Oh well another 3 weeks has gone by without me doing an update - bloody slack if you ask me! LOL I keep meaning to update at least once a week but never quite get around to it with everything else that happens in my life in the evenings!

Rachel recovered from her flu nicely and luckily (for both of us) that I did not get it - well just a little bit - no where near as bad as she had it anyway! She is also well and truely toilet trained both day and night now! Although on saying that, we did have our first accident over night - first one since wearing no nappies about 10 days ago! I did hear her calling out to me at some stage this morning, but as I had already gotten up to her a few times, I called out for her to go back to sleep so it could be partially my fault there but I certainly don't recall her saying that she needed to go toilet like she usually does if she wakes needing to go during the night. We are having issues with some very early waking and wanting to get up at some ungodly hour but she is usually pretty good at going back to bed for awhile but does not go back to sleep... so is therefore tired early on, has a big day sleep and then the cycle begins again... Have tried putting her to bed earlier, later and limiting her day sleep to 1 hr (she definitely still needs that but maybe that is just because she is so tired from waking early) but nothing has worked so far... may just have to accept that she is going to be a morning person (which I used to be) and as long as she continues to go back to bed until at least 6am then I guess I can work with that. Have got some good photos of her recently but as I am doing this update from work, I can not share them today but they were on Facebook a couple of weeks ago so most of you may have already seen them.

Am still gyming - most weeks we go twice and occasionally we do get there at the weekend too but that is a struggle most weekends as I do value my family time so much and often promise Rachel we will do something and then later remember that I should be at the gym instead! If it wasn't for my gym buddy, Marianne I would definitely be struggling BIG time to get there at all but once she gets me there, I love it!!! LOL Though, on saying that I have had a issue with my right foot which I initially thought was related to the very old sneakers I was wearing but have since got new supportive sneakers and am still having the pain etc. Mentioned it to one of the Personal Trainers last night, and she suggested seeing a Dr or physio so will add that to my list of things to do when we have some spare cash.

Oh we got our heat pump installed a couple of weeks ago, and we are LOVING it! We have it running 24/7 - sitting on the lowest setting of 16 degrees over night and all day when we are at work, and in the evenings, it can sit between 20-23 degrees depending how cold it is etc... Love being able to finish the clothes off under it on the clothes horse rather than in the dryer! We generally use the carport clothes line during the day, then bring it in and leave it under the heat pump over night and its all fine in the mornings. Only once have I put a fully wet (straight from the machine) load straight on the clothes horse and under the heat pump and it was still dry within about 20hrs or so! With the old gas heater, if I did something like that, it would have taken at least a couple of days! Have only used the dehumidifer a couple of times since the heat pump was installed as well as there is so much less condensation through the house!

Am heading to Christchurch for a work visit at the end of August - staying for one night so aim to catch up with either my brother or some dear friends for dinner that night. Am looking forward to it, especially the night in a hotel - the thought of that luxury with no 2 year old waking me up sounds bloody bliss!!! Am hoping that Stephan will wake if Rachel needs him that one night but am sure everything will be ok. It will be my first night away from Rachel since having her!! I know some say we are crazy but we don't have big social lifes or money to spare to have nights away so there has been no need to have her stay anywhere else.

Anyway, best I get back to work - am working on a project at the moment which can be a bit boring yet over whelming too at times so thought I would take a wee break from it.

Catch ya all later :)

Another month has gone past since my last update... I started off quite well doing regular updates and now well I do it when I can.

So in the last month, I have had a chest infection, Rachel is currently recovering from "the" flu - no actual testing done but the way the Dr put it, we understood that they are no longer testing in Wellington but since then I have heard that they are so perhaps it is just the ordinary flu... but boy we have had one miserable, clingy, grumpy girl on our hands over the last 7 days! Came on very quickly on Sat morning, then at Drs on Sunday... Stephan stayed home with her Monday and Tuesday, then I have been home with her since Wednesday - working from home when I can but when one has a girl who just wants continous cuddles etc I haven't actually got much done much to my bosses disappointment. We had hoped she would be ok to face a day at creche today, then have the weekend to rest, then back to normal on Monday, however we were back at the Drs with her on Wednesday night - rattly chest/barking like a dog... so she is on redipred (a steroid) for 3 days. She had her last dose today but still not right so might call the nurse later and have a chat as we do have extra supply of it if necessary but you are not supposed to do a course longer than 3 days when they are still so little. Yesterday, it was like walking on eggshells around her - nothing I said or did was right and anything I said or did set her off in tears! We were both in tears at one stage in the afternoon!

And the bad thing is that I now think that I may be getting Rachel's germs!! Hard not to really when they cough and sneeze all over you! I mean, she is fantastic at covering her mouth etc but sometimes it just doesn't happen in time. I really hope I am not getting her bugs but it's more likely than I am! Great just what I need! NOT!!!

We have bought a heat pump too - got a great deal from LV Martins - 24mths interest free... then my eldest nephew has his own company which specialises in installing heat pumps/air conditioning units. So he is going to be doing a "perky" for us (well mates rates) but he is just so damn busy it's not funny! Though he did finally call me yesterday with a date so only 12 days to go until it is installed! We can not wait!! We are both SO OVER the portable gas heater and its fumes and the condensation problems we have!!! I can wait till we are cosy and warm all day and all night long!!!

Rachel is now fully toilet trained for day time, and has actually been dry for the last 2 weeks at night time... so just gotta be brave and take the night nappy off her but am not brave enough for that as yet! Maybe in a couple more weeks...

Still going to the gym though at times I lack the motivation to go but having a gym buddy is fantastic as she always ensures I go (when it's possible). Having a few issues with the healthy eating side of things but I am sure I will get there eventually (I HOPE)! Cutting down my carbs at lunch time has certainly made an improvement to my afternoons - am not so tired and sluggish... seem to have more energy most days which is great!

Anyway, am starting to get cramp sitting here - and Rachel will probably wake soon and there are things I wanted to get done while she was asleep...

Catch ya all later!