We're so in love with our little whopper, Harley | Cheryl Gibbs

It was one of the hardest things we’ve ever done, but we’re delighted to announce the safe arrival of our beautiful daughter, Harley Winter Lorraine Kingston who was born on February 6, 2020… somewhat early!

I’d love to say that her arrival was full of joy and happiness and of course we felt those emotions. But it was a very traumatic experience, not just because she was premature, but how she arrived.

You see on Tuesday, February 4, I woke in the morning and had some water leaking. It wasn't too much but I felt I should get it checked out so I went to Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, to just ensure the baby was okay.

They strapped the baby heart monitor on and all was well. I was relieved, until they asked me to sit up so they could check my blood pressure and then the flood gates opened…literally. My waters broke there and then and the nurse looked round and said, ‘you won’t be leaving here without your baby’.

I can’t describe that feeling, but my face said it all…luckily for me Matt was there to reassure me everything would be okay.

Unfortunately this wasn’t strictly true either – we spent the next two days in the ward where I was pretty certain I was in labour, but I was continually told I wasn’t and I needed to rest.

This was until about midnight on the Wednesday when the doctor came and looked and said ‘There’s the head, you’re going to need to push…now!’

I was beside myself. Matt and my mum raced back to the hospital and they were both there when she came.

We spent another four days in hospital as she had various problems including jaundice, issues with her weight and glucose levels, and an infection.

It was far from the idyllic scenario I'd pictured, but she was born 6lbs 15oz – not bad for a premature baby. She’d have been a whopper if we had gone full term. Thankfully we’re all home and settling in to life as a three. Harley…you’ve turned our life upside down and we couldn’t be happier!

Even after just a fortnight we can’t imagine life without her

It’s a funny feeling being a mum. I knew it would be a life changer and it absolutely is, but I didn’t realise that all the clichés that they say about parenthood would be true.

It’s so much harder than you can possibly imagine until you’ve done it yourself.

The sleep deprivation is a killer and makes everything twice as difficult, but the love you feel is breath-taking.

Harley didn’t get off to the best of starts bless her, but she was ready to enter the world and she’s fought ever since.

We’re getting there as a family and at two weeks old we already can’t imagine life without her – although I do look back at all the lie-ins with fond memories.

We love you Harley.

Caroline was only 40, she had everything to live for

I was deeply saddened to hear the tragic news that TV presenter Caroline Flack had killed herself.

I follow Caroline’s career closely, but she was a force on the screen and in life – or so we believed.

I felt sick when I found out she committed suicide following a tirade of media abuse to do with an alleged assault on her boyfriend – something they both denied.

She believed there was no other way out and I find that devastating. Caroline was only 40, she had everything to live for.

The only thing we can hope for now is that her passing changes the way the media treats celebrities.

And I hope we can all be a little kinder to each other.