MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Well, I've successfully let a long period of time pass since my last blog...I was getting so good at this and I'm starting to get lazy with it again! I promise to try to get better at this whole thing before it's all over!

So...on the 17th we packed up and headed to GA for Christmas and didn't get home until last night - it was a great LONG visit! When we first got to GA my parents were in Mississippi visiting my sister and her family. They went so that they could watch the girls Christmas ballet show and Lauren's piano recital. I saw pictures from the ballet show and the girls looked so grown up. Dad also had a video of Lauren's piano piece and she did a beautiful job with her piece! I think Mom and Dad were just a week shy of being able to see Noah in the Christmas parade with his scout troop - which I know was awesome because Karen told me that it started to snow that evening and that the turn out was great. I am so proud of all of them!

Once we got to GA we hung out with the Daigle side of the family for a couple of days and we were able to play games and sit around and talk while eating delicious baked goodies! Most nights we ended up playing what we called the dice game or Mafia, but we also played uno and the last word - all of which brought on LOTS of laughter and fun for everyone!

On the first Saturday that we were in town we had a jam packed day full of fun! We started by going to Pat and Paul's house to have our annual cookie decorating party with all the kids. Parker and I still participate because the tradition started with the 2 of us when we were kids and gradually got bigger as our cousins started having children too. Next year it will be even bigger because Eden will be there and one of my cousins is having her 3rd over the summer! After the cookie party we rushed off to the Fugedy Christmas party that we go to whenever we're in town at the right time. (We had to miss last years because we came in town too late.) At this party we always eat way too much and sing Christmas carols by the piano - and trust me, you better be singing!

After a long night at the Fugedy home we had a lazy Sunday and just watched movies and hung around doing not much of anything. I had been coming down with a cold and Sunday was probably one of the days that I felt the worst and so Lane brought me hot tea in bed and Parker later made me lunch while I layed around doing nothing but sleeping! Mom and Dad got home on Sunday and Dad made my favorite dinner - clay pot chicken! It was great being able to finally see them since we had been in town for 3 nights already.

Monday was a hectic day because it all started with Lane waking up and being sick to his stomach (we got lucky and it ended up being a 24 hour bug, but it was a rough 24 hours for him!) I went to physical therapy with Dad for his recovery from his rotator cuff repair and he's doing really well! His range of motion and his strength is great for the point of recovery that he's at! After therapy we went home to check on Lane - who was still white as a sheet and only able to eat saltines and drink ginger ale - and then Mom and I ran off to Pat's house to make all of her Christmas cookies. We got to Pat's around 11 that morning and I didn't leave her house until about 6 or 7 that evening. We made TONS of cookies and had lots of fun. After cookies were done I went home and sat on the couch with Lane while he pitifully watched TV with the family.

Tuesday was a slow day for us - thank goodness, all we had done was be on the go since getting to GA! We had pictures taken of our (mine and Lane's) family with Eden. A friend of ours from the youth group at Snellville UMC has taken up photography as a hobby and she was willing to test her skills out on us! I'm sure glad that she did because all of the pictures ended up being beautiful and I couldn't have asked for better pictures!

Wednesday was a day that Lane and I went different directions and I had dinner with some of my sorority sisters from North GA - Sara and Alaina. We went to a pizza place and enjoyed catching up and reminiscing about college and who was doing what these days and all the good stuff! It was great to see them and exciting to have dinner with Alaina because her boyfriend was due to come in Thursday morning from Iraq for his 2 week R&R - which was a surprise to his family!

Thursday and Friday we celebrated Christmas with our different traditions - Pat's for dinner on Christmas Eve, Lane and I went to Dunwoody UMC for church at 11:00 and Lane was able to sing with the choir, come home to our Christmas pj's that Santa delivered earlier than the other presents, wake up for the Christmas morning video, brunch with Pat and Paul, go to the Daigle's for gifts and Christmas dinner and games after that! We had a fun filled 2 days, but it was AWESOME and we couldn't have asked for more!

Saturday I had another baby shower that was mostly friends from high school and college. I haven't seen some of those girls in YEARS so it was great to get to see them again. It was great that Lane's sister, Angela, and LONG TIME family friend, Tommie, were both still in town and able to make it to the shower. Neither one of them live close, so it was cool to be able to include them in the festivities that they probably wouldn't have been able to come to had it been any other time than right around Christmas! Mom and I went to Babies R us after the shower and got some stuff that I had either forgotten to register for or that I had wanted to get before coming home.

Let's see what I didn't add to the novel above: Eden is doing well, she still kicking and flipping up a storm! I have started to be uncomfortable more often. I've got what seems to be the infamous pelvic pressure and it makes it hard to sit in one position for too long, yet I feel very stiff when I go to change positions. There have been times that Lane looks at me and asks if I'm serious about how slow I get out of the car or into the bed and I just glare and say "don't ask" because it is uncomfortable. A lot of times I'm simply trying to see if repositioning myself one way over another is more comfortable.

I go to the doctor next Tuesday, so if I haven't updated before then I will definitely update after my appointment!

New Doctor

I had my first OB appointment down here in Florida yesterday. Everything went well and Eden and I are both healthy with no complaints from the doctor. The doctor spent about an hour in the appointment with us and was very thorough with everything that he told us. I'm excited because he did say that he likes to make his own deliveries when the time comes if he's able to make them. He let us know that he has a family of his own and if he happens to be at a family event that his family is important and they take priority, but that there's not anyone in Labor and Delivery that he wouldn't trust to deliver his own children.

The doctor hit the high points within his examination and all seemed to look good to him...
Eden's heart rate: 140s, looked good
My lungs and heart rate: no specifics, but looked good
Uterine measurement: right at 27 weeks
Due date: March 10
Weight gain: 13 pounds, looked good
Exercise: at least 20-30 minutes daily, mostly walking at this point

If you want to be included in the "Baby News" email group that I've got started for when Eden arrives, please send us your email address. We want to make sure that everyone who wants the details, gets them so make sure you've given us any information that we might need!!!!

Well, I think that hits the important stuff and we'll be in touch.

EVERYTHING

I hope everyone had a GREAT Thanksgiving holiday!!!!!

So now that A LOT of time has passed since our last post I figured I'd keep everyone updated about the happenings in Florida now that we're here. We did indeed make it here safe and sound and we did eventually find a house. Once we made it into the house we had about 4 days of no furniture, no TV, and no internet. By the time we got all of our technologies up and running, we were heading back to GA for Thanksgiving. It was nice to be able to spend the holiday at home with both families because last year we weren't able to make it to GA to celebrate with them. We will also be able to go back to GA in another couple of weeks to celebrate Christmas with the family so we're even more excited about that! Both fall/winter holidays in GA with both families...who could ask for more?!

Next week I will to go the doctor for the first time since we've been in Florida to meet my new doctor. I'm excited about the new doctor because where I was before I was not being seen by the doctor that was going to deliver Eden. The hospital with the Labor and Delivery unit is attached to the doctors' office that I will be seen at so the doctors do their best to deliver for each of their patients! Lane and I were able to go to L&D when we were at the clinic/hospital dropping off records and getting everything situated when we first got here and it is actually very nice. It is in the pent house of the hospital and it is rather large. They have 2 wings (east and west I'm assuming) and the rooms are HUGE. It is set up so that I will deliver, recover, and stay in the same room the whole time. They also let the babies stay in the room with the new parents and they only leave to go to the nursery if they need oxygen or something like that where 1-1 care is provided. I will have my appointment and keep you updated as I get any new news about me/Eden/Lane!!!!

Movers are HERE

Well, after much drama, the packers AND movers are here! They got here this morning around 7:40 (we were told between 8:00 and 12:00, who would have thought they'd be early after the drama we've dealt with!!!). The house is just about packed up and ready to be moved out. This is good because it gives us time to get this place cleaned up and ready for the next people who move in.

My doctor told me this week that I need to start taking it a little easier and resting more. I'm already starting to have Braxton Hix contractions - with no worries because I'm not dilating at all and they aren't regular or intense (just feels like cramps really) - and she said that it's probably because of the added stress with moving and so I need to make sure to be drinking water and resting when I feel like it. Lane has been really good at reminding me to sit down and forcing water down my throat even when I don't want it! I ask him for milk, he brings back water because "that's what the doctor said I need." I couldn't ask for anyone better right now because I feel guilty when I'm just sitting around, but he's quick to remind me that it's better for me and Eden and that I need to listen to my body - it talks to me much quicker than it usually does so I'm not used to that (and I guess I'm a bit of a control freak, so this is really testing me!!!!)

We still don't have a house in Florida, so we'll probably be in a hotel for a little while so we can make those final decisions about where and when to move in. We do have a promising house that is available and hopefully that will work out for us. Hopefully we'll know sooner than later if it's going to work out for us.

As of right now we're set to leave Virginia on Sunday after our baby shower. We're having a baby shower at The Little Gym (where I used to work) on Sunday and will be able to head south to GA for the night on Sunday. Monday we'll wake up and have breakfast with friends/family in GA and then head down to Florida so Lane can report on time on Wednesday.

This has all happened MUCH faster than we thought it would, especially with the slow week that we had at the beginning of the week. Everything ended up working out and we're doing well. Keep us in your prayers as we travel through the weekend and into next week too!

Moving SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, the move is upon us in the near future. Lane has put in his request for orders and as of right now the movers will start moving us on Friday November 13th. This is kind of ironic, because our original move to VA was also surrounding a Friday the 13th! It's almost fitting for our move to FL to surround a Friday the 13th too. We still don't have a home in FL, but we do have some great friends that are helping us find a home. They are going to the houses that we've found online and they're taking pictures, meeting the property managers, and letting us know some of the details of the homes. I don't know what I'd do without knowing someone down there because this stresses me out as it is and I would freak out if we didn't have someone down there to help us out as much as they are.

My last day at work is this Friday. I think by the end of the week with saying goodbye to my students I'll be an emotional wreck! I did alright today, but I just know that it will all build up by the end of the week.

Lane will be flying a lot over the next couple of weeks to get ready to head down to Florida. He's flown solo once and will do a cross country flight tomorrow. His cross country flight is from Manassas to Charlottesville and there will be a flight instructor with him when he makes this flight. Eventually, as his last hoorah, he will make the solo cross country flight. I try not to get too into the details of his flying because it makes me nervous sometimes!

Eden is treating me right - other than the heartburn! That's just getting worse and worse. I have Tums everywhere, in the car, by the nightstand, in my purse - you name it, I have it there! Lane and I joke about how hairy she's going to be when she's born because we both have thick hair. Since before we were pregnant we joked that we were going to breed werewolves, so I'm thinking that the heartburn is SO fitting for her! She moves a lot and doesn't demand many foods very often. I do find it funny that when I get excited about the opportunity to eat something delicious she kicks me! I think we have the same taste and she's just letting me know :) Man, do I love this little girl already!!!!!!! She makes me smile.

Baby Girl on Her Way!

So, in case you haven't heard...we're having a girl!

The ultrasound was long and they made sure that the anatomy of the baby was in tact and correct. All organs were in place and on the correct side of the baby, her heart had all 4 chambers, the kidneys, stomach, and bladder looked good from what was seen today. This is GREAT news! She has both of her arms and both of her legs. From what it looks like on the ultrasound today she also has all 10 fingers and all 10 toes. Her heartbeat was right around 142 still so she's pretty consistent.

As soon as they did the view to show what the sex of the baby is I knew it was a girl! I was excited to finally know! She sucked her thumb in one of her pictures and she was talking, yawning, and moving all about! It was cool to feel the movement and then see it on the screen of the ultrasound! As of right now, she's sitting on my bladder and is mostly sitting/laying on my right side - which I wasn't surprised about because that's the side I feel most of her motion.

When we figure out how to get the pictures scanned onto the computer we will share some of the good pictures so that you can all share in the glory of seeing our beautiful DAUGHTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

T minus 1 week

So we're down to just days from knowing if we're having a boy or a girl! I still don't know - I was calling it a girl, but had a dream that it was a boy. Of course at this point, everyone is telling us that they know what it is and everyone has their reasons for thinking what they think. I took a gender prediction quiz online a little while ago and it told me that there was a 50% chance that we're having a boy - TELL ME SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW ALREADY!

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and everything is going well so far. We heard the heartbeat again and the doctor told us that whatever I've been doing, I should keep it up. I was happy to hear that from a medical professional. I have still only gained 3 pounds since the beginning of the pregnancy and this was the first visit that the doctor didn't ask me about what I'm eating or not eating. That makes me think that she's happy with my weight and not concerned about it. YAY!

I'm still not craving much. There are moments that I want cake - I bake one every weekend - and there are moments that I want mashed potatoes. Those are the only 2 things that I've ever truly "craved" and as long as I make them and have a bite I'm good and have my fill. I've been happy to be able to conquer the cravings without a problem.

Baby Pool!!!!!

Think you know the baby's weight? Whether it will be a boy or a girl? How about when the baby will be born? If you're feeling lucky and want to help raise some money for Baby Daigle, then go to http://www.prepool.com/online/daigle_baby/ and make a guess. 30% of the pool could go to you!

Scoring.
Points are awarded as follows:
The player with the highest score wins the pool. Each player starts the pool with 1,000 points.
Wrong Ses: -15 points.
Wrong Date: -1 point per day.
Wrong Weight: -0.5 point per ounce.
In the event of a tie, the player with the highest score who entered their guess first will be declared the winner of the pool.

We started the baby pool to add some fun for everyone we know! I can't wait to see what people think and see who wins! Check it out and let us know what you think :)

Graduation

So, graduation from TBS has come and gone and now beginning on Monday Lane will begin Introductory Flight Screening (IFS) which will last anywhere from 30-50 days. The day before graduation Lane's parents and I were able to go to Warrior Day and experience a SMALL portion of what Lane went through during his 6 months of training while at TBS. We were able to see some of the things that Lane used and learned about while he was there. We also got to see the helicopter that Lane wants to fly when flight school is all said and done. Graduation was great and I know that Lane was excited to get there and make it through! There were retired Marines there to give out special awards at the ceremony which was awesome.

This just means that we are one step closer to living in Florida. This is a bitter sweet time for me as it means that I am beginning my transition at work in order to ensure that everything is in place after I'm gone and I'm also trying to begin to organize things around the house to ensure an easier move. Lane has begun looking for houses down in Florida so we will be sure to have an extra bedroom for anyone who wants to come and have a Floridian vacation in the near future!

We also made sure that Baby will have a place to sleep. This morning we found a crib/mattress and a changing table with a changing pad along with some night gowns, a travel swing, a bouncy seat, some toys, and burp cloths at a consignment sale. We couldn't have asked for a better deal and everyone that saw the furniture as we were taking it apart to put in the car told us that we practically stole the stuff that we got! We were excited to have the chance to get the items that we did!!!!!

1 Week to Go!

So, we arrived in Quantico in June of 2008. Our furniture was actually delivered to us on our 1st wedding anniversary - yeah, I know, Happy Anniversary! Since we've been here we've been through a WHOLE LOT of stuff, and now we're a week from Lane's TBS graduation.

It all started when they thought he had a torn meniscus in his knee after checking that and his hip (which he hurt at OCS in 2007). Because of the knee they put him in a holding company at TBS in order to have everything checked out - which ended up NOT being a torn meniscus.

While Lane was in the holding company he had a surgery on his tail bone. This was because his surgeon in GA did the same surgery twice and didn't pay attention to what Lane was ever saying to him and therefore did not accomplish what was needed to solve the problem. His surgeon up here did a wonderful job and Lane recovered in a little over a month. At this point because of his surgery he did not even return to work until the beginning of November - which is already 5-ish months behind our original plans of how long we were going to be in VA.

While Lane was out with his tail bone he had his wisdom teeth taken out. This of course didn't really add to any extra waiting time for training - it was just another procedure at that point.

In January Lane was assigned to the Pentagon to work right down the hall from the Commandant of the Marine Corps. While he was working in this office he was "slugging" to work. Slugging is the form of organized hitch hiking that the Metro DC area offers. He would drive to a parking lot near our apartment and would hop in the car with a driver and another rider who was also going to the Pentagon so that they could ride in the HOV lanes and not sit in as much traffic. It is super organized and it even has it's own website with information about the rules of slugging to work.

Come April Lane picked up with Charlie Company - finally a training company at TBS! It was a day that we never thought we'd see! While in Charlie he endured long days and hours, and many over nights - some times in the field. Lane has gone through the training company making good grades and continuously put forth 110% in order to make it to the end - and here we are! This time next week Lane will be a TBS graduate!!!!!! YAY LANE!

During the training period Lane and I found out that we were going to be parents! All in all, I think that the wait to get to the training period was a blessing in disguise. If we didn't have the wait we wouldn't have the "perfect timing" of this pregnancy. We will get to Florida with a couple of months to get settled in before the baby is born and we'll be able to prepare (as much as we can) for our first child!!!

God has perfect timing for everything and I've seen parts of this while we've been in VA so I can tell you that living here has been a blessing in so many ways for us Daigles and I'm excited about the journey that lies ahead that will begin with Lane' graduation from TBS Charlie Company!

I FELT THE BABY!

So...as I was laying in bed last night I felt the baby move! At first I thought it was just gas and then I realized that nothing happened, but I felt the same feeling about 5 minutes later in the same spot! I wasn't sure in the beginning, but I made sure I was SUPER still just to make sure that I wasn't imagining something, ha ha. I feel like I'm getting more and more lazy because all I want to do now is lay still until I feel the little flutter again! :)

What we've been up to...

Well, we've been to the beach and we've made it home. The beach was a blast and I couldn't have asked for anything better! Karen and her family were there along with Pat and Paul in addition to my parents and Parker! We had a blast and we were able to celebrate Noah's and Parker's birthdays. I couldn't have asked for a more relaxing long weekend.

Lane and I went to the doctor this past Wednesday evening and it was a short but sweet appointment. We didn't get to have another ultrasound, but we did get to hear the heartbeat! The doctor said that the heartbeat sounded strong and she said that it was 140 beats per minute. When we got home we looked at the wives tales on google to see if we could get insight on the sex of the baby. No luck because everywhere we looked said it was a boy if it was 140 or below and it was a girl if it was 140 and above.

All along thoughout this pregnancy I've instinctively called the baby a girl. Lane tells me to continue calling it a girl so that I jinx it and we have a boy! Of course we both want a healthy baby, however we have an unspoken "bet" about the sex of the baby and we like to poke fun at each other about it. I did have a dream the other night that I was delivering the baby and we found out that we had a boy! At this point I'm not sure what it is - a lot of people tell me they think I'm having a girl, and I thought I knew because of my instincts, but these days I'm not sure anymore! It's all becoming an overjoyed mess in my mind! We should have an appointment in 5-6 weeks to find out the sex of the baby - and if I can talk Lane into it we might have a 3D ultrasound done earlier than that!!!! We'll see and we'll of course keep you posted! :)

First Trimeter...complete, 2 more to go

So I thought I would keep everyone posted with a blog instead of sending emails to everyone all the time...you guys can just check in on us whenever you think about it!

So, tomorrow marks 12 weeks of my pregnancy and that means that we're only 6 months away from being parents with a little one at home with us! I'm finally not feeling gross during the day, but I am still tired. I must say, I was incredibly lucky that I didn't get sick during the first trimester - I only felt gross. Fruit has been something that I find exceptionally delicious these days! I guess if I'm going to crave something, it might as well be good for me.

As we head into the 2nd trimester we have lots of non-pregnancy related changes that we're going to be going through. Lane will graduate TBS on October 1st and then will start the VERY beginnings of his flight training here in VA on October 5th.