COMING HOME

When Emily Hough, 28, from Leeds, pressed pause on the TV she didn't think that could be the last time she'd see her hubby...

- LUCY BRYANT AND ANAIS SEELY

Fluffing another elephant toy and placing it inside the newly constructed crib, the room was starting to come together.

Adding a splash of grey paint, and standing back to admire my work, it was clear to anyone what my favourite animal was!

At 20-weeks pregnant, the nursery was set for our newborn's arrival, even though I was nowhere near full-term.

Me and my partner James, 30, couldn't wait!

Finding out we were pregnant in November 2020, after deciding to start trying, we were over the moon.

Even the wait for the two lines to show was unbearable, so there was no way we were stalling the nursery!

Deciding to tell our families at Christmas, we wanted the surprise to be magical.

'Congratulations, you've been promoted to grandparents,' my mum Heather, 60, and dad Kieran, 64, read aloud, unravelling a cute baby blanket.

They had the exact same reaction as us they were overjoyed.

James' parents Deborah, 61, and Geoffrey, 63, were too when we told them.

With Covid restrictions meaning I was furloughed, I had so much time on my hands, which could only mean one thing-getting ready for our baby!

Building the furniture, I couldn't help but stare at James-we finally had the chance to raise a family.

I knew he'd be a brilliant dad and I couldn't wait to get to see him in action.

Even more so when we found out we were having a boy at my 20-week scan.

With our wider family already brimming with girls, it was a breath of fresh air-I'd have my own mini James.

Before we knew it, summer had quickly arrived and I was 35-weeks pregnant.

Although, it was a waiting game, especially as we had everything ready so early on.

On 18 June last year, me and James enjoyed a slow but sunny walk with our American Bulldog, Tafia, before coming home for a chilled night on the sofa.