My baby shower joy after IVF ordeal is overwhelming | Cheryl Gibbs

Baby showers tend to be a rite of passage just before the baby is born, so the fact I’ve now had mine scares me to death – in a good way of course.

My mum and sisters threw it for me at my sister Jo’s house.

Laura, Lisa and Denise, my best friends, were apparently recruited to be part of the Task Force to help get it ready and I have to say it was such an amazing afternoon.

It’s weird because I felt a bit nervous before I got there and I don’t know why.

It wasn’t a surprise as such because my mum had sent me a card during that week inviting me to it.

But I think I just felt so overwhelmed because I guess a big part of me still can’t believe it’s happening to us.

When you spend so long trying for a baby and going through the ordeal of IVF you concentrate all your efforts focusing on something that may or may not happen.

The fact it’s around the corner now and is really happening is a bit overwhelming.

When I walked in there was so many people there – all my family and close friends. A perfect afternoon with the girls.

My sister Michelle and friend Lisa were in charge of games – that was an eye opener, let me tell you.

In one game we had to guess which pictures were of women in labour and which ones were of women…erm…satisfied. I got most of them wrong!

Our baby got so many gifts it was unbelievable, and it took me most of Monday to sort through them all and pack them away in the nursery.

Everyone was so generous, it really was a wonderful day and I can’t thank them all enough.

My sister Jo hosted and my bestie Laura, who lives on the Isle of Wight, brought the most beautiful personalised baby shower cake over on the hovercraft!

Thank you ladies, Baby Kingston is already spoiled rotten and it’s not even here yet.

Swimming and walking is worth it for taut tummy

I went to my routine midwife appointment this week to check on the baby’s progress.

I’m pleased to report he or she is doing well. Our midwife, Jo, commented on how tight my tummy muscles are considering I’m in my third trimester, so I was rather proud of myself.

I’m still walking as much as I can and I swim 30 lengths in the pool every week. I tread water for two minutes to strengthen my buttocks.

It’s becoming harder though, that’s for sure. But all in all we’ve had a great pregnancy so far and I know I’ve got off pretty lightly given what most women have to endure.

Please let me have a baby that loves sleep like its mamma and papa!

You never know what’s round the corner so share your love

The death of NBA legend, Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others, is so tragic.

Kobe will always be known for his talent, and the legacy he leaves behind at the NBA is phenomenal.

But if you put that aside, Kobe was just 41 and he leaves behind three daughters and his wife Vanessa.

It is beyond devastating – there aren’t really any words to describe the loss and pain his family are going through.

It’s a cliché, but its true, we have no idea how long we have on this planet.

So, if you take nothing from this tragedy but this – go and tell someone you love just how much they mean to you, because you never know what’s round the corner.