Just days after Cheryl confirmed she is expecting her first child with One Direction star Liam Payne, her ex-husband Ashley Cole took to his Twitter page to reflect on the past 12 months since becoming a first-time father. The 36-year-old football star, who welcomed a baby boy with his girlfriend Sharon Canu last year after a whirlwind romance, penned an emotional open letter, revealing the pure joy his child has brought to his life. "I've been incredibly fortunate to have most things I've wanted in life: cars, houses, watches, clothes," he wrote. "Coming from east London with not a lot growing up, and a mum looking after two boys alone, life wasn't always easy. So of course it's easy lose your way in life sometimes, to forget about the things that are most important."
VIDEO: Cheryl shows off her gorgeous baby bump
The sporting ace celebrated his son's first birthday on Tuesday, and he took the opportunity to open up about fatherhood. "But this morning I woke up to something that exceeds anything I've ever had before: a smile that never goes away," he added. "Every day I wake up to the most beautiful thing I could dream of: a son that makes my heart melt, a son that never stops smiling, a son that can make me laugh no matter what kind of mood I'm in, a son that I'm proud of, a son I watch fall asleep because I never want to leave him, a son who reminded me what's most important in life. Happy 1st birthday son I will always be with you forever."
STORY: Cheryl and Liam celebrate one-year anniversary
The heartfelt post comes as his ex-wife Cheryl confirmed her pregnancy. The former golden couple tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in July 2006 - but split less than four years later amid reports he was unfaithful. Last week, the former X Factor judge proudly showed off her baby bump in a new campaign photo and video for L'Oreal and The Prince's Trust. Cheryl, 33, cradled her blossoming bump as she spoke about self-worth for the new confidence campaign.
Cheryl and her ex-husband Ashley Cole split in 2010
Although the singer and her boyfriend Liam are yet to publicly comment on becoming parents for the first time, their romance is proving to be very strong as Cheryl has reportedly moved out of her Hertfordshire home and into Liam's house in Surrey. The A-list couple first met in 2008 when he was an aspiring singer on The X Factor and she was a judge. They had been secretly dating since December 2015, shortly after Cheryl split from her second husband Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini.