17 years ago

17 years ago today, The Deer Hunter and I were sitting in a north Georgia hospital anxiously awaiting an event that would forever change our lives.

Every time I see the photo above I think “We’re looking at each other like “How in the world did we end up here and what the heck are we going to do about it?” Not that we weren’t happy to be there-but twins? Geesh we didn’t even know if we were ready for one child and somehow we were about to end up with two?

I won’t bore you with the details, but my pregnancy was a nightmare. From the start I had every pregnancy aliment you can think of and a few you’ve probably never heard of!

By the time I had the girls, I had already been admitted to the hospital at least a half a dozen times for one complication or another and then I ended up with a rather hurried c-section on top of all of that!

2 girls twins

We knew early on that I was carrying twins. It seemed like somebody was always telling me they prayed for twins or that having twins was their life long wish. Honestly, I felt so miserable that having twins wasn’t at the top of my happy list, and every time someone shared their twin dream with me I thought well I wish you were having twins too-instead of me-then maybe I wouldn’t be so sick!

sisters chatter and chitter

After the girls were born, it didn’t take me long to realize I had been given the ultimate gift. No wonder all those people wanted twins.

Having them in our lives has filled every day of the last 17 years with brightness and joy. We will be forever grateful they were given to us.

Happy Happy Birthday Chatter and Chitter.

Tipper

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Blogging about Appalachia since 2008

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  4. Happy birthday to both the lovely girls, young women I should say now.
    Tipper you make a wonderful mother and I know those girls appreciate you every day and always will be thankful for their parents.

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  9. tipper what a beautiful story.. you looked so young there.. ahhh those were the days… and look at what the Good Lord Gave you….. such beautiful girls…. together in the little bed and also the latest one.. gorgeous.. just like mom..
    sending many hugs and blessings to you all… happy fall 🙂
    lynn l

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  12. Happy Birthday to you both Chitter and Chatter! We only know you through blogland but feel we know you very well. You are two beautiful and talented girls. Thank you Tipper and Deer Hunter for sharing them with us.Don’t eat too much cake!!!Bob and Inez Jones

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  13. Happy Birthday, Chatter and Chitter – bet YOU are glad your mom had twins!
    Congratulations, Tipper and Deer Hunter, on raising such fine daughters. I loved what Miss CIndy said…”They are sweet and considerate with good strong minds.” What more could anyone hope for?

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  14. I know I’m checking in kinda late in the day, but I also would send the girls a Happy Birthday and and wish for them all the best. My prayer is that all the extended Blind Pig Family be blest always. You all mean so much to all of us as you brighten our lives.

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  22. “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” to CHATTER & CHIPPER may the Lord give you many more as you grow in your love of Him. May you have the best of every thing. Hope to meet you all Saturday.
    Peggy L.

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  23. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHITTER and CHATTER YOU WERE BLESSED WHEN YOU FIRST TOOK YOUR FIRST PEEK AT MOM AND DAD,THEN SECOND BLESSING WAS GIVEN TO YOU BOTH WHEN YOU SAW GRANDMOTHER CINDY AND THE BLESSINGS JUST KEEP COMING WITH THE GIFT OF MUSIC, SO I WILL GIVE ANOTHER ONE TOO. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
    Grandmother Joy.

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  24. Tipper,
    Happy Birthday to Chitter and Chatter. A lot of us have got
    to watch you grow into beautiful
    young women. I hope God’s Gentle
    Touch continues for you both.
    You make us Proud!!!…Ken

    Reply

  27. Happy Birthday Chitter and Chatter. Its been a joy to share in watching you both grow to be beautiful young ladies. Enjoy your Birthdays.

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  28. Another happy birthday to the girls, and congratulations to their parents, along with thanks for providing the blog. It reminded me of what a blessing family is.

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  30. HAPPY Birthday Chitter and Chatter—-do you know the tune to Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you Born Again brings salvation!!! Happy birthday to you——

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  31. I’ve been coming here each day for about 2 years now, and I’m proud to feel like I’m a very distant cousin to y’all; proud to see two girls raised up with an inborn curiosity toward things that really matter, traditional music, old churches, ol’-timey crafts that were so necessary a few generations ago but nearly forgotten today, and how to shuck a squirrel out of its hide and garnish it with home-grown potatoes and snap beans. Girls, you do your momma and daddy proud; I’m glad to have made your acquaintance.
    – The Recovering Yankee

    Reply

  32. It sure looks like The Deer Hunter is wringing his hands as you give him that ‘poor me’ stare.
    The hospital picture of the girls is precious. They are gorgeous in their current picture! I hope they keep that friendly smile and never let their beauty go to their head.
    Happy Birthday Chitter and Chatter!

    Reply

  33. Happy, happy birthday, my beautiful girls. I love you both so much. You have truly been a ray of sunshine to all of us. Love and kisses.

    Reply

  34. Tipper,
    and Deer Hunter…What beautiful twin girls. You gone and done good!
    Happy Birthday Chatter and Chitter! May you have a blessed day and forever more!
    I’ve already sent my Grandson his birthday wish…He was our first grandchild born on this day as well!
    I am not sure what the weather was like that day…but I will always remember it as warm and sunny!
    Seventeen, WOW, where has the time gone…seems like when I joined in reading this blog, they were just tots…
    Have a great day! Are you having German Chocolate Cake today?
    Thanks Tipper,

    Reply

  35. Happy Birthday girls. You received the ultimate birthday gift on the day you were born, a loving, stable family. They were a gift to you as much as you were a gift to them. May God bless you and may you have many more happy birthdays and celebrate them with your loving family.

    Reply

  37. Happy Birthday Chitter and Chatter! You were beautiful babies and have become beautiful young women – both inside and out. I wish you every good thing God has to give in this life.

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  39. To parents who love, nourish and lead;
    To Grandparents who adore, love, spoil and feed
    More than food–also food for spirit and soul;
    To parents who ever seek to reach their goal
    Of raising kids strong, secure and able-to-be-let go,
    All the years that bring a brilliant show
    Of love and living, day by day,
    May today be celebrated in holy and special ways.
    Happy Birthday, Katie and Corie–
    Chitter and Chatter as we know you.
    You’re beautiful, talented and ready for what lies ahead.
    My prayers and best wishes for you!
    Enjoy and celebrate the wonderful lives God gave you!

    Reply

  40. Well, Tipper I knew what today’s topic was going to be when I read your title!
    Yesterday was our first grandson, Gavin’s 20th birthday. On that day in 1993, I drove as fast as I could from Nashville to Oak Ridge, picked up Jim and we headed to Fort Sanders Hospital in Knoxville. At about 6:00 p.m. we rushed into the maternity ward and spoke to the Nurse. She surely was wondering who that crazy lady with the camera was doing at her desk. I ask how our daughter-in-law was doing. She said “Hold on just a moment and I will turn on the intercom to heard what is going on in there.” I HAD THE CAMERA ROLLING and WHAM I got the first SOUND OF A TINY BABY after the smack on the rear! Then my son said, “HOT DOG! He is out!” But like you, she had to have a C-Section! To make a NEW BABY story longer, I continued making HIS video right through his FIRST YEAR on this earth.
    I wish your beautiful daughters and YOU a wonderful day of sweet memories.
    Eva Nell

    Reply

  41. Happy Birthday, Chitter and Chatter! May you both have a beautiful life filled with successful dreams, good health, happiness, and love! God bless both of you! You are two beautiful women with lots of talent to share with the world.

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  42. Tipper, you and husband have raised two beautiful and talented girls. Many blessings to all of you.
    Happy birthday ladies!

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  43. Happy Birthday to two beautiful and talented young ladies. You were blessed to have them and they were blessed to have you and the Deer Hunter for parents!

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  45. Happy Birthday Chitter and Chatter. Have a great day. I
    would sing you two a birthday
    song if I were there.
    Charles

    Reply

  46. My brother is the closest excuse our family can offer when it comes to being a poet, but I reckon for such a special day I’ll give it a try as well.
    Oh what a lovely pair,
    Bright of eye and skin so fair.
    There’s a touch of tom boy to be sure,
    But it’s offset by music clear and
    pure.
    One oft carries a pocket knife,
    Both have great zest for life.
    They love to play and sing
    Songs to make the mountains ring.
    They’ve spent all their years–ten plus seven.
    Living in an area that’s the backside of heaven.
    For them may this be a truly special day,
    And thanks for sharing their course along life’s way.
    Jim Casada

    Reply

  48. Sweet story. There is no love like you have for your children! Happy birthday to the girls! May their lives be equally blessed.

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  49. Happy Birthday to Corie & Katie and congratulations to you and Matt for the precious gifts you were given. It’s obvious that the two of you along with your families have “Done Good” raising two classy, talented young ladies. Thank you for sharing them with your subscribers and those who have enjoyed their talents in person. Congratulations to the Grandparents also, I have a Granddaughter who is eleven today and along with my other Grandchildren I know how proud Grandparents are of the perfect children their genes have produced since many genetic specialists feel that children are basically a genetic combination of the four Grandparents. Congratulations to Pap, Granny, Tony & Cindy for providing the genes which resulted in these wonderful children.

    Reply

  50. Happy birthday to Chitter and Chatter! I always wanted twins, too, they sort of ran in our family. I will always remember the births of all three of my boys, each one a c-section and each one memorable and special in their own way – just like my boys are.

    Reply

  53. Heavy rain here this morning and your post and pictures are the sunshine that drives away all the damp and cold. These girls have been a beautiful bright spot in my life. I tell everyone ” I have twin teenage granddaughters, they are tall, thin, beautiful, smart, sing, dance, play guitar and fiddle, can shoot a gun and bow, handle a knife….” Well you get the idea, I could go on and on. Let me just add they are as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside. They are sweet and considerate with good strong minds.
    Happy Birthday girls!!!
    Yep, Tipper had a hard time delivering these girls but she blossomed in motherhood. Somewhere among all the pictures is one of Tipper feeding both babies at the same time. That was just one of many remarkable things she learned to do to take care or her new precious girls. As remarkable as I thing the girls are their mom is equally as remarkable. My son did an excellent job in mate selection, don’t you think!

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  55. I didn’t realize my son and your daughters were THAT close in age. My wife and I were in the hospital 17 years ago this Sunday. Where has the time gone?
    Happy Birthday to Chitter and Chatter! Wishing them God’s richest blessings.

    Reply

  59. Stand up and show the world, not only do we in the Southern Appalachians make them smarter, more talented and most beautiful, we make in pairs.
    Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday! Pressley Girls.

    Reply

  63. Sometimes troubles come in doubles
    But it isn’t always so;
    For Miz Chitter and Miz Chatter
    Shine a doubly lovely glow.
    Happy Birthday, twins and sisters,
    To many lives you’ve brought great joys.
    And we’re glad your Dad and Mama
    Didn’t bring forth little boys!

    Reply

  65. Tipper if ever two people won the lottery you and the Deer Hunter did!!!!!! From what I’ve learned about you I’m sure you still have that card that was in that second picture taped to their hospital container. I bet it said something like “Twin girls Pressley” and their weight and time of birth. I still have the one our daughter had. Good things come to good people!

    Reply

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