It's hard for Catherine Tyldesley to believe how quickly the first 12 months of motherhood have flown by. The Coronation Street star and her fiancé Tom Pitfield welcomed their son Alfie in mid-March, and speaking exclusively to HELLO! magazine, the actress has shared her thoughts on becoming a mum.
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"This year has been amazing," said Catherine. "Every single day I wake up and look at Alfie and feel so lucky. I count my blessings constantly at what I've got. A couple of years ago, pre-Tom, I didn't ever imagine I could be this happy."
"I'm sure every parent says this but he is so bright," Catherine told HELLO!
"Now that he's nearly one, he is such a great little personality," the doting mum added of her son. "Especially now that he is trying to talk. I'm sure every parent says this but he is so bright. And the fact that he is walking and saying a few words is amazing for his age."
This spring Catherine, 32, and her fiancé Tom will say "I do". The couple have given Alfie a special job as a page boy at their wedding, so were no doubt thrilled when he took his first steps at ten months. Tom's niece Penny, who is three weeks older, will join him as a flower girl.
"I'm quite relieved that Alfie is on his feet," said Catherine. "Penny is pretty much there as well. So hopefully they will both walk down the aisle together."
Ahead of Aflie's first birthday, Catherine took her adorable youngster to a petting zoo in Lancashire, where the little boy had the chance to see animals he has only ever heard about from his story books.
Continuing with the animal theme, Catherine and Tom are planning a Lion King birthday party for their son.
"We are going to have lots of little Lion King characters in a soft play area," she said. "Plus cupcakes and face paints. Oh, and a bouncy castle! I think I'm more excited about that than anyone."