Tuesday, September 27, 2011

The Best Two Years

A few days ago Tia and I celebrated our two year anniversary. Since we can't leave the babies overnight yet, and quite frankly even if I we could, I don't know that I would, we celebrated it by going to Magelby's. For being a pretty expensive place, I think we got our money's worth as we ate the buffet. Wow, it was so good. More than that though, it was so fun to be with just Tia and we talked about our favorite memories and highlights of the last two years. While we have been able to do so many big things together, some of our favorite memories were little walks we go on together, talking in bed late at night, and other small and simple things. We were amazed at how much our lives have changed in these two years. We were both college students, we were on the dance team our first year, competed individually, and went to Blackpool with the team, we went to Hawaii on a late honeymoon, Tia did an internship in Mexico, we did the Timpview program last year, both graduated from college and now we have two beautiful girls! We couldn't feel more blessed and happy.

I feel so blessed to be married to such a wonderful man. These two years have helped me learn and grow so much and I can't believe how my love for Tia just keeps growing and growing when I think it is the maximum it can be. He is such a loving father and husband and makes me so happy. I am so grateful for his example and his worthiness as a righteous priesthood bearer. I am so excited to spend eternity with him and our family as we continue to grow together. We have had so many adventures together and I am so excited for more! Here are some of my favorite pictures of us together from the beginning.


On tour in China, about a year and a half before we started dating.
While Dating
The night we got engaged.
Engagement Picture
Happiest Day of my Life
Dinner and a movie
FHE treat
Getting ready to watch a movie. This was before we got a bed and we slept on two single beds pushed together.
Our family pumpkin
Dancing Together
One Year Anniversary
My graduation
In Mexico
In our Blackpool Medley costumes
Tia's graduation
The sweetest day of my life
An adoring father
Thanks for a wonderful two years! I love you!

Thursday, September 22, 2011

One Month Old!

I can't believe these little girls are one month old! I was feeling very ambitious when I wrote I would update it soon with details about the hospital stay. That will come sometime but now I will just put up some of my favorite pictures. This last month has been wonderful with lots of family and visitors. Adelyn and Avery are so blessed to have so many people who love them.

Avery comfortably asleep on Uncle David

It looks like Adelyn got startled...no, this is a position she was in for at least ten minutes

I love that O face! They both make it.

I love the positions they put their hands in.

Cousin Kyla loves these babies. She wanted to stay there with them forever.

With some YW and Sister Dester from our ward. I'm going to miss them so much!

I love these dresses on them.

We see this face from Avery a lot.

And this one from Adelyn a lot.

Adelyn with cousin Christopher

Adelyn enjoying bath time.

Avery loving Aunt Chrissy bathe her.

They have quite the chicken legs.

With cousin Devyn


With Aunt Heather

They look so alike in their carseats!

Cousin Brigham sharing his seat with Avery

Their legs and arms are in similar positions so often!

With Kyle and Allie

This did not interrupt her sleep in the least.

The blessing circle (not pictured: Nathan)

Papa admiring his granddaughter

What I should have gotten was a picture of all that was going on to take this photo. Tia was on a chair leaning over to take it, and each of the grandmothers pulled a pacifier out of a mouth when Tia said, "3." Quite the group effort.


With very happy parents on their blessing day.




Sunday, August 28, 2011

A Mother's Thoughts (long, sorry) + Pictures

Yesterday was quite an emotional day. The girls needed to get their bilirubin levels rechecked so we went back and they got their blood drawn. I always thought it was so silly when mothers would tell me they would cry when their new babies got shots. Of course it is for their own good and only stings for a few seconds. Well, their little feet were pricked and when they started crying I totally started crying and couldn't stop. (I hadn't cried since the delivery on Tuesday) My heart hurt so bad for them and I wanted to do everything I could to stop their pain. Then I got thinking about how much pain and hurt they will go through in this life and how I won't be able to prevent it. I know it's all part of the Heavenly Father's plan but they are just these sweet innocent angels and it kills me to think about anything hard coming to them. Then I started thinking about how sad it was that they were already that old! I was expecting preemies and their newborn clothes are not going to fit for very long. I absolutely love this stage and just want to hold them and love them 24/7.

Anyways, as you can tell, I was an emotional wreck. We called back two hours later to get the results and their levels were bad enough we needed to get them under the lights. Luckily they have home light systems so we got them and didn't have to take the girls back to the hospital. However, when the guy came to set them up, and told us we needed to leave them under the lights except for feedings and changing their diapers, it was extremely hard. We put their little eye masks on and set them under. Avery was okay, but Adelyn started to cry with a little whimper like she was hurt that we hadn't ever heard before (usually she just starts full volume). Once again, my heart felt like it would break. Of course we couldn't just get them out and hold them because the more they are under the lights the better. I finally left the room and had Tia calm them down. Later that night after Adelyn had eaten and it was time to go back under the light, Tia gave Adelyn a blessing and put her eye thing on and put her back under and she didn't make a peep. Truly a miracle and a huge blessing. These girls are so blessed to have a righteous priesthood holder as their father. Ever since then, they have been much more comfortable and are getting used to being under the lights, thankfully so. We are going back tonight to see if they need to be under the lights another day. It has been hard, especially because it's a weekend and Tia and lots of family and friends want to hold them and are available. However, I am so grateful that they have these home systems and we didn't have to go leave them at the hospital, let alone the fact that they have treatment for this and can help our babies get better.

They are such a huge blessing in our lives; I don't know what we did to deserve two little angels. They bring such a sweet spirit into our home. I love everything about them and seriously can't get enough of them. Tia and I are trying to just soak up and cherish every moment. I knew I loved them when they were inside of me and I knew the discomfort and pain and everything I went through would be worth it, but I had no idea how much I would truly love them. It really is shocking to me how incredibly much I love them. I feel so blessed and they are one of the sweetest gifts from Heavenly Father we could ever receive.

Below are some pictures of the last couple days. I put the ones of them under the lights first because if your like me, they break your heart to look at them. Then I put some happy other ones up.
Avery & Adelyn under Bili Lights for Jaundice :(

Their eye masks they use for protection.

At the hospital with Aunts Jessie & Becky!

At the hospital with the Purcells!

At the hospital with cousins Landon & April!


All ready to go home!

Going home with Daddy.

At home with cousin Brigham (their hands came up at the same time)!


First visitors -- Aunt Barbara & Deborah!

Tumu, Ada, Mathias & family meeting the babies!

Feeling a lot better outside the body :)

I can't believe they were inside me! (*see below for before picture!)

The morning the day they were born.

At home with Grandma Cindy!

Relaxing in their car seats.

First bath with Aunt Chrissy!

At Purcells with Uncle Soli Jr. (his first time seeing them since birth)!

With Aunt Claire (also her first time seeing them)!

Mama & Papa Purcell sleeping with the twins!

Sleeping away in their bassinet!

Avery Lelei & Adelyn Eva Purcell

Details on birth and hospital stay coming soon...