We recently moved to Alabama for the second half of the summer. We haven't had internet for awhile so here is a long list of pictures to show what we have been up to.

This little girl is not so tiny anymore. She is definitely chunking up. She is starting to smile more and so fun to have around!

Doing poppers on the 4th of July

Finally getting some time with Dad in the pool. (A very rare occasion out here...Reno is usually busy working 12 hr days and doesn't have much time for the pool)

Marli loves to read Laney books!

Marli and Noah have been playing so good together this summer! (a little too good in this pic) I hope this isn't any indication of what they will be like in ten years!

Looks like Laney may be Marli's biggest competition with Noah. The other day Jodi asked Noah if he wanted to come see Marli and he said "No, I want to see Marli's sister".

Marli's first haircut!!!!! Say good-bye to the mullet! Marli doesn't have much hair, but for some reason the back grows faster than the front so we finally decided to trim it up. It only took about two snips of the scissors, but it made a big difference.

Marli is obsessed with play-doh lately. This is her "umbrella" she made with it

She has also caught on to the Toy Story craze and loves this book my mom sent her. Thanks Mimi!!

Sister Sister

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE having two little girls? One of my favorite things about it is watching how their relationship as sisters is already growing. Everyday Marli says to me "Can I hold Laney for just a second?" So after I get them all situated Marli then says to me "Will you take a picture of us?". So now I have quite the collection of pictures of these girls in pretty much the same pose. It is fun to see how much Marli loves her little sister, and Laney is so patient (most of the time) at letting Marli "take care of her".

Good Times in Georgia

We have been having a lot of fun out here in Georgia. We try to keep ourselves busy all day while Reno is at work. There are so many other wives and kids for me and Marli to play with that it makes it easy to have a good time. Between many hours at the pool, playing with friends and the insane heat and humidity, Marli (and me) are completely worn out by the end of the day.

As for Laney, she still pretty much does this all day:My friendsMarli's FriendsSpace MuseumThis is Marli asking "What are we going to do next mom?" Marli figured out how to make me buy her a new book at the bookstore - just take out all the stickers and stick them all over the chair! (Barnes and Noble has become one of our favorite places to go escape from the heat)Fun in the sunAfter a long day, I went into the kitchen to start dinner and two seconds later look back and Marli had fallen asleep like this:The couch is definitely one of her favorite places to nap.Sisters :)

One Month

Seriously time flies by so fast - I really can't believe that Laney is one month old! We have love, love, loved having her in our home and are finally getting used to life with a newborn again. Marli has adjusted pretty well and is doing a good job of taking on the role of big sister. She has already learned to give Laney her binky, help wipe her bum and is working on "burping" Laney after she eats. Here are a few of Laney's newborn pics that our friend Stephanie did. I couldn't be happier with how they turned out, especially since Laney was awake almost the whole time!

Georgia and Reno - Here We Come!!!

After a few long weeks of waiting, Marli, Laney and I will finally be joining Reno out in Georgia. We are so excited to be together as a family again and are anxious to see what adventures await us this summer.
Marli is loving being a big sister!

I would not have made it through these past couple of weeks without the help of my mom, Reno's mom and the rest of my family. Thank you so much and we will miss you this summer!!

Only 11 More Days... Oh wait - SHE'S HERE!!!

Laney Mendenhall

April 30

7 lbs 4 oz

**Warning: This is my longest post ever!! Feel free to skip the novel and just look at the pics**

Little Laney decided to surprise us and come just over 2 weeks early. This would have been great news except for one problem - her dad was 2,000 miles away in Georgia!!!

This turned out to be quite an exciting day, to say the least. I will tell the story as best I can, and try to spare you all the gorry details. So here we go -

7:00a.m: I wake up and realize I have been leaking some sort of fluid and am pretty sure I didn't just pee my pants. So my very wise father tells me to go to the hospital and they will test it to see if it is amniotic fluid. So I call Reno, who is already out in Georgia working and tell him, I don't know yet, but I think my water just broke!!

7:15 a.m: Have a short emotional break-down, pull myself together, shower and get ready.

8:30a.m : Wake up Marli, drop her off at my dad's office and head over to the hospital.

9:00 a.m.: It is confirmed that it is amniotic fluid so the nurse tells me they are going to admit me and start me on pitocin. "But wait!! My husband isn't here!!" I quickly call Reno and tell him to book the soonest flight and get here ASAP!!

There was a little concern because I wasn't exactly sure what time my water broke and they say you have 24 hrs after it breaks before there is risk of infection.

10:00a.m: I am admitted to Labor and Delivery (why didn't I pack my bag before I came??) My wonderful mom and sister went and got Marli then came and spent the next couple hours hanging out with me. The Dr. came and checked me and he decided that we could wait til later in the afternoon to start pitocin, but they would not stop my labor if it started to progress. So Reno bought his flight which got in at 6:50p.m. which meant I would spend the next 10 hrs praying this baby didn't want to come sooner!

5:00p.m: After many hours of sitting in the hospital bed reading magazines and watching t.v., I was still only dilated to a 2 so they decided to start the pitocin. (Countdown til Reno comes - 3 hrs) My contractions started getting stronger after that, but I was pretty sure Reno would have plenty of time to get there.

6:52p.m: Reno's plane lands!!!!

7:40p.m: Reno arrives at the hospital to an applause of many nurses and a VERY happy wife!

8:00p.m: I get my epidural

8:30p.m: My water really breaks (Not just a trickle anymore:) The nurse comes in to clean me up and see how I've progressed - only dilated to a 3.

9:40:p.m.: Halftime of the Jazz game. Dr. Mower shows up to see check me. He goes on to inform me that I am dilated to a 10 and ready to have this baby!! The dr. quickly goes to change his clothes and...

9:58 p.m: Laney is born!!!! (Only 2 short hours after Reno's arrival)

It was such a roller-coaster day! This little girl did exactly as I had hoped and waited for her daddy to get here before she decided to come. I am so grateful that she is here and she is healthy!! We have loved having her in our home for these past couple of days and feel like she has been in our lives forever. I truly feel so blessed not only that Reno was able to make it in time, but that he is such a good dad and an amazing support to me. I seriously don't know what I would do without him!! Sorry for the novel, here are some pics of our amazing adventure:

Marli and me waiting for baby sister and dad to arrive

Our first family pic

Yes, he made it!!!

Holding Laney for the first time

This was the day we were leaving the hospital. These two fell asleep and had a nice 2 hr nap in my hospital bed. Where am I? Sitting in the chair next to them watching another Jazz game:)

This little girl was born with the longest fingernails!! I had to file them down so she wouldn't destroy her cute face.

Daddy and his girls