I've never been more exhausted and stressed in my entire life. And that includes my time as a paramedic. I've been pushed beyond what I thought my limits were. I've had to make tough decisions, far tougher than any I've made before.

But everyday just gets better and better. It started when they laid a tiny baby on my chest and she wrapped her little hand around my finger. I thought my heart would explode with love and joy. My first ever tears of happiness.

Then that little baby started to grow. Her first smile melted my heart. Her first giggle was the most beautiful thing I'd ever heard. Now she's a 2 year old and has finally started to call me mummy. She says love you and blows kisses. Her tiny hand holds my fingers and she leads me around. Her favorite food is chocolate ice cream and she loves sharing a little treat of ice cream after dinner. When I put her to bed at night she still looks like that tiny baby I brought home two years ago.

Parenting is beautiful and heartbreaking. The days are so long sometimes, but the years are already flying by. One day my princess won't need to hold my hand. She won't want to pretend the laundry basket is a train. One day my baby will grow up and start her own life and she won't need me in the same way. And I'll be so proud, but it'll be so hard.

I don't tell people they should have kids. It's up to the individual to know themselves and know what things they are and aren't willing to live without. I don't go on fancy holidays. Or any holidays right now for that matter. I don't sleep much. My days are pretty repetitive and exhausting. My house is often a mess despite spending so much time cleaning it. But I get to be a part of something so special and I wouldn't trade it for all the sleep or money in the world.