom to paint the mural above the crib and just told her to freestyle something Parisian," says Brooks, whose parents live in Hawaii. "It was something really nice for her to do and it says 'tutu' in the bottom corner, which is 'grandma' in Hawaiian." Other sweet, homespun touches in the room are wooden hearts in a frame, on which friends and family scribed their best wishes.

The couple also chose to display sweet family photos instead of other baby-friendly artworks. "There is something about being able to show these photos to your child as opposed to just storing them on your phone," adds Brooks, who also did all the framing.

When it came to furnishings, the couple went to Pottery Barn Kids and picked up the main essentials like the crib and changing table, as well as the rose mobile, which spins out a soothing version of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." "I found the rocker online, and it was only $200. It's probably my favorite find because others were much more expensive," says Kruger, who has taken off work until April to be home with Everleigh.

There has also been a steady stream of toys, outfits, and books from friends and family, and they keep coming. "We've already given some stuff away. She was a big baby, so she's grown out of the smallest onesies," says Kruger. "I'm probably more of the hoarder than Darin, but we're really trying not to have too much clutter." One thing she did hang onto? Everleigh's first Halloween costume, a dragon egg, while the rest of the family (dogs included) were characters from Game of Thrones. "I have a hard time emotionally getting rid of that kind of stuff!"

The couple make new parenthood look seamless, and they credit Everleigh's serious love of sleep. "Everyone and their mother have been saying how lucky we are because she sleeps through the night. On days I don't work, she can sleep until 10 a.m.," says Brooks. Kruger is also relishing the so-far relaxed pace of being a new parent. "The biggest surprise for me is how OK I am now with being in bed in the afternoon, just hanging out with her. This is the best thing I've ever done."

Originally published in Watch Magazine, March-April 2020.

Watch The Young and the Restless Weekdays at 12:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT and The Bold and the Beautiful Weekdays at 1:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT. Both stream on CBS All Access.

GET THE LOOK:  Bringing up baby in plush, whimsical style

Bashful Lilac Bunny by Jellycat, $23.

Sumba Eco Wool Baby Blanket in Pink by Klippan, $42.

Blythe 3-In-1 Convertible Crib by Pottery Barn Kids, $1,199–$1,368.

Little Light Duck lamp by A Little Lovely Company, $19.

Felted Roses Musical Crib Mobile by Pottery Barn Kids, $34