Starting as I mean to go on

First off, apologies to any regular readers for my prolonged absence.
There's no proper excuse, life has merely taken over.
My baby girl celebrated her first birthday on 11/11/11 - which was a brilliant day. Everyone tells you the first year flies but it honestly did. A close friend had her first baby on 08/11/11 and when I held him for a very lovely cuddle I could hardly believe Charlotte had once been so small, and so dependent, just twelve short months ago. Now, I can hardly keep up with her. As we say in Derry, 'she could buy and sell you' already!
And then of course the madness of Christmas swallows up December and before you can say diet the New Year arrives.
This year I'm not imposing any ludicrous resolutions on myself. Well, not any that require giving up anything. Rather, I intend to be less hard on myself. Give myself a break.
I figure that learning to negotiate the path along which MS is taking me is a hard enough journey without me putting pressure on myself to be the perfect mother, wife, daughter, friend and colleague as well.
Because I'm beginning to realise that nobody, no matter how hard they try, is perfect - least of all me!
That said, I do hope to blog a bit more often this year. There have been many times in 2011 when I have written a post in my head and then never got round to actually putting my thoughts on here.
In the meantime, here's a very cute picture of my daughter taken on her birthday :)

Unconditional love

My baby girl is currently suffering from her first cold ... and it's horrible to watch. Her eyes are streaming, her nose is all blocked up and she's generally not in good form. Worst of all there's very little I can do to help bar using saline nasal drops and giving lots of cuddles.

And the situation made me think back to a previous blog I posted on here about how I believe my diagnosis is probably harder on those who love me most - namely my husband and parents - because if I could have the cold for her I would and I'm guessing that's how they probably thought back in April 2009 when I got the news that I had MS.

That's the thing about being a parent - your perspective changes, you never come first any more, your children become your everything. And I wouldn't change it for the world.

I really hope my precious girl gets better soon, even if it's just a simple cold it's taking it's toll on her (and me!)

Presenting Charlotte Beth ...

She's here ... our precious girl - Charlotte Beth - was welcomed into the world on 11th November at 4.31pm weighing in at 7lbs 12oz and she is honestly the best decision I have ever made!
Already our house is filled with an inordinate amount of pink and it finally feels like the family home we so hoped it would be.
And I know I'm naturally biased but she is simply perfect!! At the minute she's curled up sleeping in her moses basket while her daddy cleans the house and I have ten minutes out to myself on here.
If I ever had one ounce of doubt that becoming a mum was perhaps not the right move it has been banished without a second thought because I promise that it is THE most amazing feeling and privilege I have ever had the benefit of having.
Yes she is hard work, like all newborns, but I would go without every lost second of sleep all over again in an instant.
So, to anyone with MS who wonders if having a child is possible, my resounding response is most definitely yes. And I know everyone's circumstances are different and that I myself may have moments in the future when it seems an impossible task but when Charlotte looks at me with wide eyed wonderment every time she wakes it is no exaggeration to say that she makes my life complete - and I wouldn't exchange that feeling for anything in the world.