Ella and Zoë: lilacs

I love springtime in Minnesota. I love when our backyard (and our neighbor's backyard) is full of sweet-smelling, fluffy, purple lilacs. I love my annual 'lilacs' photo session with my girls. I love watching Ella and Zoe fly through the air and laughing while they try different jumps, with big bunches of purple and violet in the background. And even though this post is way overdue (our lilacs bloom for a short time in May), and our spring weather was mostly cold and rainy -- we did enjoy a few sunny and beautiful days too, and I love how these photos turned out!!

I also love how at the very end, when the girls were done jumping and having their pictures taken, they both gave me the same expression when I asked for one more smile ......

The Beginning of the Adventure . . .

After trying and waiting for a long time, June 26th 2006 was the estimated due date of Baby A and Baby B. We were thrilled. But a little over 10 weeks early our doctor decided it was time for us to meet the babies. On Wednesday, April 19th at 6:49 pm, Ella Marie was born. We named her after Tom’s mom, Della Marie, and her name means 'Light'. She weighed 2 pounds 14 ounces, was 16 inches long and was perfect. At 6:51 pm, Zoë Dianne was born. We named her after my mom, Dianne, and her name means ‘Life’. She weighed 3 pounds 5 ounces, was also 16 inches long and was perfect too.

Both girls stayed in the NICU for almost 2 months and did really well, especially considering all of the 'what could have/should have beens'. It was a 'one step forward two steps backwards' type of dance those first few weeks, but after 47 days we brought Zoe home and 10 days later brought Ella home. FINALLY, we were all four under the same roof, and were ready to start the next exciting chapter in our lives . . .

Ella and Zoe turned FIVE this April and are THRIVING. They are fun, funny, naughty and sweet. The joy they bring to our lives is immeasurable. They are also really fun to take pictures of : )